Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Psalm 39
The Fleeting Nature of Life
For the choir director, for Jeduthun. A psalm of David.
1 I said, “I will guard my ways
so that I may not sin with my tongue;
I will guard my mouth with a muzzle
as long as the wicked are in my presence.”(A)
2 I was speechless and quiet;
I kept silent, even from speaking good,
and my pain intensified.(B)
3 My heart grew hot within me;
as I mused, a fire burned.(C)
I spoke with my tongue:
4 “Lord, make me aware of my end
and the number of my days
so that I will know how short-lived I am.(D)
5 In fact, you have made my days just inches long,
and my life span is as nothing to you.
Yes, every human being stands as only a vapor.(E)Selah
6 Yes, a person goes about like a mere shadow.
Indeed, they rush around in vain,
gathering possessions
without knowing who will get them.(F)
7 “Now, Lord, what do I wait for?
My hope is in you.(G)
8 Rescue me from all my transgressions;
do not make me the taunt of fools.(H)
9 I am speechless; I do not open my mouth
because of what you have done.(I)
10 Remove your torment from me.
Because of the force of your hand I am finished.(J)
11 You discipline a person with punishment for iniquity,
consuming like a moth what is precious to him;(K)
yes, every human being is only a vapor.(L)Selah
Parable of the Eagles
17 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, pose a riddle and speak a parable to the house of Israel.(A) 3 You are to say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: A huge eagle with powerful wings,(B) long feathers, and full plumage of many colors came to Lebanon and took the top of the cedar.(C) 4 He plucked off its topmost shoot, brought it to the land of merchants, and set it in a city of traders. 5 Then he took some of the land’s seed and put it in a fertile field;(D) he set it like a willow,(E) a plant[a] by abundant water. 6 It sprouted and became a spreading vine, low in height with its branches turned toward him,(F) yet its roots stayed under it. So it became a vine, produced branches, and sent out shoots.
7 “‘But there was another huge eagle with powerful wings and thick plumage. And this vine bent its roots toward him! It stretched out its branches to him from the plot where it was planted,(G) so that he might water it. 8 It had been planted in a good field by abundant water in order to produce branches, bear fruit, and become a splendid vine.’
9 “You are to say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: Will it flourish? Will he not tear out its roots(H) and strip off its fruit so that it shrivels? All its fresh leaves will wither! Great strength and many people will not be needed to pull it from its roots. 10 Even though it is planted, will it flourish? Won’t it wither completely when the east wind strikes it?(I) It will wither on the plot where it sprouted.’”
12 For all who sin without the law(A) will also perish without the law, and all who sin under[a] the law will be judged by the law. 13 For the hearers of the law(B) are not righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be justified.[b] 14 So, when Gentiles, who do not by nature have the law,(C) do[c] what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law[d] is written on their hearts.(D) Their consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts either accuse or even excuse them[e] 16 on the day when God judges(E) what people have kept secret, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus.(F)
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