Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Praise for Jerusalem’s Restoration and Prosperity.
147 [a]Praise [b]the Lord!
For (A)it is good to sing praises to our God;
For [c]it is pleasant and praise is (B)becoming.
2 The Lord (C)builds up Jerusalem;
He (D)gathers the outcasts of Israel.
3 He heals the (E)brokenhearted
And (F)binds up their [d]wounds.
4 He (G)counts the number of the stars;
He [e](H)gives names to all of them.
5 (I)Great is our Lord and abundant in strength;
His (J)understanding is [f]infinite.
6 The Lord [g](K)supports the afflicted;
He brings down the wicked to the ground.
7 (L)Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
Sing praises to our God on the lyre,
8 Who (M)covers the heavens with clouds,
Who (N)provides rain for the earth,
Who (O)makes grass to [h]grow on the mountains.
9 He (P)gives to the beast its food,
And to the (Q)young ravens which cry.
10 He does not delight in the strength of the (R)horse;
He (S)does not take pleasure in the legs of a man.
11 The Lord (T)favors those who fear Him,
(U)Those who wait for His lovingkindness.
10 A (A)righteous man has regard for the life of his animal,
But even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.
11 He (B)who tills his land will have plenty of bread,
But he who pursues worthless things lacks [a]sense.
12 The (C)wicked man desires the [b]booty of evil men,
But the root of the righteous (D)yields fruit.
13 [c]An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,
But the (E)righteous will escape from trouble.
14 A man will be (F)satisfied with good by the fruit of his [d]words,
And the (G)deeds of a man’s hands will return to him.
15 The (H)way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.
16 A (I)fool’s anger is known at once,
But a prudent man conceals dishonor.
17 He who [e]speaks truth tells what is right,
But a false witness, deceit.
18 There is one who (J)speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword,
But the (K)tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 Truthful lips will be established forever,
But a (L)lying tongue is only for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
But counselors of peace have joy.
21 (M)No harm befalls the righteous,
But the wicked are filled with trouble.
2 Behold I, (A)Paul, say to you that if you receive (B)circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 And I (C)testify again to every man who receives (D)circumcision, that he is under obligation to (E)keep the whole Law. 4 You have been severed from Christ, you who [a]are seeking to be justified by law; you have (F)fallen from grace. 5 For we [b]through the Spirit, [c]by faith, are (G)waiting for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in (H)Christ Jesus (I)neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but (J)faith working through love.
7 You were (K)running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion did not come from (L)Him who calls you. 9 (M)A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. 10 (N)I have confidence [d]in you in the Lord that you (O)will adopt no other view; but the one who is (P)disturbing you will bear his judgment, whoever he is. 11 But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still (Q)persecuted? Then (R)the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished. 12 I wish that (S)those who are troubling you would even [e](T)mutilate themselves.
13 For you were called to (U)freedom, brethren; (V)only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love (W)serve one another. 14 For (X)the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “(Y)You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you (Z)bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.