Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

57 The just perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart, and men of mercy are taken away, because there is none that understandeth; for the just man is taken away from before the face of evil.

² Let peace come, let him rest in his bed that hath walked in his uprightness.

³ But draw near hither, you sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer, and of the harlot.

⁴ Upon whom have you jested? upon whom have you opened your mouth wide, and put out your tongue? are not you wicked children, a false seed,

⁵ Who seek your comfort in idols under every green tree, sacrificing children in the torrents, under the high rocks?

⁶ In the parts of the torrent is thy portion, this is thy lot: and thou hast poured out libations to them, thou hast offered sacrifice. Shall I not be angry at these things?

⁷ Upon a high and lofty mountain thou hast laid thy bed, and hast gone up thither to offer victims.

⁸ And behind the door, and behind the post thou hast set up thy remembrance: for thou hast discovered thyself near me, and hast received an adulterer: thou hast enlarged thy bed, and made a covenant with them: thou hast loved their bed with open hand.

⁹ And thou hast adorned thyself for the king with ointment, and hast multiplied thy perfumes. Thou hast sent thy messengers far off, and wast debased even to hell.

¹⁰ Thou hast been wearied in the multitude of thy ways: yet thou saidst not: I will rest: thou hast found life of thy hand, therefore thou hast not asked.

¹¹ For whom hast thou been solicitous and afraid, that thou hast lied, and hast not been mindful of me, nor thought on me in thy heart? for I am silent, and as one that seeth not, and thou hast forgotten me.

¹² I will declare thy justice, and thy works shall not profit thee.

¹³ When thou shalt cry, let thy companies deliver thee, but the wind shall carry them all off, a breeze shall take them away, but he that putteth his trust in me, shall inherit the land, and shall possess my holy mount.

¹⁵ Brethren (I speak after the manner of man,) yet a man's testament, if it be confirmed, no man despiseth, nor addeth to it.

¹⁶ To Abraham were the promises made and to his seed. He saith not, And to his seeds, as of many: but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

¹⁷ Now this I say, that the testament which was confirmed by God, the law which was made after four hundred and thirty years, doth not disannul, to make the promise of no effect.

¹⁸ For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise. But God gave it to Abraham by promise.

¹⁹ Why then was the law? It was set because of transgressions, until the seed should come, to whom he made the promise, being ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

²⁰ Now a mediator is not of one: but God is one.

²¹ Was the law then against the promises of God? God forbid. For if there had been a law given which could give life, verily justice should have been by the law.

²² But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise, by the faith of Jesus Christ, might be given to them that believe.