Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

35 Unto the end, for the servant of God, David himself.

² The unjust hath said within himself, that he would sin: there is no fear of God before his eyes.

³ For in his sight he hath done deceitfully, that his iniquity may be found unto hatred.

⁴ The words of his mouth are iniquity and guile: he would not understand that he might do well.

⁵ He hath devised iniquity on his bed, he hath set himself on every way that is not good: but evil he hath not hated.

⁶ O Lord, thy mercy is in heaven, and thy truth reacheth, even to the clouds.

⁷ Thy justice is as the mountains of God, thy judgments are a great deep. Men and beasts thou wilt preserve, O Lord:

⁸ O how hast thou multiplied thy mercy, O God! But the children of men shall put their trust under the covert of thy wings.

⁹ They shall be inebriated with the plenty of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the torrent of thy pleasure.

¹⁰ For with thee is the fountain of life; and in thy light we shall see light.

²² And God was angry. And an angel of the Lord stood in the way against Balaam, who sat on the ass, and had two servants with him.

²³ The ass seeing the angel standing in the way, with a drawn sword, turned herself out of the way, and went into the field. And when Balaam beat her, and had a mind to bring her again to the way,

²⁴ The angel stood in a narrow place between two walls, wherewith the vineyards were enclosed.

²⁵ And the ass seeing him, thrust herself close to the wall, and bruised the foot of the rider. But he beat her again:

²⁶ And nevertheless the angel going on to a narrow place, where there was no way to turn aside either to the right hand or to the left, stood to meet him.

²⁷ And when the ass saw the angel standing, she fell under the feet of the rider: who being angry beat her sides more vehemently with a staff.

²⁸ And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said: What have I done to thee? Why strikest thou me, lo, now this third time?

³² But I would have you to be without solicitude. He that is without a wife, is solicitous for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please God.

³³ But he that is with a wife, is solicitous for the things of the world, how he may please his wife: and he is divided.

³⁴ And the unmarried woman and the virgin thinketh on the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she that is married thinketh on the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

³⁵ And this I speak for your profit: not to cast a snare upon you; but for that which is decent, and which may give you power to attend upon the Lord, without impediment.

³⁶ But if any man think that he seemeth dishonoured, with regard to his virgin, for that she is above the age, and it must so be: let him do what he will; he sinneth not, if she marry.

³⁷ For he that hath determined being steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but having power of his own will; and hath judged this in his heart, to keep his virgin, doth well.

³⁸ Therefore, both he that giveth his virgin in marriage, doth well; and he that giveth her not, doth better.

³⁹ A woman is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband die, she is at liberty: let her marry to whom she will; only in the Lord.

⁴⁰ But more blessed shall she be, if she so remain, according to my counsel; and I think that I also have the spirit of God.