Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

A song for going up to worship.

Two Are Better Than One

⁹ Two people are better than one because ⌞together⌟ they have a good reward for their hard work. ¹⁰ If one falls, the other can help his friend get up. But how tragic it is for the one who is ⌞all⌟ alone when he falls. There is no one to help him get up. ¹¹ Again, if two people lie down together, they can keep warm, but how can one person keep warm? ¹² Though one person may be overpowered by another, two people can resist one opponent. A triple-braided rope is not easily broken.

Rulers and Fickle Citizens

¹³ A young man who is poor and wise is better than an old, foolish king who won’t take advice any longer.

¹⁴ A young man came out of prison to rule as king, even though he had been born in poverty in that same kingdom. ¹⁵ I saw all living people moving about under the sun. They sided with the second young man, the king’s successor. ¹⁶ There was no end to all those people, everyone whom he led.^[a] But those who will come later will not be happy with the successor. Even this is pointless. ⌞It’s like⌟ trying to catch the wind.

Advice to Rich People

5 Pay attention to this if you’re rich. Cry and moan about the misery that is coming to you. ² Your riches have decayed, and your clothes have been eaten by moths. ³ Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be used as evidence against you. Like fire, it will destroy your body.

You have stored up riches in these last days. ⁴ The wages you refused to pay the people who harvested your fields shout ⌞to God⌟ against you. The Lord of Armies has heard the cries of those who gather the crops. ⁵ You have lived in luxury and pleasure here on earth. You have fattened yourselves for the day of slaughter. ⁶ You have condemned and murdered people who have God’s approval, even though they didn’t resist you.