Book of Common Prayer
140 Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man; preserve me from the violent man,
2 who imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.
3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah
4 Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man, who has purposed to overthrow my goings.
5 The proud have hid a snare for me, and with cords they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set traps for me. Selah
6 I said unto the Lord, “Thou art my God; hear the voice of my supplications, O Lord.
7 O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.
8 Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked; further not his wicked device, lest they exalt themselves. Selah
9 “As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
10 Let burning coals fall upon them; let them be cast into the fire, into deep pits, that they rise not up again.
11 Let not an evil speaker be established on the earth; evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.”
12 I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted and the right of the poor.
13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto Thy name; the upright shall dwell in Thy presence.
142 I cried unto the Lord with my voice; with my voice unto the Lord did I make my supplication.
2 I poured out my complaint before Him; I laid before Him my trouble.
3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then Thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.
4 I looked on my right hand and beheld, but there was no man that would know me. Refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.
5 I cried unto Thee, O Lord; I said, “Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.
6 Attend unto my cry, for I am brought very low; deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I.
7 Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Thy name; the righteous shall compass me about, for Thou shalt deal bountifully with me.”
141 Lord, I cry unto Thee! Make haste unto me! Give ear unto my voice when I cry unto Thee.
2 Let my prayer be set before Thee as incense, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
3 Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
4 Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men that work iniquity; and let me not eat of their dainties.
5 Let the righteous smite me: it shall be a kindness. And let him reprove me: it shall be as an excellent oil, which shall not break my head; for yet my prayer shall be with them in their calamities.
6 When their judges are overthrown onto stony places, they shall hear my words, for they are sweet.
7 Our bones are scattered at the grave’s mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.
8 But mine eyes are unto Thee, O God the Lord; in Thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.
9 Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the traps of the workers of iniquity.
10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst I thereupon escape.
143 Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications; in Thy faithfulness answer me, and in Thy righteousness.
2 And enter not into judgment with Thy servant, for in Thy sight shall no man living be justified.
3 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground. He hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.
4 Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.
5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Thy works; I muse on the work of Thy hands.
6 I stretch forth my hands unto Thee; my soul thirsteth after Thee, as a thirsty land. Selah
7 Hear me speedily, O Lord; my spirit faileth. Hide not Thy face from me, lest I be like them that go down into the pit.
8 Cause me to hear Thy lovingkindness in the morning, for in Thee do I trust. Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk, for I lift up my soul unto Thee.
9 Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies; I flee unto Thee to hide me.
10 Teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God. Thy Spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
11 Quicken me, O Lord, for Thy name’s sake; for Thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.
12 And in Thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul; for I am Thy servant.
24 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek out enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.
3 And he took up his parable and said: “Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said,
4 he hath said, who heard the words of God, who saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
5 How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!
6 As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river’s side, as the trees of lignaloes which the Lord hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.
7 He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters; and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.
8 God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath, as it were, the strength of a unicorn. He shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones and pierce them through with his arrows.
9 He couched, he lay down as a lion. And as a great lion, who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.”
10 And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together; and Balak said unto Balaam, “I called thee to curse mine enemies, and behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.
11 Therefore now flee thou to thy place. I thought to promote thee unto great honor, but lo, the Lord hath kept thee back from honor.”
12 And Balaam said unto Balak, “Spoke I not also to thy messengers whom thou sentest unto me, saying,
13 ‘If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the Lord saith, that will I speak’?
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh to live according to the flesh;
13 for if ye live according to the flesh ye shall die, but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body ye shall live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, “Abba! Father!”
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God;
17 and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if so it be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.
15 Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how they might entangle Him in His talk.
16 And they sent out unto Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Master, we know that thou art true and teachest the way of God in truth; neither carest thou for any man, for thou regardest not the person of men.
17 Tell us therefore, what thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?”
18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness and said, “Why tempt ye Me, ye hypocrites?
19 Show Me the tribute money.” And they brought unto Him a penny.
20 And He said unto them, “Whose is this image and superscription?”
21 And they said unto Him, “Caesar’s.” Then said He unto them, “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.”
22 When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.
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