Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

¹³⁷ You are righteous, Lord,^(A)
and your judgments are just.
¹³⁸ The decrees you issue are righteous
and altogether trustworthy.^(B)
139 My anger overwhelms me
because my foes forget your words.^(C)
140 Your word is completely pure,^(D)
and your servant loves it.^(E)
141 I am insignificant and despised,^(F)
but I do not forget your precepts.^(G)
142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
and your instruction is true.^(H)
143 Trouble and distress have overtaken me,
but your commands are my delight.^(I)
144 Your decrees are righteous forever.^(J)
Give me understanding, and I will live.

⁵ Look at the nations^[a](A) and observe^(B)—
be utterly astounded!^(C)
For I am doing something in your days
that you will not believe^(D)
when you hear about it.^(E)
6 Look! I am raising up^(F) the Chaldeans,^[b]
that bitter,^(G) impetuous nation
that marches across the earth’s open spaces
to seize territories not its own.
⁷ They are fierce^(H) and terrifying;
their views of justice and sovereignty
stem from themselves.
⁸ Their horses are swifter^(I) than leopards^(J)
and more fierce^[c] than wolves of the night.
Their horsemen charge ahead;
their horsemen come from distant lands.
They fly like eagles, swooping to devour.^(K)
9 All of them come to do violence;
their faces^(L) are set in determination.^[d]
They gather^(M) prisoners like sand.^(N)
10 They mock^(O) kings,
and rulers are a joke to them.
They laugh^(P) at every fortress
and build siege ramps to capture^(Q) it.
¹¹ Then they sweep^(R) by like the wind
and pass through.
They are guilty;^[e] their strength is their god.

¹² Are you not from eternity, Lord my God?^(S)
My Holy One,^(T) you^[f] will not die.
Lord, you appointed them to execute judgment;
my Rock,^(U) you destined them to punish us.
¹³ Your eyes^(V) are too pure^(W) to look on evil,
and you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.
So why do you tolerate those who are treacherous?^(X)
Why are you silent
while one^[g] who is wicked swallows up
one^[h] who is more righteous than himself?
¹⁴ You have made mankind
like the fish of the sea,^(Y)
like marine creatures that have no ruler.
¹⁵ The Chaldeans pull them all up with a hook,
catch them in their dragnet,^(Z)
and gather them in their fishing net;
that is why they are glad and rejoice.
¹⁶ That is why they sacrifice to their dragnet
and burn incense to their fishing net,
for by these things their portion is rich
and their food plentiful.^(AA)
17 Will they therefore empty their net
and continually slaughter nations without mercy?