Morning Prayer
Psalm 28 Ad te, Domine
1 UNTO thee will I cry, O LORD, my strength: * think no scorn of me; lest, if thou make as though thou hearest not, I become like them that go down into the pit.
2 Hear the voice of my humble petitions, when I cry unto thee; * when I hold up my hands towards the mercy-seat of thy holy temple.
3 O pluck me not away, neither destroy me with the ungodly and wicked doers, * which speak friendly to their neighbours, but imagine mischief in their hearts.
4 Reward them according to their deeds, * and according to the wickedness of their own inventions.
5 Recompense them after the work of their hands; * pay them that they have deserved.
6 For they regard not in their mind the works of the LORD, nor the operation of his hands; * therefore shall he break them down, and not build them up.
7 Praised be the LORD; * for he hath heard the voice of my humble petitions.
8 The LORD is my strength, and my shield; my heart hath trusted in him, and I am helped; * therefore my heart danceth for joy, and in my song will I praise him.
9 The LORD is my strength, * and he is the wholesome defence of his anointed.
10 O save thy people, and give thy blessing unto thine inheritance: * feed them, and set them up for ever.
First Lesson:
Num. 22:2-14
2)And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3)And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel. 4)And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time. 5)He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me: 6)Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed. 7)And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak. 8)And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam. 9)And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee? 10)And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying, 11)Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out. 12)And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed. 13)And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you. 14)And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.
Second Lesson:
Luke 2:21-40
21)And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 22)And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; 23)(As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) 24)And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. 25)And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. 26)And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27)And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, 28)Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29)Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30)For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31)Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 32)A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. 33)And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. 34)And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; 35)(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. 36)And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; 37)And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38)And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. 39)And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. 40)And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
Evening Prayer
Psalm 31 In te, Domine, speravi.
1 IN thee, O LORD, have I put my trust; let me never be put to confusion; * deliver me in thy righteousness.
2 Bow down thine ear to me; * make haste to deliver me.
3 And be thou my strong rock, and house of defence, * that thou mayest save me.
4 For thou art my strong rock, and my castle: * be thou also my guide, and lead me for thy Name’s sake.
5 Draw me out of the net that they have laid privily for me; * for thou art my strength.
6 Into thy hands I commend my spirit; * for thou hast redeemed me, O LORD, thou God of truth.
7 I have hated them that hold of lying vanities, * and my trust hath been in the LORD.
8 I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy; * for thou hast considered my trouble, and hast known my soul in adversities.
9 Thou hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy; * but hast set my feet in a large room.
10 Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble, * and mine eye is consumed for very heaviness; yea, my soul and my body.
11 For my life is waxen old with heaviness, * and my years with mourning.
12 My strength faileth me, because of mine iniquity, *and my bones are consumed.
13 I became a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours; * and they of mine acquaintance were afraid of me; and they that did see me without, conveyed themselves from me.
14 I am clean forgotten as a dead man out of mind; * I am become like a broken vessel.
15 For I have heard the blasphemy of the multitude, and fear is on every side; * while they conspire together against me, and take their counsel to take away my life.
16 But my hope hath been in thee, O LORD; * I have said, Thou art my God.
17 My times are in thy hand; deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, * and from them that persecute me.
18 Show thy servant the light of thy countenance, * and save me for thy mercy’s sake.
19 Let me not be confounded, O LORD, for I have called upon thee; * let the ungodly be put to confusion, and be put to silence in the grave.
20 Let the lying lips be put to silence, * which cruelly, disdainfully, and despitefully speak against the righteous.
21 O how plentiful is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee, * and that thou hast prepared for them that put their trust in thee, even before the sons of men!
22 Thou shalt hide them in the covert of thine own presence from the plottings of men: * thou shalt keep them secretly in thy tabernacle from the strife of tongues.
23 Thanks be to the LORD; * for he hath showed me marvellous great kindness in a strong city.
24 But in my haste I said, * I am cast out of the sight of thine eyes.
25 Nevertheless, thou heardest the voice of my prayer, * when I cried unto thee.
26 O love the LORD, all ye his saints; * for the LORD preserveth them that are faithful, and plenteously rewardeth the proud doer.
27 Be strong, and he shall establish your heart, * all ye that put your trust in the LORD.
First Lesson:
Ezra 5:1-2,6-17
1)Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them. 2)Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them. 6)The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shethar-boznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, which were on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king: 7)They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace. 8)Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands. 9)Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls? 10)We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them. 11)And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up. 12)But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon. 13)But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God. 14)And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto one, whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor; 15)And said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his place. 16)Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and yet it is not finished. 17)Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.
Second Lesson:
Acts 9:1-19
1)And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2)And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 3)And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4)And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5)And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6)And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. 7)And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 8)And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 9)And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. 10)And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 11)And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 12)And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. 13)Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: 14)And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. 15)But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16)For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. 17)And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 18)And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. 19)And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.