Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

146 Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
² 
While I live I will praise the Lord;
I will sing praises to my God as long as I live.
³ 
Do not trust in princes,
In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation (help).
⁴ 
When his spirit leaves him, he returns to the earth;
In that very day his thoughts and plans perish.^(A)
5 
How blessed and graciously favored is he whose help is the God of Jacob (Israel),
Whose hope is in the Lord his God,^(B)
6 
Who made heaven and earth,
The sea, and all that is in them,
Who keeps truth and is faithful forever,^(C)
7 
Who executes justice for the oppressed,
Who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets free the prisoners.

¹¹ 
The rich man [who is conceited and relies on his wealth instead of God] is wise in his own eyes,
But the poor man who has understanding [because he relies on God] is able to see through him.
¹² 
When the righteous triumph, there is great glory and celebration;
But when the wicked rise [to prominence], men hide themselves.
¹³ 
He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
But whoever confesses and ^[a]turns away from his sins will find compassion and mercy.^(A)
14 
Blessed and favored by God is the man who fears [sin and its consequence] at all times,
But he who hardens his heart [and is determined to sin] will fall into disaster.
¹⁵ 
Like a roaring lion and a charging bear
Is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
¹⁶ 
A leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding and common sense [and his wickedness shortens his days],
But he who hates unjust gain will [be blessed and] prolong his days.
¹⁷ 
A man who is burdened with the guilt of human blood (murder)
Will be a fugitive until death; let no one support him or give him refuge.
¹⁸ 
He who walks blamelessly and uprightly will be kept safe,
But he who is crooked (perverse) will suddenly fall.
¹⁹ 
He who cultivates his land will have plenty of bread,
But he who follows worthless people and frivolous pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
²⁰ 
A faithful (right-minded) man will abound with blessings,
But he who hurries to be rich will not go unpunished.^(B)
21 
To have regard for one person over another and to show favoritism is not good,
Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress.
²² 
He who has an evil and envious eye hurries to be rich
And does not know that poverty will come upon him.^(C)
23 
He who [appropriately] reprimands a [wise] man will afterward find more favor
Than he who flatters with the tongue.
²⁴ 
He who robs his father or his mother
And says, “This is no sin,”
Is [not only a thief but also] the companion of a man who destroys.
²⁵ 
An arrogant and greedy man stirs up strife,
But he who trusts in the Lord will be blessed and prosper.
²⁶ 
He who trusts confidently in his own heart is a [dull, thickheaded] fool,
But he who walks in [skillful and godly] wisdom will be rescued.^(D)
27 
He who gives to the poor will never want,
But he who shuts his eyes [from their need] will have many curses.^(E)
28 
When the wicked rise [to power], men hide themselves;
But when the wicked perish, the [consistently] righteous increase and become great.^(F)