Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
BOOK III
(Psalms 73–89)
Psalm 73
God’s Ways Vindicated
A psalm of Asaph.(A)
1 God is indeed good to Israel,
to the pure in heart.(B)
2 But as for me, my feet almost slipped;
my steps nearly went astray.(C)
3 For I envied the arrogant;
I saw the prosperity of the wicked.(D)
4 They have an easy time until they die,[a]
and their bodies are well fed.[b](E)
5 They are not in trouble like others;
they are not afflicted like most people.(F)
6 Therefore, pride is their necklace,
and violence covers them like a garment.(G)
7 Their eyes bulge out from fatness;
the imaginations of their hearts run wild.(H)
8 They mock, and they speak maliciously;
they arrogantly threaten oppression.(I)
9 They set their mouths against heaven,
and their tongues strut across the earth.(J)
10 Therefore his people turn to them[c]
and drink in their overflowing words.[d](K)
11 The wicked say, “How can God know?
Does the Most High know everything?” (L)
12 Look at them—the wicked!
They are always at ease,
and they increase their wealth.(M)
13 Did I purify my heart
and wash my hands in innocence for nothing?(N)
14 For I am afflicted all day long
and punished every morning.(O)
15 If I had decided to say these things aloud,
I would have betrayed your people.[e](P)
16 When I tried to understand all this,
it seemed hopeless[f](Q)
17 until I entered God’s sanctuary.
Then I understood their destiny.(R)
18 Indeed, you put them in slippery places;
you make them fall into ruin.(S)
19 How suddenly they become a desolation!
They come to an end, swept away by terrors.(T)
20 Like one waking from a dream,
Lord, when arising, you will despise their image.(U)
21 When I became embittered
and my innermost being[g] was wounded,(V)
22 I was stupid and didn’t understand;
I was an unthinking animal toward you.(W)
23 Yet I am always with you;
you hold my right hand.(X)
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me up in glory.[h](Y)
25 Who do I have in heaven but you?
And I desire nothing on earth but you.(Z)
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength[i] of my heart,
my portion forever.(AA)
27 Those far from you will certainly perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.(AB)
28 But as for me, God’s presence is my good.
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
so I can tell about all you do.(AC)
6 Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:(A)
7 Get ready to answer me like a man;
when I question(B) you, you will inform me.
8 Would you really challenge my justice?
Would you declare me guilty(C) to justify yourself?(D)
9 Do you have an arm like God’s?
Can you thunder with a voice like his?
10 Adorn yourself with majesty(E) and splendor,
and clothe yourself with honor and glory.
11 Pour out your raging anger;(F)
look on every proud person and humiliate him.(G)
12 Look on every proud person and humble him;(H)
trample the wicked where they stand.[a]
13 Hide them together in the dust;
imprison them in the grave.[b]
14 Then I will confess to you
that your own right hand(I) can deliver you.(J)
Job Replies to the Lord
42 Then Job replied to the Lord:
2 I[a] know that you can do anything
and no plan of yours can be thwarted.(A)
3 You asked, “Who is this who conceals my counsel with ignorance?”(B)
Surely I spoke about things I did not understand,
things too wondrous for me to[b] know.(C)
4 You said, “Listen now, and I will speak.
When I question(D) you, you will inform me.”
5 I had heard reports about you,
but now my eyes(E) have seen you.
6 Therefore, I reject my words and am sorry for them;
I am dust and ashes.[c][d]
Peter’s Denial Predicted
31 “Simon, Simon,[a] look out. Satan(A) has asked to sift you[b] like wheat.(B) 32 But I have prayed(C) for you[c] that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen(D) your brothers.”
33 “Lord,”(E) he told him, “I’m ready to go with you both to prison and to death.”
Peter Denies His Lord
54 They seized him, led him away, and brought him into the high priest’s house. Meanwhile Peter(A) was following at a distance. 55 They(B) lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard(C) and sat down together, and Peter sat among them. 56 When a servant saw him sitting in the light, and looked closely at him, she said, “This man was with him too.”
57 But he denied it: “Woman, I don’t know him.”
58 After a little while, someone else saw him and said, “You’re one of them too.”
“Man, I am not!” Peter said.
59 About an hour later, another kept insisting, “This man was certainly with him, since he’s also a Galilean.”
60 But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 61 Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter.(D) So Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”(E) 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.
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