Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
BOOK THREE
(Psalms 73–89)
Psalm 73
A psalm by Asaph.
1 Elohim is truly good to Israel,
to those whose lives are pure.
2 But my feet had almost stumbled.
They had almost slipped
3 because I was envious of arrogant people
when I saw the prosperity that wicked people enjoy.
4 They suffer no pain.
Their bodies are healthy.
5 They have no drudgery in their lives like ordinary people.
They are not plagued with problems like others.
6 That is why they wear arrogance like a necklace
and acts of violence like clothing.
7 Their eyes peer out from their fat faces,[a]
and their imaginations run wild.
8 They ridicule.
They speak maliciously.
They speak arrogantly about oppression.
9 They verbally attack heaven,
and they order people around on earth.
10 That is why Elohim’s people turn to wickedness[b]
and swallow their words.
11 Then wicked people ask, “What does Elohim know?”
“Does Elyon know anything?”
12 Look how wicked they are!
They never have a worry.
They grow more and more wealthy.
13 I’ve received no reward for keeping my life pure
and washing my hands of any blame.
14 I’m plagued with problems all day long,
and every morning my punishment begins again.
15 If I had said, “I will continue to talk like that,”
I would have betrayed Elohim’s people.
16 But when I tried to understand this,
it was too difficult for me.
17 Only when I came into Elohim’s holy place
did I finally understand what would happen to them.
18 You put them in slippery places
and make them fall into ruin.
19 They are suddenly destroyed.
They are completely swept away by terror!
20 As someone gets rid of a dream when he wakes up,
so you, O Adonay, get rid of the thought of them
when you wake up.
21 When my heart was filled with bitterness
and my mind was seized with envy,
22 I was stupid, and I did not understand.
I was like a dumb animal in your presence.
23 Yet, I am always with you.
You hold on to my right hand.
24 With your advice you guide me,
and in the end you will take me to glory.
25 As long as I have you,
I don’t need anyone else in heaven or on earth.
26 My body and mind may waste away,
but Elohim remains the foundation of my life
and my inheritance forever.
27 Without a doubt, those who are far from you will die.
You destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28 Being united with Elohim is my highest good.
I have made Adonay Yahweh my Machseh
so that I may report everything that he has done.
The Lord Threatens to Bring a Famine by Locusts
7 This is what Adonay Yahweh showed me: He was preparing swarms of locusts when the second crop was being harvested. It was the harvest that followed the harvest for the king. 2 When the locusts had finished eating every plant in the land, I said, “Adonay Yahweh, please forgive us! How can the descendants of Jacob survive? There are so few of them.”
3 Yahweh changed his plans about this. “This won’t happen,” Yahweh said.
The Lord Threatens to Bring a Drought by Fire
4 This is what Adonay Yahweh showed me: Adonay Yahweh was calling for judgment by fire. The fire dried up the ocean and burned up the land. 5 Then I said, “Adonay Yahweh, please stop! How can the descendants of Jacob survive? There are so few of them.”
6 Yahweh changed his plans about this. “This won’t happen either,” Adonay Yahweh said.
Guidelines for the Church
18 Timothy, my child, I’m giving you this order about the prophecies that are still coming to you: Use these prophecies in faith and with a clear conscience to fight this noble war. 19 Some have refused to let their faith guide their conscience and their faith has been destroyed like a wrecked ship.[a] 20 Among these people are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan in order to teach them not to dishonor God.
The Names of God Bible (without notes) © 2011 by Baker Publishing Group.