Book of Common Prayer
Majestic and Unshakable
Psalm 93
1 Adonai reigns—He is robed in majesty!
Adonai has robed and armed Himself with strength.
Yes, the world is firmly established—unshakable.
2 Your throne is established from of old.
You are from everlasting.
3 The floods have lifted up, Adonai,
the floods have lifted up their voice,
the floods lift up their crashing waves.
4 More than the sounds of many waters—
more majestic than the breakers of the sea—
so majestic is Adonai on high!
5 Your testimonies are very sure.
Holiness befits Your House, Adonai, for endless days.
Sing a New Song
Psalm 96
1 Sing to Adonai a new song!
Sing to Adonai, all the earth.
2 Sing to Adonai, bless His Name.
Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.
3 Declare His glory among the nations,
His marvelous deeds among all peoples.
4 For great is Adonai, and greatly to be praised.
He is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
but Adonai made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before Him.
Strength and beauty are in His Sanctuary.
7 Ascribe to Adonai, O families of peoples.
Ascribe to Adonai glory and strength.
8 Ascribe to Adonai the glory of His Name.
Bring an offering and come into His courts.
9 Bow down to Adonai in holy splendor.
Tremble before Him, all the earth.
10 Say among the nations: “Adonai reigns!”
The world is firmly established—it will not move.
He will judge the peoples with fairness.
11 Let the heavens be glad, let the earth rejoice.
Let the sea roar—and all that fills it.
12 Let the land exult—and all that is in it.
Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy—
13 before Adonai, for He is coming!
For He is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness
and the peoples in His faithfulness.[a]
Taste and See
Psalm 34
1 Of David, when he feigned insanity before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he left.
2 I will bless Adonai at all times.
His praise is continually in my mouth.
3 My soul boasts in Adonai.
The humble ones hear of it and rejoice.
4 Magnify Adonai with me
and let us exalt His Name together.
5 I sought Adonai, and He answered me,
and delivered me from all my fears.
6 They who looked to Him were radiant,
and their faces will never be ashamed.
7 This poor man cried, and Adonai heard,
and saved him out of all his troubles.
8 The angel of Adonai encamps around those who fear Him,
and delivers them.
9 Taste and see how good Adonai is.
Blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.
10 Fear Adonai, His kedoshim,
For those who fear Him lack nothing.
11 Young lions may lack, and go hungry,
but those who seek Adonai want for no good thing.
12 Come, children, listen to me:
I will teach you the fear of Adonai.
13 Who is the one who delights in life,
and loves to see good days?
14 Keep your tongue from evil,
and your lips from speaking treachery.
15 Depart from evil and do good.
Seek shalom and pursue it.[a]
16 The eyes of Adonai are on the righteous,
and His ears are attentive to their cry.
17 The face of Adonai is against evildoers,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
18 The righteous cry out and Adonai hears,
and delivers them from all their troubles.
19 Adonai is close to the brokenhearted,
and saves those crushed in spirit.
20 Many are the distresses of the righteous,
but Adonai delivers him out of them all.
21 He keeps all his bones—
not one of them is broken.[b]
22 Evil kills the wicked—
those who hate the righteous will be held guilty.
23 Adonai redeems the soul of His servants
—no one who takes refuge in Him will be held guilty.
Orderly Governing of the Gifts
14 Pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to people but to God—for no one understands, but in the Ruach he speaks mysteries. 3 But one who prophesies speaks to people for building up, urging on, and uplifting. 4 One who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but one who prophesies builds up the community. 5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy.[a] One who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues—unless he interprets, so that the community may be built up.
6 But now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you—unless I speak to you by way of revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7 It is the same for lifeless things that make a sound—like a flute or a harp. If they make no distinction in the tones, how will what is played be recognized? 8 For if the trumpet[b] makes an unclear sound, who will prepare himself for battle? 9 So also with you with your tongue—unless you utter speech that is intelligible, how will what is spoken be understood? For you will be talking to the wind! 10 It may be that there are many kinds of languages in the world—and none without meaning. 11 If then I do not understand the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner[c] to the speaker, and the speaker will be a foreigner to me. 12 Likewise with you—since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, keep trying to excel for the building up of the community.
Parable of the Day Laborers
20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household, who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 Now when he had agreed with the workers for a denarius per day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing in the marketplace, idle. 4 And to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and I’ll give you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour and did the same. 6 And about the eleventh hour, he went out and found others standing around. And he said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle the whole day?’
7 “‘Because no one hired us,’ they said to him.
“He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard, too.’
8 “Now when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning from the last to the first.’ 9 And those who had come about the eleventh hour each received a denarius. 10 And when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; yet they too received a denarius.
11 “But when they received it, they began to grumble against the master of the house, 12 saying, ‘These last guys did one hour, and you’ve made them equal to us, who bore the burden and scorching heat of the day!’
13 “But answering, he said to one of them, ‘Friend, I’m doing you no wrong. Didn’t you agree with me on a denarius? 14 Take what is yours and go. But I want to give this last guy the same as you. 15 Am I not permitted to do what I want with what belongs to me? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’
16 “So the last will be first, and the first last.”
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.