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.
15 3 Saul is commanded to slay Amalek. 9 He spareth Agag, and the best things. 19 Samuel reproveth him. 28 Saul is rejected of the Lord, and his Kingdom given to another. 33 Samuel heweth Agag in pieces.
1 Afterward Samuel said unto Saul, (A)The Lord sent me to anoint thee King over his people, over Israel: now therefore [a]obey the voice of the words of the Lord.
2 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I remember what Amalek did to Israel, (B)how they laid wait for them in the way, as they came up from Egypt.
3 Now therefore go, and smite Amalek, and destroy ye all that pertaineth unto them, and have no compassion on them, but [b]slay both man and woman, both infant and suckling, both ox, and sheep, both camel, and ass.
7 So Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah, as thou comest to Shur, that is before Egypt,
8 And took Agag the King of the Amalekites alive, and destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.
9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the better sheep, and the oxen, and the fat beasts, and the lambs, and all that was good, and they would not destroy them; but everything that was vile and nought worth, that they destroyed.
10 ¶ Then came the word of the Lord unto Samuel, saying,
11 It [a]repenteth me that I have made Saul King; for he is turned from me, and hath not performed my commandments. And Samuel was moved, and cried unto the Lord all night.
12 And when Samuel arose early to meet Saul in the morning, one told Samuel, saying, Saul is gone to Carmel; and behold, he hath made him there a place, from whence he returned, and departed, and is gone down to Gilgal.
13 ¶ Then Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said unto him. Blessed be thou of the Lord, I have fulfilled the [b]commandment of the Lord.
14 But Samuel said, What meaneth then the bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?
15 And Saul answered, They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, to sacrifice them unto the Lord thy God, and the remnant have we destroyed.
16 Again Samuel said to Saul, Let me tell thee what the Lord hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.
17 Then Samuel said, When thou wast [c]little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel? for the Lord anointed thee King over Israel.
18 And the Lord sent thee on a journey, and said, Go, and destroy those sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them, until thou destroy them.
19 Now wherefore hast thou not obeyed the voice of the Lord, but hast turned to the prey, and hast done wickedly in the sight of the Lord?
20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, [d]I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and have gone the way which the Lord sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have destroyed the Amalekites.
21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep, and oxen, and the chiefest of the things which should have been destroyed, to offer unto the Lord thy God in Gilgal.
22 And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as when the voice of the Lord is obeyed? behold, (A)to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken is better than the fat of rams.
23 For [e]rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and transgression is wickedness and idolatry. Because thou hast cast away the word of the Lord, therefore he hath cast away thee from being king.
19 And received meat, and was strengthened. So was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.
20 [a]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 [b]But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, [c]confirming that this was that Christ.
23 [d]And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him,
24 But their laying await was known of Saul: now they (A)watched the gates day and night, that they might kill him.
25 [e]Then the disciples took him by night, and put him through the wall, and let him down by a rope in a basket.
26 [f]And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself with the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.
27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the Apostles, and declared to them, how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken unto him, and how he had spoken boldly at Damascus in the Name of Jesus.
28 [g]And he was conversant [h]with them at Jerusalem,
29 And spake boldly in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and spake and disputed against the [i]Grecians: but they went about to slay him.
30 [j]But when the brethren knew it, they brought him to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
31 [k]Then had the Churches rest through all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria, and were [l]edified, and walked in the fear of the Lord, and were multiplied by the comfort of the holy Ghost.
44 ¶ [a]And it was about the sixth hour: and there was a darkness over all the land, until the ninth hour.
45 [b]And the Sun was darkened, and the veil of the Temple rent through the midst.
46 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and said, (A)Father, into thine hands I commend my spirit. And when he thus had said, he gave up the ghost.
47 ¶ [c]Now when the Centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Of a surety this man was just.
48 And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done: smote their breasts, and returned.
49 [d]And all his acquaintances stood afar off, and the women that followed him from Galilee, beholding these things.
50 ¶ (B)[e]And behold, there was a man named Joseph, which was a counselor, a good man and a just.
51 He did not consent to the counsel and deed of them, which was of Arimathea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.
52 He went unto Pilate, and asked the body of Jesus,
53 And took it down, and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb hewn out of a rock, wherein was never man yet laid.
54 And that day was the preparation, and the Sabbath [f]drew on.
55 [g]And the women also that followed after, which came with him from Galilee, beheld the sepulcher, and how his body was laid.
56 And they returned and prepared odors, and ointments, and resteth the Sabbath day according to the commandment.
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