Morning Prayer
Psalm 90. Domine, refugium.
1 LORD, thou hast been our refuge, * from one generation to another.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever the earth and the world were made, * thou art God from everlasting, and world without end.
3 Thou turnest man to destruction; * again thou sayest, Come again, ye children of men.
4 For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, * and as a watch in the night.
5 As soon as thou scatterest them they are even as a sleep; * and fade away suddenly like the grass.
6 In the morning it is green, and groweth up; * but in the evening it is cut down, dried up, and withered.
7 For we consume away in thy displeasure, * and are afraid at thy wrathful indignation.
8 Thou hast set our misdeeds before thee; * and our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.
9 For when thou art angry all our days are gone: * we bring our years to an end, as it were a tale that is told.
10 The days of our age are threescore years and ten; and though men be so strong that they come to fourscore years, * yet is their strength then but labour and sorrow; so soon passeth it away, and we are gone.
11 But who regardeth the power of thy wrath? * or feareth aright thy indignation?
12 So teach us to number our days, * that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
13 Turn thee again, O LORD, at the last, * and be gracious unto thy servants.
14 O satisfy us with thy mercy, and that soon: * so shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life.
15 Comfort us again now after the time that thou hast plagued us; * and for the years wherein we have suffered adversity.
16 Show thy servants thy work, * and their children thy glory.
17 And the glorious majesty of the LORD our God be upon us: * prosper thou the work of our hands upon us; O prosper thou our handy-work.
First Lesson:
Gen. 3
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2)And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3)But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4)And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5)For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 6)And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. 7)And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. 8)And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. 9)And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 10)And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. 11)And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? 12)And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. 13)And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. 14)And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: 15)And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. 16)Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. 17)And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18)Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19)In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. 20) And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. 21)Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. 22)And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: 23)Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. 24)So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
Second Lesson:
Rom. 5
1)Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2)By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3)And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4)And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5)And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 6)For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7)For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8)But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9)Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10)For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11)And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. 12)Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13)(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14)Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15)But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16)And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17)For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18)Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19)For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 20)Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21)That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Evening Prayer
Psalm 85. Benedixisti, Domine.
1 LORD, thou art become gracious unto thy land; * thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob.
2 Thou hast forgiven the offence of thy people, * and covered all their sins.
3 Thou hast taken away all thy displeasure, * and turned thyself from thy wrathful indignation.
4 Turn us then, O God our Saviour, * and let thine anger cease from us.
5 Wilt thou be displeased at us for ever? * and wilt thou stretch out thy wrath from one generation to another?
6 Wilt thou not turn again, and quicken us, * that thy people may rejoice in thee?
7 Show us thy mercy, O LORD, * and grant us thy salvation.
8 I will hearken what the LORD God will say; * for he shall speak peace unto his people, and to his saints, that they turn not again unto foolishness.
9 For his salvation is nigh them that fear him; * that glory may dwell in our land.
10 Mercy and truth are met together: * righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
11 Truth shall flourish out of the earth, * and righteousness hath looked down from heaven.
12 Yea, the LORD shall show loving-kindness; * and our land shall give her increase.
13 Righteousness shall go before him, * and shall direct his going in the way.
First Lesson:
1 Sam. 1:1-11,19-20
1)Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite: 2)And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. 3)And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there. 4)And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions: 5)But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb. 6)And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb. 7)And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat. 8)Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons? 9) So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD. 10)And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. 11)And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no rasor come upon his head. 19)And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her. 20)Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.
Second Lesson:
Acts 6
1)And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. 2)Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. 3)Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4)But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. 5)And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: 6)Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. 7)And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. 8)And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. 9)Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. 10)And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. 11)Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. 12)And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, 13)And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: 14)For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us. 15)And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
Or this
Morning Prayer
*Psalm 73. Quam bonus Israel!
1 TRULY God is loving unto Israel: * even unto such as are of a clean heart.
2 Nevertheless, my feet were almost gone, * my treadings had well nigh slipt.
3 And why? I was grieved at the wicked: * I do also see the ungodly in such prosperity.
4 For they are in no peril of death; * but are lusty and strong.
5 They come in no misfortune like other folk; * neither are they plagued like other men.
6 And this is the cause that they are so holden with pride, * and cruelty covereth them as a garment.
7 Their eyes swell with fatness, * and they do even what they lust.
8 They corrupt other, and speak of wicked blasphemy; * their talking is against the Most High.
9 For they stretch forth their mouth unto the heaven, * and their tongue goeth through the world.
10 Therefore fall the people unto them, * and thereout suck they no small advantage.
11 Tush, say they, how should God perceive it? * is there knowledge in the Most High?
12 Lo, these are the ungodly, * these prosper in the world, and these have riches in possession:
13 And I said, Then have I cleansed my heart in vain, * and washed my hands in innocency.
14 All the day long have I been punished, * and chastened every morning.
15 Yea, and I had almost said even as they; * but lo, then I should have condemned the generation of thy children.
16 Then thought I to understand this; * but it was too hard for me,
17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God: * then understood I the end of these men;
18 Namely, how thou dost set them in slippery places, * and castest them down, and destroyest them.
19 O how suddenly do they consume, * perish, and come to a fearful end!
20 Yea, even like as a dream when one awaketh; * so shalt thou make their image to vanish out of the city.
21 Thus my heart was grieved, * and it went even through my reins.
22 So foolish was I, and ignorant, * even as it were a beast before thee.
23 Nevertheless, I am alway by thee; * for thou hast holden me by my right hand.
24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, * and after that receive me with glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? * and there is none upon earth that I desire in comparison of thee.
26 My flesh and my heart faileth; * but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
27 For lo, they that forsake thee shall perish; * thou hast destroyed all them that are unfaithful unto thee.
28 But it is good for me to hold me fast by God, to put my trust in the Lord GOD, * and to speak of all thy works in the gates of the daughter of Sion.
First Lesson:
Jer 23:23 32
Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD. I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal. The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD. Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbour. Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He saith. Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.
Second Lesson:
Matt 7:13 29
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Evening Prayer
Psalm 119. I. Beati immaculati. 33-48
33TEACH me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes, * and I shall keep it unto the end.
34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; * yea, I shall keep it with my whole heart.
35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; * for therein is my desire.
36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, * and not to covetousness.
37 O turn away mine eyes, lest they behold vanity; * and quicken thou me in thy way.
38 O stablish thy word in thy servant, * that I may fear thee.
39 Take away the rebuke that I am afraid of; * for thy judgments are good.
40 Behold, my delight is in thy commandments; * O quicken me in thy righteousness.
41 LET thy loving mercy come also unto me, O LORD, * even thy salvation, according unto thy word.
42 So shall I make answer unto my blasphemers; * for my trust is in thy word.
43 O take not the word of thy truth utterly out of my mouth; * for my hope is in thy judgments.
44 So shall I alway keep thy law; * yea, for ever and ever.
45 And I will walk at liberty; * for I seek thy commandments.
46 I will speak of thy testimonies also, even before kings, * and will not be ashamed.
47 And my delight shall be in thy commandments, * which I have loved.
48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; * and my study shall be in thy statutes.
First Lesson:
Deut 30:11 20
For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it. See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it. But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it. I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
Second Lesson:
John 13:1 35