Book of Common Prayer
A Song of Ascents. By David.
131 Yahweh, my heart isn’t arrogant, nor my eyes lofty;
nor do I concern myself with great matters,
or things too wonderful for me.
2 Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child with his mother,
like a weaned child is my soul within me.
3 Israel, hope in Yahweh,
from this time forward and forever more.
A Song of Ascents.
132 Yahweh, remember David and all his affliction,
2 how he swore to Yahweh,
and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob:
3 “Surely I will not come into the structure of my house,
nor go up into my bed;
4 I will not give sleep to my eyes,
or slumber to my eyelids,
5 until I find out a place for Yahweh,
a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”
6 Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah.
We found it in the field of Jaar.
7 “We will go into his dwelling place.
We will worship at his footstool.”
8 Arise, Yahweh, into your resting place,
you, and the ark of your strength.
9 Let your priests be clothed with righteousness.
Let your saints shout for joy!
10 For your servant David’s sake,
don’t turn away the face of your anointed one.
11 Yahweh has sworn to David in truth.
He will not turn from it:
“I will set the fruit of your body on your throne.
12 If your children will keep my covenant,
my testimony that I will teach them,
their children also will sit on your throne forever more.”
13 For Yahweh has chosen Zion.
He has desired it for his habitation.
14 “This is my resting place forever.
I will live here, for I have desired it.
15 I will abundantly bless her provision.
I will satisfy her poor with bread.
16 I will also clothe her priests with salvation.
Her saints will shout aloud for joy.
17 I will make the horn of David to bud there.
I have ordained a lamp for my anointed.
18 I will clothe his enemies with shame,
but on himself, his crown will shine.”
A Song of Ascents. By David.
133 See how good and how pleasant it is
for brothers to live together in unity!
2 It is like the precious oil on the head,
that ran down on the beard,
even Aaron’s beard,
that came down on the edge of his robes,
3 like the dew of Hermon,
that comes down on the hills of Zion;
for there Yahweh gives the blessing,
even life forever more.
A Song of Ascents.
134 Look! Praise Yahweh, all you servants of Yahweh,
who stand by night in Yahweh’s house!
2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary.
Praise Yahweh!
3 May Yahweh bless you from Zion,
even he who made heaven and earth.
135 Praise Yah!
Praise Yahweh’s name!
Praise him, you servants of Yahweh,
2 you who stand in Yahweh’s house,
in the courts of our God’s house.
3 Praise Yah, for Yahweh is good.
Sing praises to his name, for that is pleasant.
4 For Yah has chosen Jacob for himself,
Israel for his own possession.
5 For I know that Yahweh is great,
that our Lord is above all gods.
6 Whatever Yahweh pleased, that he has done,
in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps.
7 He causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth.
He makes lightnings with the rain.
He brings the wind out of his treasuries.
8 He struck the firstborn of Egypt,
both of man and animal.
9 He sent signs and wonders into the middle of you, Egypt,
on Pharaoh, and on all his servants.
10 He struck many nations,
and killed mighty kings—
11 Sihon king of the Amorites,
Og king of Bashan,
and all the kingdoms of Canaan—
12 and gave their land for a heritage,
a heritage to Israel, his people.
13 Your name, Yahweh, endures forever;
your renown, Yahweh, throughout all generations.
14 For Yahweh will judge his people
and have compassion on his servants.
15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
the work of men’s hands.
16 They have mouths, but they can’t speak.
They have eyes, but they can’t see.
17 They have ears, but they can’t hear,
neither is there any breath in their mouths.
18 Those who make them will be like them,
yes, everyone who trusts in them.
19 House of Israel, praise Yahweh!
House of Aaron, praise Yahweh!
20 House of Levi, praise Yahweh!
You who fear Yahweh, praise Yahweh!
21 Blessed be Yahweh from Zion,
who dwells in Jerusalem.
Praise Yah!
3 I said,
“Please listen, you heads of Jacob,
and rulers of the house of Israel:
Isn’t it for you to know justice?
2 You who hate the good,
and love the evil;
who tear off their skin,
and their flesh from off their bones;
3 who also eat the flesh of my people,
and peel their skin from off them,
and break their bones,
and chop them in pieces, as for the pot,
and as meat within the cauldron.
4 Then they will cry to Yahweh,
but he will not answer them.
Yes, he will hide his face from them at that time,
because they made their deeds evil.”
5 Yahweh says concerning the prophets who lead my people astray—for those who feed their teeth, they proclaim, “Peace!” and whoever doesn’t provide for their mouths, they prepare war against him:
6 “Therefore night is over you, with no vision,
and it is dark to you, that you may not divine;
and the sun will go down on the prophets,
and the day will be black over them.
7 The seers shall be disappointed,
and the diviners confounded.
Yes, they shall all cover their lips,
for there is no answer from God.”[a]
8 But as for me, I am full of power by Yahweh’s Spirit,
and of judgment, and of might,
to declare to Jacob his disobedience,
and to Israel his sin.
24 After five days, the high priest, Ananias, came down with certain elders and an orator, one Tertullus. They informed the governor against Paul. 2 When he was called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, “Seeing that by you we enjoy much peace, and that prosperity is coming to this nation by your foresight, 3 we accept it in all ways and in all places, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness. 4 But that I don’t delay you, I entreat you to bear with us and hear a few words. 5 For we have found this man to be a plague, an instigator of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 He even tried to profane the temple, and we arrested him.[a] 7 [b] 8 [c]By examining him yourself you may ascertain all these things of which we accuse him.”
9 The Jews also joined in the attack, affirming that these things were so.
10 When the governor had beckoned to him to speak, Paul answered, “Because I know that you have been a judge of this nation for many years, I cheerfully make my defense, 11 seeing that you can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem. 12 In the temple they didn’t find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the synagogues or in the city. 13 Nor can they prove to you the things of which they now accuse me. 14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, so I serve the God of our fathers, believing all things which are according to the law, and which are written in the prophets; 15 having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. 16 In this I also practice always having a conscience void of offense toward God and men. 17 Now after some years, I came to bring gifts for the needy to my nation, and offerings; 18 amid which certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, not with a mob, nor with turmoil. 19 They ought to have been here before you and to make accusation if they had anything against me. 20 Or else let these men themselves say what injustice they found in me when I stood before the council, 21 unless it is for this one thing that I cried standing among them, ‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged before you today!’”
22 But Felix, having more exact knowledge concerning the Way, deferred them, saying, “When Lysias, the commanding officer, comes down, I will decide your case.” 23 He ordered the centurion that Paul should be kept in custody and should have some privileges, and not to forbid any of his friends to serve him or to visit him.
36 One of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. He entered into the Pharisee’s house and sat at the table. 37 Behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that he was reclining in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. 38 Standing behind at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what kind of woman this is who touches him, that she is a sinner.”
40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
He said, “Teacher, say on.”
41 “A certain lender had two debtors. The one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they couldn’t pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most?”
43 Simon answered, “He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most.”
He said to him, “You have judged correctly.” 44 Turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered into your house, and you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45 You gave me no kiss, but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You didn’t anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” 48 He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 Those who sat at the table with him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50 He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
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