Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

¹³ From heaven the Lord observes.
He sees all the children of Adam.
¹⁴ From his throne room he looks at all the inhabitants of earth.
¹⁵ He alone is the one who shapes all their hearts.
He understands all their deeds.
¹⁶ No king is saved by the great size of his army.
No hero is rescued by his great strength.
¹⁷ You cannot rely on a horse to save you.
Its great strength will not deliver you.
¹⁸ Look, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him,
on those who wait for his mercy.
¹⁹ He will deliver their souls from death.
He keeps them alive in famine.

37 When I hear this, my heart races
and leaps from its place.
² Listen! Listen to the booming thunder of his voice,
to the rumble that goes out from his mouth.
³ He turns it loose across the whole sky,
and his light reaches the ends of the earth.
⁴ After the lightning, a voice roars.
He thunders with his majestic voice.
He does not restrain the lightning.
Then his voice is heard!
⁵ God thunders with his voice in wonderful ways.
He does great things that we do not understand.
⁶ To the snow he says, “Fall on the earth.”
To the pouring rain, the torrential downpours of rain,
    he says, “Be strong.”^[a]
7 He brings an end to all the work of men’s hands,
    so that they recognize his work.
⁸ The wild animals take shelter in their lairs.
They remain in their dens.
⁹ A winter wind comes out from its room,
and driving winds bring icy cold.
¹⁰ The breath of God produces ice.
The wide surface of the water turns solid.
¹¹ Yes, he loads dark clouds with moisture,
and he fills the clouds with his light.
¹² The clouds swirl around at his direction.
They do whatever he commands them
    over the face of the whole inhabited world.
¹³ Whether their purpose is to bring punishment or mercy to the world,
    he makes them achieve their goal.

Death is swallowed up in victory.^[a]
55 Death, where is your sting?
Grave, where is your victory?^{[b] [c]}