Book of Common Prayer
The [a]Psalms of David
1 Whether it was Esdras, or any other that gathered the Psalms into a book, it seemeth he did set this Psalm first in manner of a preface, to exhort all godly men to study and meditate the heavenly wisdom. For the effect hereof is, 1 That they be blessed which give themselves wholly all their life to the holy Scriptures; 4 and that the wicked contemners of God, though they seem for a while happy, yet at length shall come to miserable destruction.
1 Blessed is the man that doth not walk in the [b]counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the (A)law of the Lord, and in his [c]law doth he meditate day and night.
3 For he shall be like a (B)tree planted by the rivers of waters, that will bring forth her fruits in due season: whose leaf shall not fade: so [d]whatsoever he shall do, shall prosper.
4 [e]The wicked are not so, but as the chaff, which the wind driveth away.
5 Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the [f]judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the Lord [g]knoweth the way of the righteous, and the way of the wicked shall perish.
2 The Prophet David rejoiceth, that notwithstanding his enemies’ rage, yet God will continue his kingdom forever, and advance it even to the end of the world, 10 and therefore exhorteth kings and rulers, that they would humbly submit themselves under God’s yoke, because it is in vain to resist God. Herein is figured Christ’s kingdom.
1 Why do the [h]heathen (C)rage, and the people murmur in vain.
2 The kings of the earth band themselves, and the Princes are assembled together against the Lord, and against his [i]Christ.
3 [j]Let us break their bands, and cast their cords from us.
4 (D)But he that dwelleth in the heaven shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
5 [k]Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure, saying,
6 Even I have set my King upon Zion mine holy mountain.
7 I will declare the [l]decree: that is, the Lord hath said unto me, (E)Thou art my son; this [m]day have I begotten thee.
8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the [n]ends of the earth for thy possession.
9 (F)Thou shalt crush them with a scepter of iron, and break them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
10 [o]Be wise now therefore, ye kings: be learned ye judges of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord in fear, and rejoice in trembling.
12 [p]Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye [q]perish in the way, when his wrath shall suddenly burn. Blessed are all that trust in him.
3 David driven forth of his kingdom, was greatly tormented in mind for his sins against God: 4 And therefore calleth upon God, and waxeth bold through his promises, against the great railings and terrors of his enemies, yea against death itself, which he saw present before his eyes. 7 Finally, he rejoiceth for the good success that God gave him and all the Church.
A Psalm of David, when he fled from his son Absalom.
1 Lord, how are mine adversaries [r]increased? how many rise against me?
2 Many say to my soul, There is no help for him in God. [s]Selah.
3 But thou Lord art a buckler for me, my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
4 I did call unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy mountain. Selah.
5 I laid me down and slept, and rose up again: for the Lord sustained me.
6 I will not be afraid for [t]ten thousand of the people, that should beset me round about.
7 O Lord, arise: help me, my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheekbone: thou hast broken the teeth of the wicked.
8 [u]Salvation belongeth unto the Lord, and thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.
4 When Saul persecuted him, he called upon God, trusting most assuredly in his promise, and therefore boldly reproveth his enemies, who willfully resisted his dominion, 7 and finally preferreth the favor of God before all worldly treasures.
[v]To him that excelleth on Neginoth. A Psalm of David.
1 Hear me when I call, [w]O God of my righteousness: thou hast set me at liberty, when I was in [x]distress: have mercy upon me, and hearken unto my prayer.
2 O ye [y]sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame, [z]loving vanity, and seeking lies? Selah.
3 For be ye sure that the Lord hath chosen to himself [aa]a godly man, the Lord will hear when I call unto him.
4 [ab]Tremble and sin not: examine your own heart upon your bed, and be [ac]still. Selah.
5 [ad]Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and trust in the Lord.
6 Many say, Who will show us any [ae]good? but Lord, lift up the light of thy countenance upon us.
7 Thou hast given me more joy of heart, than they have had, when their wheat and their wine did abound.
8 I will lay me down, and also sleep in peace: for thou, [af]Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.
7 Being falsely accused by Cush one of Saul’s kinsmen, he calleth to God to be his defender, 3 to whom he commendeth his innocence, 9 first showing that his conscience did not accuse him of any evil toward Saul. 10 Next that it touched God’s glory to award sentence against the wicked. 12 And so entering into the consideration of God’s mercies and promise, he waxeth bold, and derideth the vain enterprises of his enemies, 15 threatening that that shall fall on their own neck which they have purposed for others.
[a]Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto the Lord, concerning the [b]words of (A)Cush the son of Benjamin.
1 O Lord my God, in thee I put my trust: save me from all that persecute me, and deliver me,
2 Lest [c]he devour my soul like a lion, and tear it in pieces, while there is none to help.
3 O Lord my God, if I have done [d]this thing, if there be any wickedness in mine hands,
4 [e]If I have rewarded evil unto him that had peace with me, (yea I have delivered him that vexed me without cause.)
5 Then let the enemies persecute my soul, and take it: yea, let him tread my life down upon the earth, and lay mine [f]honor in the dust. Selah.
6 Arise, O Lord, in thy wrath, and lift up thyself against the rage of mine enemies, and awake for me according to the [g]judgment that thou hast appointed.
7 So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore [h]return on high.
8 The Lord shall judge the people: judge thou me, O Lord, according to my [i]righteousness, and according to mine innocency that is in me.
9 Oh let the malice of the wicked come to an end: but guide thou the just: for the righteous God trieth the [j]hearts and reins.
10 My defense is in God, who preserveth the upright in heart.
11 God judgeth the righteous, and him that contemneth God, [k]every day.
12 Except [l]he turn, he hath whet his sword: he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.
13 He hath also prepared him deadly weapons: he will ordain his arrows for them that persecute me.
14 (B)Behold, he shall travail with wickedness: for he hath conceived mischief, but he shall bring forth a lie.
15 He hath made a pit, and dug it, and is fallen into the pit that he made.
16 His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his cruelty shall fall upon his own pate.
17 I will praise the Lord according to his [m]righteousness, and will sing praise to the Name of the Lord most high.
6 ¶ Thus saith the Lord, For three transgressions of [a]Israel, and for four, I will not turn to it, because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for [b]shoes.
7 They gape over the head of the poor, in the [c]dust of the earth, and pervert the ways of the meek: and a man and his father will go in to a maid, to dishonor mine holy Name.
8 And they lie down upon clothes laid to pledge [d]by every altar: and they [e]drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their God.
9 Yet destroyed I the [f]Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks: notwithstanding I destroyed his fruit from above, and his root from beneath.
10 Also I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and led you forty years through the wilderness, to possess the land of the Amorite.
11 And I raised up of your sons for Prophets, and of [g]your young men for Nazirites. Is it not even thus, O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord?
12 But ye gave the Nazirites wine to drink, and commanded the Prophets, saying, Prophesy not.
13 Behold, I am [h]pressed under you as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves.
14 Therefore the flight shall perish from the [i]swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall the mighty save his life.
15 Nor he that handleth the bow shall stand, and he that is swift of foot, shall not escape, neither shall he that rideth the horse, save his life.
16 And he that is of a mighty courage among the strong men, shall flee away naked in that day, saith the Lord.
The Second Epistle General of Peter
1 3 Having spoken of the bountifulness of God, 5 and of the virtues of faith. 6 He exhorteth them to holiness of life. 12 And that his counsel may be the more effectual. 14 He showeth that his death is at hand, 16 and that himself did see the power of Christ, which he opened unto them.
1 Simon [a]Peter a servant and an Apostle of Jesus Christ, to you which have obtained like precious faith with us by the [b]righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you, [c]through the acknowledging of God, and of Jesus Christ our Lord,
3 [d]According as his [e]divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto [f]life and godliness, through the [g]acknowledging of him that hath called us unto glory and virtue.
4 [h]Whereby most great and precious promises are given unto us, that by them ye should be partakers of the [i]divine nature, in that ye flee the corruption, which is in the [j]world through [k]lust.
5 [l]Therefore give even all diligence thereunto: [m]join moreover virtue with your faith: and with virtue, knowledge:
6 [n]And with knowledge, temperance: and with temperance, patience: and with patience, godliness:
7 And with godliness, brotherly kindness: and with brotherly kindness, love.
8 [o]For if these things be among you, and abound, they will make you that ye neither shall be idle, nor unfruitful in the acknowledging of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 For he that hath not these things, is blind, and [p]cannot see far off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10 [q]Wherefore, brethren, give rather diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.
11 For by this means an entering shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
21 1 Christ rideth on an ass unto Jerusalem. 12 He casteth out the sellers. 13 The house of prayer. 19 The withered fig tree. 25 John’s baptism. 28 Who do the will of God. 30 Publicans, Harlots. 33 God’s vineyard. The Jews. 38 The son killed of the husbandmen. 42 The cornerstone.
1 And (A)[a]when they drew near to Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of the Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,
2 Saying to them, Go into the town that is over against you, and anon ye shall find an ass bound, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.
3 And if any man say ought unto you, say ye, that the Lord hath need of them, and straightway [b]he will let them go.
4 All this was done that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken by the Prophet, saying,
5 ¶ (B)Tell ye the [c]daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek and sitting upon an ass, and a colt, the foal of an ass used to the yoke.
6 So the disciples went, and did as Jesus had commanded them,
7 And brought the ass and the colt, and put on them their [d]clothes, and set him [e]thereon.
8 And a great multitude spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.
9 Moreover, the people that went before, and they also that followed, cried, saying, [f]Hosanna to the Son of David, [g]Blessed be he that cometh in the Name of the Lord, Hosanna thou which art in the highest heavens.
10 (C)And when he was come into Jerusalem, [h]all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?
11 And the people said, This is Jesus that Prophet of Nazareth in Galilee.
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