Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
The Character of Those Who May Dwell with the Lord
A Psalm of David.
2 He who walks uprightly,
And works righteousness,
And speaks the (B)truth in his heart;
3 He who (C)does not backbite with his tongue,
Nor does evil to his neighbor,
(D)Nor does he [b]take up a reproach against his friend;
4 (E)In whose eyes a vile person is despised,
But he honors those who fear the Lord;
He who (F)swears to his own hurt and does not change;
5 He who does not put out his money at usury,
Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things (G)shall never be moved.
Justice Must Be Administered
18 “You shall appoint (A)judges and officers in all your [a]gates, which the Lord your God gives you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with just judgment. 19 (B)You shall not pervert justice; (C)you shall not [b]show partiality, (D)nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and [c]twists the words of the righteous. 20 You shall follow what is altogether just, that you may (E)live and inherit the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
Called to Blessing
8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be [a]courteous; 9 (A)not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary (B)blessing, knowing that you were called to this, (C)that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For
(D)“He who would love life
And see good days,
(E)Let him [b]refrain his tongue from evil,
And his lips from speaking deceit.
11 Let him (F)turn away from evil and do good;
(G)Let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
(H)And His ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.