Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
73 Truly, God is good to Israel, to the pure in heart!
2 As for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had very nearly slipped.
3 For I envied the boastful when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no pains in their death; but they are lusty and strong.
5 They are not in trouble as other men, nor are they plagued like other men.
6 Therefore, pride is as a necklace to them, and cruelty covers them as a garment.
7 Their eyes bulge with fatness. They have more than heart can wish.
8 They mock and wickedly speak of oppression. They talk presumptuously.
9 They set their mouth against Heaven, and their tongue walks through the Earth.
10 Therefore, his people return here; for waters of abundance are drained by them,
11 and they say, “How does God know it?” or “Is there knowledge in the Most High?”
12 Lo, these are the wicked; yet they always prosper and increase in riches.
13 Certainly, I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence.
14 For I have been punished daily and chastened every morning.
15 If I say, “I will judge like this,” behold, I have trespassed the generation of Your children.
16 When I tried to understand this, it was too painful for me,
17 Then I went into the Sanctuary of God, and I understood their end.
18 Surely, You have set them in slippery places, and cast them down into desolation.
19 How suddenly they are destroyed, ended and horribly consumed,
20 As a dream when one awakes, O LORD, shall You make their image despised when You raise us up.
32 “Therefore, now listen to me, O children. For blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 “Hear instruction and be wise. And do not refuse it. Blessed is the man who hears me; watching daily at my gates; giving attendance at the posts of my doors.
34 “For whoever finds me, finds life, and shall obtain favor from the LORD.
35 “But whoever sins against me, hurts his own soul. All who hate me, love death.”
9 Wisdom has built her house; hewn out her seven pillars.
2 She has killed her victuals, drawn her wine, and prepared her table.
3 She has sent forth her maidens; cries upon the highest places of the city, saying,
4 “Whoever is simple, let him come here.” To whomever is destitute of wisdom, she says,
5 “Come, eat of my food and drink of the wine I have drawn.
6 “Forsake foolishness and you shall live, and walk in the way of understanding.
29 By faith, they passed through the Red Sea, as by dry land (in which the Egyptians, when they had tried to do so, were swallowed up).
30 By faith, the walls of Jericho fell down after they were surrounded for seven days.
31 By faith, the prostitute Rahab, when she had received the spies peaceably, did not perish with those who disobeyed.
32 And what more shall I say? For the time would be too short for me to tell of Gideon, of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthah, also of David, and Samuel, and of the Prophets;
33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained the promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, made the weak strong, became valiant in battle, turned the armies of the aliens to flight.
35 The women received their dead raised to life again. Also, others were tortured and refused deliverance so that they might receive a better resurrection.
36 And others have been tried by mockings and scourgings, and moreover by bonds and imprisonment.
37 They were stoned. They were sawn in two. They were tempted. They were killed with the sword. They wandered up and down in sheep’s skins, and in goats’ skins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented.
38 Those of whom the world was not worthy wandered in wildernesses and mountains, and dens, and caves of the Earth.
39 And through faith, these all obtained a good report. And yet, they did not receive the promise;
40 God providing a better thing for us, so that they would not be made perfect apart from us.
12 Therefore, seeing that we are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also cast away everything that presses down and the sin that so easily entangles. Let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 looking to Jesus - the Author and Finisher of our faith - Who, for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross and despised the shame and is set at the right hand of the throne of God.
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