Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

19 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork.

² Day upon day uttereth speech, and night upon night showeth knowledge.

³ There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard.

⁴ Their sound has gone forth through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath He set a tabernacle for the sun,

⁵ which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

⁶ His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it; and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

⁷ The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

⁸ The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

⁹ The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever; the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

¹⁰ More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

¹¹ Moreover by them is Thy servant warned, and in keeping of them there is great reward.

¹² Who can understand his errors? Cleanse Thou me from secret faults.

¹³ Keep back Thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me. Then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent of the great transgression.

¹⁴ Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer.

²⁴ A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

²⁵ Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware; reprove one that hath understanding, and he will gain knowledge.

²⁶ He that afflicteth his father and chaseth away his mother is a son that causeth shame and bringeth reproach.

²⁷ Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth thee to err from the words of knowledge.

²⁸ An ungodly witness scorneth judgment, and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.

²⁹ Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.

¹⁷ Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

¹⁸ Yea, a man may say, “Thou hast faith, and I have works.” Show me thy faith apart from thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.

¹⁹ Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well. The devils also believe — and tremble.

²⁰ But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

²¹ Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

²² Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?

²³ And the Scripture was fulfilled which saith, “Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness”; and he was called the friend of God.

²⁴ Ye see then how by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

²⁵ Likewise also, was not Rahab the harlot justified by works when she had received the messengers and had sent them out another way?

²⁶ For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.