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.
11 False balances are an abomination to the LORD. But a perfect weight pleases Him.
2 When pride comes, then comes shame. But wisdom is with the lowly.
3 The uprightness of the just shall guide them. But the crookedness of the transgressors shall destroy them.
4 Riches do not avail on the Day of Wrath. But righteousness delivers from death.
5 The righteousness of the upright shall direct his way. But the wicked shall fall in his own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the just shall deliver them. But the transgressors shall be taken in their own wickedness.
7 When the wicked die, hope perishes. And the hope of the unjust shall perish.
8 The righteous escapes out of trouble. And it comes to the wicked instead.
9 A hypocrite hurts his neighbor with his mouth. But the righteous shall be delivered by knowledge.
10 In the prosperity of the righteous, the city rejoices. And when the wicked perish, there is joy.
11 By the blessing of the righteous the city is exalted. But it is subverted by the mouth of the wicked.
12 He who despises his neighbor, is destitute of wisdom. But a man of understanding will keep silence.
13 He who goes about as a slanderer, discovers a secret. But he who is of a faithful heart, conceals a matter.
14 Where no counsel is, the people fall. But where many counselors are, there is health.
15 He shall suffer who is a guarantor for a stranger. And he who hates guaranty, is sure.
16 A gracious woman attains honor. And the strong men attain riches.
17 He who is merciful rewards his own soul. But he who troubles his own flesh, is cruel.
18 The wicked work a deceitful work. But he who sows righteousness, shall receive a sure reward.
19 As righteousness leads to life, so he who follows evil seeks his own death.
20 Those who are of a perverse heart, are abomination to the LORD. But those who are upright in their way, are His delight.
21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished. But the seed of the righteous shall escape.
22 As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman who lacks discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good; the hope of the wicked, indignation.
24 There is one who scatters and is more increased. But one who spares more than is right, surely comes to poverty.
25 The liberal person shall have plenty. And he who waters, shall also have rain.
26 He who withholds the corn, the people will curse. But blessing shall be upon the head of him who sells corn.
27 He who seeks good things, gets favor. But he who seeks evil, it shall come to him.
28 He who trusts in his riches, shall fall. But the righteous shall flourish as a leaf.
29 He who troubles his own house, shall inherit the wind. And the fool shall be servant to the wise in heart.
30 The fruit of the righteous is as a tree of life. And he who wins souls is wise.
31 Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed on the Earth; how much more the wicked and the sinner?
3 Therefore, consider Him Who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not be wearied and faint in your minds.
4 In striving against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of bloodshed.
5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to children, “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked by Him.
6 “For whom the Lord loves, he chastens. And He scourges every son that He receives.”
7 If you endure chastening, God offered Himself to you as to sons. For what son is it whom the Father does not chasten?
8 Therefore, if you are without correction - of which all are partakers - then you are bastards, and not sons.
9 Moreover, we have had the fathers of our bodies who corrected us, and we gave them reverence. Should we not be in all the more subjection to the Father of Spirits, in order that we might live?
10 For indeed they chastened us for a few days, as it pleased them. But He chastened us for our profit, so that we might be partakers of His holiness.
11 Now, no chastising seems joyous at the time, but grievous. Yet afterward, it brings the quiet fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it.
12 Therefore, lift up your hands which hang down, and your weak knees,
13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that which is halting is not turned out of the way. But rather, let it be healed.
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