Book of Common Prayer
Psalm 87
A psalm of the Korahites. A song.
87 God’s foundation is set on the holy mountains.
2 The Lord loves Zion’s gates
more than all of Jacob’s houses combined.
3 Glorious things are said about you,
the city of God! Selah
4 I count Rahab and Babel among those who know me;
also Philistia and Tyre, along with Cush—
each of these was born there.
5 And of Zion it is said:
“Each person was born in it,
but the one who will establish it is the Most High.”
6 The Lord makes a record as he registers the peoples:
“Each one was born there.” Selah
7 And while they dance, people sing:
“The source of my life comes from you.”
BOOK IV
(Psalms 90–106)
Psalm 90
A prayer of Moses, the man of God.
90 Lord, you have been our help,
generation after generation.
2 Before the mountains were born,
before you birthed the earth and the inhabited world—
from forever in the past
to forever in the future, you are God.
3 You return people to dust,
saying, “Go back, humans,”
4 because in your perspective a thousand years
are like yesterday past,
like a short period during the night watch.
5 You sweep humans away like a dream,
like grass that is renewed in the morning.
6 True, in the morning it thrives, renewed,
but come evening it withers, all dried up.
7 Yes, we are wasting away because of your wrath;
we are paralyzed with fear on account of your rage.
8 You put our sins right in front of you,
set our hidden faults in the light from your face.
9 Yes, all our days slip away because of your fury;
we finish up our years with a whimper.
10 We live at best to be seventy years old,
maybe eighty, if we’re strong.
But their duration brings hard work and trouble
because they go by so quickly.
And then we fly off.
11 Who can comprehend the power of your anger?
The honor that is due you corresponds to your wrath.
12 Teach us to number our days
so we can have a wise heart.
13 Come back to us, Lord!
Please, quick!
Have some compassion for your servants!
14 Fill us full every morning with your faithful love
so we can rejoice and celebrate our whole life long.
15 Make us happy for the same amount of time that you afflicted us—
for the same number of years that we saw only trouble.
16 Let your acts be seen by your servants;
let your glory be seen by their children.
17 Let the kindness of the Lord our God be over us.
Make the work of our hands last.
Make the work of our hands last!
Psalm 136
136 Give thanks to the Lord because he is good.
God’s faithful love lasts forever!
2 Give thanks to the God of all gods—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of all lords—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
4 Give thanks to the only one
who makes great wonders—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
5 Give thanks to the one who made the skies with skill—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
6 Give thanks to the one who shaped the earth on the water—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
7 Give thanks to the one who made the great lights—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
8 The sun to rule the day—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
9 The moon and the stars to rule the night—
God’s faithful love lasts forever!
10 Give thanks to the one who struck down the Egyptians’ oldest offspring—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
11 Give thanks to the one who brought Israel out of there—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
12 With a strong hand and outstretched arm—
God’s faithful love lasts forever!
13 Give thanks to the one who split the Reed Sea[a] in two—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
14 Give thanks to the one who brought Israel through—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
15 And tossed Pharaoh and his army into the Reed Sea—
God’s faithful love lasts forever!
16 Give thanks to the one who led his people through the desert—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
17 Give thanks to the one who struck down great kings—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
18 And killed powerful kings—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
19 Sihon, the Amorite king—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
20 Og, king of Bashan—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
21 Handing their land over as an inheritance—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
22 As an inheritance to Israel, his servant—
God’s faithful love lasts forever!
23 God remembered us when we were humiliated—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
24 God rescued us from our enemies—
God’s faithful love lasts forever.
25 God is the one who provides food for all living things—
God’s faithful love lasts forever!
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven—
God’s faithful love lasts forever!
Mattathias and his sons
2 In those days a priest from Joarib’s family named Mattathias, the son of John and grandson of Simeon, moved from Jerusalem and settled in Modein. 2 He had five sons: John, who had the surname Gaddi; 3 Simon, called Thassi; 4 Judas, called Maccabeus; 5 Eleazar, called Avaran; and Jonathan, called Apphus.
6 Mattathias saw the offensive actions against God that were taking place in Judah and Jerusalem. 7 He said:
“Horrible! Why was I born to see this—
the ruin of my people,
the ruin of the holy city?
Why was I born to live there when it was given over to the enemy,
and when the sanctuary
was given over to strangers?
8 Her temple has become
like a person stripped of honor.
9 Her glorious equipment
has been taken away into exile.
Her babies have been killed
in her streets,
her young people
by the enemy’s sword.
10 Is there a nation that hasn’t
taken away some part of her majesty
and seized upon her loot?
11 All her adornment has been taken away.
She is no longer free,
but is instead a slave.
12 Look! Our holy place, our beauty,
and our glory have all been destroyed.
The Gentiles have trampled them.
13 Why should we live any longer?”
14 Then Mattathias and his sons tore their clothes and put on mourning clothes, and they lamented.
Pagan worship refused
15 At that time, the king’s officers were enforcing the decrees to give up Jewish practice. They came to the town of Modein to make its people offer pagan sacrifice. 16 Many from Israel came out to them, including Mattathias and his sons. 17 Then the king’s officers spoke to Mattathias: “You’re a leader, honored and important in this town, and supported by sons and brothers. 18 Be the first to come and do what the king has commanded, as have all the Gentiles, the people of Judah, and those who are left in Jerusalem. Then you and your sons will be counted among the king’s closest political advisors; you and your sons will be honored with silver, gold, and many gifts.”
19 But Mattathias answered loudly, “Even if all the nations that live under the king’s rule obey him and have chosen to follow his orders, departing from their ancestral religion, 20 My sons and brothers and I will continue to live according to our ancestors’ covenant. 21 We will never abandon the Law and its commands! 22 We won’t obey the king’s orders by turning aside from our religion to either the right or the left.”
23 When he finished speaking, a Jew came forward in plain sight to offer sacrifice on the altar in Modein, in keeping with the king’s command. 24 When Mattathias saw this action, he burned with zeal, and his spirit was stirred up. He gave way to his righteous anger, and he ran over and killed the man on the altar. 25 He also killed the king’s officer who was overseeing the sacrifice at that time, and he tore down the altar. 26 He burned with zeal for the Law, just like Phinehas did against Zimri, Salu’s son.
27 Then Mattathias shouted loudly in the town, “Everyone who is zealous for the Law and supports the covenant should come with me!” 28 So he and his sons fled to the hills and left behind all that they had in the town.
Satan confined
20 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the abyss and a huge chain. 2 He seized the dragon, the old snake, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the abyss, then locked and sealed it over him. This was to keep him from continuing to deceive the nations until the thousand years were over. After this he must be released for a little while.
The saints rule with Christ
4 Then I saw thrones, and people took their seats on them, and judgment was given in their favor.[a] They were the ones who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and God’s word, and those who hadn’t worshipped the beast or its image, who hadn’t received the mark on their forehead or hand. They came to life and ruled with Christ for one thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead didn’t come to life until the thousand years were over. This is the first resurrection. 6 Favored and holy are those who have a share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will rule with him for one thousand years.
First prediction of Jesus’ death and resurrection
21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he had to go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and legal experts, and that he had to be killed and raised on the third day. 22 Then Peter took hold of Jesus and, scolding him, began to correct him: “God forbid, Lord! This won’t happen to you.” 23 But he turned to Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are a stone that could make me stumble, for you are not thinking God’s thoughts but human thoughts.”
Saving and losing life
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “All who want to come after me must say no to themselves, take up their cross, and follow me. 25 All who want to save their lives will lose them. But all who lose their lives because of me will find them. 26 Why would people gain the whole world but lose their lives? What will people give in exchange for their lives? 27 For the Human One[a] is about to come with the majesty of his Father with his angels. And then he will repay each one for what that person has done. 28 I assure you that some standing here won’t die before they see the Human One[b] coming in his kingdom.”
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible