Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Psalm 127
The Blessing of the Lord
A song of ascents. Of Solomon.
The Mystery of Injustice and Death
16 I also observed under the sun: there is wickedness at the place of judgment and there is wickedness at the place of righteousness.(A) 17 I said to myself, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked,(B) since there is a time for every activity and every work.”(C) 18 I said to myself, “This happens so that God may test the children of Adam and they may see for themselves that they are like animals.”(D) 19 For the fate of the children of Adam and the fate of animals is the same.(E) As one dies, so dies the other; they all have the same breath. People have no advantage over animals since everything is futile. 20 All are going to the same place; all come from dust, and all return to dust.(F) 21 Who knows if the spirits of the children of Adam go upward and the spirits of animals go downward to the earth? 22 I have seen that there is nothing better than for a person to enjoy his activities(G) because that is his reward. For who can enable him to see what will happen after he dies?[a](H)
4 Again, I observed all the acts of oppression being done under the sun.(I) Look at the tears of those who are oppressed; they have no one to comfort them. Power is with those who oppress them; they have no one to comfort them. 2 So I commended the dead,(J) who have already died, more than the living, who are still alive. 3 But better than either of them is the one who has not yet existed,(K) who has not seen the evil activity that is done under the sun.
The Loneliness of Wealth
4 I saw that all labor and all skillful work is due to one person’s jealousy of another.(L) This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.[b](M)
5 The fool folds his arms(N)
and consumes his own flesh.(O)
6 Better one handful with rest
than two handfuls with effort and a pursuit of the wind.(P)
7 Again, I saw futility under the sun: 8 There is a person without a companion,[c] without even a son or brother, and though there is no end to all his struggles, his eyes are still not content with riches.(Q) “Who am I struggling for,” he asks, “and depriving myself of good things?” This too is futile and a miserable task.
Speaking to God and Others
2 Devote yourselves(A) to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us that God may open a door(B) to us for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ,(C) for which I am in chains,(D) 4 so that I may make it known as I should. 5 Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time.(E) 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt,(F) so that you may know how you should answer each person.(G)
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