Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

³ You can't depend on anyone,
    not even a great leader.
⁴ Once they die and are buried,
that will be the end
    of all their plans.

⁵ The Lord God of Jacob blesses
everyone who trusts him
    and depends on him.
^6 (A) God made heaven and earth;
he created the sea
    and everything else.
God always keeps his word.
⁷ He gives justice to the poor
    and food to the hungry.

The Lord sets prisoners free
⁸     and heals blind eyes.
He gives a helping hand
    to everyone who falls.
The Lord loves good people
⁹     and looks after strangers.
He defends the rights
of orphans and widows,
    but destroys the wicked.

¹⁰ The Lord God of Zion
will rule forever!
    Shout praises to the Lord!

⁴ Lawbreakers praise criminals,
but law-abiding citizens
    always oppose them.
⁵ Criminals don't know
    what justice means,
but all who respect the Lord
    understand it completely.
⁶ It's better to be poor
    and live right,
than to be rich
    and dishonest.

⁷ It makes good sense
    to obey the Law of God,
but you disgrace your parents
if you make friends
    with worthless nobodies.
⁸ If you make money by charging
    high interest rates,
you will lose it all to someone
    who cares for the poor.
⁹ God cannot stand the prayers
of anyone who disobeys
    his Law.
¹⁰ By leading good people to sin,
    you dig a pit for yourself,
but all who live right
    will have a bright future.