Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Psalm 19[a]
For the music director, a psalm of David.
19 The heavens declare the glory of God;[b]
the sky displays his handiwork.[c]
2 Day after day it speaks out;[d]
night after night it reveals his greatness.[e]
3 There is no actual speech or word,
nor is its[f] voice literally heard.
4 Yet its voice[g] echoes[h] throughout the earth;
its[i] words carry[j] to the distant horizon.[k]
In the sky[l] he has pitched a tent for the sun.[m]
5 Like a bridegroom it emerges[n] from its chamber;[o]
like a strong man it enjoys[p] running its course.[q]
6 It emerges from the distant horizon,[r]
and goes from one end of the sky to the other;[s]
nothing can escape[t] its heat.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect
and preserves one’s life.[u]
The rules set down by the Lord[v] are reliable[w]
and impart wisdom to the inexperienced.[x]
8 The Lord’s precepts are fair[y]
and make one joyful.[z]
The Lord’s commands[aa] are pure[ab]
and give insight for life.[ac]
9 The commands to fear the Lord are right[ad]
and endure forever.[ae]
The judgments given by the Lord are trustworthy
and absolutely just.[af]
10 They are of greater value[ag] than gold,
than even a great amount of pure gold;
they bring greater delight[ah] than honey,
than even the sweetest honey from a honeycomb.
11 Yes, your servant finds moral guidance there;[ai]
those who obey them receive a rich reward.[aj]
12 Who can know all his errors?[ak]
Please do not punish me for sins I am unaware of.[al]
13 Moreover, keep me from committing flagrant sins;[am]
do not allow such sins to control me.[an]
Then I will be blameless,
and innocent of blatant[ao] rebellion.
14 May my words and my thoughts
be acceptable in your sight,[ap]
O Lord, my sheltering rock[aq] and my redeemer.[ar]
24 The sluggard has plunged[a] his hand into the dish,
and he will not even bring it back to his mouth![b]
25 Flog[c] a scorner, and as a result the simpleton[d] will learn prudence;[e]
correct a discerning person, and as a result he will understand knowledge.[f]
26 The one who robs[g] his father[h] and chases away his mother
is a son[i] who brings shame and disgrace.
27 If you stop listening to[j] instruction, my child,
you will stray[k] from the words of knowledge.
28 A crooked witness[l] scorns justice,
and the mouth of the wicked devours[m] iniquity.
29 Penalties[n] have been prepared[o] for scorners,
and floggings for the backs of fools.
17 So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead being by itself. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.”[a] Show me your faith without works and I will show you faith by[b] my works. 19 You believe that God is one; well and good.[c] Even the demons believe that—and tremble with fear.[d]
20 But would you like evidence,[e] you empty fellow,[f] that faith without works is useless?[g] 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that his faith was working together with his works and his faith was perfected by works. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Now Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness,”[h] and he was called God’s friend.[i] 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And similarly, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
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