Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scornful.

² But his delight is in the Law of the LORD. And on His Law does he meditate day and night.

³ For he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of waters, that will bring forth her fruits in due season; whose leaf shall not fade. So, whatever he shall do shall prosper.

⁴ The wicked are not so; but are as the chaff which the wind drives away.

⁵ Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

⁶ For the LORD knows the way of the righteous. And the way of the wicked shall perish.

²⁰ Lift up your eyes and behold those who come from the North. Where is the flock that was given to you, your beautiful flock?

²¹ What will you say when He shall reckon with you? For you have taught them to be captains, as chief over you. Shall not sorrow take you, as a woman in labor?

²² And if you say in your heart, “Why do these things come upon me?” For the multitude of your iniquities are your skirts uncovered and your heels made bare.

²³ Can the black moor change his skin, or the leopard his spots? May you who are accustomed to doing evil also do good?

²⁴ “Therefore, I will scatter them as the stubble that is taken away with the south wind.

²⁵ “This is your portion, the part of your measures from Me,” says the LORD, “because you have forgotten Me and trusted in lies.

²⁶ “Therefore, I have also uncovered your skirts upon your face, so that your shame may appear.

²⁷ “I have seen your adulteries and your neighings, the filthiness of your whoredom on the hills, in the fields, your abominations. Woe to you, O Jerusalem! Will you not be made clean as you once were?”

¹⁷ And if you call him ‘Father’ (Who judges according to the work of each, without respect of persons), pass the time of your dwelling here in fear,

¹⁸ knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things - like silver and gold from your ineffective lifestyle received by the traditions of the Fathers -

¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb undefiled and without spot.

²⁰ He was ordained before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in the last times for your sakes,

²¹ You, through Him, believe in God Who raised Him from the dead and gave Him Glory, so that your faith and hope might be in God.

²² Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth (through the Spirit) toward brotherly love without hypocrisy, love one another fervently, with a pure heart;

²³ being born anew—not of mortal seed, but of immortal—by the Word of God, Who lives and endures forever.

²⁴ For “all flesh is as grass. And all the glory of man is as the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls away.

²⁵ “But the Word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the Word which is preached among you.

2 Therefore, laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisy, and envy, and all blasphemy,