Book of Common Prayer
18 1 This Psalm is the first beginning of his gratulation, and thanksgiving in the entering into his kingdom, wherein he extolleth and praiseth most highly the marvelous mercies and grace of God, who hath thus preserved and defended him. 32 Also he setteth forth the image of Christ’s kingdom, that the faithful may be assured that Christ shall always conquer and overcome by the unspeakable power of his Father, though all the whole world should strive there against.
To him that excelleth. A Psalm of David the servant of the Lord, which spake unto the Lord the words of this song (in the day that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul) and said,
1 I will love thee dearly, O Lord my strength.
2 (A)[a]The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and he that delivereth me, my God and my strength: in him will I trust, my shield, the horn also of my salvation, and my refuge.
3 I will call upon the Lord, which is worthy to be [b]praised: so shall I be safe from mine enemies.
4 [c]The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of wickedness made me afraid.
5 The [d]sorrows of the grave have compassed me about: the snares of death overtook me.
6 But in my trouble did I call upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his Temple, and my cry did come before him, even into his ears.
7 [e]Then the earth trembled and quaked: the foundations also of the mountains moved and shook, because he was angry.
8 Smoke went out at his nostrils, and a [f]consuming fire out of his mouth: coals were kindled thereat.
9 He bowed the heavens also and came down, and [g]darkness was under his feet.
10 And he rode upon [h]Cherub, and did fly, and he came flying upon the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness his [i]secret place, and his pavilion round about him, even darkness of waters, and clouds of the air.
12 At the brightness of his presence his clouds passed, hailstones and coals of fire.
13 The Lord also thundered in the heaven, and the Highest gave [j]his voice, hailstones and coals of fire.
14 Then he sent out [k]his arrows and scattered them, and he increased lightnings and destroyed them.
15 And the channels of waters were seen, and the [l]foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuking, O Lord, at the blasting of the breath of thy nostrils.
16 He hath sent down from above and taken me: he hath drawn me out of many [m]waters.
17 He hath delivered me from my [n]strong enemy, and from them which hate me: for they were [o]too strong for me.
18 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my stay.
19 He brought me forth also into a large place: [p]he delivered me because he favored me.
20 The Lord rewarded me according to my [q]righteousness: according to the pureness of mine hand he recompensed me:
21 Because I kept the ways of the Lord, and did not wickedly against my God.
22 For all his laws were before me, and I did not cast away his [r]commandments from me.
23 I was upright also with him, and have kept me from my [s]wickedness.
24 Therefore the Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness, and according to the pureness of mine hands in his sight.
25 With the [t]godly thou wilt show thyself godly: with the upright man thou wilt show thyself upright.
26 With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure, and with the froward thou wilt show thyself froward.
27 Thus thou wilt save the poor people, and wilt [u]cast down to proud looks.
28 Surely thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will lighten my darkness.
29 For by thee I have [v]broken through an host, and by my God I have leaped over a wall.
30 The way of God is uncorrupt: the [w]word of the Lord is tried in the fire: he is a shield to all that trust in him.
31 For who is God besides the Lord? and who is mighty save our God?
32 God girdeth me with strength, and maketh my [x]way upright.
33 He maketh my feet like hind’s feet, and setteth me upon mine [y]high places.
34 He teacheth mine hands to fight: so that a bow of [z]brass is broken with mine arms.
35 Thou hast also given me the [aa]shield of thy salvation, and thy right hand hath stayed me, and thy [ab]lovingkindness hath caused me to increase.
36 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, and my heels have not slid.
37 [ac]I have pursued mine enemies, and taken them, and have not turned again till I had consumed them.
38 I have wounded them, that they were not able to rise, they are fallen under my feet.
39 For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose against me, thou hast subdued under me.
40 And thou hast [ad]given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me.
41 They [ae]cried, but there was none to save them, even unto the Lord, but he answered them not.
42 Then I did beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did tread them flat as the clay in the streets.
43 Thou hast delivered me from the contentions of the people: thou hast made me the head of the [af]heathen, a people, whom I have not [ag]known, shall serve me.
44 As soon as they hear they shall obey me: the strangers shall [ah]be in subjection to me.
45 Strangers shall [ai]shrink away, and fear in their pure chambers.
46 Let the Lord live, and blessed be my strength, and the God of my salvation be exalted.
47 It is God that giveth me power to avenge me, and subdued the people under me.
48 O my deliverer from mine enemies, even thou hast set me up from those that rose against me; thou hast delivered me from the [aj]cruel man.
49 Therefore [ak]I will praise thee, O Lord, among the nations, and will sing unto thy Name.
50 Great deliverances giveth he unto his king, and showeth mercy to his anointed, even to David, and to his [al]seed forever.
14 ¶ But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an [a]evil spirit sent of the Lord, vexed him.
15 And Saul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, the evil spirit of God vexeth thee.
16 Let our Lord therefore command thy servants that are before thee, to seek a man that is a cunning player upon the harp: that when the evil spirit of God cometh upon thee, he may play with his hand, and thou mayest be eased.
17 Saul then said unto his servants, Provide me a man, I pray you, that can play well, and bring him to me.
18 Then answered one of his servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a [b]son of Jesse, a Bethlehemite, that can play, and is strong, valiant, and a man of war, and wise in matters, and a comely person, and the Lord is with him.
19 ¶ Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep.
20 And Jesse took an ass laden with bread and a flagon of wine and a kid, and sent them by the hand of David his son unto Saul.
21 And David came to Saul, and [c]stood before him: and he loved him very well, and he was his armor bearer.
22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David now remain with me: for he hath found favor in my sight.
23 And so when the evil spirit of God came upon Saul, David took an harp and played with his hand, and Saul was [d]refreshed and was eased: for the evil spirit departed from him.
17 1 The Philistines make war against Israel. 10 Goliath defieth Israel. 17 David is sent to his brethren. 34 The strength and boldness of David. 47 The Lord saveth not by sword nor spear. 50 David killeth Goliath, and the Philistines flee.
1 Now the Philistines gathered their armies to battle, and came together to Sochoh which is in Judah, and pitched between Sochoh and Azekah, [e]in the coast of Dammim.
2 And Saul, and the men of Israel assembled and pitched in the valley [f]of Elah, and put themselves in battle array to meet the Philistines.
3 And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: so a valley was between them.
4 ¶ Then came a man between them [g]both out of the tents of the Philistines, named Goliath of Gath: his height was six cubits and an hand breadth,
5 And had an helmet of brass upon his head, and a [h]brigandine upon him: and the weight of his brigandine was five thousand [i]shekels of brass.
6 And he had [j]boots of brass upon his legs, and a shield of brass upon his shoulders.
7 And the shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam: and his spear head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.
8 And he stood, and cried against the host of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and you servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.
9 If he be able to fight with me, and [k]kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I overcome him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.
10 Also the Philistine said, I defy the host of Israel this day: give me a man, that we may fight [l]together.
11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were discouraged, and greatly afraid.
17 ¶ Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen, meant, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius, had inquired for Simon’s house, and stood at the gate,
18 And called, and asked, whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.
19 And while Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.
20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, and doubt nothing: For I have sent them.
21 ¶ Then Peter went down to the men, which were sent unto him from Cornelius, and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?
22 And they said, Cornelius the captain, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from heaven by an holy Angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear thy words.
23 Then called he them in, and lodged them: and the next day, Peter went forth with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
24 ¶ And the day after, they entered into Caesarea. Now Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen, and special friends.
25 [a]And it came to pass as Peter came in, that Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up: for even I myself am a man.
27 And as he talked with him, he came in, and found many that were come together.
28 And he said unto them, Ye know that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew, to company, or come unto one of another nation: but God hath showed me, that I should not call any man polluted, or unclean.
29 Therefore came I unto you without saying nay, when I was sent for. I ask therefore, for what intent have ye sent for me?
30 Then Cornelius said, Four days ago, about [b]this hour, I fasted, and at the ninth hour I prayed in mine house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
31 [c]And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
32 [d]Send therefore to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter (he is lodged in the house of Simon a Tanner by the Seaside) who when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.
33 Then sent I for thee immediately, and thou hast well done to come. Now therefore are we all here present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
36 ¶ (A)[a]And as they spake these things, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and said unto them, Peace be to you.
37 But they were abashed and afraid, supposing that they had seen a spirit.
38 Then he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and wherefore do [b]doubts arise in your hearts?
39 Behold mine hands and my feet: for it is I myself: handle me, and see: for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
40 And when he had thus spoken, he showed them his hands and feet.
41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb,
43 And he took it, and did eat before them.
44 [c]And he said unto them, These are the words, which I spake unto you while I was yet with you, that all must be fulfilled which are written of me in the Law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms.
45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures,
46 And said unto them, Thus is it written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise again from the dead the third day,
47 And that repentance, and remission of sins should be preached in his Name among all nations, [d]beginning at Jerusalem.
48 Now ye are witnesses of these things.
49 And behold, I do send the (B)promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, [e]until ye be endued with power from on high.
50 [f]Afterward he lead them out into Bethany, and lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
51 And it came to pass, that as he blessed them, (C)he departed from them, and was carried up into heaven.
52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
53 And were continually in the Temple, praising, and lauding God. Amen.
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