Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

⁴ My heart is in pain within me,
    and the terrors of death have fallen on me.
⁵ Fear and trembling come into me,
    and horror has overwhelmed me.
⁶ I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove!
    For then I would fly away and be at rest.
⁷ Indeed, then I would wander far off,
    and remain in the wilderness. Selah
⁸ I would hasten my escape
    from the windy storm and tempest.”

⁹ Confuse, O Lord, divide their tongues,
    for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
¹⁰ Day and night they go around it on its walls;
    trouble and sorrow are in its midst.
¹¹ Destruction is in its midst;
    oppression and treachery do not depart from its streets.

¹² For it is not an enemy who reproaches me;
    then I could bear it.
Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me;
    then I could hide from him.
¹³ But it was you, my peer,
    my guide, and my acquaintance.
¹⁴ We took pleasant counsel together,
    and walked to the house of God in company.

¹⁵ May death surprise them,
    and may their lives go down to Sheol,
    for wickedness is in their dwellings and among them.

² “Should not the multitude of words be answered?
    And should a man full of talk be justified?
³ Should your empty talk make men hold their peace?
    And when you mock, will no one shame you?
⁴ For you have said, ‘My teaching is pure,
    And I am clean in your eyes.’
⁵ But oh, that God would speak
    and open His lips against you,
⁶ and that He would show you the secrets of wisdom!
    For they would double your prudence.
    And know that God overlooks some of your iniquity.

⁷ “Can you search out the deep things of God?
    Can you find out the totality of the Almighty?
⁸ It is as high as heaven; what can you do?
    Deeper than Sheol; what can you know?
⁹ Its measure is longer than the earth
    and broader than the sea.

¹⁰ “If He passes through, and shuts up, and gathers together for judgment,
    then who can hinder Him?
¹¹ For He knows worthless men;
    He sees wickedness also; will He not then consider it?
¹² For an empty-headed man will become wise,
    when a wild donkey’s colt is born a man.

¹³ “If you prepare your heart
    and stretch out your hands toward Him;
¹⁴ if iniquity is in your hand, put it far away,
    and do not let wickedness dwell in your tents;
¹⁵ for then you will lift up your face without blemish;
    yes, you will be steadfast and will not fear,
¹⁶ because you will forget misery,
    and remember it as waters that pass away,
¹⁷ and your life will be brighter than noonday,
    even your darkness will be as the morning.
¹⁸ You will trust because there is hope;
    yes, you will search about you,
    and you will look around and rest in safety.
¹⁹ Also you will lie down, and none will make you afraid;
    yes, many will court your favor.
²⁰ But the eyes of the wicked will fail,
    and they will not escape,
    and their hope will be as the giving up of breath.”