Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Psalm 39
The Fleeting Nature of Life
For the choir director, for Jeduthun. A Davidic psalm.
1 I said, “I will guard my ways
so that I may not sin with my tongue;
I will guard my mouth with a muzzle
as long as the wicked are in my presence.”(A)
2 I was speechless and quiet;
I kept silent, even from speaking good,
and my pain intensified.(B)
3 My heart grew hot within me;
as I mused, a fire burned.(C)
I spoke with my tongue:
4 “Lord, reveal to me the end of my life
and the number of my days.
Let me know how short-lived I am.(D)
5 You, indeed, have made my days short in length,
and my life span as nothing in Your sight.
Yes, every mortal man is only a vapor.(E)
6 “Certainly, man walks about like a mere shadow.
Indeed, they frantically rush around in vain,
gathering possessions
without knowing who will get them.(F)
7 Now, Lord, what do I wait for?
My hope is in You.(G)
8 Deliver me from all my transgressions;
do not make me the taunt of fools.(H)
9 I am speechless; I do not open my mouth
because of what You have done.(I)
10 Remove Your torment from me;
I fade away because of the force of Your hand.(J)
11 You discipline a man with punishment for sin,
consuming like a moth what is precious to him;(K)
every man is only a vapor.(L)
Parable of the Eagles
17 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, pose a riddle and speak a parable to the house of Israel.(A) 3 You are to say: This is what the Lord God says:
A great eagle with great wings,(B) long pinions,
and full plumage of many colors
came to Lebanon and took the top of the cedar.(C)
4 He plucked off its topmost shoot,
brought it to the land of merchants,
and set it in a city of traders.
5 Then he took some of the land’s seed
and put it in a fertile field;(D)
he set it like a willow,(E)
a plant[a] by abundant waters.
6 It sprouted and became a spreading vine,
low in height with its branches turned toward him,(F)
yet its roots stayed under it.
So it became a vine,
produced branches, and sent out shoots.
7 But there was another great eagle
with great wings and thick plumage.
And this vine bent its roots toward him!
It stretched out its branches to him
from its planting bed,(G)
so that he might water it.
8 It had been planted
in a good field by abundant waters
in order to produce branches,
bear fruit, and become a splendid vine.
9 You are to say: This is what the Lord God says:
Will it flourish?
Will he not tear out its roots(H)
and strip off its fruit
so that it shrivels?
All its fresh leaves will wither!
Great strength and many people
will not be needed to pull it from its roots.
10 Even though it is planted, will it flourish?
Won’t it completely wither
when the east wind strikes it?(I)
It will wither on the bed where it sprouted.”
12 All those who sinned without the law(A) will also perish without the law, and all those who sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For the hearers of the law(B) are not righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be declared righteous.[a] 14 So, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, instinctively(C) do what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law[b] is written on their hearts.(D) Their consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts will either accuse or excuse them[c] 16 on the day when God judges(E) what people have kept secret, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus.(F)
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