Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

²¹ My heart was troubled and I was hurt inside. ²² I was without reason and did not know better. I was like an animal before You. ²³ Yet I am always with You. You hold me by my right hand. ²⁴ You will lead me by telling me what I should do. And after this, You will bring me into shining-greatness.

²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but You? I want nothing more on earth, but You. ²⁶ My body and my heart may grow weak, but God is the strength of my heart and all I need forever. ²⁷ For, see, those who are far from You will be lost from You forever. You have destroyed all those who are not faithful to You. ²⁸ But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Lord God my safe place. So I may tell of all the things You have done.

22 A good name is to be chosen instead of many riches. Favor is better than silver and gold.

² The rich and the poor meet together. The Lord is the maker of them all. ³ A wise man sees sin and hides himself, but the foolish go on, and are punished for it.

⁴ The reward for not having pride and having the fear of the Lord is riches, honor and life.

⁵ Thorns and traps are in the way of the sinful. He who watches himself will stay far from them.

⁶ Bring up a child by teaching him the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn away from it.

⁷ The rich rules over the poor. The man who uses something that belongs to someone else is ruled by the one who let him use it.

⁸ He who plants sin will gather trouble, and the heavy stick of his anger will break.

⁹ He who gives much will be honored, for he gives some of his food to the poor.

¹⁰ Send away the man who laughs at the truth, and arguing, fighting and shame will stop.

¹¹ He who loves a pure heart and is kind in his speaking has the king as his friend.

¹² The eyes of the Lord keep watch over much learning, but He destroys the words of the man who is not faithful.

¹³ The lazy man says, “There is a lion outside! I will be killed in the streets!”

¹⁴ The mouth of a sinful woman is a deep hole. He with whom the Lord is angry will fall into it.

¹⁵ A foolish way is held in the heart of a child, but the punishing stick will send it far from him.

¹⁶ He who makes it hard for the poor by getting more for himself, or who gives to the rich, will become poor himself.

¹⁷ Turn your ear and hear the words of the wise, and open your mind to what they teach. ¹⁸ For it will be pleasing if you keep them in your heart, so they may be ready on your lips. ¹⁹ I have taught you today, even you, so that your trust may be in the Lord. ²⁰ Have I not written to you great things of wise teaching and much learning ²¹ to show you that the words of truth are sure, so you may give a true answer to him who sent you?

⁹ What about it then? Are we Jews better than the people who are not Jews? Not at all! I have already said that Jews and the people who are not Jews are all sinners. ¹⁰ The Holy Writings say, “There is not one person who is right with God. No, not even one! ¹¹ There is not one who understands. There is not one who tries to find God.” ^{(A) 12} Everyone has turned away from God. They have all done wrong. Not one of them does what is good. No, not even one! ¹³ Their mouth is like an open grave. They tell lies with their tongues. ^(B) Whatever they say is like the poison of snakes. ¹⁴ Their mouths speak bad things against God. They say bad things about other people. ^{(C) 15} They are quick to hurt and kill people. ¹⁶ Wherever they go, they destroy and make people suffer. ¹⁷ They know nothing about peace. ^{(D) 18} They do not honor God with love and fear.” ^(E)

¹⁹ Now we know that the Law speaks to those who live under the Law. No one can say that he does not know what sin is. Yes, every person in the world stands guilty before God. ²⁰ No person will be made right with God by doing what the Law says. The Law shows us how sinful we are.