Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

125 Those who trust in the Lord are steady as Mount Zion, unmoved by any circumstance.

² Just as the mountains surround and protect Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds and protects his people. ³ For the wicked shall not rule the godly, lest the godly be forced to do wrong. ⁴ O Lord, do good to those who are good, whose hearts are right with the Lord; ⁵ but lead evil men to execution. And let Israel have quietness and peace.

8 ^1-3 Can’t you hear the voice of wisdom? She is standing at the city gates and at every fork in the road, and at the door of every house. Listen to what she says: ^4-5 “Listen, men!” she calls. “How foolish and naive you are! Let me give you understanding. O foolish ones, let me show you common sense! ^6-7 Listen to me! For I have important information for you. Everything I say is right and true, for I hate lies and every kind of deception. ⁸ My advice is wholesome and good. There is nothing of evil in it. ⁹ My words are plain and clear to anyone with half a mind—if it is only open! ¹⁰ My instruction is far more valuable than silver or gold.”

¹¹ For the value of wisdom is far above rubies; nothing can be compared with it. ¹² Wisdom and good judgment live together, for wisdom knows where to discover knowledge and understanding. ¹³ If anyone respects and fears God, he will hate evil. For wisdom hates pride, arrogance, corruption, and deceit of every kind.

^14-16 “I, Wisdom, give good advice and common sense. Because of my strength, kings reign in power, and rulers make just laws. ¹⁷ I love all who love me. Those who search for me shall surely find me. ¹⁸ Unending riches, honor, justice, and righteousness are mine to distribute. ¹⁹ My gifts are better than the purest gold or sterling silver! ²⁰ My paths are those of justice and right. ²¹ Those who love and follow me are indeed wealthy. I fill their treasuries. ²² The Lord formed me in the beginning, before he created anything else.^{[a] 23} From ages past, I am. I existed before the earth began. ²⁴ I lived before the oceans were created, before the springs bubbled forth their waters onto the earth, ²⁵ before the mountains and the hills were made. ²⁶ Yes, I was born before God made the earth and fields and the first handfuls of soil.

^27-29 “I was there when he established the heavens and formed the great springs in the depths of the oceans. I was there when he set the limits of the seas and gave them his instructions not to spread beyond their boundaries. I was there when he made the blueprint for the earth and oceans. ³⁰ I was the craftsman at his side. I was his constant delight, rejoicing always in his presence. ³¹ And how happy I was with what he created—his wide world and all his family of mankind!

²¹ Jesus then left that part of the country and walked the fifty miles to Tyre and Sidon.^[a]

²² A woman from Canaan who was living there came to him, pleading, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, King David’s Son! For my daughter has a demon within her, and it torments her constantly.”

²³ But Jesus gave her no reply—not even a word. Then his disciples urged him to send her away. “Tell her to get going,” they said, “for she is bothering us with all her begging.”

²⁴ Then he said to the woman, “I was sent to help the Jews—the lost sheep of Israel—not the Gentiles.”

²⁵ But she came and worshiped him and pled again, “Sir, help me!”

²⁶ “It doesn’t seem right to take bread from the children and throw it to the dogs,” he said.

²⁷ “Yes, it is!” she replied, “for even the puppies beneath the table are permitted to eat the crumbs that fall.”

²⁸ “Woman,” Jesus told her, “your faith is large, and your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed right then.

²⁹ Jesus now returned to the Sea of Galilee and climbed a hill and sat there. ³⁰ And a vast crowd brought him their lame, blind, maimed, and those who couldn’t speak, and many others, and laid them before Jesus, and he healed them all. ³¹ What a spectacle it was! Those who hadn’t been able to say a word before were talking excitedly, and those with missing arms and legs had new ones; the crippled were walking and jumping around, and those who had been blind were gazing about them! The crowds just marveled and praised the God of Israel.