Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
19 But you, O Lord, (A)do not be far off!
O you my help, (B)come quickly to my aid!
20 Deliver my soul from the sword,
my precious life from the power of (C)the dog!
21 Save me from (D)the mouth of the lion!
You have rescued[a] me from the horns of (E)the wild oxen!
22 (F)I will tell of your name to my (G)brothers;
in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:
23 You who (H)fear the Lord, praise him!
All you offspring of Jacob, (I)glorify him,
and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!
24 For he has not despised or abhorred
the affliction of (J)the afflicted,
and he has not (K)hidden his face from him,
but has heard, when he (L)cried to him.
Israel's Irresponsible Leaders
9 (A)All you beasts of the field, come to devour—
all you beasts in the forest.
10 (B)His watchmen are blind;
they are all without knowledge;
they are all silent (C)dogs;
they cannot bark,
dreaming, lying down,
loving to slumber.
11 (D)The dogs have a mighty appetite;
they never have enough.
But (E)they are shepherds who have no understanding;
they have all turned to their own way,
(F)each to his own gain, one and all.
12 (G)“Come,” they say, “let me get wine;
let us fill ourselves with strong drink;
(H)and tomorrow will be like this day,
great beyond measure.”
17 But if you call yourself a Jew and (A)rely on the law and boast in God 18 and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; 19 and if you are sure that you yourself are (B)a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law (C)the embodiment of (D)knowledge and truth— 21 (E)you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you (F)rob temples? 23 You who (G)boast in the law (H)dishonor God by breaking the law. 24 For, (I)as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed (J)among the Gentiles because of you.”
25 For circumcision indeed is of value (K)if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. 26 So, if (L)a man who is uncircumcised keeps (M)the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded[a] as circumcision? 27 Then he who is physically[b] uncircumcised but keeps the law (N)will condemn you who have (O)the written code[c] and circumcision but break the law. 28 For (P)no one is a Jew (Q)who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29 But a Jew is one (R)inwardly, and (S)circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. (T)His praise is not from man but from God.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.