Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

¹² 
Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!
Praise your God, O Zion!
¹³ 
For He has strengthened the bars of your gates,
He has blessed your children within you.
¹⁴ 
He makes peace in your borders;
He satisfies you with the finest of the wheat.
¹⁵ 
He sends His command to the earth;
His word runs very swiftly.
¹⁶ 
He gives [to the earth] snow like [a blanket of] wool;
He scatters the frost like ashes.
¹⁷ 
He casts out His ice like fragments;
Who can stand before His cold?
¹⁸ 
He sends out His word and melts the ice;
He causes His wind to blow and the waters to flow.
¹⁹ 
He declares His word to Jacob,
His statutes and His ordinances to Israel.^(A)
20 
He has not dealt this way with any [other] nation;
They have not known [understood, appreciated, heeded, or cherished] His ordinances.
Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)^(B)

² 
To know [skillful and godly] wisdom and instruction;
To discern and comprehend the words of understanding and insight,
³ 
To receive instruction in wise behavior and the discipline of wise thoughtfulness,
Righteousness, justice, and integrity;
⁴ 
That prudence (good judgment, astute common sense) may be given to the naive or inexperienced [who are easily misled],
And knowledge and discretion (intelligent discernment) to the youth,
⁵ 
The wise will hear and increase their learning,
And the person of understanding will acquire wise counsel and the skill [to steer his course wisely and lead others to the truth],^(A)
6 
To understand a proverb and a figure [of speech] or an enigma with its interpretation,
And the words of the wise and their riddles [that require reflection].

⁷ 
The [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the beginning and the preeminent part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence];
But arrogant ^[a]fools despise [skillful and godly] wisdom and instruction and self-discipline.^(B)