Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
21 When my soul was embittered,
when I was pricked in heart,
22 I was (A)brutish and ignorant;
I was like (B)a beast toward you.
23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
you (C)hold my right hand.
24 You (D)guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will (E)receive me to glory.
25 (F)Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
26 (G)My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is (H)the strength[a] of my heart and my (I)portion (J)forever.
29 (A)He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck,
will suddenly be (B)broken (C)beyond healing.
2 When (D)the righteous increase, the people rejoice,
but when (E)the wicked rule, the people groan.
3 He who (F)loves wisdom makes his father glad,
but (G)a companion of prostitutes (H)squanders his wealth.
4 By justice a king (I)builds up the land,
but he who exacts gifts[a] tears it down.
5 (J)A man who flatters his neighbor
spreads (K)a net for his feet.
6 An evil man is (L)ensnared in his transgression,
but a righteous man (M)sings and rejoices.
7 A righteous man (N)knows the rights of the poor;
a wicked man does not (O)understand such knowledge.
8 (P)Scoffers set a city aflame,
but the wise turn away wrath.
9 If a wise man has an argument with a fool,
the fool only rages and laughs, and there is (Q)no quiet.
10 Bloodthirsty men (R)hate one who is blameless
and seek the life of the upright.[b]
11 A fool gives full vent to his spirit,
but a wise man quietly holds it back.
12 If a ruler listens to falsehood,
all his officials will be wicked.
13 The poor man and the oppressor (S)meet together;
the Lord (T)gives light to the eyes of both.
14 If a king (U)faithfully judges the poor,
his throne will (V)be established forever.
15 (W)The rod and reproof give wisdom,
but a child left to himself (X)brings shame to his mother.
16 When the wicked increase, transgression increases,
but (Y)the righteous will look upon their downfall.
17 (Z)Discipline your son, and he will give you rest;
he will give delight to your heart.
18 Where (AA)there is no prophetic vision the people (AB)cast off restraint,[c]
but blessed is he who (AC)keeps the law.
19 By mere words a servant is not disciplined,
for though he understands, he will not respond.
20 Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?
(AD)There is more hope for a fool than for him.
21 Whoever pampers his servant from childhood
will in the end find him his heir.[d]
22 (AE)A man of wrath stirs up strife,
and one given to anger causes much transgression.
23 (AF)One's pride will bring him low,
(AG)but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.
24 The partner of a thief (AH)hates his own life;
(AI)he hears the curse, but discloses nothing.
25 (AJ)The fear of man lays a snare,
but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.
26 Many (AK)seek the face of a ruler,
but it is from the Lord that a man (AL)gets justice.
27 (AM)An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous,
but one whose way is straight is an abomination to the wicked.
Can This Be the Christ?
25 Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, “Is not this the man whom (A)they seek to kill? 26 And here he is, (B)speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that (C)the authorities really know that this is the Christ? 27 But (D)we know (E)where this man comes from, and when the Christ appears, (F)no one will know where he comes from.” 28 So Jesus proclaimed, (G)as he taught in the temple, (H)“You know me, and you know where I come from. But (I)I have not come of my own accord. (J)He who sent me is true, (K)and him you do not know. 29 (L)I know him, for I come (M)from him, and (N)he sent me.” 30 (O)So they were seeking to arrest him, but (P)no one laid a hand on him, (Q)because his hour had not yet come. 31 Yet (R)many of the people believed in him. They said, (S)“When the Christ appears, will he do more signs than this man has done?”
Officers Sent to Arrest Jesus
32 The Pharisees heard the crowd (T)muttering these things about him, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent (U)officers to arrest him. 33 Jesus then said, (V)“I will be with you a little longer, and then (W)I am going to him who sent me. 34 (X)You will seek me and you will not find me. Where I am you cannot come.” 35 The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we will not find him? (Y)Does he intend to go to (Z)the Dispersion among (AA)the Greeks and teach the Greeks? 36 What does he mean by saying, (AB)‘You will seek me and you will not find me,’ and, ‘Where I am you cannot come’?”
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.