Book of Common Prayer
This One Was Born in Zion
Psalm 87
1 A psalm of the sons of Korah, a song.
His foundation is in the holy mountains.
2 Adonai loves the gates of Zion
more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
3 Glorious things are spoken of you,
city of God. Selah
4 “I will mention Rahab and Babylon among those who acknowledge Me—
behold Philistia and Tyre, with Cush:
‘This one was born there.’”
5 But of Zion it will be said:
“This one and that one were born in her.”
And Elyon Himself will establish her.
6 Adonai will count in the register of the peoples:
“This one was born there.” Selah
7 Then singing and dancing—
all my fountains of joy are in you!
Get a Heart of Wisdom
Psalm 90
1 A prayer of Moses the man of God.
My Lord, You have been our dwelling
from generation to generation.
2 Before the mountains were born,
or You gave birth to the earth and the world,
even from everlasting to everlasting,
You are God!
3 You turn mankind back to dust, saying,
“Return, children of Adam!”
4 For a thousand years in Your sight
are like a day just passing by,
or like a watch in the night.
5 You sweep them away in their sleep.
In the morning they are like sprouting grass—
6 in the morning it flourishes and springs up,
by evening it withers and dries up.
7 For we are consumed by Your anger
and terrified by Your wrath.
8 You have set our iniquities before You,
our secret sins in the light of Your presence.
9 For all our days have passed away under Your wrath.
We spent our years like a sigh.
10 The span of our years is seventy
—or with strength, eighty—
yet at best they are trouble and sorrow.
For they are soon gone, and we fly away.
11 Who knows the power of Your anger?
Your fury leads to awe of you.
12 So teach us to number our days,
so that we may get a heart of wisdom.
13 Relent, Adonai! How long?
Have compassion on Your servants.
14 Satisfy us in the morning with Your love,
so we may sing for joy
and be glad all our days.
15 Gladden us for as many days as You have humbled us,
as many years as we have seen misery.
16 Let Your work appear to Your servants,
and Your splendor on their children.
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us.
Establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands.
His Chesed Endures Forever!
Psalm 136
1 Praise Adonai, for He is good,
for His lovingkindness endures forever.
2 Praise the God of gods,
for His lovingkindness endures forever.
3 Praise the Lord of lords,
for His lovingkindness endures forever,
4 who alone did great wonders,
for His lovingkindness endures forever,
5 who made the heavens by wisdom,
for His lovingkindness endures forever,
6 who spread the earth on the waters,
for His lovingkindness endures forever,
7 who made great lights,
for His lovingkindness endures forever—
8 the sun to rule by day,
for His lovingkindness endures forever,
9 the moon and stars to rule by night,
for His lovingkindness endures forever,
10 who struck Egypt in their firstborn,
for His lovingkindness endures forever,
11 and led out Israel from among them,
for His lovingkindness endures forever,
12 with a strong hand and outstretched arm,
for His lovingkindness endures forever,
13 who cut the Sea of Reeds into parts,
for His lovingkindness endures forever,
14 and made Israel pass through the midst of it,
for His lovingkindness endures forever,
15 but hurled Pharaoh and his army into the Sea of Reeds,
for His lovingkindness endures forever,
16 who led His people through the desert,
for His lovingkindness endures forever,
17 who struck down great kings,
for His lovingkindness endures forever,
18 and slew mighty kings,
for His lovingkindness endures forever,
19 Sihon, king of the Amorites,
for His lovingkindness endures forever,
20 and Og, king of Bashan,
for His lovingkindness endures forever,
21 and gave their land for an inheritance,
for His lovingkindness endures forever,
22 an inheritance for Israel His servant,
for His lovingkindness endures forever.
23 He remembered us in our lowly estate,
for His lovingkindness endures forever,
24 and separated between us
and He delivered us from our adversaries,
for His lovingkindness endures forever,
25 who gives food to all flesh,
for His lovingkindness endures forever.
26 Praise the God of heaven,
for His lovingkindness endures forever!
Defeat and Loss of the Ark
4 So it was that the word of Samuel went forth to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines in battle. They camped at Eben-ezer while the Philistines camped in Aphek. 2 The Philistines drew up in battle array to meet Israel, and when the battle was fought, Israel was defeated before the Philistines, who killed 4,000 men on the battlefield.
3 When the people came back to the camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why did Adonai bring defeat on us today before the Philistines? Let’s fetch the ark of the covenant of Adonai from Shiloh that He may come among us and deliver us from the hand of our enemies.” 4 So the people sent to Shiloh, and from there they carried the ark of the covenant of Adonai-Tzva’ot who sits above the cheruvim. Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. 5 Now when the ark of the covenant of Adonai entered the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the ground resounded.
6 When the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they wondered, “What’s this noise of a great shout in the camp of the Hebrews?” When they realized that the ark of Adonai had come into the camp, 7 the Philistines were afraid, for they said, “God has come into the camp.” So they said, “Woe to us! For nothing like this has ever happened before. 8 Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of this mighty God? This is the God that struck down the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness. 9 Be strong, and conduct yourselves like men, O Philistines, or else you will become enslaved to the Hebrews as they have been to you. Be like men and fight!”
10 So the Philistines did fight and Israel was defeated—they fled every man to his tent. The slaughter was very great, as 30,000 of Israel’s foot soldiers fell. 11 Moreover, the ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons Hophni and Phinehas died.
Ruach-Filled Community Life
32 Now the whole group of those who believed was one in heart and mind. No one would say anything he owned was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 With great power the emissaries were giving witness to the resurrection of the Lord Yeshua, and abundant favor was upon them all. 34 No one among them was needy, for all who were owners of lands or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds 35 and set them at the feet of the emissaries. And the proceeds were distributed according to the need each one had.
36 Now Joseph, also called Barnabas by the emissaries (which is translated Son of Encouragement), was a Levite and native of Cyprus. 37 He sold a field that he owned and brought the money and laid it at the feet of the emissaries.
Ananias and Sapphira Lie to the Ruach
5 On the other hand, a man named Ananias together with his wife, Sapphira, sold a property. 2 He kept back some of the proceeds, with his wife’s full knowledge, and brought part of it and set it at the feet of the emissaries.
3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has satan filled your heart to lie to the Ruach ha-Kodesh and keep back part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, it was your own, wasn’t it? And after it was sold, wasn’t it at your disposal? How did this deed get into your heart? You haven’t lied to men but to God.”
5 As soon as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and died. Great fear came upon all who heard about it. 6 The young men got up and wrapped him in a shroud, then carried him out and buried him.
7 After an interval of about three hours, his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter responded to her, “Tell me if you sold the land for this much.”
She said, “Yes, for that much.”
9 Then Peter said to her, “How did you agree to test the Ruach Adonai? Look, the feet of those who buried your husband are at the door—they will carry you out, too!”
10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came back in, they found her dead and carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came over the whole community and all who heard these things.
20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near. 21 Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those inside the city must get out, and those in the countryside must not enter her. 22 For these are the days of punishment, to fulfill all that has been written.[a]
23 “Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath on this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led away captive into all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.[b]
25 “There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars. And upon the earth nations will be confused by the roaring of the sea and its waves. [c] 26 People will lose heart from fear and anticipation of what is overtaking the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. [d] 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. [e] 28 Now when these things begin to happen, stand straight and lift up your heads, because your salvation is near!”
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.