Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

⁸ Lord God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; ^Tof hosts], hear my prayer;
    God of Jacob [^Canother name for Israel], ·listen to me [give ear]. ·Selah [Interlude]
⁹ God, look at our shield [^Cthe king];
    be kind to your ·appointed king [anointed; Messiah; ^Cthe king, ultimately Jesus; Acts 4:25–28].

¹⁰ One day in your courtyards is better
    than a thousand days anywhere else.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the Temple of my God
    than live in the ·homes [^Ltents] of the wicked.
¹¹ The Lord God is like a sun and shield;
    the Lord gives us ·kindness [mercy; grace] and ·honor [glory].
He does not hold back anything good
    from those ·whose lives are innocent [^Lwho walk in innocence/blamelessness].
¹² Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; ^Tof hosts],
    ·happy [blessed] are the people who ·trust [have confidence in] you!

“·The Lord has filled my heart with joy [^LMy heart rejoices/exults in the Lord];
    ·I feel very strong in the Lord [My strength/^Lhorn is exalted/lifted up in the Lord; ^Ca lifted horn symbolizes strength, based on an animal lifting its head triumphantly]
·I can laugh at [^LMy mouth mocks/derides] my enemies;
    I ·am glad [rejoice/delight] because you have ·helped [saved; rescued; delivered] me!

² “There is no one ·holy [set apart] like the Lord.
    There is no ·God but [one besides] you;
there is no Rock like our God.

³ “·Don’t continue bragging [Talk/Boast no more so proudly/haughtily],
    ·don’t speak proud words [don’t let such arrogance come out of your mouth].
The Lord is a God who ·knows everything [is wise],
    and he ·judges [weighs] what people do.

⁴ “The bows of ·warriors [the mighty] ·break [are shattered],
    but ·weak people [^Lthose who stumbled/tottered] ·become strong [^Lgird on strength].
⁵ Those who ·once had plenty of food [were well fed] now ·must work [hire themselves out] for ·food [bread],
    but people who were hungry ·are hungry no more [grow fat].
The woman who ·could not have children [was barren] now ·has [^Lgives birth to] seven,
    but the woman who had many children now ·is sad [^Lwastes away; languishes].

⁶ “The Lord ·sends death [kills],
    and he ·brings to [gives] life.
He ·sends people to the grave [brings down to Sheol; ^Cthe grave or the place of the dead],
    and he raises ·them to life again [^Lup].
⁷ The Lord makes some people poor,
    and others he makes rich.
He ·makes some people humble [brings low/down],
    and others he ·makes great [lifts up; exalts].
⁸ The Lord ·raises [lifts] the poor up from the dust,
    and he lifts the needy from the ·ashes [garbage heap].
He ·lets the poor sit [sets/seats the poor] with princes
    and ·receive [^Lthey inherit] a throne of honor.

“The ·foundations [pillars] of the earth belong to the Lord,
    and the Lord ·set [poised] the world upon them.
⁹ He ·protects [^Lguards the feet/steps of] those who are ·loyal [faithful] to him,
    but ·evil people [the wicked] will ·be silenced [disappear] in darkness.
    ·Power is not the key to success [^LFor no one succeeds/prevails by strength alone].
¹⁰ The Lord ·destroys [shatters] ·his enemies [those who oppose/fight against him];
    he will thunder ·in [from] heaven against them.
The Lord will judge ·all [throughout; ^Lthe ends of] the earth.
    He will give ·power [strength] to his king
    and ·make his appointed king strong [^Lexalt the horn of his anointed/anointed one; 2:1].”

¹⁸ “If it is very hard for a ·good [righteous] person to be saved,
    ·the wicked person and the sinner will surely be lost! [or What will happen to the wicked person and the sinner?; Prov. 11:31]”