Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

125 The people who trust in the Lord
    are like Mount Zion:
    never shaken, lasting forever.
² Mountains surround Jerusalem.
    That’s how the Lord surrounds his people
    from now until forever from now!
³ The wicked rod won’t remain
in the land given to the righteous
    so that they don’t use their hands to do anything wrong.^[a]
4 Lord, do good to people who are good,
    to people whose hearts are right.
⁵ But as for those people who turn to their own twisted ways—
    may the Lord march them off with other evildoers!

1 The proverbs of Solomon, King David’s son, from Israel:
² Their purpose is to teach wisdom and discipline,
    to help one understand wise sayings.
³ They provide insightful instruction,
    which is righteous, just, and full of integrity.
⁴ They make the naive mature,
    the young knowledgeable and discreet.
⁵ The wise hear them and grow in wisdom;
    those with understanding gain guidance.
⁶ They help one understand proverbs and difficult sayings,
    the words of the wise, and their puzzles.
⁷ Wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord,
    but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

⁸ Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction;
    don’t neglect your mother’s teaching;
⁹         for they are a graceful wreath on your head,
        and beads for your neck.
¹⁰ My son, don’t let sinners entice you.
    Don’t go
¹¹     when they say:
        “Come with us.
        Let’s set up a deadly ambush.
        Let’s secretly wait for the innocent just for fun.
¹²         Let’s swallow up the living like the grave^[a]—
        whole, like those who go down into the pit.
¹³         We’ll find all sorts of precious wealth;
        we’ll fill our houses with plunder.
¹⁴         Throw in your lot with us;
        we’ll share our money.”
¹⁵ My son, don’t go on the path with them;
    keep your feet from their way,
¹⁶     because their feet run to evil;
            they hurry to spill blood.
¹⁷ It’s useless to cast a net
    in the sight of a bird.
¹⁸ But these sinners set up a deadly ambush;
    they lie in wait for their own lives.
¹⁹ These are the ways of all who seek unjust gain;
    it costs them their lives.