Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

125 Those who trust in the Lord are steady as Mount Zion, unmoved by any circumstance.

² Just as the mountains surround and protect Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds and protects his people. ³ For the wicked shall not rule the godly, lest the godly be forced to do wrong. ⁴ O Lord, do good to those who are good, whose hearts are right with the Lord; ⁵ but lead evil men to execution. And let Israel have quietness and peace.

1 These are the proverbs of King Solomon of Israel, David’s son:

² He wrote them to teach his people how to live—how to act in every circumstance, ³ for he wanted them to be understanding, just, and fair in everything they did. ⁴ “I want to make the simpleminded wise!” he said. “I want to warn young men about some problems they will face. ^5-6 I want those already wise to become wiser and become leaders by exploring the depths of meaning in these nuggets of truth.”

^7-9 How does a man become wise? The first step is to trust and reverence the Lord!

Only fools refuse to be taught. Listen to your father and mother. What you learn from them will stand you in good stead; it will gain you many honors.^[a]

¹⁰ If young toughs tell you, “Come and join us”—turn your back on them! ¹¹ “We’ll hide and rob and kill,” they say. ¹² “Good or bad, we’ll treat them all alike. ¹³ And the loot we’ll get! All kinds of stuff! ¹⁴ Come on, throw in your lot with us; we’ll split with you in equal shares.”

¹⁵ Don’t do it, son! Stay far from men like that, ¹⁶ for crime is their way of life, and murder is their specialty. ¹⁷ When a bird sees a trap being set, it stays away, ¹⁸ but not these men; they trap themselves! They lay a booby trap for their own lives. ¹⁹ Such is the fate of all who live by violence and murder.^[b] They will die a violent death.

2 “Well,” you may be saying, “what terrible people you have been talking about!” But wait a minute! You are just as bad. When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are talking about yourselves, for you do these very same things. ² And we know that God, in justice, will punish anyone who does such things as these. ³ Do you think that God will judge and condemn others for doing them and overlook you when you do them, too? ⁴ Don’t you realize how patient he is being with you? Or don’t you care? Can’t you see that he has been waiting all this time without punishing you, to give you time to turn from your sin? His kindness is meant to lead you to repentance.

⁵ But no, you won’t listen; and so you are saving up terrible punishment for yourselves because of your stubbornness in refusing to turn from your sin; for there is going to come a day of wrath when God will be the just Judge of all the world. ⁶ He will give each one whatever his deeds deserve. ⁷ He will give eternal life to those who patiently do the will of God,^[a] seeking for the unseen glory and honor and eternal life that he offers. ⁸ But he will terribly punish those who fight against the truth of God and walk in evil ways—God’s anger will be poured out upon them. ⁹ There will be sorrow and suffering for Jews and Gentiles alike who keep on sinning. ¹⁰ But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who obey him,^[b] whether they are Jews or Gentiles. ¹¹ For God treats everyone the same.