Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
1 ¶ Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet almost departed from the way; my steps had almost slipped.
3 For I became angry against the foolish when I saw the peace of the wicked.
4 Because there is no restraint that would bring about their death, but their strength is firm.
5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
6 Therefore they are crowned with pride; they cover themselves with violence as a garment.
7 Their eyes stand out with fatness; they easily obtain the desires of their heart.
8 They are lawless and speak wickedly of doing violence; they speak loftily.
9 They set their mouth against heaven, and their tongue walks through the earth.
10 Therefore his people shall return here; and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
11 And they say, How does God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
12 Behold, these ungodly men, without being troubled by the world obtain riches.
13 Verily, in vain have I cleansed my heart and washed my hands in innocency
14 and been plagued all day long and chastened every morning:
15 ¶ If I should say, I will speak as they do; behold, I should deny the generation of thy sons.
16 I shall meditate that I might understand this; it is very hard for me to see.
17 When I come into the sanctuary of God, then I shall understand their end.
18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places; in desolation thou shalt cause them to fall.
19 How they are brought into desolation, as in a moment! They have come to an end; they are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 As the dream of one who awakes; so, O Lord, when thou shalt rise up, thou shalt despise their appearances.
11 ¶ A false balance is abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is his delight.
2 ¶ When pride comes, then comes shame, but with the humble is wisdom.
3 ¶ The perfection of the upright shall guide them in the way, but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.
4 ¶ Riches shall not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness shall deliver from death.
5 ¶ The righteousness of the perfect shall straighten his way, but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them, but transgressors shall be imprisoned in their own sin.
7 ¶ When the wicked man dies, his hope perishes, and the hope of unjust men shall perish.
8 ¶ The righteous is delivered out of the tribulation, and the wicked takes his place.
9 ¶ The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbour, but the just are delivered with wisdom.
10 ¶ When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish, there are feasts.
11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12 ¶ He that is void of understanding despises his neighbour, but the intelligent man remains silent.
13 A talebearer reveals secrets, but he that is of a faithful spirit conceals the matter.
14 ¶ When intelligence is lacking, the people shall fall, but in the multitude of counsellors there is salvation.
15 ¶ With anxiety shall he that is surety for a stranger be afflicted, and he that hates suretiship shall live securely.
16 ¶ The gracious woman retains honour, and strong men retain riches.
17 ¶ The merciful man does good to his own soul, but the cruel man troubles his own flesh.
18 ¶ The wicked works a deceitful work, but to him that sows righteousness shall be a sure reward.
19 ¶ As righteousness is unto life, so he that pursues evil pursues it unto his own death.
20 ¶ They that are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the LORD, but such as are perfect in their way are his delight.
21 ¶ No matter how many covenants he has made with death, the wicked shall not be absolved, but the seed of the righteous shall escape.
22 ¶ As a gold ring in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.
23 ¶ The desire of the righteous is only good, but the hope of the wicked is wrath.
24 ¶ There are those who scatter, and more is added unto them; and there are those who withhold more than is just, but come to poverty.
25 ¶ The soul who is a blessing unto others shall be made fat, and he that fills shall be filled also himself.
26 ¶ He that withholds the grain, the people shall curse him, but blessing shall be upon the head of him that sells it.
27 ¶ He that seeks good early shall find favour, but unto him that seeks evil, it shall come upon him.
28 ¶ He that trusts in his riches shall fall, but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.
29 ¶ He that troubles his own house shall inherit the wind, and the fool shall be slave to the wise of heart.
30 ¶ The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he that wins souls is wise.
31 ¶ The righteous shall certainly be recompensed in the earth; how much more the wicked and the sinner!
3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself lest ye be wearied in your souls and faint.
4 ¶ Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, fighting against sin.
5 And ye have quite forgotten the consolation which speaks unto you as unto sons, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art reproved of him:
6 for whom the Lord loves, he chastens and scourges everyone whom he receives as a son.
7 If ye endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father does not chasten?
8 But if ye are without chastisement, of which all the sons are partakers, then ye are bastards, and not sons.
9 Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh who corrected us, and we gave them reverence; is it not much better to be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and we shall live?
10 For they verily for a few days chastened us as it seemed good unto them, but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
11 It is true that no chastening at present seems to be cause for joy, but rather for grief; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto those who are exercised by it.
12 Therefore, lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees,
13 and make straight steps unto your feet, so that which is lame will not turn out of the way, but let it rather be healed.
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