Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
73 1 The Prophet teacheth by his example that neither the worldly prosperity of the ungodly, 14 nor yet the affliction of the good ought to discourage God’s children: but rather ought to move us to consider our Father’s providence, and to cause us to reverence God’s judgments, 19 forasmuch as the wicked vanish away, 24 and the godly enter into life everlasting, 28 in hope whereof he resigneth himself into God’s hands.
A Psalm committed to Asaph.
1 Yet [a]God is good to Israel: even to the pure in heart.
2 As for me, my feet were almost gone: my steps had well near slipped.
3 For I fretted at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are [b]no bands in their death, but they are lusty and strong.
5 They are not in trouble as other men, neither are they plagued with other men.
6 [c]Therefore pride is as a chain unto them, and cruelty covereth them as a garment.
7 Their eyes stand out for fatness: [d]they have more than heart can wish.
8 They are licentious, and speak wickedly of their oppression: they talk presumptuously.
9 They [e]set their mouth against heaven, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10 Therefore his [f]people turn hither: for waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
11 And they [g]say, How doth God know it? or is there knowledge in the most High?
12 Lo these are the wicked, yet prosper they always, and increase in riches.
13 Certainly I have cleansed mine heart in vain, and washed mine hands in innocency.
14 For daily have I been punished, and chastened every morning.
15 If I say, [h]I will judge thus, behold the generation of thy children, I have trespassed.
16 Then thought I to know this, but it was too painful for me,
17 Until I went into the [i]Sanctuary of God: then understood I their end.
18 Surely thou hast set them in slippery places, and castest them down into desolation.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed, perished and [j]horribly consumed,
20 As a dream when one awaketh! O Lord, when [k]thou raisest us up, thou shalt make their image despised.
11 1 False [a]balances are an abomination unto the Lord: but a perfect [b]weight pleaseth him.
2 When pride cometh, then cometh [c]shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
3 The uprightness of the just shall guide them: but the frowardness of the transgressors shall destroy them.
4 (A)Riches avail not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth 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 a wicked man dieth, his hope perisheth, and the hope of the unjust shall perish.
8 The righteous escapeth out of trouble, and the wicked shall come in his [d]stead.
9 An [e]hypocrite with his mouth hurteth his neighbor: but the righteous shall be delivered by knowledge.
10 In the prosperity of the righteous the city [f]rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is joy.
11 By the [g]blessing of the righteous the city is exalted: but it is subverted by the mouth of the wicked.
12 He that despiseth his neighbor, is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding will [h]keep silence.
13 He that goeth about as a slanderer, discovereth a secret: but he that is of a faithful heart, concealeth a matter.
14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but where many [i]counselors are, there is health.
15 He shall be sore vexed, that is surety for a [j]stranger, and he that hateth suretiship, is sure.
16 A [k]gracious woman attaineth honor, and the strong men attain riches.
17 He that is merciful, [l]rewardeth his own soul: but he that troubleth his own [m]flesh, is cruel.
18 The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but he that soweth righteousness, shall receive a sure reward.
19 As righteousness leadeth to life: so he that followeth evil, seeketh his own death.
20 They that are of a froward heart, are abomination to the Lord: but they that are upright in their way, are his delight.
21 [n]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 which [o]lacketh discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good: but the hope of the wicked [p]is indignation.
24 There is that scattereth, [q]and is more increased: but he that spareth more [r]than is right, surely cometh to poverty.
25 The [s]liberal person shall have plenty: and he that watereth, shall also have rain.
26 He that withdraweth the corn, the people will curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that [t]selleth corn.
27 He that seeketh good things getteth favor: but he that seeketh evil, it shall come to him.
28 He that trusteth in his riches, shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a leaf.
29 He that troubleth his own [u]house, shall inherit the wind, and the fool shall be [v]servant to the wise in heart.
30 The fruit of the righteous is as a tree of life, and he that [w]winneth souls is wise.
31 Behold, the righteous shall be [x]recompensed in the earth: how much more the wicked and the sinner?
3 [a]Consider therefore him that endureth such speaking against of sinners, lest ye should be wearied and faint in your minds.
4 [b]Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
5 [c]And ye have forgotten the consolation, which speaketh unto you as unto children, (A)My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, neither faint when thou art rebuked of him.
6 For whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth: and he scourgeth every son that he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God offered himself unto you as unto sons: for what son is it whom the father chasteneth not?
8 If therefore ye be without correction, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
9 [d]Moreover we have had the fathers of our bodies which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: should we not much rather be in subjection unto the father of spirits, that we might live?
10 [e]For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure, but he chastened us for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
11 Now no chastising for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: but afterward, it bringeth the quiet fruit of righteousness, unto them which are thereby exercised.
12 [f]Wherefore lift up your hands which [g]hang down, and your weak knees,
13 And make [h]straight steps unto your feet, lest that which is halting, be turned out of the way, but let it rather be healed.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.