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Book of Common Prayer

Daily Old and New Testament readings based on the Book of Common Prayer.
Duration: 861 days
New International Version (NIV)
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Psalm 72

Psalm 72

Of Solomon.

Endow the king with your justice,(A) O God,
    the royal son with your righteousness.
May he judge your people in righteousness,(B)
    your afflicted ones with justice.

May the mountains bring prosperity to the people,
    the hills the fruit of righteousness.
May he defend the afflicted(C) among the people
    and save the children of the needy;(D)
    may he crush the oppressor.(E)
May he endure[a](F) as long as the sun,
    as long as the moon, through all generations.(G)
May he be like rain(H) falling on a mown field,
    like showers watering the earth.
In his days may the righteous flourish(I)
    and prosperity abound till the moon is no more.

May he rule from sea to sea
    and from the River[b](J) to the ends of the earth.(K)
May the desert tribes bow before him
    and his enemies lick the dust.
10 May the kings of Tarshish(L) and of distant shores(M)
    bring tribute to him.
May the kings of Sheba(N) and Seba
    present him gifts.(O)
11 May all kings bow down(P) to him
    and all nations serve(Q) him.

12 For he will deliver the needy who cry out,
    the afflicted who have no one to help.
13 He will take pity(R) on the weak and the needy
    and save the needy from death.
14 He will rescue(S) them from oppression and violence,
    for precious(T) is their blood in his sight.

15 Long may he live!
    May gold from Sheba(U) be given him.
May people ever pray for him
    and bless him all day long.(V)
16 May grain(W) abound throughout the land;
    on the tops of the hills may it sway.
May the crops(X) flourish like Lebanon(Y)
    and thrive[c] like the grass of the field.(Z)
17 May his name endure forever;(AA)
    may it continue as long as the sun.(AB)

Then all nations will be blessed through him,[d]
    and they will call him blessed.(AC)

18 Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel,(AD)
    who alone does marvelous deeds.(AE)
19 Praise be to his glorious name(AF) forever;
    may the whole earth be filled with his glory.(AG)
Amen and Amen.(AH)

20 This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse.(AI)

Psalm 119:73-96

י Yodh

73 Your hands made me(A) and formed me;
    give me understanding to learn your commands.
74 May those who fear you rejoice(B) when they see me,
    for I have put my hope in your word.(C)
75 I know, Lord, that your laws are righteous,(D)
    and that in faithfulness(E) you have afflicted me.
76 May your unfailing love(F) be my comfort,
    according to your promise(G) to your servant.
77 Let your compassion(H) come to me that I may live,
    for your law is my delight.(I)
78 May the arrogant(J) be put to shame for wronging me without cause;(K)
    but I will meditate on your precepts.
79 May those who fear you turn to me,
    those who understand your statutes.(L)
80 May I wholeheartedly follow(M) your decrees,(N)
    that I may not be put to shame.(O)

כ Kaph

81 My soul faints(P) with longing for your salvation,(Q)
    but I have put my hope(R) in your word.
82 My eyes fail,(S) looking for your promise;(T)
    I say, “When will you comfort me?”
83 Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke,
    I do not forget(U) your decrees.
84 How long(V) must your servant wait?
    When will you punish my persecutors?(W)
85 The arrogant(X) dig pits(Y) to trap me,
    contrary to your law.
86 All your commands are trustworthy;(Z)
    help me,(AA) for I am being persecuted(AB) without cause.(AC)
87 They almost wiped me from the earth,
    but I have not forsaken(AD) your precepts.
88 In your unfailing love(AE) preserve my life,(AF)
    that I may obey the statutes(AG) of your mouth.

ל Lamedh

89 Your word, Lord, is eternal;(AH)
    it stands firm in the heavens.
90 Your faithfulness(AI) continues through all generations;(AJ)
    you established the earth, and it endures.(AK)
91 Your laws endure(AL) to this day,
    for all things serve you.(AM)
92 If your law had not been my delight,(AN)
    I would have perished in my affliction.(AO)
93 I will never forget(AP) your precepts,
    for by them you have preserved my life.(AQ)
94 Save me,(AR) for I am yours;
    I have sought out your precepts.(AS)
95 The wicked are waiting to destroy me,(AT)
    but I will ponder your statutes.(AU)
96 To all perfection I see a limit,
    but your commands are boundless.(AV)

Error: 'Wisdom 13:1-9' not found for the version: New International Version
Romans 13

Submission to Governing Authorities

13 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities,(A) for there is no authority except that which God has established.(B) The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted,(C) and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended.(D) For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.(E) Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.(F)

This is also why you pay taxes,(G) for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes;(H) if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Love Fulfills the Law

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.(I) The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,”[a](J) and whatever other command there may be, are summed up(K) in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b](L) 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.(M)

The Day Is Near

11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come(N) for you to wake up from your slumber,(O) because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here.(P) So let us put aside the deeds of darkness(Q) and put on the armor(R) of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness,(S) not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.(T) 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ,(U) and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.[c](V)

Luke 8:16-25

A Lamp on a Stand

16 “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.(A) 17 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.(B) 18 Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”(C)

Jesus’ Mother and Brothers(D)

19 Now Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. 20 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers(E) are standing outside, wanting to see you.”

21 He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.”(F)

Jesus Calms the Storm(G)(H)

22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. 23 As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.

24 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master,(I) we’re going to drown!”

He got up and rebuked(J) the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.(K) 25 “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.

In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”

New International Version (NIV)

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