Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

¹³⁷ Lord, you are righteous,
    and your judgments are right.
¹³⁸ You have ordered your decrees to us rightly,
    and they are very faithful.
¹³⁹ My zeal consumes me
    because my enemies forget your words.
¹⁴⁰ Your word is very pure,
    and your servant loves it.
¹⁴¹ Though I may be small and despised,
    I do not neglect your precepts.
¹⁴² Your righteousness is an eternal righteousness,
    and your instruction^[a] is true.
¹⁴³ Though trouble and anguish overwhelm me,
    your commands remain my delight.
¹⁴⁴ Your righteous decrees are eternal;
    give me understanding, and I will live.

⁵ Moreover, just as wine leads astray the proud and powerful man,
    he^[a] remains restless;
he^[b] has expanded his appetite—
    like the afterlife^[c] or death itself, he^[d] is never satisfied.
He^[e] gathers to himself all of the nations,
    taking captive all of the people for himself.”

⁶ “Will not all of these ridicule him
    with mocking scorn? They will say,
‘Woe to the one who hordes for himself what isn’t his.
    How long will you enrich yourself by extortion?’^[f]
7 Won’t your creditors revolt unexpectedly?
    Won’t those who make you tremble wake up?
        As a result, you’ll become their prey!
⁸ Because you plundered many nations,
    all of their remnants will plunder you.
Human blood has been shed,^[g]
    and violence has been done to^[h] the land,
        to the city, and to all who live in it.”

⁹ “Woe to the one who amasses profit upon unjust profit
    in order to establish his household,
so he can establish a secure place^[i] on the heights
    and escape from the power of evil.
¹⁰ You have brought shame to yourself^[j] by killing many people—
    you are forfeiting your own life.
¹¹ Indeed, the stone will cry out from the wall
    and the rafter will respond from the woodwork.”