Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Book I
(Psalms 1–41)
Psalm 1
The Two Ways
1 Happy are those
who do not follow the advice of the wicked
or take the path that sinners tread
or sit in the seat of scoffers,(A)
2 but their delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law they meditate day and night.(B)
3 They are like trees
planted by streams of water,
which yield their fruit in its season,
and their leaves do not wither.
In all that they do, they prosper.(C)
20 Lift up your eyes and see
those who come from the north.
Where is the flock that was given you,
your beautiful flock?(A)
21 What will you say when they set as head over you
those whom you have trained
to be your allies?
Will not pangs seize you
like those of a woman in labor?(B)
22 And if you say in your heart,
“Why have these things come upon me?”
it is for the greatness of your iniquity
that your skirts are lifted up
and you are violated.(C)
23 Can Cushites change their skin
or leopards their spots?
Then also you can do good,
who are accustomed to do evil.(D)
24 I will scatter you[a] like chaff
driven by the wind from the desert.(E)
25 This is your lot,
the portion I have measured out to you, says the Lord,
because you have forgotten me
and trusted in lies.(F)
26 I myself will lift up your skirts over your face,
and your shame will be seen.(G)
27 I have seen your abominations,
your adulteries and neighings, your shameless prostitutions
on the hills of the countryside.
Woe to you, O Jerusalem!
How long will it be
before you are made clean?(H)
17 If you invoke as Father the one who judges impartially according to each person’s work, live in fear during the time of your exile.(A) 18 You know that you were ransomed from the futile conduct inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish.(B) 20 He was destined before the foundation of the world but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake.(C) 21 Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your trust and hope are in God.
22 Now that you have purified your souls[a] by your obedience to the truth[b] so that you have genuine mutual affection, love one another deeply from the heart.[c](D) 23 You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.[d](E) 24 For
“All flesh is like grass
and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
and the flower falls,(F)
25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.”
That word is the good news that was announced to you.(G)
The Living Stone and a Chosen People
2 Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice and all guile, insincerity, envy, and all slander.(H)
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.