Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

¹ Praise the Lord!
    Happy are those who fear the Lord,
    who greatly delight in his commandments.
² Their descendants will be mighty in the land;
    the generation of the upright will be blessed.
³ Wealth and riches are in their houses,
    and their righteousness endures forever.
⁴ They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright;
    they are gracious, merciful, and righteous.
⁵ It is well with those who deal generously and lend,
    who conduct their affairs with justice.
⁶ For the righteous will never be moved;
    they will be remembered forever.
⁷ They are not afraid of evil tidings;
    their hearts are firm, secure in the Lord.
⁸ Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid;
    in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
⁹ They have distributed freely, they have given to the poor;
    their righteousness endures forever;
    their horn is exalted in honor.
¹⁰ The wicked see it and are angry;
    they gnash their teeth and melt away;
    the desire of the wicked comes to nothing.

¹³ A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance,
    but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.
¹⁴ The mind of one who has understanding seeks knowledge,
    but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
¹⁵ All the days of the poor are hard,
    but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.
¹⁶ Better is a little with the fear of the Lord
    than great treasure and trouble with it.
¹⁷ Better is a dinner of vegetables where love is
    than a fatted ox and hatred with it.

“Those who desire life
    and desire to see good days,
let them keep their tongues from evil
    and their lips from speaking deceit;
¹¹ let them turn away from evil and do good;
    let them seek peace and pursue it.
¹² For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
    and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”