Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

¹³⁷ You are righteous, O Yahweh,
and your ordinances are upright.
¹³⁸ You have ordained your testimonies in righteousness,
and in exceeding faithfulness.
¹³⁹ My zeal consumes me,
because my enemies have forgotten your words.
¹⁴⁰ Your word is very pure,
and your servant loves it.
¹⁴¹ I am small and despised,
yet I do not forget your precepts.
¹⁴² Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
and your law is truth.
¹⁴³ Trouble and anguish have found me;
your commands delight me.
¹⁴⁴ The righteousness of your testimonies is forever;
give me understanding that I may live.

⁵ How much less^[a] the defiant;^[b]
    the arrogant, treacherous man?
He who broadens his throat like Sheol,
    and who, like death, is not satisfied,
and who gathers to himself all the nations,
    and harvested for himself all the peoples,
    will not succeed.
⁶ Shall not all of these take up a taunt against him,
    with ridicule and riddles against him, saying,
‘Woe to him who heaps up what is not his’?
    For how long?
    And, ‘Woe to him who makes himself heavy with pledges’?
⁷ Will not your creditors suddenly rise up
    and awaken those who make you tremble?
    Then you shall be as plunder for them.
⁸ Because you plundered many nations,
    all the remaining nations will plunder you
on account of the blood of humanity
    and violence against the land,
    and against cities and all who live in them.
⁹ Woe to him who obtains profit from evil gain for his house,
    to set his nest on high,
    to be saved from the hand of misfortune!
¹⁰ You have plotted shame for your house,
    cutting off many peoples
    and sinning against your life.
¹¹ For the stone will cry out from the wall,
    and the plaster from the wood will answer it.