Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

³ The wicked will not rule
    over those who do right.
If they did, the people who do right
    might use their power to do evil.

⁴ Lord, be good to those who are good,
    whose hearts are honest.
⁵ But, Lord, when you punish those who do evil,
    also punish those who stop following you.

Let there be peace in Israel.

² They teach wisdom and self-control.
    They give understanding.
³ They will teach you how to be wise and self-controlled.
    They will teach you what is honest and fair and right.
⁴ They give the ability to think to those with little knowledge.
    They give knowledge and good sense to the young.
⁵ Wise people should also listen to them and learn even more.
    Even they can find good advice in these words.
⁶ Then they will be able to understand wise words and stories.
    They will understand the words of wise men and their riddles.

⁷ Knowledge begins with respect for the Lord.
    But foolish people hate wisdom and discipline.

¹⁰ My child, sinners will try to lead you into sin.
    But do not follow them.
¹¹ They might say, “Come with us.
    Let’s ambush and kill someone.
    Let’s attack some harmless person just for fun.
¹² Let’s swallow them alive, as death does.
    Let’s swallow them whole, as the grave does.
¹³ We will take all kinds of valuable things.
    We will fill our houses with what we steal.
¹⁴ Come join us,
    and we will share with you what we steal.”
¹⁵ My child, do not go along with them.
    Do not do what they do.
¹⁶ They run to do evil.
    They are quick to kill.
¹⁷ It is useless to spread out a net
    right where the birds can see it!
¹⁸ These men are setting their own trap.
    They will only catch themselves!
¹⁹ All greedy people end up this way.
    Greed takes away the life of the greedy person.