Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

⁵ But I stand silently before the Lord, waiting for him to rescue me. For salvation comes from him alone. ⁶ Yes, he alone is my Rock, my rescuer, defense, and fortress—why then should I be tense with fear when troubles come?

⁷ My protection and success^[a] come from God alone. He is my refuge, a Rock where no enemy can reach me. ⁸ O my people, trust him all the time. Pour out your longings before him, for he can help! ⁹ The greatest of men or the lowest—both alike are nothing in his sight. They weigh less than air on scales.

¹⁰ Don’t become rich by extortion and robbery; if your riches increase, don’t be proud. ^11-12 God has said it many times, that power belongs to him (and also, O Lord, steadfast love belongs to you). He rewards each one of us according to what our works deserve.

¹⁴ Yet, cursed be the day that I was born! ¹⁵ Cursed be the man who brought my father the news that a son was born. ¹⁶ Let that messenger be destroyed like the cities of old which God overthrew without mercy. Terrify him all day long with battle shouts ¹⁷ because he did not kill me at my birth! Oh, that I had died within my mother’s womb, that it had been my grave! ¹⁸ Why was I ever born? For my life has been but trouble and sorrow and shame.

¹³ What horrors await you, you cities of Chorazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did for you had been done in the cities of Tyre and Sidon,^[a] their people would have sat in deep repentance long ago, clothed in sackcloth and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse. ¹⁴ Yes, Tyre and Sidon will receive less punishment on the Judgment Day than you. ¹⁵ And you people of Capernaum, what shall I say about you? Will you be exalted to heaven? No, you shall be brought down to hell.”

¹⁶ Then he said to the disciples, “Those who welcome you are welcoming me. And those who reject you are rejecting me. And those who reject me are rejecting God who sent me.”