Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
19 (0) For the leader. A psalm of David:
2 (1) The heavens declare the glory of God,
the dome of the sky speaks the work of his hands.
3 (2) Every day it utters speech,
every night it reveals knowledge.
4 (3) Without speech, without a word,
without their voices being heard,
5 (4) their line goes out through all the earth
and their words to the end of the world.
In them he places a tent for the sun,
6 (5) which comes out like a bridegroom from the bridal chamber,
with delight like an athlete to run his race.
7 (6) It rises at one side of the sky,
circles around to the other side,
and nothing escapes its heat.
8 (7) The Torah of Adonai is perfect,
restoring the inner person.
The instruction of Adonai is sure,
making wise the thoughtless.
9 (8) The precepts of Adonai are right,
rejoicing the heart.
The mitzvah of Adonai is pure,
enlightening the eyes.
10 (9) The fear of Adonai is clean,
enduring forever.
The rulings of Adonai are true,
they are righteous altogether,
11 (10) more desirable than gold,
than much fine gold,
also sweeter than honey
or drippings from the honeycomb.
12 (11) Through them your servant is warned;
in obeying them there is great reward.
13 (12) Who can discern unintentional sins?
Cleanse me from hidden faults.
14 (13) Also keep your servant from presumptuous sins,
so that they won’t control me.
Then I will be blameless
and free of great offense.
15 (14) May the words of my mouth
and the thoughts of my heart
be acceptable in your presence,
Adonai, my Rock and Redeemer.
15 A gentle response deflects fury,
but a harsh word makes tempers rise.
2 The tongue of the wise presents knowledge well,
but the mouth of a fool spews out folly.
3 The eyes of Adonai are everywhere,
watching the evil and the good.
4 A soothing tongue is a tree of life,
but when it twists things, it breaks the spirit.
5 A fool despises his father’s discipline,
but he who heeds warnings is prudent.
6 The home of the righteous is a storehouse of treasure,
but the earnings of the wicked bring trouble.
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
not so the hearts of fools.
8 Adonai detests the sacrifices of the wicked
but delights in the prayers of the upright.
9 Adonai detests the way of the wicked
but loves anyone who pursues righteousness.
10 Discipline is severe for one who leaves the way,
and whoever can’t stand correction will die.
11 Sh’ol and Abaddon lie open to Adonai;
so how much more people’s hearts!
12 A scorner does not like being corrected;
he won’t go to the wise [for advice].
13 A glad heart makes a face happy,
but heartache breaks the spirit.
14 The mind of a person with discernment seeks knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
15 For the poor, every day is hard;
but the good-hearted have a perpetual feast.
16 Better little with the fear of Adonai
than great wealth coupled with worry.
17 Better a vegetable dinner with love
than a stall-fattened ox with hate.
17 By trusting, Avraham, when he was put to the test, offered up Yitz’chak as a sacrifice. Yes, he offered up his only son, he who had received the promises, 18 to whom it had been said, “What is called your ‘seed’ will be in Yitz’chak.”[a] 19 For he had concluded that God could even raise people from the dead! And, figuratively speaking, he did so receive him.
20 By trusting, Yitz’chak in his blessings over Ya‘akov and Esav made reference to events yet to come.
21 By trusting, Ya‘akov, when he was dying, blessed each of Yosef’s sons, leaning on his walking-stick as he bowed in prayer.[b]
22 By trusting, Yosef, near the end of his life, remembered about the Exodus of the people of Isra’el and gave instructions about what to do with his bones.
Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.