Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
19 But you, O Lord, do not remain far away.
You are my source of strength.[a] Hurry and help me![b]
20 Deliver me[c] from the sword.
Save[d] my life[e] from the claws[f] of the wild dogs.
21 Rescue me from the mouth of the lion,[g]
and from the horns of the wild oxen.[h]
You have answered me.[i]
22 I will declare your name to my countrymen.[j]
In the middle of the assembly I will praise you.
23 You loyal followers of the Lord,[k] praise him.
All you descendants of Jacob, honor him.
All you descendants of Israel, stand in awe of him.[l]
24 For he did not despise or detest the suffering[m] of the oppressed.[n]
He did not ignore him;[o]
when he cried out to him, he responded.[p]
25 You are the reason I offer praise[q] in the great assembly;
I will fulfill my promises before the Lord’s loyal followers.[r]
26 Let the oppressed eat and be filled.[s]
Let those who seek his help praise the Lord.
May you[t] live forever!
27 Let all the people of the earth acknowledge the Lord and turn to him.[u]
Let all the nations[v] worship you.[w]
28 For the Lord is king[x]
and rules over the nations.
57 The godly[a] perish,
but no one cares.[b]
Honest people disappear,[c]
when no one[d] minds[e]
that the godly[f] disappear[g] because of[h] evil.[i]
2 Those who live uprightly enter a place of peace;
they rest on their beds.[j]
3 “But approach, you sons of omen readers,
you offspring of adulteresses and prostitutes![k]
4 At whom are you laughing?
At whom are you opening your mouth
and sticking out your tongue?
You are the children of rebels,
the offspring of liars,[l]
5 you who inflame your lusts[m] among the oaks[n] and under every green tree,
who slaughter children near the streams under the rocky overhangs.[o]
6 Among the smooth stones of the stream are the idols you love;
they, they are the object of your devotion.[p]
You pour out liquid offerings to them,
you make an offering.
Because of these things how can I relent from judgment?[q]
7 On every high, elevated hill you prepare your bed;
you go up there to offer sacrifices.
8 Behind the door and doorpost you put your symbols.[r]
Indeed,[s] you depart from me[t] and go up
and invite them into bed with you.[u]
You purchase favors from them;[v]
you love their bed,
and gaze longingly[w] on their naked bodies.[x]
9 You take olive oil as tribute[y] to your king,[z]
along with many perfumes.[aa]
You send your messengers to a distant place;
you go all the way to Sheol.[ab]
10 Because of the long distance you must travel, you get tired,[ac]
but you do not say, ‘I give up.’[ad]
You get renewed energy,[ae]
so you don’t collapse.[af]
11 Whom are you worried about?
Whom do you fear, that you would act so deceitfully
and not remember me
or think about me?[ag]
Because I have been silent for so long,[ah]
you are not afraid of me.[ai]
12 I will denounce your so-called righteousness and your deeds,[aj]
but they will not help you.
13 When you cry out for help, let your idols[ak] help you!
The wind blows them all away,[al]
a breeze carries them away.[am]
But the one who looks to me for help[an] will inherit the land
and will have access to[ao] my holy mountain.”
Inheritance Comes from Promises and not Law
15 Brothers and sisters,[a] I offer an example from everyday life:[b] When a covenant[c] has been ratified,[d] even though it is only a human contract, no one can set it aside or add anything to it. 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant.[e] Scripture[f] does not say, “and to the descendants,”[g] referring to many, but “and to your descendant,”[h] referring to one, who is Christ. 17 What I am saying is this: The law that came 430 years later does not cancel a covenant previously ratified by God,[i] so as to invalidate the promise. 18 For if the inheritance is based on the law, it is no longer based on the promise, but God graciously gave[j] it to Abraham through the promise.
19 Why then was the law given?[k] It was added[l] because of transgressions,[m] until the arrival of the descendant[n] to whom the promise had been made. It was administered[o] through angels by an intermediary.[p] 20 Now an intermediary is not for one party alone, but God is one.[q] 21 Is the law therefore opposed to the promises of God?[r] Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.[s] 22 But the scripture imprisoned[t] everything under sin so that the promise could be given—because of the faithfulness[u] of Jesus Christ—to those who believe.
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