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.
The Book of Ruth
1 1 Elimelech goeth with his wife and children into the land of Moab. 3 He and his sons die. 19 Naomi and Ruth come to Bethlehem.
1 In the time that the Judges [a]ruled, there was a dearth in the [b]land, and a man of Bethlehem [c]Judah went for to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.
2 And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife, Naomi, and the names of his two sons, Mahlon, and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem Judah: and when they came into the land of Moab, they continued there.
3 Then Elimelech the husband of Naomi died, and she remained with her two sons,
4 Which took them wives of the [d]Moabites: the one’s name was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.
5 And Mahlon and Chilion dieth also both twain: so the woman was left, destitute of her two sons, and of her husband.
6 ¶ Then she arose with her daughters-in-law, and returned from the country of Moab: for she had heard say in the country of Moab, that the Lord had [e]visited his people, and given them bread.
7 Wherefore she departed out of the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her, and they went on their way to return unto the land of Judah.
8 Then Naomi said unto her two daughters-in-law, Go, return each of you unto her own mother’s house: the Lord show favor unto you, as ye have done with the dead, and with me.
9 The Lord grant you, that you may find [f]rest, either of you in the house of her husband. And when she kissed them, they lift up their voice and wept.
10 And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.
11 But Naomi said, Turn again my daughters: for what cause will ye go with me? are there any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
12 Turn again my daughters: go your way: for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, and if I had an husband this night: yea, and if I had borne sons,
13 Would ye tarry for them, till they were of age? would ye be deferred for them from taking of husbands? nay my daughters: for it grieveth me [g]much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me.
14 Then they lift up their voice and wept again, and Orpah [h]kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth abode still with her.
15 And Naomi said, Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: [i]return thou after thy sister-in-law.
16 And Ruth answered, Entreat me not to leave thee, nor to depart from thee: for whither thou goest, I will go: and where thou dwellest, I will dwell: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.
17 ¶ Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me and more also, if ought but death depart thee and me.
18 ¶ When she saw that she was steadfastly minded to go with her, she left speaking unto her.
The First Epistle of Paul to Timothy
1 Setting forth a perfect pattern of a true Pastor, whose office especially consisteth in teaching, 4 he warneth him that vain questions set apart, he teach those things, 5 which further charity and faith: 12 and that his authority be not condemned, 14 he showeth what an one he is made through the grace of God.
1 Paul [a]an Apostle of Jesus Christ, by the [b]commandment of God our Savior, and of our Lord Jesus Christ our hope,
2 Unto Timothy my natural son in the faith: Grace, [c]mercy, and peace from God our Father, and from Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 [d]As I besought thee to abide still in Ephesus, when I departed into Macedonia, so do, that thou mayest warn some, that they teach none other doctrine,
4 [e]Neither that they give heed to fables and [f]genealogies which are endless, which breed questions rather than godly edifying which is by faith.
5 (A)[g] For the end of the [h]commandment is [i]love out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.
6 [j]From the which things some have erred, and have turned unto vain jangling.
7 [k]They would be doctors of the Law, and yet understand not what they speak, neither whereof they affirm.
8 [l]And we know, that the Law is good, if a man use it lawfully.
9 [m]Knowing this, that the Law is not given unto a [n]righteous man, but unto the lawless and disobedient, to the ungodly, and to [o]sinners, to the unholy, and to the profane, to murderers of fathers and mothers, to manslayers,
10 To whoremongers, to buggerers, to menstealers, to liars, to the perjured, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to wholesome doctrine,
11 [p]Which is according to the glorious Gospel of the blessed God, [q]which is committed unto me.
12 [r]Therefore I thank him which hath made me [s]strong, that is, Christ Jesus our Lord: for he counted me faithful, and put me in his service:
13 When before I was a [t]blasphemer, and a persecutor, and an oppressor: but I was received to mercy: for I did it ignorantly through unbelief.
14 But the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant [u]with faith and love, which is in Christ Jesus.
15 [v]This is a [w]true saying, and by all means worthy to be received, that (B)Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
16 Notwithstanding for this cause was I received to mercy, that Jesus Christ should first show on me all long suffering unto the ensample of them, which shall in time to come believe in him unto eternal life.
17 [x]Now unto the king everlasting, immortal, invisible, unto God [y]only wise, be honor, and glory, for ever, and ever, Amen.
13 Of the Galileans, 4 and those that were slain under Siloam. 6 The fig tree that bare no fruit. 11 The woman vexed with the spirit of infirmity, that is, with a disease brought on her by Satan, is healed. 19 The parable of the grain of mustard seed. 21 Of leaven. 23 How few shall be saved. 31 Herod that Fox.
1 There [a]were certain men present at the same season, that showed him of the Galileans, whose blood [b]Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
2 And Jesus answered, and said unto them, Suppose ye, that these Galileans were greater sinners than all the other Galileans, because they have suffered such things?
3 I tell you, nay: but except ye amend your lives, ye shall all likewise perish.
4 Or think you that those eighteen, upon whom the tower in [c]Siloam fell, and slew them, were sinners above all men that dwell in Jerusalem?
5 I tell you, nay: but except ye amend your lives, ye shall all likewise perish.
6 ¶ [d]He spake also this parable, A certain man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard: and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
7 Then said he to the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, this three years have I come and sought fruit of this fig tree, and find none: cut it down: why keepeth it also the ground [e]barren?
8 And he answered, and said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I dig round about it, and dung it.
9 And if it bear fruit, well: if not, then after thou shalt cut it down.
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