Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by the sons of Korah.
49 Hear this, all you peoples.
Listen, all you inhabitants of the world,
2 both low and high,
rich and poor together.
3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom.
My heart will utter understanding.
4 I will incline my ear to a proverb.
I will solve my riddle on the harp.
5 Why should I fear in the days of evil,
when iniquity at my heels surrounds me?
6 Those who trust in their wealth,
and boast in the multitude of their riches—
7 none of them can by any means redeem his brother,
nor give God a ransom for him.
8 For the redemption of their life is costly,
no payment is ever enough,
9 that he should live on forever,
that he should not see corruption.
10 For he sees that wise men die;
likewise the fool and the senseless perish,
and leave their wealth to others.
11 Their inward thought is that their houses will endure forever,
and their dwelling places to all generations.
They name their lands after themselves.
12 But man, despite his riches, doesn’t endure.
He is like the animals that perish.
24 Don’t be envious of evil men,
neither desire to be with them;
2 for their hearts plot violence
and their lips talk about mischief.
3 Through wisdom a house is built;
by understanding it is established;
4 by knowledge the rooms are filled
with all rare and beautiful treasure.
5 A wise man has great power.
A knowledgeable man increases strength,
6 for by wise guidance you wage your war,
and victory is in many advisors.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool.
He doesn’t open his mouth in the gate.
8 One who plots to do evil
will be called a schemer.
9 The schemes of folly are sin.
The mocker is detested by men.
10 If you falter in the time of trouble,
your strength is small.
11 Rescue those who are being led away to death!
Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!
12 If you say, “Behold, we didn’t know this,”
doesn’t he who weighs the hearts consider it?
He who keeps your soul, doesn’t he know it?
Shall he not render to every man according to his work?
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their hearts. 19 They, having become callous, gave themselves up to lust, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20 But you didn’t learn Christ that way, 21 if indeed you heard him and were taught in him, even as truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old man that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.
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