Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Praise to God for His Word and Providence
147 Praise[a] the Lord!
For (A)it is good to sing praises to our God;
(B)For it is pleasant, and (C)praise is beautiful.
2 The Lord (D)builds up Jerusalem;
(E)He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.
3 (F)He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their [b]wounds.
4 (G)He counts the number of the stars;
He calls them all by name.
5 (H)Great is our Lord, and (I)mighty in power;
(J)His understanding is infinite.
6 (K)The Lord lifts up the humble;
He casts the wicked down to the ground.
7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
Sing praises on the harp to our God,
8 (L)Who covers the heavens with clouds,
Who prepares rain for the earth,
Who makes grass to grow on the mountains.
9 (M)He gives to the beast its food,
And (N)to the young ravens that cry.
10 (O)He does not delight in the strength of the horse;
He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.
11 The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him,
In those who hope in His mercy.
10 (A)A righteous man regards the life of his animal,
But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
11 (B)He who [a]tills his land will be satisfied with (C)bread,
But he who follows [b]frivolity (D)is devoid of [c]understanding.
12 The wicked covet the catch of evil men,
But the root of the righteous yields fruit.
13 (E)The wicked is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,
(F)But the righteous will come through trouble.
14 (G)A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth,
(H)And the recompense of a man’s hands will be rendered to him.
15 (I)The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
But he who heeds counsel is wise.
16 (J)A fool’s wrath is known at once,
But a prudent man covers shame.
17 (K)He who speaks truth declares righteousness,
But a false witness, deceit.
18 (L)There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword,
But the tongue of the wise promotes health.
19 The truthful lip shall be established forever,
(M)But a lying tongue is but for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
But counselors of peace have joy.
21 (N)No grave [d]trouble will overtake the righteous,
But the wicked shall be filled with evil.
2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that (A)if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised (B)that he is [a]a debtor to keep the whole law. 4 (C)You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; (D)you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit eagerly (E)wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For (F)in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but (G)faith working through love.
Love Fulfills the Law
7 You (H)ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. 9 (I)A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.
11 And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, (J)why do I still suffer persecution? Then (K)the offense of the cross has ceased. 12 (L)I could wish that those (M)who trouble you would even [b]cut themselves off!
13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only (N)do not use liberty as an (O)opportunity for the flesh, but (P)through love serve one another. 14 For (Q)all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: (R)“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.