Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

³ Look deep down into my heart.
    Study me carefully at night and test me.
    You won’t find anything wrong.
I have planned nothing evil.
    My mouth has not said sinful things.
⁴ Though evil people tried to pay me to do wrong,
    I have not done what they wanted.
Instead I have done what you commanded.
⁵ My steps have stayed on your paths.
    My feet have not slipped.

⁶ My God, I call out to you because you will answer me.
    Listen to me. Hear my prayer.
⁷ Show me the wonders of your great love.
    By using your great power,
    you save those who go to you for safety from their enemies.
⁸ Take good care of me, just as you would take care of your own eyes.
    Hide me in the shadow of your wings.
⁹ Save me from the sinful people who want to destroy me.
    Save me from my deadly enemies who are all around me.

¹⁰ They make their hearts hard and stubborn.
    Their mouths speak with pride.
¹¹ They have tracked me down. They are all around me.
    Their eyes watch for a chance to throw me to the ground.
¹² They are like a hungry lion, waiting to attack.
    They are like a powerful lion, hiding in the bushes.

¹³ Lord, rise up. Oppose them and bring them down.
    With your sword, save me from those evil people.
¹⁴ Lord, by your power save me from people like that.
    They belong to this world. They get their reward in this life.

May what you have stored up for evil people fill their bellies.
    May their children’s stomachs be filled with it.
    And may there even be leftovers for their little ones.
¹⁵ You will show that I am right; I will enjoy your blessing.
    When I wake up, I will be satisfied because I will see you.

“Those who trust in human beings are under my curse.
    They depend on human strength.
    Their hearts turn away from me.
⁶ They will be like a bush in a dry and empty land.
    They will not enjoy success when it comes.
They will live in dry places in the desert.
    It is a land of salt where no one else lives.

⁷ “But I will bless anyone who trusts in me.
    I will do good things for the person who depends on me.
⁸ They will be like a tree planted near water.
    It sends out its roots beside a stream.
It is not afraid when heat comes.
    Its leaves are always green.
It does not worry when there is no rain.
    It always bears fruit.”

⁹ A human heart is more dishonest than anything else.
    It can’t be healed.
    Who can understand it?

¹⁰ The Lord says, “I look deep down inside human hearts.
    I see what is in people’s minds.
I reward each person in keeping with their conduct.
    I bless them based on what they have done.”

¹¹ Some people get rich by doing sinful things.
    They are like a partridge that hatches eggs it didn’t lay.
When their lives are half over, their riches will desert them.
    In the end they will prove how foolish they have been.

¹² Our temple is where the Lord’s glorious throne is.
    From the beginning it has been high and lifted up.
¹³ Lord, you are Israel’s only hope.
    Everyone who deserts you will be put to shame.
The names of those who turn away from you will be listed among the dead.
    Lord, they have deserted you.
    You are the spring of water that gives life.

¹⁴ Lord, heal me. Then I will be healed.
    Save me from my enemies. Then I will be saved.
    You are the one I praise.
¹⁵ They keep saying to me,
    “What has happened to the message the Lord gave you?
    Let it come true right now!”
¹⁶ I haven’t run away from being the shepherd of your people.
    You know I haven’t wanted the day of Jerusalem’s fall to come.
    You are aware of every word that comes from my lips.
¹⁷ Don’t be a terror to me.
    When I’m in trouble, I go to you for safety.
¹⁸ Let those who attack me be put to shame.
    But keep me from shame.
Let them be terrified.
    But keep me from terror.
Bring the day of trouble on them.
    Destroy them once and for all.