Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Psalm 128

The Happy Home of the Faithful

A Song of Ascents.

The Value of a Friend

⁹ Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their toil. ¹⁰ For if they fall, one will lift up the other, but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help. ¹¹ Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone?^{(A) 12} And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.

¹³ Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who will no longer take advice.^{(B) 14} One can indeed come out of prison to reign, even though born poor in the kingdom.^{(C) 15} I saw all the living who, moving about under the sun, follow that^[a] youth who replaced the king;^{[b] 16} there was no end to all those people whom he led.^[c] Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.^(D)

Warning to Rich Oppressors

5 Come now, you rich people, weep and wail for the miseries that are coming to you. ² Your riches have rotted, and your clothes are moth-eaten.^{(A) 3} Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you, and it will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure^[a] during the last days. ⁴ Listen! The wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.^{(B) 5} You have lived on the earth in luxury and in pleasure; you have nourished your hearts in a day of slaughter.^{(C) 6} You have condemned and murdered the righteous one, who does not resist you.