Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
God’s Works and Word
For the director of music. A song of David.
19 The heavens tell the glory of God.
And the skies announce what his hands have made.
2 Day after day they tell the story.
Night after night they tell it again.
3 They have no speech or words.
They don’t make any sound to be heard.
4 But their message goes out through all the world.
It goes everywhere on earth.
The sky is like a home for the sun.
5 The sun comes out like a bridegroom from his bedroom.
It rejoices like an athlete eager to run a race.
6 The sun rises at one end of the sky,
and it follows its path to the other end.
Nothing hides from its heat.
7 The Lord’s teachings are perfect.
They give new strength.
The Lord’s rules can be trusted.
They make plain people wise.
8 The Lord’s orders are right.
They make people happy.
The Lord’s commands are pure.
They light up the way.
9 It is good to respect the Lord.
That respect will last forever.
The Lord’s judgments are true.
They are completely right.
10 They are worth more than gold,
even the purest gold.
They are sweeter than honey,
even the finest honey.
11 They tell your servant what to do.
Keeping them brings great reward.
12 No one can see all his own mistakes.
Forgive me for my secret sins.
13 Keep me from the sins that I want to do.
Don’t let them rule me.
Then I can be pure
and free from the greatest of sins.
14 I hope my words and thoughts please you.
Lord, you are my Rock, the one who saves me.
15 A gentle answer will calm a person’s anger.
But an unkind answer will cause more anger.
2 Wise people use knowledge when they speak.
But fools speak only foolishness.
3 The Lord’s eyes see everything that happens.
He watches both evil and good people.
4 As a tree gives us fruit, healing words give us life.
But evil words crush the spirit.
5 A foolish person rejects his father’s correction.
But anyone who accepts correction is wise.
6 There is much wealth in the houses of good people.
But evil people are paid only with trouble.
7 With their words wise people spread knowledge.
But there is no knowledge in the thoughts of the foolish.
8 The Lord hates the sacrifice that the wicked person offers.
But he is pleased with an honest person’s prayer.
9 The Lord hates what evil people do.
But he loves those who do what is right.
10 The person who quits doing what is right will really be punished.
The one who hates to be corrected will die.
11 The Lord knows what is happening where the dead people are.
So he can surely know what living people are thinking.
12 A person who laughs at wisdom does not like to be corrected.
He will not ask advice from the wise.
13 Happiness makes a person smile.
But sadness breaks a person’s spirit.
14 Smart people want more knowledge.
But a foolish person just wants more foolishness.
15 Every day is hard for those who suffer.
But a happy heart makes it like a continual feast.
16 It is better to be poor and respect the Lord
than to be wealthy and have much trouble.
17 It is better to eat vegetables with those who love you
than to eat meat with those who hate you.
17 It was by faith that Abraham offered his son Isaac as a sacrifice. God made the promises to Abraham. But God tested him. And Abraham was ready to offer his own son as a sacrifice. 18 God had said, “The descendants I promised you will be from Isaac.”[a] 19 Abraham believed that God could raise the dead. And really, it was as if Abraham got Isaac back from death.
20 It was by faith that Isaac blessed the future of Jacob and Esau. 21 It was by faith that Jacob blessed each one of Joseph’s sons. He did this while he was dying. Then he worshiped as he leaned on the top of his walking stick.
22 It was by faith that Joseph spoke about the Israelites leaving Egypt while he was dying. He told them what to do with his body.
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.