Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
21 When I became embittered
and my innermost being[a] was wounded,(A)
22 I was stupid and didn’t understand;
I was an unthinking animal toward you.(B)
23 Yet I am always with you;
you hold my right hand.(C)
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me up in glory.[b](D)
25 Who do I have in heaven but you?
And I desire nothing on earth but you.(E)
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength[c] of my heart,
my portion forever.(F)
27 Those far from you will certainly perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.(G)
28 But as for me, God’s presence is my good.
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
so I can tell about all you do.(H)
22 A good name is to be chosen over great wealth;
favor is better than silver and gold.(A)
3 A sensible person sees danger and takes cover,
but the inexperienced keep going and are punished.(C)
4 Humility, the fear of the Lord,
results in wealth, honor, and life.(D)
5 There are thorns and snares on the way of the crooked;(E)
the one who guards himself stays far from them.
6 Start a youth out on his way;(F)
even when he grows old he will not depart from it.
8 The one who sows injustice will reap disaster,(I)
and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.
11 The one who loves a pure heart
and gracious lips—the king is his friend.(N)
12 The Lord’s eyes keep watch over knowledge,
but he overthrows the words of the treacherous.
13 The slacker says, “There’s a lion outside!
I’ll be killed in the public square!” (O)
14 The mouth of the forbidden woman is a deep pit;
a man cursed by the Lord will fall into it.(P)
15 Foolishness is bound to the heart of a youth;
a rod of discipline will separate it from him.(Q)
16 Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself,
and giving to the rich—both lead only to poverty.(R)
Words of the Wise
17 Listen closely,[c] pay attention to the words of the wise,(S)
and apply your mind to my knowledge.
18 For it is pleasing if you keep them within you
and if they are[d] constantly on your lips.
19 I have instructed you today—even you—
so that your confidence may be in the Lord.
20 Haven’t I written for you thirty sayings[e]
about counsel and knowledge,
21 in order to teach you true and reliable words,
so that you may give a dependable report[f](T)
to those who sent you?(U)
The Whole World Guilty before God
9 What then? Are we any better off?[a] Not at all! For we have already charged that both Jews(A) and Greeks(B) are all under sin,[b](C) 10 as it is written:
There is no one righteous, not even one.
11 There is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away;
all alike have become worthless.
There is no one who does what is good,
not even one.[c](D)
13 Their throat is an open grave;
they deceive with their tongues.[d](E)
Vipers’ venom is under their lips.[e](F)
14 Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.[f](G)
15 Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 ruin and wretchedness are in their paths,
17 and the path of peace they have not known.[g](H)
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.[h](I)
19 Now we know that whatever the law says,(J) it speaks to those who are subject to the law,[i](K) so that every mouth may be shut and the whole world may become subject to God’s judgment.[j](L) 20 For no one will be justified[k] in his sight by the works of the law,(M) because the knowledge of sin comes through the law.(N)
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