Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
44 1 The faithful remember the great mercy of God toward his people. 9 After they complain, because they feel it no more. 17 Also they allege the covenant made with Abraham, for the keeping whereof they show what grievous things they suffered. 23 Finally, they pray unto God not to contemn their affliction, seeing the same redoundeth to the contempt of his honor.
To him that excelleth. A Psalm to give instruction, committed to the sons of Korah.
1 We have heard with our [a]ears, O God: our fathers have told us the works that thou hast done in their days, in the old time:
2 How thou hast driven out the [b]heathen with thine hand, and planted [c]them: how thou hast destroyed the [d]people, and caused [e]them to grow.
3 For they inherited not the land by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou didst [f]favor them.
4 Thou art my king, O God: send help unto [g]Jacob.
5 [h]Through thee have we thrust back our adversaries: by thy Name have we trodden down them that rose up against us.
6 For I do not trust in my bow, neither can my sword save me.
7 But thou hast saved us from our adversaries, and hast put them to confusion that hate us.
8 Therefore will we praise God continually, and will confess thy Name forever. Selah.
9 But now thou art far off, and puttest us to [i]confusion, and goest not forth with our armies.
10 Thou makest us to turn back from the adversary, and they which hate us, spoil [j]for themselves.
11 (A)Thou givest us [k]as sheep to be eaten, and dost scatter us among the nations.
12 Thou sellest thy people [l]without gain, and dost not increase their price.
13 Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbors, a jest and laughing stock to them that are round about us.
14 Thou makest us a proverb among the nations, and a nodding of the head among the people.
15 My [m]confusion is daily before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me,
16 For the voice of the slanderer and rebuker, for the enemy and [n]avenger.
17 All this is come upon us, yet do we not [o]forget thee, neither deal we falsely concerning thy covenant.
18 Our heart is not turned back: neither our steps gone out of thy paths,
19 Albeit thou hast smitten us down into the place of [p]dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death.
20 If we have forgotten the Name of our God, and held up our hands to a [q]strange god,
21 Shall not God [r]search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
22 Surely for thy sake [s]are we slain continually, and are counted as sheep for the slaughter.
23 Up, why sleepest thou, O Lord? awake, be not far off forever.
24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face? and forgettest our misery and our affliction?
25 For our soul is [t]beaten down unto the dust: our belly cleaveth to the ground.
26 Rise up for our succor, and redeem us for thy [u]mercy’s sake.
11 Yea, Judah hath set a [a]plant for thee, while I would return the captivity of my people.
7 1 Of the vices and wantonness of the people. 12 Of their punishment.
1 When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they have dealt falsely: and [b]the thief cometh in, and the robber spoileth without.
2 And they consider not in their hearts, that I remember all their wickedness: now their own inventions have beset them about: they are in my sight.
3 They make the [c]king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies.
4 They are all adulterers, and as a very [d]oven heated by the baker, which ceaseth from raising up, and from kneading the dough until it be leavened.
5 This is the [e]day of our king: the princes have made him sick with flagons of wine: he stretcheth out his hand to scorners.
6 For they have made ready their heart like an oven while they lie in wait: their baker sleepeth all the night: in the morning it burneth as a flame of fire.
7 They are all hot as an oven, and have [f]devoured their judges: all their kings are fallen: there is none among them that calleth unto me.
8 Ephraim hath [g]mixed himself among the people. Ephraim is as a cake on the hearth not turned.
9 Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, [h]gray hairs are here, and there upon him, yet he knoweth not.
10 And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face, and they do not return to the Lord their God, nor seek him for all this.
11 Ephraim also is like a dove deceived without [i]heart: they call to Egypt: they go to Assyria.
12 But when they shall go, I will spread my net upon them, and draw them down as the fowls of the heaven: I will chastise them as their [j]Congregation hath heard.
13 Woe unto them: for they have fled away from me: destruction shall be unto them, because they have transgressed against me: though I have [k]redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me.
14 And they have not cried unto me with their hearts, [l]when they howled upon their beds: [m]they assembled themselves for corn, and wine, and they rebel against me.
15 Though I have bound and strengthened their arm, yet do they imagine mischief against me.
16 They return, but not to the most high: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword, for the rage [n]of their tongues: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, (A)Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, (B)Love your enemies: bless them that curse you: do good to them that hate you, (C)and pray for them which hurt you, and persecute you,
45 (D)[a]That ye may be the children of your father that is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to arise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and unjust.
46 For if ye love them, which love you, what reward shall you have? Do not the Publicans even the same?
47 And if ye be friendly to your brethren only, what singular thing do ye? do not even the [b]Publicans likewise?
48 Ye shall therefore be perfect, as your Father which is in heaven, is perfect.
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