Book of Common Prayer
103 1 He provoketh all to praise the Lord, which hath pardoned his sins, delivered him from destruction and given him sufficient of all good things. 10 Then he addeth the tender mercies of God, which he showeth like a most tender Father toward his children. 14 The frailty of man’s life. 20 An exhortation to man and Angels to praise the Lord.
A Psalm of David.
1 My soul, [a]praise thou the Lord, and all that is within me, praise his holy Name.
2 My soul, praise thou the Lord, and forget not all his benefits.
3 Which [b]forgiveth all thine iniquity, and healeth all thine infirmities.
4 Which redeemeth thy life from the [c]grave; and crowneth thee with mercy and compassions.
5 Which satisfieth thy mouth with good things: and thy [d]youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment to all that are oppressed.
7 He made his ways known unto [e]Moses, and his works unto the children of Israel.
8 The Lord is full of compassion and mercy, slow to anger and of great kindness.
9 He will not always [f]chide, neither keep his anger forever.
10 He hath not [g]dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heaven is above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
12 As far as [h]the East is from the West: so far hath he removed our sins from us.
13 As a father hath compassion on his children, so hath the Lord compassion on them that fear him.
14 For he knoweth whereof we be made: he remembereth that we are but dust.
15 The days of [i]man are as grass: as a flower of the field, so flourisheth he.
16 For the wind goeth over it, and it is gone, and the place thereof shall know it no more.
17 But the loving kindness of the Lord endureth forever and ever upon them that fear him, and his [j]righteousness upon children’s children,
18 Unto them that keep his [k]covenant, and think upon his commandments to do them.
19 The Lord hath prepared his throne in heaven, and his kingdom ruleth over all.
20 Praise the Lord, ye [l]his Angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandment in obeying the voice of his word.
21 Praise the Lord all ye his hosts, ye his servants that do his pleasure.
22 Praise the Lord all ye his works, in all places of his dominion: my soul, praise thou the Lord.
5 In [a]the [b]time of [c]Herod King of Judea, there was a certain Priest named Zacharias, of the (A)[d]course of Abijah: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
6 Both were [e]just before God, and [f]walked in all the [g]commandments and ordinances of the Lord, [h]without reproof.
7 And they had no child, because that Elizabeth was barren: and both were well stricken in age.
8 And it came to pass, as he executed the Priest’s office before God, as his course came in order,
9 (B)According to the custom of the Priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense, when he went into the [i]Temple of the Lord.
10 And the whole multitude of the people were without in prayer, (C)while the incense was burning.
11 Then appeared unto him an Angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the Altar of incense.
12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13 But the Angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard, and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice at his birth.
15 For he shall be great in the [j]sight of the Lord, and shall neither drink wine, nor [k]strong drink: and he shall be filled with the holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.
16 (D)And many of the children of Israel shall he [l]turn to their Lord God.
17 (E)For he shall go [m]before him [n]in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the [o]hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the [p]wisdom of the just men, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
18 Then Zacharias said unto the Angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife is of a great age.
19 And the Angel answered, and said unto him, I am Gabriel [q]that stand in the presence of God, and am sent to speak unto thee, and to show thee these good tidings.
20 And behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not be able to speak, until the day that these things be done, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
21 Now the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he tarried so long in the Temple.
22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: then they perceived that he had seen a vision in the Temple: for he made signs unto them, and remained dumb.
23 And it came to pass, when the days of his office were fulfilled, that he departed to his own house.
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