Psalm 111

I WILL give thanks unto the LORD with my whole heart, * secretly among the faithful, and in the congregation.

The works of the LORD are great, * sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.

His work is worthy to be praised and had in honour, * and his righteousness endureth for ever.

The merciful and gracious LORD hath so done his marvellous works, * that they ought to be had in remembrance.

He hath given meat unto them that fear him; * he shall ever be mindful of his covenant.

He hath showed his people the power of his works, * that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.

The works of his hands are verity and judgment; * all his commandments are true.

They stand fast for ever and ever, * and are done in truth and equity.

He sent redemption unto his people; * he hath commanded his covenant for ever; holy and reverend is his Name.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; * a good understanding have all they that do thereafter; his praise endureth for ever.

Psalm 114

WHEN Israel came out of Egypt, * and the house of Jacob from among the strange people,

Judah was his sanctuary, * and Israel his dominion.

The sea saw that, and fled; * Jordan was driven back.

The mountains skipped like rams, * and the little hills like young sheep.

What aileth thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? * and thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back?

Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams? * and ye little hills, like young sheep?

Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord: * at the presence of the God of Jacob;

Who turned the hard rock into a standing water, * and the flint-stone into a springing well.

The First Lesson

1 Samuel 11:14-12:5

Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there. And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly. And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you. And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day. Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you. And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man’s hand. And he said unto them, The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.

The Second Lesson

Luke 15:11

¶ And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

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Psalm 116

MY delight is in the LORD; * because he hath heard the voice of my prayer;

Because he hath inclined his ear unto me; * therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.

The snares of death compassed me round about, * and the pains of hell gat hold upon me.

I found trouble and heaviness; then called I upon the Name of the LORD; * O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.

Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; * yea, our God is merciful.

The LORD preserveth the simple: * I was in misery, and he helped me.

Turn again then unto thy rest, O my soul; * for the LORD hath rewarded thee.

And why? thou hast delivered my soul from death, * mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.

I will walk before the LORD * in the land of the living.

I believed, and therefore will I speak; but I was sore troubled: * I said in my haste, All men are liars.

What reward shall I give unto the LORD * for all the benefits that he hath done unto me?

I will receive the cup of salvation, * and call upon the Name of the LORD.

I will pay my vows now in the presence of all his people: * right dear in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

Behold, O LORD, how that I am thy servant; * I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid; thou hast broken my bonds in sunder.

I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, * and will call upon the Name of the LORD.

I will pay my vows unto the LORD, in the sight of all his people, * in the courts of the LORD’S house; even in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD.

The First Lesson

Daniel 6:1-8

It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage. Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. ¶ Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

The Second Lesson

Acts 26:1-23

Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself: I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews: Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently. My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope’s sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews. Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead? I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities. Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judæa, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me. Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

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Psalm 104

PRAISE the LORD, O my soul: * O LORD my God, thou art become exceeding glorious; thou art clothed with majesty and honour.

Thou deckest thyself with light as it were with a garment, * and spreadest out the heavens like a curtain.

Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters, * and maketh the clouds his chariot, and walketh upon the wings of the wind.

He maketh his angels winds, * and his ministers a flaming fire.

He laid the foundations of the earth, * that it never should move at any time.

Thou coveredst it with the deep like as with a garment; * the waters stand above the hills.

At thy rebuke they flee; * at the voice of thy thunder they haste away.

They go up as high as the hills, and down to the valleys beneath; * even unto the place which thou hast appointed for them.

Thou hast set them their bounds, which they shall not pass, * neither turn again to cover the earth.

He sendeth the springs into the rivers, * which run among the hills.

All beasts of the field drink thereof, * and the wild asses quench their thirst.

Beside them shall the fowls of the air have their habitation, * and sing among the branches.

He watereth the hills from above; * the earth is filled with the fruit of thy works.

He bringeth forth grass for the cattle, * and green herb for the service of men;

That he may bring food out of the earth, and wine that maketh glad the heart of man; * and oil to make him a cheerful countenance, and bread to strengthen man's heart.

The trees of the LORD also are full of sap; * even the cedars of Lebanon which he hath planted;

Wherein the birds make their nests; * and the fir-trees are a dwelling for the stork.

The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; * and so are the stony rocks for the conies.

He appointed the moon for certain seasons, * and the sun knoweth his going down.

Thou makest darkness that it may be night; * wherein all the beasts of the forest do move.

The lions, roaring after their prey, * do seek their meat from God.

The sun ariseth, and they get them away together, * and lay them down in their dens.

Man goeth forth to his work, and to his labour, * until the evening.

O LORD, how manifold are thy works! * in wisdom hast thou made them all; the earth is full of thy riches.

So is the great and wide sea also; * wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.

There go the ships, and there is that leviathan, * whom thou hast made to take his pastime therein.

These wait all upon thee, * that thou mayest give them meat in due season.

When thou givest it them, they gather it; * and when thou openest thy hand, they are filled with good.

When thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: * when thou takest away their breath, they die, and are turned again to their dust.

When thou lettest thy breath go forth, they shall be made; * and thou shalt renew the face of the earth.

The glorious majesty of the LORD shall endure for ever; * the LORD shall rejoice in his works.

The earth shall tremble at the look of him; * if he do but touch the hills, they shall smoke.

I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live; * I will praise my God while I have my being.

And so shall my words please him: * my joy shall be in the LORD.

As for sinners, they shall be consumed out of the earth, * and the ungodly shall come to an end.

Praise thou the LORD, O my soul. * Praise the LORD.

The First Lesson

1 Samuel 11:1-13

Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh-gilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee. And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel. And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days’ respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel: and then, if there be no man to save us, we will come out to thee. ¶ Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept. And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh. And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly. And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent. And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, To morrow, by that time the sun be hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and shewed it to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad. Therefore the men of Jabesh said, To morrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you. And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together. ¶ And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death. And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel.

The Second Lesson

Luke 15:1-10

Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. ¶ And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. ¶ Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

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Psalm 25

UNTO thee, O LORD, will I lift up my soul; my God, I have put my trust in thee: * O let me not be confounded, neither let mine enemies triumph over me.

For all they that hope in thee shall not be ashamed; * but such as transgress without a cause shall be put to confusion.

Show me thy ways, O LORD, * and teach me thy paths.

Lead me forth in thy truth, and learn me: * for thou art the God of my salvation; in thee hath been my hope all the day long.

Call to remembrance, O LORD, thy tender mercies, * and thy loving-kindnesses, which have been ever of old.

O remember not the sins and offences of my youth; * but according to thy mercy think thou upon me, O LORD, for thy goodness.

Gracious and righteous is the LORD; * therefore, will he teach sinners in the way.

Them that are meek shall he guide in judgment; * and such as are gentle, them shall he learn his way.

All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth, * unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.

For thy Name's sake, O LORD, * be merciful unto my sin; for it is great.

What man is he that feareth the LORD? * him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.

His soul shall dwell at ease, * and his seed shall inherit the land.

The secret of the LORD is among them that fear him; * and he will show them his covenant.

Mine eyes are ever looking unto the LORD; * for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.

Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; * for I am desolate, and in misery.

The sorrows of my heart are enlarged: * O bring thou me out of my troubles.

Look upon my adversity and misery, * and forgive me all my sin.

Consider mine enemies, how many they are; * and they bear a tyrannous hate against me.

O keep my soul, and deliver me: * let me not be confounded, for I have put my trust in thee.

Let perfectness and righteous dealing wait upon me; * for my hope hath been in thee.

Deliver Israel, O God, * out of all his troubles.

The First Lesson

Ecclesiasticus 6:22

For wisdom is according to her name, and she is not manifest unto many. Give ear, my son, receive my advice, and refuse not my counsel, And put thy feet into her fetters, and thy neck into her chain. Bow down thy shoulder, and bear her, and be not grieved with her bonds. Come unto her with thy whole heart, and keep her ways with all thy power. Search, and seek, and she shall be made known unto thee: and when thou hast got hold of her, let her not go. For at the last thou shalt find her rest, and that shall be turned to thy joy. Then shall her fetters be a strong defence for thee, and her chains a robe of glory. For there is a golden ornament upon her, and her bands are purple lace. Thou shalt put her on as a robe of honour, and shalt put her about thee as a crown of joy. My son, if thou wilt, thou shalt be taught: and if thou wilt apply thy mind, thou shalt be prudent. If thou love to hear, thou shalt receive understanding: and if thou bow thine ear, thou shalt be wise, Stand in the multitude of the elders; and cleave unto him that is wise. Be willing to hear every godly discourse; and let not the parables of understanding escape thee. And if thou seest a man of understanding, get thee betimes unto him, and let thy foot wear the steps of his door. Let thy mind be upon the ordinances of the Lord and meditate continually in his commandments: he shall establish thine heart, and give thee wisdom at thine owns desire.

The Second Lesson

Luke 10:38

¶ Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Alternative set: Psalms 92 · Proverbs 11:24 · Matthew 7:15-21

Alternative set: Psalms 148, 150 · 1 Samuel 26:1-7, 12-17, 21-25 · Acts 12:1-17

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Psalm 119:33-48

TEACH me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes, * and I shall keep it unto the end.

Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; * yea, I shall keep it with my whole heart.

Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; * for therein is my desire.

Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, * and not to covetousness.

O turn away mine eyes, lest they behold vanity; * and quicken thou me in thy way.

O stablish thy word in thy servant, * that I may fear thee.

Take away the rebuke that I am afraid of; * for thy judgments are good.

Behold, my delight is in thy commandments; * O quicken me in thy righteousness.

LET thy loving mercy come also unto me, O LORD, * even thy salvation, according unto thy word.

So shall I make answer unto my blasphemers; * for my trust is in thy word.

O take not the word of thy truth utterly out of my mouth; * for my hope is in thy judgments.

So shall I alway keep thy law; * yea, for ever and ever.

And I will walk at liberty; * for I seek thy commandments.

I will speak of thy testimonies also, even before kings, * and will not be ashamed.

And my delight shall be in thy commandments, * which I have loved.

My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; * and my study shall be in thy statutes.

The First Lesson

Ecclesiasticus 1:18-27

The fear of the Lord is a crown of wisdom, making peace and perfect health to flourish; both which are the gifts of God: and it enlargeth their rejoicing that love him. Wisdom raineth down skill and knowledge of understanding standing, and exalteth them to honour that hold her fast. The root of wisdom is to fear the Lord, and the branches thereof are long life. The fear of the Lord driveth away sins: and where it is present, it turneth away wrath. A furious man cannot be justified; for the sway of his fury shall be his destruction. A patient man will tear for a time, and afterward joy shall spring up unto him. He will hide his words for a time, and the lips of many shall declare his wisdom. The parables of knowledge are in the treasures of wisdom: but godliness is an abomination to a sinner. If thou desire wisdom, keep the commandments, and the Lord shall give her unto thee. For the fear of the Lord is wisdom and instruction: and faith and meekness are his delight.

The Second Lesson

John 7:14-24

¶ Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me? The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee? Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel. Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man. If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day? Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

Alternative set: Psalms 126, 127 · Zechariah 4:1-10 · Galatians 3:24-4:7

Alternative set: Psalms 84 · Genesis 24:1-27 · Ephesians 5:22

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Psalm 33

REJOICE in the LORD, O ye righteous; * for it becometh well the just to be thankful.

Praise the LORD with harp; * sing praises unto him with the lute, and instrument of ten strings.

Sing unto the LORD a new song; * sing praises lustily unto him with a good courage.

For the word of the LORD is true; * and all his works are faithful.

He loveth righteousness and judgment; * the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; * and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

He gathereth the waters of the sea together, as it were upon an heap; * and layeth up the deep, as in a treasure-house.

Let all the earth fear the LORD: * stand in awe of him, all ye that dwell in the world.

For he spake, and it was done; * he commanded, and it stood fast.

The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought, * and maketh the devices of the people to be of none effect, and casteth out the counsels of princes.

The counsel of the LORD shall endure for ever, * and the thoughts of his heart from generation to generation.

Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord JEHOVAH; * and blessed are the folk that he hath chosen to him, to be his inheritance.

The LORD looketh down from heaven, and beholdeth all the children of men; * from the habitation of his dwelling, he considereth all them that dwell on the earth.

He fashioneth all the hearts of them, * and understandeth all their works.

There is no king that can be saved by the multitude of an host; * neither is any mighty man delivered by much strength.

A horse is counted but a vain thing to save a man; * neither shall he deliver any man by his great strength.

Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, * and upon them that put their trust in his mercy;

To deliver their soul from death, * and to feed them in the time of dearth.

Our soul hath patiently tarried for the LORD; * for he is our help and our shield.

For our heart shall rejoice in him; * because we have hoped in his holy Name.

Let thy merciful kindness, O LORD, be upon us, * like as we do put our trust in thee.

The First Lesson

Jeremiah 26:8-15

¶ Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die. Why hast thou prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant? And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD. ¶ When the princes of Judah heard these things, then they came up from the king’s house unto the house of the LORD, and sat down in the entry of the new gate of the LORD’s house. Then spake the priests and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people, saying, This man is worthy to die; for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your ears. ¶ Then spake Jeremiah unto all the princes and to all the people, saying, The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that ye have heard. Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you. As for me, behold, I am in your hand: do with me as seemeth good and meet unto you. But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof: for of a truth the LORD hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears.

The Second Lesson

Matthew 10:16-32

¶ Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

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Psalm 34

I WILL alway give thanks unto the LORD; * his praise shall ever be in my mouth.

My soul shall make her boast in the LORD; * the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

O praise the LORD with me, * and let us magnify his Name together.

I sought the LORD, and he heard me; * yea, he delivered me out of all my fear.

They had an eye unto him, and were lightened; * and their faces were not ashamed.

Lo, the poor crieth, and the LORD heareth him; * yea, and saveth him out of all his troubles.

The angel of the LORD tarrieth round about them that fear him, * and delivereth them.

O taste, and see, how gracious the LORD is: * blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

O fear the LORD, ye that are his saints; * for they that fear him lack nothing.

The lions do lack, and suffer hunger; * but they who seek the LORD shall want no manner of thing that is good.

Come, ye children, and hearken unto me; * I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

What man is he that lusteth to live, * and would fain see good days?

Keep thy tongue from evil, * and thy lips, that they speak no guile.

Eschew evil, and do good; * seek peace, and ensue it.

The eyes of the LORD are over the righteous, * and his ears are open unto their prayers.

The countenance of the LORD is against them that do evil, * to root out the remembrance of them from the earth.

The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth them, * and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart, * and will save such as be of an humble spirit.

Great are the troubles of the righteous; * but the LORD delivereth him out of all.

He keepeth all his bones, * so that not one of them is broken.

But misfortune shall slay the ungodly; * and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.

The LORD delivereth the souls of his servants; * and all they that put their trust in him shall not be destitute.

The First Lesson

Jeremiah 45

The word that Jeremiah the prophet spake unto Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, unto thee, O Baruch; Thou didst say, Woe is me now! for the LORD hath added grief to my sorrow; I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest. ¶ Thus shalt thou say unto him, The LORD saith thus; Behold, that which I have built will I break down, and that which I have planted I will pluck up, even this whole land. And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the LORD: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.

The Second Lesson

1 Peter 1:22-2:10

Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

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Psalm 112

BLESSED is the man that feareth the LORD; * he hath great delight in his commandments.

His seed shall be mighty upon earth; * the generation of the faithful shall be blessed.

Riches and plenteousness shall be in his house; * and his righteousness endureth for ever.

Unto the godly there ariseth up light in the darkness; * he is merciful, loving, and righteous.

A good man is merciful, and lendeth; * and will guide his words with discretion.

For he shall never be moved: * and the righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance.

He will not be afraid of any evil tidings; * for his heart standeth fast, and believeth in the LORD.

His heart is stablished, and will not shrink, * until he see his desire upon his enemies.

He hath dispersed abroad, and given to the poor. * and his righteousness remaineth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.

The ungodly shall see it, and it shall grieve him; * he shall gnash with his teeth, and consume away; the desire of the ungodly shall perish.

Psalm 113

PRAISE the LORD, ye servants; * O praise the Name of the LORD.

Blessed be the Name of the LORD * from this time forth for evermore.

The LORD’S Name is praised * from the rising up of the sun unto the going down of the same.

The LORD is high above all nations, * and his glory above the heavens.

Who is like unto the LORD our God, that hath his dwelling so high, * and yet humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven and earth!

He taketh up the simple out of the dust, * and lifteth the poor out of the mire;

That he may set him with the princes, * even with the princes of his people.

He maketh the barren woman to keep house, * and to be a joyful mother of children.

The First Lesson

Exodus 3:1-15

Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God. ¶ And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites. Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them. Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. ¶ And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain. And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.

The Second Lesson

Mark 1:14-20

Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him. And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets. And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.

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Psalm 86

BOW down thine ear, O LORD, and hear me; * for I am poor, and in misery.

Preserve thou my soul, for I am holy: * my God, save thy servant that putteth his trust in thee.

Be merciful unto me, O Lord; * for I will call daily upon thee.

Comfort the soul of thy servant; * for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

For thou, Lord, art good and gracious, * and of great mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

Give ear, LORD, unto my prayer, * and ponder the voice of my humble desires.

In the time of my trouble I will call upon thee; * for thou hearest me.

Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; * there is not one that can do as thou doest.

All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship thee, O Lord; * and shall glorify thy Name.

For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: * thou art God alone.

Teach me thy way, O LORD, and I will walk in thy truth: * O knit my heart unto thee, that I may fear thy Name.

I will thank thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart; * and will praise thy Name for evermore.

For great is thy mercy toward me; * and thou hast delivered my soul from the nethermost hell.

O God, the proud are risen against me; * and the congregations of violent men have sought after my soul, and have not set thee before their eyes.

But thou, O Lord God, art full of compassion and mercy, * long-suffering, plenteous in goodness and truth.

O turn thee then unto me, and have mercy upon me; * give thy strength unto thy servant, and help the son of thine handmaid.

Show some token upon me for good; that they who hate me may see it, and be ashamed, * because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me.

The First Lesson

1 Samuel 10:1-11

Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance? When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel’s sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son? Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Beth-el, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine: And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands. After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy: And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man. And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee. And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do. ¶ And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day. And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them. And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?

The Second Lesson

Luke 14:15-24

¶ And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

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Psalm 89:1-19

MY song shall be alway of the loving-kindness of the LORD; * with my mouth will I ever be showing thy truth from one generation to another.

For I have said, Mercy shall be set up for ever; * thy truth shalt thou stablish in the heavens.

I have made a covenant with my chosen; * I have sworn unto David my servant:

Thy seed will I stablish for ever, * and set up thy throne from one generation to another.

O LORD, the very heavens shall praise thy wondrous works; * and thy truth in the congregation of the saints.

For who is he among the clouds, * that shall be compared unto the LORD?

And what is he among the gods, * that shall be like unto the LORD?

God is very greatly to be feared in the council of the saints, * and to be had in reverence of all them that are round about him.

O Lord God of hosts, who is like unto thee? * thy truth, most mighty LORD, is on every side.

Thou rulest the raging of the sea; * thou stillest the waves thereof when they arise.

Thou hast subdued Egypt, and destroyed it; * thou hast scattered thine enemies abroad with thy mighty arm.

The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine; * thou hast laid the foundation of the round world, and all that therein is.

Thou hast made the north and the south; * Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy Name.

Thou hast a mighty arm; * strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.

Righteousness and equity are the habitation of thy seat; * mercy and truth shall go before thy face.

Blessed is the people, O LORD, that can rejoice in thee; * they shall walk in the light of thy countenance.

Their delight shall be daily in thy Name; * and in thy righteousness shall they make their boast.

For thou art the glory of their strength, * and in thy loving-kindness thou shalt lift up our horns.

For the LORD is our defence; * the Holy One of Israel is our King.

The First Lesson

Daniel 5:1-9

Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein. Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them. They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. ¶ In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. Then the king’s countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another. The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. Then came in all the king’s wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof. Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied.

The Second Lesson

Acts 24:10-23

Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself: Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship. And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city: Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me. But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men. Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings. Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult. Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me. Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council, Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day. And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter. And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him.

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Psalm 85

LORD, thou art become gracious unto thy land; * thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob.

Thou hast forgiven the offence of thy people, * and covered all their sins.

Thou hast taken away all thy displeasure, * and turned thyself from thy wrathful indignation.

Turn us then, O God our Saviour, * and let thine anger cease from us.

Wilt thou be displeased at us for ever? * and wilt thou stretch out thy wrath from one generation to another?

Wilt thou not turn again, and quicken us, * that thy people may rejoice in thee?

Show us thy mercy, O LORD, * and grant us thy salvation.

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.

For his salvation is nigh them that fear him; * that glory may dwell in our land.

Mercy and truth are met together: * righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

Truth shall flourish out of the earth, * and righteousness hath looked down from heaven.

Yea, the LORD shall show loving-kindness; * and our land shall give her increase.

Righteousness shall go before him, * and shall direct his going in the way.

The First Lesson

1 Samuel 9:22

And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlour, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons. And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee. And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold that which is left! set it before thee, and eat: for unto this time hath it been kept for thee since I said, I have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day. ¶ And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house. And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad. And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God.

The Second Lesson

Luke 14:1-14

And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him. And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy. And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day? And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go; And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day? And they could not answer him again to these things. ¶ And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them, When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. ¶ Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

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Psalm 81

SING we merrily unto God our strength; * make a cheerful noise unto the God of Jacob.

Take the psalm, bring hither the tabret, * the merry harp with the lute.

Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, * even in the time appointed, and upon our solemn feast-day.

For this was made a statute for Israel, * and a law of the God of Jacob.

This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, * when he came out of the land of Egypt, and had heard a strange language.

I eased his shoulder from the burden, * and his hands were delivered from making the pots.

Thou calledst upon me in troubles, and I delivered thee; * and heard thee what time as the storm fell upon thee.

I proved thee also * at the waters of strife.

Hear, O my people; and I will assure thee, O Israel, * if thou wilt hearken unto me,

There shall no strange god be in thee, * neither shalt thou worship any other god.

I am the LORD thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt: * open thy mouth wide, and I shall fill it.

But my people would not hear my voice; * and Israel would not obey me;

So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lusts, * and let them follow their own imaginations.

O that my people would have hearkened unto me! * for if Israel had walked in my ways,

I should soon have put down their enemies, * and turned my hand against their adversaries.

The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him; * but their time should have endured for ever.

I would have fed them also with the finest wheat-flour; * and with honey out of the stony rock would I have satisfied thee.

The First Lesson

Daniel 4:28

¶ All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws. And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

The Second Lesson

Acts 23:25-24:9

And he wrote a letter after this manner: Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting. This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman. And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council: Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds. And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell. Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris. On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle: Who, when they came to Cæsarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him. And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia; I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod’s judgment hall. And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul. And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence, We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words. For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law. But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands, Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him. And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so.

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Psalm 80

HEAR, O thou Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; * show thyself also, thou that sittest upon the Cherubim.

Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, * stir up thy strength, and come and help us.

Turn us again, O God; * show the light of thy countenance, and we shall be whole.

O LORD God of hosts, * how long wilt thou be angry with thy people that prayeth?

Thou feedest them with the bread of tears, * and givest them plenteousness of tears to drink.

Thou hast made us a very strife unto our neighbours, * and our enemies laugh us to scorn.

Turn us again, thou God of hosts; * show the light of thy countenance, and we shall be whole.

Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt; * thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.

Thou madest room for it; * and when it had taken root, it filled the land.

The hills were covered with the shadow of it, * and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedar-trees.

She stretched out her branches unto the sea, * and her boughs unto the River.

Why hast thou then broken down her hedge, * that all they that go by pluck off her grapes?

The wild boar out of the wood doth root it up, * and the wild beasts of the field devour it.

Turn thee again, thou God of hosts, look down from heaven, * behold, and visit this vine;

And the place of the vineyard that thy right hand hath planted, * and the branch that thou madest so strong for thyself.

It is burnt with fire, and cut down; * and they shall perish at the rebuke of thy countenance.

Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, * and upon the son of man, whom thou madest so strong for thine own self.

And so will not we go back from thee: * O let us live, and we shall call upon thy Name.

Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts; * show the light of thy countenance, and we shall be whole.

The First Lesson

1 Samuel 9:11-21

¶ And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer here? And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place: As soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he go up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find him. And they went up into the city: and when they were come into the city, behold, Samuel came out against them, for to go up to the high place. ¶ Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying, To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me. And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people. Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer’s house is. And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart. And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father’s house? And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?

The Second Lesson

Luke 13:22

And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, ¶ Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last. ¶ The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee. And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

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Psalm 74

O GOD, wherefore art thou absent from us so long? * why is thy wrath so hot against the sheep of thy pasture?

O think upon thy congregation, * whom thou hast purchased, and redeemed of old.

Think upon the tribe of thine inheritance, * and Mount Sion, wherein thou hast dwelt.

Lift up thy feet, that thou mayest utterly destroy every enemy, * which hath done evil in thy sanctuary.

Thine adversaries roar in the midst of thy congregations, * and set up their banners for tokens.

He that hewed timber afore out of the thick trees, * was known to bring it to an excellent work.

But now they break down all the carved work thereof * with axes and hammers.

They have set fire upon thy holy places, * and have defiled the dwelling-place of thy Name, even unto the ground.

Yea, they said in their hearts, Let us make havoc of them altogether: * thus have they burnt up all the houses of God in the land.

We see not our tokens; there is not one prophet more; * no, not one is there among us, that understandeth any more.

O God, how long shall the adversary do this dishonour? * shall the enemy blaspheme thy Name for ever?

Why withdrawest thou thy hand? * why pluckest thou not thy right hand out of thy bosom to consume the enemy?

For God is my King of old; * the help that is done upon earth, he doeth it himself.

Thou didst divide the sea through thy power; * thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.

Thou smotest the heads of leviathan in pieces, * and gavest him to be meat for the people of the wilderness.

Thou broughtest out fountains and waters out of the hard rocks; * thou driedst up mighty waters.

The day is thine, and the night is thine; * thou hast prepared the light and the sun.

Thou hast set all the borders of the earth; * thou hast made summer and winter.

Remember this, O LORD, how the enemy hath rebuked; * and how the foolish people hath blasphemed thy Name.

O deliver not the soul of thy turtle-dove unto the multitude of the enemies; * and forget not the congregation of the poor for ever.

Look upon the covenant; * for all the earth is full of darkness and cruel habitations.

O let not the simple go away ashamed; * but let the poor and needy give praise unto thy Name.

Arise, O God, maintain thine own cause; * remember how the foolish man blasphemeth thee daily.

Forget not the voice of thine enemies: * the presumption of them that hate thee increaseth ever more and more.

The First Lesson

Daniel 4:19-27

¶ Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies. The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth; Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation: It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth. And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him; This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king: That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule. Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.

The Second Lesson

Acts 23:12-24

And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy. And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul. Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him. And when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul. Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him. So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee. Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that thou hast to tell me? And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly. But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee. So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast shewed these things to me. And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Cæsarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night; And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.

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Psalm 77

I WILL cry unto God with my voice; * even unto God will I cry with my voice, and he shall hearken unto me.

In the time of my trouble I sought the Lord: * I stretched forth my hands unto him, and ceased not in the night season; my soul refused comfort.

When I am in heaviness, I will think upon God; * when my heart is vexed, I will complain.

Thou holdest mine eyes waking: * I am so feeble that I cannot speak.

I have considered the days of old, * and the years that are past.

I call to remembrance my song, * and in the night I commune with mine own heart, and search out my spirit.

Will the Lord absent himself for ever? * and will he be no more intreated?

Is his mercy clean gone for ever? * and is his promise come utterly to an end for evermore?

Hath God forgotten to be gracious? * and will he shut up his loving-kindness in displeasure?

And I said, It is mine own infirmity; * but I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most Highest.

I will remember the works of the LORD, * and call to mind thy wonders of old time.

I will think also of all thy works, * and my talking shall be of thy doings.

Thy way, O God, is holy: * who is so great a God as our God?

Thou art the God that doest wonders, * and hast declared thy power among the peoples.

Thou hast mightily delivered thy people, * even the sons of Jacob and Joseph.

The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee, and were afraid; * the depths also were troubled.

The clouds poured out water, the air thundered, * and thine arrows went abroad.

The voice of thy thunder was heard round about: * the lightnings shone upon the ground; the earth was moved, and shook withal.

Thy way is in the sea, and thy paths in the great waters, * and thy footsteps are not known.

Thou leddest thy people like sheep, * by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

The First Lesson

1 Samuel 9:1-10

Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power. And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people. And the asses of Kish Saul’s father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses. And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not. And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us. And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go. Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we? And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way. (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.) Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.

The Second Lesson

Luke 13:10-21

And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. ¶ And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day. The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day? And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him. ¶ Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it. And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

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Psalm 73

TRULY God is loving unto Israel: * even unto such as are of a clean heart.

Nevertheless, my feet were almost gone, * my treadings had well-nigh slipt.

And why? I was grieved at the wicked: * I do also see the ungodly in such prosperity.

For they are in no peril of death; * but are lusty and strong.

They come in no misfortune like other folk; * neither are they plagued like other men.

And this is the cause that they are so holden with pride, * and cruelty covereth them as a garment.

Their eyes swell with fatness, * and they do even what they lust.

They corrupt other, and speak of wicked blasphemy; * their talking is against the Most High.

For they stretch forth their mouth unto the heaven, * and their tongue goeth through the world.

Therefore fall the people unto them, * and thereout suck they no small advantage.

Tush, say they, how should God perceive it? * is there knowledge in the Most High?

Lo, these are the ungodly, * these prosper in the world, and these have riches in possession:

And I said, Then have I cleansed my heart in vain, * and washed my hands in innocency.

All the day long have I been punished, * and chastened every morning.

Yea, and I had almost said even as they; * but lo, then I should have condemned the generation of thy children.

Then thought I to understand this; * but it was too hard for me,

Until I went into the sanctuary of God: * then understood I the end of these men;

Namely, how thou dost set them in slippery places, * and castest them down, and destroyest them.

O how suddenly do they consume, * perish, and come to a fearful end!

Yea, even like as a dream when one awaketh; * so shalt thou make their image to vanish out of the city.

Thus my heart was grieved, * and it went even through my reins.

So foolish was I, and ignorant, * even as it were a beast before thee.

Nevertheless, I am alway by thee; * for thou hast holden me by my right hand.

Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, * and after that receive me with glory.

Whom have I in heaven but thee? * and there is none upon earth that I desire in comparison of thee.

My flesh and my heart faileth; * but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

For lo, they that forsake thee shall perish; * thou hast destroyed all them that are unfaithful unto thee.

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.

The First Lesson

Daniel 4:4-5, 10-18

¶ I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace: I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great. The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth: The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it. I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven; He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches: Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth: Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him. This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men. This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.

The Second Lesson

Acts 22:30-23:11

On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them. And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth. Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law? And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God’s high priest? Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people. But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees’ part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God. And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle. And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

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