Book of Common Prayer
The [a]Psalms of David
1 Whether it was Esdras, or any other that gathered the Psalms into a book, it seemeth he did set this Psalm first in manner of a preface, to exhort all godly men to study and meditate the heavenly wisdom. For the effect hereof is, 1 That they be blessed which give themselves wholly all their life to the holy Scriptures; 4 and that the wicked contemners of God, though they seem for a while happy, yet at length shall come to miserable destruction.
1 Blessed is the man that doth not walk in the [b]counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the (A)law of the Lord, and in his [c]law doth he meditate day and night.
3 For he shall be like a (B)tree planted by the rivers of waters, that will bring forth her fruits in due season: whose leaf shall not fade: so [d]whatsoever he shall do, shall prosper.
4 [e]The wicked are not so, but as the chaff, which the wind driveth away.
5 Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the [f]judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the Lord [g]knoweth the way of the righteous, and the way of the wicked shall perish.
2 The Prophet David rejoiceth, that notwithstanding his enemies’ rage, yet God will continue his kingdom forever, and advance it even to the end of the world, 10 and therefore exhorteth kings and rulers, that they would humbly submit themselves under God’s yoke, because it is in vain to resist God. Herein is figured Christ’s kingdom.
1 Why do the [h]heathen (C)rage, and the people murmur in vain.
2 The kings of the earth band themselves, and the Princes are assembled together against the Lord, and against his [i]Christ.
3 [j]Let us break their bands, and cast their cords from us.
4 (D)But he that dwelleth in the heaven shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
5 [k]Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure, saying,
6 Even I have set my King upon Zion mine holy mountain.
7 I will declare the [l]decree: that is, the Lord hath said unto me, (E)Thou art my son; this [m]day have I begotten thee.
8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the [n]ends of the earth for thy possession.
9 (F)Thou shalt crush them with a scepter of iron, and break them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
10 [o]Be wise now therefore, ye kings: be learned ye judges of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord in fear, and rejoice in trembling.
12 [p]Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye [q]perish in the way, when his wrath shall suddenly burn. Blessed are all that trust in him.
3 David driven forth of his kingdom, was greatly tormented in mind for his sins against God: 4 And therefore calleth upon God, and waxeth bold through his promises, against the great railings and terrors of his enemies, yea against death itself, which he saw present before his eyes. 7 Finally, he rejoiceth for the good success that God gave him and all the Church.
A Psalm of David, when he fled from his son Absalom.
1 Lord, how are mine adversaries [r]increased? how many rise against me?
2 Many say to my soul, There is no help for him in God. [s]Selah.
3 But thou Lord art a buckler for me, my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
4 I did call unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy mountain. Selah.
5 I laid me down and slept, and rose up again: for the Lord sustained me.
6 I will not be afraid for [t]ten thousand of the people, that should beset me round about.
7 O Lord, arise: help me, my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheekbone: thou hast broken the teeth of the wicked.
8 [u]Salvation belongeth unto the Lord, and thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.
4 When Saul persecuted him, he called upon God, trusting most assuredly in his promise, and therefore boldly reproveth his enemies, who willfully resisted his dominion, 7 and finally preferreth the favor of God before all worldly treasures.
[v]To him that excelleth on Neginoth. A Psalm of David.
1 Hear me when I call, [w]O God of my righteousness: thou hast set me at liberty, when I was in [x]distress: have mercy upon me, and hearken unto my prayer.
2 O ye [y]sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame, [z]loving vanity, and seeking lies? Selah.
3 For be ye sure that the Lord hath chosen to himself [aa]a godly man, the Lord will hear when I call unto him.
4 [ab]Tremble and sin not: examine your own heart upon your bed, and be [ac]still. Selah.
5 [ad]Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and trust in the Lord.
6 Many say, Who will show us any [ae]good? but Lord, lift up the light of thy countenance upon us.
7 Thou hast given me more joy of heart, than they have had, when their wheat and their wine did abound.
8 I will lay me down, and also sleep in peace: for thou, [af]Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.
7 Being falsely accused by Cush one of Saul’s kinsmen, he calleth to God to be his defender, 3 to whom he commendeth his innocence, 9 first showing that his conscience did not accuse him of any evil toward Saul. 10 Next that it touched God’s glory to award sentence against the wicked. 12 And so entering into the consideration of God’s mercies and promise, he waxeth bold, and derideth the vain enterprises of his enemies, 15 threatening that that shall fall on their own neck which they have purposed for others.
[a]Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto the Lord, concerning the [b]words of (A)Cush the son of Benjamin.
1 O Lord my God, in thee I put my trust: save me from all that persecute me, and deliver me,
2 Lest [c]he devour my soul like a lion, and tear it in pieces, while there is none to help.
3 O Lord my God, if I have done [d]this thing, if there be any wickedness in mine hands,
4 [e]If I have rewarded evil unto him that had peace with me, (yea I have delivered him that vexed me without cause.)
5 Then let the enemies persecute my soul, and take it: yea, let him tread my life down upon the earth, and lay mine [f]honor in the dust. Selah.
6 Arise, O Lord, in thy wrath, and lift up thyself against the rage of mine enemies, and awake for me according to the [g]judgment that thou hast appointed.
7 So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore [h]return on high.
8 The Lord shall judge the people: judge thou me, O Lord, according to my [i]righteousness, and according to mine innocency that is in me.
9 Oh let the malice of the wicked come to an end: but guide thou the just: for the righteous God trieth the [j]hearts and reins.
10 My defense is in God, who preserveth the upright in heart.
11 God judgeth the righteous, and him that contemneth God, [k]every day.
12 Except [l]he turn, he hath whet his sword: he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.
13 He hath also prepared him deadly weapons: he will ordain his arrows for them that persecute me.
14 (B)Behold, he shall travail with wickedness: for he hath conceived mischief, but he shall bring forth a lie.
15 He hath made a pit, and dug it, and is fallen into the pit that he made.
16 His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his cruelty shall fall upon his own pate.
17 I will praise the Lord according to his [m]righteousness, and will sing praise to the Name of the Lord most high.
12 Who hath measured the waters in his [a]fist? and counted heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure? and weighed the mountains in a weight, and the hills in a balance?
13 Who hath instructed the spirit of the Lord? or was [b]his counselor, or taught him?
14 Of whom took the counsel, and who instructed him and taught him in the way of judgment? or taught him knowledge, and showed unto him the way of understanding?
15 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the dust of the balance: behold, he taketh away the isles as a little dust.
16 And Lebanon is not sufficient for fire, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering.
17 All nations before him are as [c]nothing, and they are counted to him, less than nothing, and vanity.
18 To whom then [d]will ye liken God? or what similitude will ye set up unto him?
19 The workman melteth an image, or the goldsmith beateth it out in gold, or the goldsmith maketh silver plates.
20 Doth not [e]the poor choose out a tree that will not rot, for an oblation? he seeketh also unto him a cunning workman, to prepare an image that shall not be moved.
21 Know ye nothing? have ye not heard [f]it? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood it by the [g]foundation of the earth?
22 He sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers, he stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out, as a tent to dwell in.
23 He bringeth the princes to nothing, and maketh the judges of the earth, as vanity,
The Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians
1 1 After the salutation, 4 he entreateth of the free election of God, 5 and adoption. 7, 13 from whence man’s salvation floweth, as from the true and natural fountain: and because so high a mystery cannot be understood, 16 he prayeth that the full, 20 knowledge of Christ, may by God be reavealed unto the Ephesians.
1 Paul [a]an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the (A)Saints, which are at Ephesus, and to the [b]faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace be with you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 (B)[c]Blessed be God, [d]and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, [e]which hath blessed us, with [f]all spiritual blessing in [g]heavenly things in [h]Christ,
4 [i]As he hath chosen us in [j]him, before the foundation of the world, [k]that we [l]should [m]be holy, and without blame [n]before him in love:
5 [o]Who hath predestinated us, to be adopted through Jesus Christ [p]in himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.
6 [q]To the [r]praise of the glory of his grace, [s]wherewith he hath made us freely accepted in his beloved.
7 [t]By whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins, according to his rich grace:
8 [u][v]Whereby he hath been abundant toward us in [w]all wisdom and understanding,
9 And hath opened unto us the [x]mystery of his will [y]according to his good pleasure, which he hath purposed in him,
10 [z]That in the dispensation of the fullness of the times, he might [aa]gather together in one all things, both which are in heaven, and which are in earth, even in Christ:
11 [ab]In whom also we are chosen when we were predestinated according to the purpose of him, which worketh [ac]all things after the counsel of his own will,
12 That we, which [ad]first trusted in Christ, should be unto the praise of his glory:
13 [ae]In whom also ye have trusted, after that ye heard the [af]word of truth, even the Gospel of your salvation, wherein also after that ye believed, ye were [ag]sealed with the holy [ah]Spirit of promise,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance, for the [ai]redemption of that liberty purchased unto the praise of his glory.
The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, According to Mark
1 4 John baptizeth. 6 His apparel and meat. 9 Jesus is baptized. 12 He is tempted. 14 He preacheth the Gospel, 21 and 29 he teacheth in the Synagogues. 23 He healeth one that had a devil. 29 Peter’s mother-in-law. 32 Many diseased persons. 40 The leper.
1 The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God:
2 [a]As it is written in the [b]Prophets, (A)Behold, [c]I send my messenger [d]before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
3 (B)The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, is, Prepare the way of the Lord: make his paths straight.
4 (C)[e]John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the [f]baptism of amendment of life, for remission of sins.
5 And all the country of Judea, and they of Jerusalem went out unto him, and were all baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
6 (D)Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins: and he did eat (E)locusts and wild honey,
7 (F)[g]And preached, saying, A stronger than I cometh after me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to [h]stoop down, and unloose.
8 Truth it is, I have [i]baptized you with water: but he will baptize you with the holy Ghost.
9 ¶ (G)[j]And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth, a city of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.
10 [k]And as soon as [l]he was come out of the water, John saw the heavens cloven in twain, and the holy Ghost descending upon him like a dove.
11 Then there was a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am [m]well pleased.
12 (H)[n]And immediately the Spirit [o]driveth him into the wilderness.
13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days, and was tempted of Satan: he was also with the wild beasts, and the Angels ministered unto him.
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