Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
73 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3 For I was envious of the foolish when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no bands in their death, but their strength is firm.
5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
7 Their eyes stand out with fatness; they have more than heart could wish.
8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression; they speak loftily.
9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10 Therefore His people return hither, and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
11 And they say, “How doth God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?”
12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain and washed my hands in innocence.
14 For all the day long have I been plagued and chastened every morning.
15 If I say, “I will speak thus,” behold, I should offend against the generation of Thy children.
16 When I thought to understand this, it was too painful for me,
17 until I went into the sanctuary of God. Then understood I their end:
18 surely Thou didst set them in slippery places. Thou didst cast them down into destruction!
19 How they are brought into desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors!
20 As a dream when one awaketh, so, O Lord, when Thou awakest, Thou shalt despise their image.
11 A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is His delight.
2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame, but with the lowly is wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.
4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivereth from death.
5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way, but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them, but the transgressors shall be taken in their own wickedness.
7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish; and the hope of unjust men perisheth.
8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
9 A hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbor, but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.
10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth; and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12 He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbor, but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.
13 A talebearer revealeth secrets, but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
14 Where no counsel is, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.
15 He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it, and he that hateth suretyship is sure.
16 A gracious woman retaineth honor, and strong men retain riches.
17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul, but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
18 The wicked worketh a deceitful work, but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.
19 As righteousness tendeth to life, so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.
20 They that are of a froward heart are an abomination to the Lord, but such as are upright in their ways are His delight.
21 Though they join hand in hand, the wicked shall not go unpunished; but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
22 As is a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so also is a fair woman who is without discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good, but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 There is one that scattereth and yet prospereth; and there is another that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.
25 The liberal soul shall prosper, and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
26 He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him; but blessings shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.
27 He that diligently seeketh good procureth favor; but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.
28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall, but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.
29 He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind, and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he that winneth souls is wise.
31 Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed on earth; much more shall the wicked and the sinner!
3 For consider Him that endured such contradiction from sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
4 In striving against sin, ye have not yet resisted unto bloodshed.
5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children: “My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked by Him;
6 for whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth.”
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all arepartakers, then ye are bastards and not sons.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh who corrected us, and we gave them reverence. Shall we not far rather be in subjection unto the Father of Spirits, and live?
10 For verily they chastened us for a few days according to their own pleasure, but He for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness.
11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto those who are exercised thereby.
12 Therefore, lift up the hands which hang down and the feeble knees,
13 and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way, but let it rather be healed.
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