Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
To the director: To Jeduthun. A psalm of Asaph.
Remembering God in Times of Trouble
77 I cry out to God!
I cry out to God and he hears me.
2 When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
my hands were raised at night
and they did not grow weary.
I refused to be comforted.
3 I remember God, and I groan;
I meditate, while my spirit grows faint.
4 You kept my eyes open;
I was troubled and couldn’t speak.
5 I thought of ancient times,
considering years long past.
6 During the night I remembered my song.
I meditate in my heart,
and my spirit ponders.
7 Will the Lord reject me[a] forever
and not show favor again?
8 Has his gracious love ceased forever?
Will his promise be unfulfilled in future generations?
9 Has God forgotten to be gracious?
Has he in anger withheld his compassion?
10 So I say: “It causes me pain
that the right hand of the Most High has changed.”
11 I will remember the Lord’s deeds;
indeed, I will remember your awesome deeds from long ago.
12 As I meditate on all your works,
I will consider your awesome deeds.
13 God, your way is holy.
What god is like our great God?
14 God, you are the one performing awesome deeds.
You reveal your might among the nations.
15 You delivered[b] your people—
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph—
with your power.
16 The waters saw you, God;
the waters saw you and writhed.
Indeed, the depths of the sea quaked.
17 The clouds poured rain;
the skies rumbled.
Indeed, your lightning bolts flashed.[c]
18 Your thunderous sound was in a whirlwind;
your lightning lights up the world;
the earth becomes agitated and quakes.
19 Your way was through the sea,
and your path through mighty waters,
but your footprints cannot be traced.[d]
20 You have led your people like a flock
by the hands of Moses and Aaron.
God Can be Trusted in Adversity
8 “Now as for me, I would seek God if I were you;[a]
I would commit my case to God.
9 He is always doing great things that cannot be explained,
countless awesome deeds.
10 He sends rain on the surface of the earth,
and waters the surface of the open country.
11 He sets the lowly on high,
and lifts those who mourn to safety.[b]
12 He frustrates the plans of the crafty;
so that what they work for never succeeds.
13 He captures the wise in their own craftiness,
bringing a quick end to their cunning advice.
14 They meet with darkness in broad daylight;
at noonday they grope around as if it were night.
15 So he delivers from the sword of their mouth—
the poor from the power[c] of the mighty.
16 Therefore there is hope for those who are poor,
and iniquity shuts its mouth.
17 “Indeed, how blessed is the person whom God reproves!
So never disrespect the discipline of the Almighty,
18 because though he wounds, but then applies bandages;
though he strikes, his hands still heal.
19 “He will deliver you through six calamities;
and calamity won’t touch you throughout the seventh.
20 He will deliver you from death by famine;
in war from the power[d] of the sword.
21 You’ll be protected from the accusing[e] tongue;
you need not fear destruction when it heads your way.
22 You’ll laugh at destruction and famine;
and you need not fear the beasts of the earth.
23 For you’ll have a pact[f] with the stones in the field;
and the beasts of the field will be at peace with you.
24 You’ll know that your home[g] is secure;
when you search your possessions, and nothing will be missing.
25 You’ll know that you’ll have many children;
and that your offspring will be like the grass of the earth.
26 You’ll go to your grave at a ripe old age;
like a stack of grain that’s harvested at just the right time.
27 “Look! We have thought all this through,
and what we’ve said is true;[h]
So please listen and learn for your own good!”
When You are Wronged
8 Finally, all of you must live in harmony, be sympathetic, love as brothers, and be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not pay others back evil for evil or insult for insult. Instead, keep blessing them, because you were called to inherit a blessing.
10 “For the person who wants to love life
and see good days
must keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from speaking deceit.
11 He must turn away from evil and do good.
He must seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the Lord[a] watches the righteous,[b]
and he pays attention to their prayers.[c]
But the Lord[d] opposes those[e] who do wrong.”[f]
13 Who will harm you if you are devoted to doing what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. “Never be afraid of their threats, and never get upset. 15 Instead, exalt[g] the Messiah”[h] as Lord in your lives.[i] Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you to explain the hope you have. 16 But do this[j] gently and respectfully, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak evil of your good conduct in the Messiah[k] will be ashamed of slandering you. 17 After all, if it is the will of God, it is better to suffer for doing right than for doing wrong.
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