Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

^4 (C)My heart is severely pained within me,
And the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
⁵ Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me,
And horror has overwhelmed me.
⁶ So I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest.
⁷ Indeed, I would wander far off,
And remain in the wilderness. Selah
⁸ I would hasten my escape
From the windy storm and tempest.”

⁹ Destroy, O Lord, and divide their ^[d]tongues,
For I have seen ^(D)violence and strife in the city.
¹⁰ Day and night they go around it on its walls;
^(E)Iniquity and trouble are also in the midst of it.
¹¹ Destruction is in its midst;
^(F)Oppression and deceit do not depart from its streets.

^12 (G)For it is not an enemy who reproaches me;
Then I could bear it.
Nor is it one who hates me who has ^(H)exalted himself against me;
Then I could hide from him.
¹³ But it was you, a man my equal,
^(I)My companion and my acquaintance.
¹⁴ We took sweet counsel together,
And ^(J)walked to the house of God in the throng.

¹⁵ Let death seize them;
Let them ^(K)go down alive into ^[e]hell,
For wickedness is in their dwellings and among them.

² “Should not the multitude of words be answered?
And should ^[a]a man full of talk be vindicated?
³ Should your empty talk make men ^[b]hold their peace?
And when you mock, should no one rebuke you?
⁴ For you have said,
^(A)‘My doctrine is pure,
And I am clean in your eyes.’
⁵ But oh, that God would speak,
And open His lips against you,
⁶ That He would show you the secrets of wisdom!
For they would double your prudence.
Know therefore that ^(B)God ^[c]exacts from you
Less than your iniquity deserves.

⁷ “Can^(C) you search out the deep things of God?
Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?
⁸ They are higher than heaven—what can you do?
Deeper than ^[d]Sheol—what can you know?
⁹ Their measure is longer than the earth
And broader than the sea.

¹⁰ “If^(D) He passes by, imprisons, and gathers to judgment,
Then who can ^[e]hinder Him?
¹¹ For ^(E)He knows deceitful men;
He sees wickedness also.
Will He not then consider it?
¹² For an ^(F)empty-headed man will be wise,
When a wild donkey’s colt is born a man.

¹³ “If you would ^(G)prepare your heart,
And ^(H)stretch out your hands toward Him;
¹⁴ If iniquity were in your hand, and you put it far away,
And ^(I)would not let wickedness dwell in your tents;
^15 (J)Then surely you could lift up your face without spot;
Yes, you could be steadfast, and not fear;
¹⁶ Because you would ^(K)forget your misery,
And remember it as waters that have passed away,
¹⁷ And your life ^(L)would be brighter than noonday.
Though you were dark, you would be like the morning.
¹⁸ And you would be secure, because there is hope;
Yes, you would dig around you, and ^(M)take your rest in safety.
¹⁹ You would also lie down, and no one would make you afraid;
Yes, many would court your favor.
²⁰ But ^(N)the eyes of the wicked will fail,
And they shall not escape,
And ^(O)their hope—^[f]loss of life!”