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Book of Common Prayer

Daily Old and New Testament readings based on the Book of Common Prayer.
Duration: 861 days
International Children’s Bible (ICB)
Version
Psalm 116

Thanksgiving for Escaping Death

116 I love the Lord because he listens
    to my prayers for help.
He paid attention to me.
    So I will call to him for help as long as I live.
The ropes of death bound me.
    The fear of death took hold of me.
    I was troubled and sad.
Then I called out the name of the Lord.
    I said, “Please, Lord, save me!”

The Lord is kind and does what is right.
    Our God is merciful.
The Lord watches over the foolish.
    When I was helpless, he saved me.
I said to myself, “Relax,
    because the Lord takes care of you.”
Lord, you have saved me from death.
    You have stopped my eyes from crying.
    You have kept me from being defeated.
So I will walk with the Lord
    in the land of the living.
10 I believed, so I said,
    “I am completely ruined.”
11 In my distress I said,
    “All people are liars.”

12 What can I give the Lord
    for all the good things he has given to me?
13 I will give him a drink offering for saving me.
    And I will pray to the Lord.
14 In front of all his people,
    I will give the Lord what I promised.

15 The death of one that belongs to him
    is precious to the Lord.
16 Lord, I am your servant.
    I am your servant and the son of your female servant.
    You have freed me from my chains.
17 I will give an offering to show thanks to you.
    And I will worship the Lord.
18 In front of all his people,
    I will give the Lord what I promised.
19 I will do this in the Temple courtyards
    in Jerusalem.

Praise the Lord!

Zephaniah 3:14-20

A Happy Song

14 Sing, Jerusalem.
    Israel, shout for joy!
Jerusalem, be happy.
    Rejoice with all your heart.
15 The Lord has stopped punishing you.
    He has sent your enemies away.
The King of Israel, the Lord, is with you.
    You will never again be afraid of being harmed.
16 On that day Jerusalem will be told,
    “Don’t be afraid, city of Jerusalem.
    Don’t be so discouraged that you can’t do anything.
17 The Lord your God is with you.
    The mighty One will save you.
The Lord will be happy with you.
    You will rest in his love.
    He will sing and be joyful about you.”

18 “I will take away the sadness planned for you.
    It would have made you very ashamed.
19 At that time I will punish
    all those who harmed you.
I will save my people who are hurt.
    I will gather my people who are scattered.
I will give them praise and honor
    in every place where they were disgraced.
20 At that time I will gather you.
    At that time I will bring you back home.
I will give you honor and praise
    from people everywhere.
That will happen when I give you back your riches.
    You will see this with your own eyes,” says the Lord.

Mark 15:47-16:7

47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw the place where Jesus was laid.

Jesus Rises from Death

16 The day after the Sabbath day, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought some sweet-smelling spices to put on Jesus’ body. Very early on that day, the first day of the week, the women were on their way to the tomb. It was soon after sunrise. They said to each other, “There is a large stone covering the entrance of the tomb. Who will move the stone for us?”

Then the women looked and saw that the stone was already moved. The stone was very large, but it was moved away from the entrance. The women entered the tomb and saw a young man wearing a white robe. He was sitting on the right side, and the women were afraid.

But the man said, “Don’t be afraid. You are looking for Jesus from Nazareth, the one who was killed on a cross. He has risen from death. He is not here. Look, here is the place they laid him. Now go and tell his followers and Peter, ‘Jesus is going into Galilee. He will be there before you. You will see him there as he told you before.’”

Psalm 30

Thanksgiving for Escaping Death

A song of David. A song for giving the Temple to the Lord.

30 I will praise you, Lord,
    because you rescued me.
    You did not let my enemies laugh at me.
Lord, my God, I prayed to you.
    And you healed me.
You lifted me out of the grave.
    You spared me from going down where the dead are.

Sing praises to the Lord, you who belong to him.
    Praise his holy name.
His anger lasts only a moment.
    But his kindness lasts for a lifetime.
Crying may last for a night.
    But joy comes in the morning.

When I felt safe, I said,
    “I will never fail.”
Lord, in your kindness you made my mountain safe.
    But when you turned away, I was frightened.

I called to you, Lord.
    I asked you to have mercy on me.
I said, “What good will it do if I die
    or if I go down to the grave?
Dust cannot praise you.
    It cannot speak about your truth.
10 Lord, hear me and be merciful to me.
    Lord, help me.”

11 You changed my sorrow into dancing.
    You took away my rough cloth, which shows sadness, and clothed me in happiness.
12 I will sing to you and not be silent.
    Lord, my God, I will praise you forever.

Psalm 149

Praise the God of Israel

149 Praise the Lord!

Sing a new song to the Lord.
    Sing his praise in the meeting of his people.

Let the Israelites be happy because of God, their Maker.
    Let the people of Jerusalem rejoice because of their King.
They should praise him with dancing.
    They should praise him with tambourines and harps.
The Lord is pleased with his people.
    He saves those who are not proud.
Let those who worship him rejoice in his glory.
    Let them sing for joy even in bed!

Let them shout his praise
    with their two-edged swords in their hands.
They will punish the nations.
    They will defeat the people.
They will put those kings in chains
    and those important men in iron bands.
They will punish them as God has written.
    God is honored by all who worship him.

Praise the Lord!

2 Corinthians 1:3-7

Paul Gives Thanks to God

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is the Father who is full of mercy. And he is the God of all comfort. He comforts us every time we have trouble, so that we can comfort others when they have trouble. We can comfort them with the same comfort that God gives us. We share in the many sufferings of Christ. In the same way, much comfort comes to us through Christ. If we have troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation. If we have comfort, then you also have comfort. This helps you to accept patiently the same sufferings that we have. Our hope for you is strong. We know that you share in our sufferings. So we know that you also share in the comfort we receive.

International Children’s Bible (ICB)

The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.