Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Psalm 58[a]
The Dethroning of Unjust Rulers
1 For the leader. Do not destroy.[b] A miktam of David.
I
2 Do you indeed pronounce justice, O gods;[c]
do you judge fairly you children of Adam?(A)
3 No, you freely engage in crime;
your hands dispense violence to the earth.
II
4 The wicked have been corrupt since birth;
liars from the womb, they have gone astray.
5 [d]Their venom is like the venom of a snake,
like that of a serpent stopping its ears,(B)
6 So as not to hear the voice of the charmer
or the enchanter with cunning spells.
III
7 O God, smash the teeth in their mouths;
break the fangs of these lions, Lord!(C)
8 Make them vanish like water flowing away;(D)
trodden down, let them wither like grass.(E)
9 Let them dissolve like a snail that oozes away,[e]
like an untimely birth that never sees the sun.(F)
10 Suddenly, like brambles or thistles,
have the whirlwind snatch them away.(G)
11 Then the just shall rejoice to see the vengeance
and bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked.(H)
12 Then people will say:
“Truly there is a reward for the just;
there is a God who is judge on earth!”
23 How can you say, “I am not defiled,
I have not pursued the Baals”?
Consider your conduct in the Valley,[a]
recall what you have done:
A skittish young camel,
running back and forth,
24 a wild donkey bred in the wilderness,
Sniffing the wind in her desire—
who can restrain her lust?
None seeking her need tire themselves;
in her time they will find her.
25 Stop wearing out your feet
and parching your throat!
But you say, “No use! No!
How I love these strangers,
after them I must go.”(A)
26 As the thief is shamed when caught,
so shall the house of Israel be shamed:
They, their kings, their princes,
their priests and their prophets;(B)
27 They say to a piece of wood, “You are my father,”
and to a stone, “You gave me birth.”
They turn their backs to me, not their faces;
yet in their time of trouble they cry out,
“Rise up and save us!”
28 Where are the gods you made for yourselves?
Let them rise up!
Will they save you in your time of trouble?
For as numerous as your cities
are your gods, O Judah!
And as many as the streets of Jerusalem
are the altars you have set up for Baal.(C)
29 Why are you arguing with me?
You have all rebelled against me—oracle of the Lord.
30 In vain I struck your children;
correction they did not take.
Your sword devoured your prophets
like a ravening lion.(D)
31 You people of this generation,
consider the word of the Lord:
Have I become a wilderness to Israel,
a land of gloom?
Why then do my people say, “We have moved on,
we will not come to you any more”?
32 Does a young woman forget her jewelry,
a bride her sash?
Yet my people have forgotten me
days without number.(E)
33 How well you pick your way
when seeking love!
In your wickedness,
you have gone by ways unclean!
34 On your clothing is
the life-blood of the innocent,
you did not find them committing burglary;
35 Nonetheless you say, “I am innocent;
at least, his anger is turned away from me.”
Listen! I will judge you
on that word of yours, “I have not sinned.”
36 How frivolous you have become
in changing your course!
By Egypt you will be shamed,
just as you were shamed by Assyria.(F)
37 From there too you will go out,
your hands upon your head;
For the Lord has rejected those in whom you trust,
with them you will have no success.(G)
7 Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.(A)
9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teaching.[a] It is good to have our hearts strengthened by grace and not by foods, which do not benefit those who live by them.(B) 10 We have an altar[b] from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 The bodies of the animals whose blood the high priest brings into the sanctuary as a sin offering are burned outside the camp.(C) 12 Therefore, Jesus also suffered outside the gate, to consecrate the people by his own blood.(D) 13 Let us then go to him outside the camp, bearing the reproach that he bore. 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the one that is to come.(E) 15 Through him [then] let us continually offer God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.(F) 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have; God is pleased by sacrifices of that kind.(G)
17 [c]Obey your leaders and defer to them, for they keep watch over you and will have to give an account, that they may fulfill their task with joy and not with sorrow, for that would be of no advantage to you.
18 Pray for us, for we are confident that we have a clear conscience, wishing to act rightly in every respect. 19 I especially ask for your prayers that I may be restored to you very soon.
20 [d]May the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep by the blood of the eternal covenant, Jesus our Lord,(H) 21 furnish you with all that is good, that you may do his will. May he carry out in you what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever [and ever]. Amen.
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.