Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Oppression by the Wicked
For the choir director: according to Sheminith.(A) A psalm of David.
12 Help, Lord, for no faithful one remains;
the loyal have disappeared from the human race.[a](B)
2 They lie to one another;
they speak with flattering lips and deceptive hearts.(C)
3 May the Lord cut off all flattering lips
and the tongue that speaks boastfully.(D)
4 They say, ‘Through our tongues we have power;
our lips are our own – who can be our master? ’(E)
5 ‘Because of the devastation of the needy
and the groaning of the poor,
I will now rise up,’ says the Lord.
‘I will provide safety for the one who longs for it.’(F)
6 The words of the Lord are pure words,
like silver refined in an earthen furnace,
purified seven times.(G)
7 You, Lord, will guard us;[b]
you will protect us[c] from this generation for ever.(H)
8 The wicked prowl[d] all around,
and what is worthless is exalted by the human race.(I)
19 Although I am free from all and not anyone’s slave, I have made myself a slave to everyone, in order to win(A) more people. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law – though I myself am not under the law[a] – to win those under the law.(B) 21 To those who are without the law,(C) like one without the law – though I am not without God’s law but under the law of Christ – to win those without the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some.(D) 23 Now I do all this because of the gospel, so that I may share in the blessings.
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