Book of Common Prayer
The Difference between Good and Sinful People
1 Happy is the man who does not walk in the way sinful men tell him to, or stand in the path of sinners, or sit with those who laugh at the truth. 2 But he finds joy in the Law of the Lord and thinks about His Law day and night. 3 This man is like a tree planted by rivers of water, which gives its fruit at the right time and its leaf never dries up. Whatever he does will work out well for him.
4 Sinful men are not like this. They are like straw blown away by the wind. 5 So the sinful will not stand. They will be told they are guilty and have to suffer for it. Sinners will not stand with those who are right with God. 6 For the Lord knows the way of those who are right with Him. But the way of the sinful will be lost from God forever.
God’s Chosen One Will Rule
2 Why are the nations so shaken up and the people planning foolish things? 2 The kings of the earth stand in a line ready to fight, and all the leaders are against the Lord and against His Chosen One. 3 They say, “Let us break their chains and throw them away from us.”
4 He Who sits in the heavens laughs. The Lord makes fun of them. 5 Then He will speak to them in His anger and make them afraid, saying, 6 “But as for Me, I have set My King on Zion, My holy mountain.” 7 I will make known the words of the Lord. He said to Me, “You are My Son. Today I have become Your Father. 8 Ask of Me, and I will give the nations for you to own. The ends of the earth will belong to You. 9 You will break them using a piece of iron. And they will be broken in pieces like pots of clay.”
10 So, kings, be wise. Listen, you rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear, and be full of joy as you shake in fear. 12 Kiss the Son. Be afraid that He may be angry and destroy you in the way. For His anger is quick. Happy are all who put their trust in Him.
Morning Prayer of Trust
3 O Lord, how many are they who hate me! How many rise up against me! 2 Many are saying of me, “There is no help for him in God.” 3 But You, O Lord, are a covering around me, my shining-greatness, and the One Who lifts my head. 4 I was crying to the Lord with my voice. And He answered me from His holy mountain. 5 I lay down and slept, and I woke up again, for the Lord keeps me safe.
6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who stand all around against me. 7 Rise up, O Lord! Save me, O my God! For You have hit on the face all those who hate me, and you have broken the teeth of the sinful. 8 It is You Who saves, O Lord. May You bring happiness to Your people.
Evening Prayer of Trust
4 Answer me when I call, O my God Who is right and good! You have made a way for me when I needed help. Be kind to me, and hear my prayer.
2 O sons of men, how long will you turn my honor into shame? How long will you love what is of no use, and run after lies? 3 Know that the Lord has set apart him who is God-like for Himself. The Lord hears when I call to Him.
4 Shake with anger and do not sin. When you are on your bed, look into your hearts and be quiet. 5 Give the gifts that are right and good, and trust in the Lord.
6 Many are asking, “Who will show us any good?” Let the light of Your face shine on us, O Lord. 7 You have filled my heart with more happiness than they have when there is much grain and wine. 8 I will lie down and sleep in peace. O Lord, You alone keep me safe.
Prayer for Help against the Sinful
7 O Lord my God, in You I have put my trust. Save me from all those who come for me, and keep me safe. 2 Or they will tear me like a lion, carrying me away where there is no one to help. 3 O Lord my God, if I have done this, and there is guilt on my hands, 4 if I have done wrong to him who was at peace with me, or without a reason have robbed him who worked against me, 5 let him who hates me come for me and catch me. Let him break me under his feet until I die, and lay my honor in the dust.
6 Rise up in Your anger, O Lord. Rise up against the anger of those who hate me. Awake, my God, and help me. Prove what is right. 7 Let the people gather around You, and rule over them from Your throne. 8 May the Lord judge which people are guilty or not. O Lord, judge in my favor if I am right with You, and if I am without blame. 9 Let the sins of the sinful stop. But build up those who are right with You. For the God Who is right and good tests both the hearts and the minds. 10 I am kept safe by God, Who saves those who are pure in heart.
11 God is always right in how He judges. He is angry with the sinful every day. 12 If a man is not sorry for his sins and will not turn from them, God will make His sword sharp. He will string His bow and make it ready. 13 He takes up His sword and the bow of death. And He makes arrows of fire.
14 See how the sinful man thinks up sins and plans trouble and lies start growing inside him. 15 He has dug out a deep hole, and has fallen into the hole he has dug. 16 The trouble he makes will return to him. When he hurts others it will come down on his own head. 17 I will give thanks to the Lord because He is right and good. I will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.
Eliphaz Talks
4 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,
Eliphaz Keeps On Talking
5 “Call now. Is there anyone who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn? 2 To be bitter kills the foolish man, and jealousy kills the child-like. 3 I have seen the fool taking root, but right away his house was cursed. 4 His sons are far from being safe. They are destroyed in the gate, and there is no one to help them. 5 The hungry eat the food of his field. They take it even out of the thorns. And the thirsty want his riches. 6 For suffering does not come from the dust. Trouble does not grow out of the ground. 7 But man is born to trouble, as fire goes up.
8 “But as for me, I would look to God. I would put my troubles before God. 9 He does great things, too great for us to understand. He does too many wonderful things for us to number. 10 He gives rain on the earth and sends water on the fields. 11 He puts those who are in low places up to high places. Those who are filled with sorrow are lifted to where they are safe.
17 “See, happy is the man to whom God speaks strong words. So do not hate the strong teaching of the All-powerful. 18 He punishes, but He gives comfort. He hurts, but His hands heal. 19 He will take you out of six troubles. Yes, in seven, nothing will hurt you. 20 He will keep you from death in times of no food, and from the power of the sword in war. 21 You will be hidden from the punishment of the tongue. You will not be afraid of being destroyed when danger comes.
26 You will come to the grave in full strength, like the grain gathered in when it is time. 27 See, this is what we have found, and it is true. Hear it, and know for yourself.”
19 After that he ate some food and received strength. For some days he stayed with the followers in Damascus.
Saul Preaches the Good News
20 At once Saul began to preach in the Jewish places of worship that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All who heard him were surprised and wondered. They said, “This is the man who beat and killed the followers in Jerusalem. He came here to tie the followers in chains and take them to the head religious leaders.” 22 But Saul kept on growing in power. The Jews living in Damascus wondered about Saul’s preaching. He was proving that Jesus was the Christ.
23 After some days the Jews talked together and made plans how they might kill Saul. 24 He heard of their plans. Day and night they watched for him at the city gates to kill him. 25 So the followers helped him get away at night. They let him down over the wall in a basket.
Saul Comes to Jerusalem
26 When Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the followers. But they were afraid of him. They did not believe he was a true follower of Jesus. 27 Then Barnabas took him to the missionaries. He told them that Saul had seen the Lord on the road. He told them also how the Lord had spoken to Saul and how he had preached without fear in Damascus in the name of Jesus. 28 After that he was with them going in and out of Jerusalem. 29 He preached without fear in the name of the Lord. He talked and argued with the Jews who spoke the Greek language. They kept trying to kill him. 30 When the followers heard this, they took him down to the city of Caesarea. From there they sent him to the city of Tarsus.
31 Then the church through all the countries of Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace for awhile. The church was made strong and it was given comfort by the Holy Spirit. It honored the Lord. More people were added to the church.
52 The Jews argued among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?”
53 Jesus said to them, “For sure, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you do not have life in you. 54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has life that lasts forever. I will raise him up on the last day. 55 My flesh is true food and My blood is true drink. 56 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood lives in Me and I live in him. 57 The living Father sent Me and I live because of Him. In the same way, the one who eats Me will live because of Me. 58 I am this Bread that came down from heaven. It is not like the bread that your early fathers ate and they died. Whoever eats this Bread will live forever.” 59 Jesus said these things in the Jewish place of worship while He was teaching in the city of Capernaum.
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