Book of Common Prayer
19 1 To the intent he might move the faithful to deeper consideration of God’s glory, he setteth before their eyes the most exquisite workmanship of the heavens, with their proportion, and ornaments. 8 And afterward calleth them to the Law, wherein God hath revealed himself more familiarly to his chosen people. The which peculiar grace by commending the Law, he setteth forth more at large.
To him that excelleth. A Psalm of David.
1 The (A)[a]heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth the work of his hands.
2 [b]Day unto day uttereth the same, and night unto night teacheth knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor [c]language, where their voice is not heard.
4 Their [d]line is gone forth through all the earth, and their words into the ends of the world: in them hath he set a tabernacle for the Sun.
5 Which cometh forth as a bridegroom out of his [e]chamber, and rejoiceth like a mighty man to run his race.
6 His going out is from the end of the heaven, and his compass is unto the ends of the same, and none is hid from the heat thereof.
7 The [f]Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, and giveth wisdom unto the simple.
8 The statutes of the Lord are right, and rejoice the heart, the commandment of the Lord is pure, and giveth light unto the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, and endureth forever: the judgments of the Lord are [g]truth: they are righteous [h]altogether,
10 And more to be [i]desired than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey, and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is thy servant made circumspect, and in keeping of them there is great [j]reward.
12 Who can understand his [k]faults? cleanse me from secret faults.
13 Keep thy servant also from [l]presumptuous sins: let them not reign over me: [m]so shall I be upright, and made clean from much wickedness.
14 Let the words of my mouth, and the [n]meditation of mine heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord my strength, and my redeemer.
18 For this saith the Lord (that created heaven, God himself that formed the earth, and made it: he that prepared it, he created it not in vain: he formed it to be [a]inhabited) I am the Lord, and there is none other.
19 I have not spoken in secret, neither [b]in a place of darkness in the earth: I said not in vain unto the seed of Jacob, Seek you me: I the Lord do speak righteousness, and declare righteous things.
20 Assemble yourselves, and come: draw near together, [c]ye abject of the Gentiles: they have no knowledge, that set up the wood of their idol, and pray unto a god, that cannot save them.
21 Tell ye and bring them, and let them take counsel together, who hath declared this from the beginning, or hath told it of old? Have not I the Lord? and there is none other God beside me, a just God, and a Savior: there is none beside me.
22 Look unto me, and ye shall be saved: all [d]the ends of the earth shall be saved: for I am God, and there is none other.
23 I have sworn by myself: the word is gone out of my mouth in [e]righteousness, and shall not return, That every [f]knee shall bow unto me, and every tongue shall swear by me.
24 Surely [g]he shall say, In the Lord have I righteousness and strength: he shall come unto him, and all that [h]provoke him shall be ashamed.
25 The whole seed of Israel shall be justified, and glory in the Lord.
4 [a]Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, much more I,
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the kindred of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, (A)an Hebrew of the Hebrews, (B)by the Law a Pharisee.
6 Concerning zeal, I persecuted the Church: touching the righteousness which is in the Law, I was unrebukeable.
7 But the things that were [b]vantage unto me, the same I counted loss for Christ’s sake.
8 Yea, doubtless I think [c]all things but loss for the excellent knowledge sake of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have counted all things loss, and do judge them to be dung, that I might [d]win Christ,
9 And might be found in [e]him, that is, [f]not having mine own righteousness, which is of the Law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, even the righteousness which is of God through faith,
10 [g]That I may [h]know him, and the virtue of his resurrection, and the [i]fellowship of his afflictions, and be made conformable unto his death,
11 If by any means I might attain unto the [j]resurrection of the dead:
LAMED
89 O Lord, thy word endureth forever in [a]heaven.
90 Thy truth is from generation to generation: thou hast laid the foundation of the earth, and it abideth.
91 They [b]continue even to this day by thine ordinances: for all are thy servants.
92 Except thy law had been my delight, I should now have perished in mine affliction.
93 I will never forget thy precepts: for by them thou hast quickened me.
94 I am [c]thine, save me: for I have sought thy precepts.
95 The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.
96 I [d]have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding large.
MEM
97 Oh how love I thy law! it is my meditation [e]continually.
98 By thy commandments thou hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.
99 I have had more [f]understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.
100 I understood more than the ancient, because I kept thy precepts.
101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.
102 I have not declined from thy judgments: for [g]thou didst teach me.
103 How sweet are thy promises unto my mouth! yea, more than honey unto my mouth.
104 By thy precepts I have gotten understanding: therefore I hate all the ways of falsehood.
NUN
105 Thy word is a [h]lantern unto my feet, and a light unto my paths.
106 I have [i]sworn and will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.
107 I am very sore afflicted: O Lord, quicken me according to thy word.
108 O Lord, I beseech thee, accept the [j]free offering of my mouth, and teach me thy judgments.
109 My [k]soul is continually in mine hand: yet do I not forget thy law.
110 The wicked have laid a snare for me: but I swerved not from thy precepts.
111 Thy testimonies have I taken as an [l]heritage forever: for they are the joy of mine heart.
112 I have applied mine heart to fulfill thy statutes always, even unto the end.
9 2 Saul going towards Damascus, 4 is stricken down to the ground of the Lord: 10 Ananias is sent 18 to baptize him. 23 The laying away of the Jews, 25 he escapeth, being let down through the wall. 33 Peter cureth Aeneas of the palsy, 36 and by him Tabitha being dead, 40 is restored to life.
1 And (A)[a]Saul yet [b]breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high Priest,
2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the Synagogues, that if he found any that were of that [c]way, (either men or women) he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
3 Now as he journeyed, it came to pass that as he was come near to Damascus, (B)suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven.
4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is [d]hard for thee to kick against pricks.
6 He then both trembling and astonied, said, Lord, what wilt thou that I do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou shalt do.
7 The men also which journeyed with him, [e]stood amazed, hearing his [f]voice, but seeing no man.
8 And Saul arose from the ground, and opened his eyes, but saw no man. Then led they him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus,
9 Where he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias, and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here Lord.
11 Then the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and seek in the house of Judas after one called Saul of [g]Tarsus: for behold, he prayeth.
12 (And he saw in a vision a man named Ananias coming in to him, and putting his hands on him, that he might receive his sight.)
13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem.
14 Moreover here he hath authority of the high Priests, to bind all that call on thy Name.
15 Then the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a [h]chosen vessel unto me, to bear my Name before the Gentiles, and Kings, and the children of Israel.
16 For I will [i]show him, how many things he must suffer for my Name’s sake.
17 Then Ananias went his way, and entered into [j]that house, and put his hands on him, and saith, Brother Saul, the Lord hath sent me (even Jesus that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest) that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the holy Ghost.
18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales, and suddenly he received sight, and arose, and was baptized,
19 And received meat, and was strengthened. So was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.
20 [k]And straightway he preached Christ in the Synagogues, that he was that Son of God.
21 So that all that heard him were amazed, and said, Is not this he, that made havoc of them which called on this Name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he should bring them bound unto the high Priests?
22 [l]But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, [m]confirming that this was that Christ.
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