Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Psalm 45[a]
Song for a Royal Wedding
1 For the leader; according to “Lilies.” A maskil of the Korahites. A love song.
I
2 My heart is stirred by a noble theme,
as I sing my ode to the king.
My tongue is the pen of a nimble scribe.
6 Your arrows are sharp;
peoples will cower at your feet;
the king’s enemies will lose heart.
7 Your throne, O God,[a] stands forever;(A)
your royal scepter is a scepter for justice.
8 You love justice and hate wrongdoing;
therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness above your fellow kings.
9 With myrrh, aloes, and cassia
your robes are fragrant.
From ivory-paneled palaces[b]
stringed instruments bring you joy.
Chapter 2
1 W I am a flower of Sharon,[a]
a lily of the valleys.
2 M Like a lily among thorns,
so is my friend among women.
3 W Like an apple tree among the trees of the woods,
so is my lover among men.
In his shadow[b] I delight to sit,
and his fruit is sweet to my taste.
4 (A)He brought me to the banquet hall[c]
and his glance at me signaled love.
5 (B)Strengthen me with raisin cakes,[d]
refresh me with apples,
for I am sick with love.
6 (C)His left hand is under my head
and his right arm embraces me.
7 (D)I adjure you, Daughters of Jerusalem,[e]
by the gazelles and the does of the field,
Do not awaken, or stir up love
until it is ready.
9 The brother in lowly circumstances[a] should take pride in his high standing,(A) 10 and the rich one in his lowliness, for he will pass away “like the flower of the field.”(B) 11 For the sun comes up with its scorching heat and dries up the grass, its flower droops, and the beauty of its appearance vanishes. So will the rich person fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
Temptation. 12 (C)Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation,[b] for when he has been proved he will receive the crown of life that he promised to those who love him. 13 [c]No one experiencing temptation should say, “I am being tempted by God”; for God is not subject to temptation to evil, and he himself tempts no one.(D) 14 Rather, each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire conceives and brings forth sin, and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death.
16 [d]Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers:
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.