Psalms 72; Psalms 73; Romans 9:1-15

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Psalms 72

1 God, give Your justice to the king and Your righteousness to the king's son.

2 He will judge Your people with righteousness and Your afflicted ones with justice.

3 May the mountains bring prosperity to the people, and the hills, righteousness.

4 May he vindicate the afflicted among the people, help the poor, and crush the oppressor.

5 May he continue while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.

6 May he be like rain that falls on the cut grass, like spring showers that water the earth.

7 May the righteous flourish in his days, and prosperity abound until the moon is no more.

8 And may he rule from sea to sea and from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth.

9 May desert tribes kneel before him and his enemies lick the dust.

10 May the kings of Tarshish and the coasts and islands bring tribute, the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.

11 And let all kings bow down to him, all nations serve him.

12 For he will rescue the poor who cry out and the afflicted who have no helper.

13 He will have pity on the poor and helpless and save the lives of the poor.

14 He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their lives are precious in his sight.

15 May he live long! May gold from Sheba be given to him. May prayer be offered for him continually, and may he be blessed all day long.

16 May there be plenty of grain in the land; may it wave on the tops of the mountains. May its crops be like Lebanon. May people flourish in the cities like the grass of the field.

17 May his name endure forever; as long as the sun shines, may his fame increase. May all nations be blessed by him and call him blessed.

18 May the Lord God, the God of Israel, be praised, who alone does wonders.

19 May His glorious name be praised forever; the whole earth is filled with His glory. Amen and amen.

20 The prayers of David son of Jesse are concluded. BOOK III (Psalms 73-89)

Psalms 73

1 God is indeed good to Israel, to the pure in heart.

2 But as for me, my feet almost slipped; my steps nearly went astray.

3 For I envied the arrogant; I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 They have an easy time until they die, and their bodies are well-fed.

5 They are not in trouble like others; they are not afflicted like most people.

6 Therefore, pride is their necklace, and violence covers them like a garment.

7 Their eyes bulge out from fatness; the imaginations of their hearts run wild.

8 They mock, and they speak maliciously; they arrogantly threaten oppression.

9 They set their mouths against heaven, and their tongues strut across the earth.

10 Therefore His people turn to them and drink in their overflowing waters.

11 They say, "How can God know? Does the Most High know everything?"

12 Look at them-the wicked! They are always at ease, and they increase their wealth.

13 Did I purify my heart and wash my hands in innocence for nothing?

14 For I am afflicted all day long, and punished every morning.

15 If I had decided to say these things [aloud], I would have betrayed Your people.

16 When I tried to understand all this, it seemed hopeless

17 until I entered God's sanctuary. Then I understood their destiny.

18 Indeed You put them in slippery places; You make them fall into ruin.

19 How suddenly they become a desolation! They come to an end, swept away by terrors.

20 Like one waking from a dream, Lord, when arising, You will despise their image.

21 When I became embittered and my innermost being was wounded,

22 I was a fool and didn't understand; I was an unthinking animal toward You.

23 Yet I am always with You; You hold my right hand.

24 You guide me with Your counsel, and afterwards You will take me up in glory.

25 Whom do I have in heaven but You? And I desire nothing on earth but You.

26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever.

27 Those far from You will certainly perish; You destroy all who are unfaithful to You.

28 But as for me, God's presence is my good. I have made the Lord God my refuge, so I can tell about all You do.

Romans 9:1-15

1 I speak the truth in Christ-I am not lying; my conscience is testifying to me with the Holy Spirit-

2 that I have intense sorrow and continual anguish in my heart.

3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from the Messiah for the benefit of my brothers, my countrymen by physical descent.

4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple service, and the promises.

5 The forefathers are theirs, and from them, by physical descent, came the Messiah, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.

7 Neither are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants. On the contrary, in Isaac your seed will be called.

8 That is, it is not the children by physical descent who are God's children, but the children of the promise are considered seed.

9 For this is the statement of the promise: At this time I will come, and Sarah will have a son.

10 And not only that, but also when Rebekah became pregnant by Isaac our forefather

11 (for though they had not been born yet or done anything good or bad, so that God's purpose according to election might stand,

12 not from works but from the One who calls) she was told: The older will serve the younger.

13 As it is written: Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.

14 What should we say then? Is there injustice with God? Absolutely not!

15 For He tells Moses: I will show mercy to whom I show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.