Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

For it is good to sing praises unto our God;
    for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.

² The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
    He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.
³ He heals the broken in heart,
    and binds up their wounds.
⁴ He counts the number of the stars;
    He calls them all by their names.
⁵ Great is our Lord and great in power;
    His understanding is without measure.
⁶ The Lord lifts up the meek;
    He casts the wicked down to the ground.

⁷ Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving;
    sing praise upon the harp unto our God:
⁸ who covers the heaven with clouds,
    who provides rain for the earth,
    who makes grass to grow upon the mountains.
⁹ He gives food to the animals
    and to the young ravens that chirp.

¹⁰ He delights not in the strength of the horse,
    nor does He take pleasure in the legs of a man,
¹¹ but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him,
    in those who hope in His mercy.

Praise the Lord!

² “Bear with me a little, and I will show you
    that I have yet to speak on God’s behalf.
³ I will bring my knowledge from afar
    and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
⁴ For truly my words will not be false;
    He who is perfect in knowledge is with you.

⁵ “Behold, God is mighty and despises no one;
    He is mighty in strength and wisdom.
⁶ He does not preserve the life of the wicked,
    but gives justice to the poor.
⁷ He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous;
    but they are on the throne with kings,
    for He establishes them forever, and they are exalted.
⁸ If they are bound in chains
    and held in cords of affliction,
⁹ then He shows them their work,
    and their transgressions that they have exceeded;
¹⁰ and He opens their ear to discipline,
    and commands that they turn from iniquity.
¹¹ If they obey and serve Him,
    they will spend their days in prosperity
    and their years in pleasures.
¹² But if they do not obey,
    they will perish by the sword,
    and they will die without knowledge.

¹³ “But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath;
    they do not cry out when He binds them.
¹⁴ They die in youth,
    and their life ends among the unclean.
¹⁵ He delivers the poor in their affliction,
    and opens their ears in oppression.

¹⁶ “Even so He would have removed you out of distress
    into a broad place where there is no restraint;
    and that which was set on your table would be full of richness.
¹⁷ But you are filled with the judgment due the wicked;
    judgment and justice take hold of you.
¹⁸ Because there is wrath, beware lest He take you away with a blow;
    even a great ransom cannot deliver you.
¹⁹ Will He esteem your riches?
    No, not gold, nor all the force of your strength.
²⁰ Do not desire the night,
    when people are cut off in their place.
²¹ Take heed! Do not turn to iniquity,
    for you have chosen this rather than affliction.

²² “Behold, God is exalted in His power;
    who teaches like Him?
²³ Who has prescribed His way for Him?
    Or who can say, ‘You have worked iniquity’?