Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
2 “Absolute futility,” says the Teacher.
“Absolute futility. Everything is futile.”(A)
The Limitations of Wisdom
12 I, the Teacher,(A) have been[a] king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 I applied my mind to examine(B) and explore through wisdom all that is done under heaven.(C) God has given people[b] this miserable task to keep them occupied.(D) 14 I have seen all the things that are done under the sun and have found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind.[c](E)
The Emptiness of Work
18 I hated all my work that I labored at under the sun(A) because I must leave it to the one who comes after me.(B) 19 And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool?(C) Yet he will take over all my work that I labored at skillfully under the sun. This too is futile. 20 So I began to give myself over[a] to despair concerning all my work that I had labored at under the sun. 21 When there is a person whose work was done with wisdom, knowledge, and skill,(D) and he must give his portion to a person who has not worked for it, this too is futile and a great wrong. 22 For what does a person get with all his work and all his efforts(E) that he labors at under the sun? 23 For all his days are filled with grief, and his occupation is sorrowful;(F) even at night, his mind does not rest.(G) This too is futile.
Psalm 49
Misplaced Trust in Wealth
For the choir director. A psalm of the sons of Korah.
1 Hear this, all you peoples;
listen, all who inhabit the world,(A)
2 both low and high,
rich and poor together.(B)
3 My mouth speaks wisdom;
my heart’s meditation brings understanding.(C)
4 I turn my ear to a proverb;
I explain my riddle with a lyre.(D)
5 Why should I fear in times of trouble?
The iniquity of my foes surrounds me.(E)
6 They trust in their wealth
and boast of their abundant riches.(F)
7 Yet these cannot redeem a person[a]
or pay his ransom to God(G)—
8 since the price of redeeming him is too costly,
one should forever stop trying[b](H)—
9 so that he may live forever
and not see the Pit.(I)
10 For one can see that the wise die;
the foolish and stupid also pass away.(J)
Then they leave their wealth to others.(K)
11 Their graves are their permanent homes,[c]
their dwellings from generation to generation,
though they have named estates after themselves.(L)
12 But despite his assets,[d] mankind will not last;
he is like the animals that perish.(M)
The Life of the New Man
3 So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.(A) 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.(B) 3 For you died,(C) and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears,(D) then you also will appear with him in glory.(E)
5 Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity,(F) lust,(G) evil desire, and greed,(H) which is idolatry.(I) 6 Because of these, God’s wrath(J) is coming upon the disobedient,[b] 7 and you once walked in these things when you were living(K) in them. 8 But now, put away(L) all the following: anger,(M) wrath,(N) malice,(O) slander,(P) and filthy language from your mouth.(Q) 9 Do not lie(R) to one another, since you have put off(S) the old self(T) with its practices 10 and have put on(U) the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your[c] Creator.(V) 11 In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.(W)
The Parable of the Rich Fool
13 Someone from the crowd said to him, “Teacher,(A) tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14 “Friend,”[a] he said to him, “who appointed me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 He then told them, “Watch out and be on guard(B) against all greed,(C) because one’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions.”(D)
16 Then he told them a parable:(E) “A rich(F) man’s land was very productive. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops? 18 I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there. 19 Then I’ll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy;(G) eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”’(H)
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool!(I) This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?’(J)
21 “That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure(K) for himself and is not rich toward God.”(L)
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