Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
The Works and the Word of God.
For the choir director. A Psalm of David.
19 The (A)heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And their (B)expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
2 Day to (C)day pours forth speech,
And (D)night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words;
Their voice is not heard.
4 Their [a](E)line has gone out through all the earth,
And their utterances to the end of the world.
In them He has (F)placed a tent for the sun,
5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber;
It rejoices as a strong man to run his course.
6 Its (G)rising is from [b]one end of the heavens,
And its circuit to the [c]other end of them;
And there is nothing hidden from its heat.
7 (H)The law of the Lord is [d](I)perfect, (J)restoring the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is (K)sure, making (L)wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the Lord are (M)right, (N)rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is (O)pure, (P)enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are (Q)true; they are (R)righteous altogether.
10 They are more desirable than (S)gold, yes, than much fine gold;
(T)Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them (U)Your servant is warned;
In keeping them there is great (V)reward.
12 Who can (W)discern his errors? (X)Acquit me of (Y)hidden faults.
13 Also keep back Your servant (Z)from presumptuous sins;
Let them not (AA)rule over me;
Then I will be [e](AB)blameless,
And I shall be acquitted of (AC)great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and (AD)the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, (AE)my rock and my (AF)Redeemer.
24 The (A)sluggard buries his hand (B)in the dish,
But will not even bring it back to his mouth.
25 (C)Strike a scoffer and the [a]naive may become shrewd,
But (D)reprove one who has understanding and he will [b]gain knowledge.
26 He (E)who assaults his father and drives his mother away
Is a shameful and disgraceful son.
27 Cease listening, my son, to discipline,
And you will stray from the words of knowledge.
28 A rascally witness makes a mockery of justice,
And the mouth of the wicked [c](F)spreads iniquity.
29 [d]Judgments are prepared for (G)scoffers,
And (H)blows for the back of fools.
17 Even so (A)faith, if it has no works, is [a]dead, being by itself.
18 (B)But someone [b]may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your (C)faith without the works, and I will (D)show you my faith (E)by my works.” 19 You believe that [c](F)God is one. (G)You do well; (H)the demons also believe, and shudder. 20 But are you willing to recognize, (I)you foolish fellow, that (J)faith without works is useless? 21 (K)Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that (L)faith was working with his works, and [d]as a result of the (M)works, faith was [e]perfected; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “(N)And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called (O)the friend of God. 24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not (P)Rahab the harlot also justified by works (Q)when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also (R)faith without works is dead.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.