Daily Lectionary in Poetry Thursday 5th February 2015

Psalm 147:1-11

Praise for God’s Care for Jerusalem
1 Praise the Lord!
How good it is to sing praises to our God;
    for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting.
2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
    he gathers the outcasts of Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted,
    and binds up their wounds.
4 He determines the number of the stars;
    he gives to all of them their names.
5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;
    his understanding is beyond measure.
6 The Lord lifts up the downtrodden;
    he casts the wicked to the ground.
7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
    make melody to our God on the lyre.
8 He covers the heavens with clouds,
    prepares rain for the earth,
    makes grass grow on the hills.
9 He gives to the animals their food,
    and to the young ravens when they cry.
10 His delight is not in the strength of the horse,
    nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner;[a]
11 but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
    in those who hope in his steadfast love.

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Sing praises
Sing loud
It is great to sing of the Lord

He heals the broken
He names the stars
He understands everything

He lifts up the low
He casts out the wicked
He is to be worshipped

He waters the fields
He feeds the animals
He helps all who love him
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Proverbs 12:10-21

The righteous know the needs of their animals,
    but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.
11 Those who till their land will have plenty of food,
    but those who follow worthless pursuits have no sense.
12 The wicked covet the proceeds of wickedness,[a]
    but the root of the righteous bears fruit.
13 The evil are ensnared by the transgression of their lips,
    but the righteous escape from trouble.
14 From the fruit of the mouth one is filled with good things,
    and manual labor has its reward.
15 Fools think their own way is right,
    but the wise listen to advice.
16 Fools show their anger at once,
    but the prudent ignore an insult.
17 Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence,
    but a false witness speaks deceitfully.
18 Rash words are like sword thrusts,
    but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 Truthful lips endure forever,
    but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.
20 Deceit is in the mind of those who plan evil,
    but those who counsel peace have joy.
21 No harm happens to the righteous,
    but the wicked are filled with trouble.

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If you work, you will reap
If you do not, you will suffer
If you listen, you will learn
If you ignore, you will fail
Speak the truth to all who will hear
And you will be protected always
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Galatians 5:2-15

The Nature of Christian Freedom
2 Listen! I, Paul, am telling you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 Once again I testify to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obliged to obey the entire law. 4 You who want to be justified by the law have cut yourselves off from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working[a] through love.

7 You were running well; who prevented you from obeying the truth? 8 Such persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9 A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough. 10 I am confident about you in the Lord that you will not think otherwise. But whoever it is that is confusing you will pay the penalty. 11 But my friends,[b] why am I still being persecuted if I am still preaching circumcision? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. 12 I wish those who unsettle you would castrate themselves!


13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters;[c] only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence,[d] but through love become slaves to one another. 14 For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

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Listen to me
Your brother Paul
You do not need
To be a prisoner to the Law
Jesus came to save all
By knowing him you gain all
You are called to freedom
In love you will find it
Love your neighbour as yourself
This is all you are commanded

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