◀ All Reading Plans / Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous) / Psalm 148 (God’s splendor is over earth and heaven); Proverbs 1:1-7 (Grow in wisdom and knowledge); James 3:13-18 (The wisdom from above) (New Catholic Bible)

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January 2, 2018

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Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Daily Bible readings that follow the church liturgical year, with sequential stories told across multiple weeks.

Duration: 1245 days

Psalm 148

Psalm 148^[a]

Song of the Universe

¹^[b]Alleluia.

Praise the Lord from the heavens;
    offer praise to him in the heights!
²Praise him, all his angels;
    offer praise to him, all his hosts!^[c]
³Praise him, sun and moon;
    offer praise to him, all you shining stars!
⁴Praise him, you highest heavens,^[d]
    and you waters above the heavens.
⁵Let them praise the name^[e] of the Lord,
    for it was at his command that they were created.
⁶He established them in place forever and ever;
    he issued a law that will never pass away.^[f]
⁷^[g]Praise the Lord from the earth,
    you sea monsters and ocean depths,
⁸fire and hail, snow and clouds,
    storm winds that carry out his word,^[h]
⁹all mountains and hills,
    all fruit trees and cedars,
¹⁰wild animals and all cattle,
    creeping creatures and flying birds,^[i]
¹¹kings of the earth and all nations,
    princes and all rulers on the earth,
¹²young men and women,
    the elderly, as well as children.^[j]
¹³^[k]Let them all praise the name of the Lord,
    for his name alone is exalted;
    his majesty is above the earth and the heavens.^[l]
¹⁴He has raised high a horn^[m] for his people,
    to the glory of all his saints,
    for the people of Israel who are close to him.
Alleluia.

Footnotes

Psalm 148:1 The exiles have returned home, the temple has been rebuilt, and its precincts have been restored. God has reestablished the people he loves. What a testament to his glory (vv. 13-14). Joy invades all hearts and expands to worldwide dimensions. The whole universe and all earthly creatures are invited to praise the Lord, the Creator and Redeemer. This theme also permeates the next two psalms, forming the conclusion and the synthesis of the Psalter.
We can pray this psalm to exhort all creation, both animate and inanimate, to praise the Triune God not only as the Creator but also as the Savior and Sanctifier. For although all creation is presently subject to vanity, it hopes to be freed from corruption so as to enter into the freedom of God’s children, when God will transform the universe with a new heaven and a new earth (see Rom 8:19-22; Rev 21:1-5). May the angels and saints of heaven do likewise.
Psalm 148:1 The psalmist calls upon all creatures in the heavens to praise the Lord because of his creative and redeeming acts.
Psalm 148:2 See Ps 103:20f; Job 38:7.
Psalm 148:4 See Gen 1:6f; 1 Ki 8:27; 2 Cor 12:2; Eph 4:10. Highest heavens: literally, “the heavens of the heavens,” i.e., the space above the “expanse,” which separated the “waters above” from the “waters below” (see Ps 104:3, 13; Gen 1:6f).
Psalm 148:5 Name: see note on Ps 5:12.
Psalm 148:6 See Jer 31:35f.
Psalm 148:7 The psalmist now calls upon all creatures on earth to praise the Lord: sea creatures, depths, the powers of nature, mountains and hills, fruit trees and the cedars, animals and birds, and finally all human beings, including the powerful as well as the young and old.
Psalm 148:8 Carry out his word: i.e., “do his bidding” (see Ps 147:15).
Psalm 148:10 See Gen 1:21, 24f; Isa 43:20.
Psalm 148:12 See Jer 31:13.
Psalm 148:13 The psalmist gives the reasons behind the praise: God is the exalted Ruler, who is not subject to the limitations of the earth or the heavens, and he has unique concern for his people, i.e., those devoted to him, his saints.
Psalm 148:13 See Pss 108:5; 113:2-4.
Psalm 148:14 Horn: i.e., the Lord’s anointed (see note on Ps 18:3; see also Ps 2:2); it may also refer to the strength and power of God’s people (see Ps 92:11; 1 Sam 2:1; Jer 48:25; Lam 2:17). Saints: see notes on Pss 4:3; 34:10.

Proverbs 1:1-7

Preface of the Redactor^[a]

Chapter 1

¹The proverbs of Solomon,^[b] the son of David king of Israel:

²Designed to enable people to appreciate wisdom^[c] and discipline
    and to comprehend words that foster insight,
³to acquire instruction in upright conduct,
    righteousness, justice, and honesty,
⁴so that prudence^[d] may be imparted to the simple,
    and the young may gain knowledge and discretion.
⁵By listening to them the wise will add to their learning,
    and those gifted with discernment will increase their ability
⁶to perceive the meaning of proverbs and obscure sayings,
    the words of the sages and their riddles.
⁷The fear of the Lord^[e] is the beginning of knowledge;
    fools are those who despise wisdom and instruction.

Footnotes

Proverbs 1:1 The final formulation of the Book of Proverbs—which took place in the fifth or fourth century B.C.—represents the end of a lengthy process. This set of collections in which very diverse maxims and sayings are piled up, often without any order, requires an introduction. This has been composed by a writer whose concern is to emphasize the value of wisdom for the life of the people of his time.
In accordance with an ancient custom in the matter of wisdom, the masters who taught it placed it under the patronage of a sage; our author chooses Solomon and attributes the whole Book of Proverbs to him (see 1 Ki 4:32; Eccl 1:1; Song 1:1). The sapiential reflection of Israel certainly did not cease after this exceptional king, whose prestige was based first and foremost on his balanced and sound discernment. It was perhaps in his time (tenth century B.C.) that the line of these teachers of morality, the sages, began.
Wisdom is an ancient value, and it is handed over only to the person who knows how to listen and study and to become a disciple: “Listen, my son” is a formula that recurs endlessly. This conception of things has been formed in the experience of life, the reflection of schools, and the consciousness of a people. In making use of ancient sayings, one is initiated not into formulas but into an act of doing and thinking, into a way of life that is both human and religious. Wisdom is certainly knowledge but not one that is theoretical; rather, it is a knowledge of how to act, a teaching and understanding of life. It can find its deepest source in the fear of the Lord, i.e., in faith and devotion, in fidelity to the law, in a word, in the certainty that the Lord is present in one’s life.
Wisdom is ancient but it is also a treasure! For everyone is invited to learn it, i.e., to experience the values that give true meaning to a person’s life.
Proverbs 1:1 Solomon: the First Book of Kings (5:12) mentions the wisdom of Solomon as well as his creation of proverbs and songs. He also appears in the headings of Proverbs in 10:1; 25:1 (see also Eccl 1:1, “son of David”; Song 1:1).
Proverbs 1:2 Wisdom: i.e., skill in living, in accord with God’s plan. The Book of Proverbs advises its readers to obtain wisdom (4:5), for it is more valuable than silver or gold (3:13-14). In the New Testament, Christ is called the wisdom from God (1 Cor 1:30; see Col 2:3). Discipline: a way of forming people that eliminates ignorance and leads them away from evil.
Proverbs 1:4 Prudence: right judgment and good sense (see Prov 15:5; 19:25). Simple: those lacking in maturity and experience and hence easily persuaded for good or evil (see Ps 19:8).
Proverbs 1:7 This verse sets forth the foundation of all religion and the theme of the Book (see Prov 9:10; 31:30) as well as the motto of the Wisdom Books (Job 28:28; Ps 111:10; Eccl 12:13; Sir 1:18, 24; 19:17). Fear of the Lord: reverential respect for God that leads to submission to his lordship and obedience to his commands (Eccl 12:13). Fools: those who oppose knowledge (Prov 1:22), resent any kind of correction (Prov 12:1), get into quarrels (Prov 20:3), give in to anger (Prov 29:11), are complacent (Prov 1:32), and trust in themselves (Prov 28:26) rather than in God (Ps 14:1).

James 3:13-18

¹³True Wisdom and Its Opposite.^[a] Who among you is wise and understanding? Prove by your good life that your works are done with the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴But if your hearts are filled with bitter envy and selfish ambition, do not be boastful in defiance of the truth.

¹⁵Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. ¹⁶For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disharmony and every type of wickedness.

¹⁷However, the wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, and considerate, full of mercy and good fruits, without any trace of partiality or hypocrisy. ¹⁸And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who are peacemakers.

New Catholic Bible (NCB)

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Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Psalm 148[a]

Song of the Universe

Footnotes

Preface of the Redactor[a]

Chapter 1

Footnotes

Footnotes

Psalm 148^[a]

Preface of the Redactor^[a]