Print Page Options
Previous Prev Day Next DayNext

Book of Common Prayer

Daily Old and New Testament readings based on the Book of Common Prayer.
Duration: 861 days
21st Century King James Version (KJ21)
Version
Psalm 140

140 Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man; preserve me from the violent man,

who imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.

They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah

Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man, who has purposed to overthrow my goings.

The proud have hid a snare for me, and with cords they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set traps for me. Selah

I said unto the Lord, “Thou art my God; hear the voice of my supplications, O Lord.

O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.

Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked; further not his wicked device, lest they exalt themselves. Selah

“As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.

10 Let burning coals fall upon them; let them be cast into the fire, into deep pits, that they rise not up again.

11 Let not an evil speaker be established on the earth; evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.”

12 I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted and the right of the poor.

13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto Thy name; the upright shall dwell in Thy presence.

Psalm 142

142 I cried unto the Lord with my voice; with my voice unto the Lord did I make my supplication.

I poured out my complaint before Him; I laid before Him my trouble.

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then Thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.

I looked on my right hand and beheld, but there was no man that would know me. Refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.

I cried unto Thee, O Lord; I said, “Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.

Attend unto my cry, for I am brought very low; deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I.

Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Thy name; the righteous shall compass me about, for Thou shalt deal bountifully with me.”

Psalm 141

141 Lord, I cry unto Thee! Make haste unto me! Give ear unto my voice when I cry unto Thee.

Let my prayer be set before Thee as incense, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men that work iniquity; and let me not eat of their dainties.

Let the righteous smite me: it shall be a kindness. And let him reprove me: it shall be as an excellent oil, which shall not break my head; for yet my prayer shall be with them in their calamities.

When their judges are overthrown onto stony places, they shall hear my words, for they are sweet.

Our bones are scattered at the grave’s mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.

But mine eyes are unto Thee, O God the Lord; in Thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.

Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the traps of the workers of iniquity.

10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst I thereupon escape.

Psalm 143

143 Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications; in Thy faithfulness answer me, and in Thy righteousness.

And enter not into judgment with Thy servant, for in Thy sight shall no man living be justified.

For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground. He hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.

Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.

I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Thy works; I muse on the work of Thy hands.

I stretch forth my hands unto Thee; my soul thirsteth after Thee, as a thirsty land. Selah

Hear me speedily, O Lord; my spirit faileth. Hide not Thy face from me, lest I be like them that go down into the pit.

Cause me to hear Thy lovingkindness in the morning, for in Thee do I trust. Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk, for I lift up my soul unto Thee.

Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies; I flee unto Thee to hide me.

10 Teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God. Thy Spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

11 Quicken me, O Lord, for Thy name’s sake; for Thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.

12 And in Thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul; for I am Thy servant.

Proverbs 8:1-21

Doth not wisdom cry out, and understanding put forth her voice?

She standeth at the top of high places, by the wayside where the paths meet.

She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors:

“Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of man.

O ye simple, understand wisdom; and ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

Hear, for I will speak of excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall be of right things;

for my mouth shall speak truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.

They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

10 Receive my instruction and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold;

11 for wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

12 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and disclose knowledge of learned thoughts.

13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the froward mouth do I hate.

14 Counsel is mine and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength.

15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.

16 By me princes rule and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

17 I love them that love me, and those that seek me early shall find me.

18 Riches and honor are with me, yea, durable riches and righteousness.

19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold, and my revenue than choice silver.

20 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment,

21 that I may cause those that love me to inherit substance, and I will fill their treasuries.

Philemon

Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, Unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellow laborer,

and to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in thy house:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,

having heard of thy love and faith which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus and toward all saints,

that the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the hearts of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

Therefore, though I might be bold enough in Christ to enjoin thee to do that which is befitting,

yet for love’s sake rather I beseech thee, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds.

11 In time past he was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me.

12 I am sending him back. Thou therefore receive him, who is mine own heart.

13 I would have retained him with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the Gospel;

14 but without thy mind would I do nothing, that thy goodness should not be, as it were, of necessity but willingly.

15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him back for ever—

16 not now as a servant, but more than a servant: as a brother beloved, especially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

17 If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.

18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee aught, put that on mine account.

19 I, Paul, have written this with mine own hand: I will repay it; albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.

20 Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord; refresh my soul in the Lord.

21 Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

22 But besides prepare me also a lodging, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.

23 There salute thee Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus;

24 also Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow laborers.

25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

John 12:9-19

Many people of the Jews therefore knew that He was there. And they came not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom He had raised from the dead.

10 But the chief priests consulted, that they might put Lazarus also to death,

11 because by reason of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.

12 On the next day many people who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,

13 took branches of palm trees and went forth to meet Him and cried, “Hosanna! Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord!”

14 And Jesus, when He had found a young ass, sat thereon, as it is written:

15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt.”

16 These things His disciples understood not at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things unto Him.

17 The people therefore who were with Him, when He called Lazarus out of his grave and raised him from the dead, bore record.

18 For this cause the people also met Him, for they heard that He had done this miracle.

19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “Perceive ye how ye prevail not at all? Behold, the world has gone after him!”