Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Hide Me from the Wicked
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
64 Hear my voice, O God, in my (A)complaint;
preserve my life from dread of the enemy.
2 Hide me from (B)the secret plots of the wicked,
from the throng of evildoers,
3 who (C)whet their tongues like swords,
who (D)aim bitter words like arrows,
4 shooting from (E)ambush at the blameless,
shooting at him suddenly and (F)without fear.
5 They (G)hold fast to their evil purpose;
they talk of (H)laying snares secretly,
thinking, (I)“Who can see them?”
6 They search out injustice,
saying, “We have accomplished a diligent search.”
For (J)the inward mind and heart of a man are deep.
Bildad Speaks: God Punishes the Wicked
18 Then (A)Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:
2 “How long will you (B)hunt for words?
Consider, and then we will speak.
3 Why are we counted as (C)cattle?
Why are we stupid in your sight?
4 You who (D)tear yourself in your anger,
shall the earth be forsaken for you,
or (E)the rock be removed out of its place?
5 “Indeed, (F)the light of the wicked is put out,
and the flame of his fire does not shine.
6 The light is (G)dark in his tent,
and his lamp above him is put out.
7 His strong steps are shortened,
and his (H)own schemes throw him down.
8 For he is cast into a net by his own feet,
and he walks on its mesh.
9 (I)A trap seizes him by the heel;
a snare lays hold of him.
10 A rope is hidden for him in the ground,
a trap for him in the path.
11 (J)Terrors frighten him on every side,
and chase him at his heels.
12 His strength is famished,
and calamity is (K)ready for his stumbling.
13 It consumes the parts of his skin;
(L)the firstborn of death consumes his limbs.
14 He is torn from the tent in which he trusted
and is brought to (M)the king of terrors.
15 In his tent dwells that which is none of his;
(N)sulfur is scattered over his habitation.
16 His (O)roots dry up beneath,
and his branches (P)wither above.
17 His (Q)memory perishes from the earth,
and he has no name in the street.
18 (R)He is thrust from light into darkness,
and driven out of the world.
19 He has no (S)posterity or progeny among his people,
and no survivor where he used to live.
20 They of the west are appalled at his (T)day,
and (U)horror seizes them of the east.
21 Surely such are the dwellings of the unrighteous,
such is the place of him who (V)knows not God.”
Christ the Wisdom and Power of God
18 For the word of the cross is (A)folly to (B)those who are perishing, but to us (C)who are being saved it is (D)the power of God. 19 For it is written,
(E)“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
20 (F)Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? (G)Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach[a] to save those who believe. 22 For (H)Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ (I)crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ (J)the power of God and (K)the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For consider your calling, brothers: (L)not many of you were wise according to worldly standards,[b] not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But (M)God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; (N)God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even (O)things that are not, to (P)bring to nothing things that are, 29 so (Q)that no human being[c] might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him[d] you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us (R)wisdom from God, (S)righteousness and (T)sanctification and (U)redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, (V)“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.