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.
29 A man who does not listen after many strong words are spoken to him will be destroyed all at once and without help.
2 When those who are right with God rule, the people are glad, but when a sinful man rules, the people have sorrow.
3 A man who loves wisdom makes his father glad, but he who goes with women who sell the use of their bodies wastes his money.
4 The king makes the land strong by doing what is right and fair, but the one who takes pay for doing wrong, destroys it.
5 A man who gives his neighbor sweet-sounding words that are not true spreads a net for his own feet.
6 A sinful man is trapped by his sins, but a man who is right with God sings for joy.
7 The man who is right with God cares about the rights of poor people, but the sinful man does not understand such things.
8 Men who speak against others set a city on fire, but wise men turn away anger.
9 When a wise man argues with a foolish man, the fool only gets angry or laughs, and there is no peace and quiet.
10 Men who kill hate him without blame, but a good man cares for his life.
11 A fool always loses his temper, but a wise man keeps quiet.
12 If a ruler listens to lies, all who work for him will become sinful.
13 The Lord gives light to the eyes of both the poor man and the man who makes it hard for others.
14 If the king is fair as he judges the poor, his throne will stand forever.
15 The stick and strong words give wisdom, but a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother.
16 When the sinful are many, sins become many, but those who are right with God will see their fall.
17 Punish your son when he does wrong and he will give you comfort. Yes, he will give joy to your soul.
18 Where there is no understanding of the Word of the Lord, the people do whatever they want to, but happy is he who keeps the law.
19 A servant will not be taught by words alone. For even if he understands, he will not answer.
20 Do you see a man who is quick with his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
21 He who gives good care to his servant from the time he is young, will in the end find him to be a son.
22 A man of anger starts fights, and a man with a bad temper is full of wrong-doing.
23 A man’s pride will bring him down, but he whose spirit is without pride will receive honor.
24 He who works with a robber hates his own life. He knows about the bad that will come, but can tell nothing.
25 The fear of man brings a trap, but he who trusts in the Lord will be honored.
26 Many look for the ruler’s favor, but what is right and fair comes from the Lord.
27 A sinful man is a shame to those who are right with God, and he who is right with God is a shame to the sinful.
25 Some of the people of Jerusalem said, “Is not this the Man the Jews want to kill? 26 But see! This Man is speaking out in the open. They are saying nothing to Him. Do the leaders know this is the true Christ? 27 We know where this Man came from. When the Christ comes, no one will know where He comes from.”
28 Then Jesus spoke with a loud voice as He taught in the house of God. He said, “You know Me. You know where I came from. I have not come on My own. The One Who sent Me is true but you do not know Him. 29 I know Him because I am from Him and He sent Me.”
30 Then they wanted to take Jesus but no one put his hands on Him. His time had not yet come. 31 Many of the people believed in Him. They said, “When Christ comes, will He do more powerful works than this Man?”
32 The proud religious law-keepers heard the people talking about Jesus. The religious leaders of the Jews and the proud religious law-keepers sent soldiers to take Him. 33 Jesus said to them, “I will be with you a little while yet. Then I will go back to Him Who sent Me. 34 You will look for Me but you will not find Me. Where I go, you cannot come.”
35 The Jews said to themselves, “Where can He go that we will not find Him? Will He go to our people who live among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? 36 What does He mean when He says, ‘You will look for Me but you will not find Me, and where I go, you cannot come’?”
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