Book of Common Prayer
To the Overcomer, A Psalm of David.
1 ¶ The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows the work of his hands.
2 One day provides a word for the next day, and one night declares wisdom unto the next night.
3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tabernacle for the sun,
5 which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber and rejoices as a strong man to run a race.
6 His going forth is from the end of the heavens, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
7 ¶ The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever; the rights of the LORD are true, they are all just.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is thy slave warned, and in keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
13 Keep back thy slave also from pride and arrogance; let them not have dominion over me; then I shall be perfect, and I shall be innocent of the great rebellion.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
18 For thus has the LORD said that creates the heavens; God himself that forms the earth, he who made it and established it. He did not create it in vain; he created it to be inhabited; I am the LORD; and there is no one else.
19 I have not spoken in secret in a dark place of the earth. Not without substance did I say unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me; I am the LORD who speaks righteousness, who declares things that are right.
20 ¶ Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, all ye that are escaped of the Gentiles. They have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image and pray unto the god that does not save.
21 Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together; who caused this to be heard from the beginning and has declared it from that time, except me, the LORD? and there is no God beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is no one besides me.
22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no one else.
23 I have sworn by myself; the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow; every tongue shall swear.
24 And unto me he shall say, Surely in the LORD is the righteousness and the strength; until he shall come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.
25 In the LORD shall all the generation of Israel be justified and shall glory.
4 ¶ Though I might also have reason to confide in the flesh. If any other man thinks that he has whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the lineage of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee;
6 concerning zeal, a persecutor of the congregation; {Gr. ekklesia – called out ones} concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
7 But those things which were gain to me, I counted loss for Christ.
8 And doubtless I even count all things as loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ
9 ¶ and be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10 That I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death,
11 if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
LAMED.
89 ¶ For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in the heavens.
90 Thy truth is from generation to generation; thou hast established the earth, and it perseveres.
91 They persevere unto this day by thy ordinance; for they are all thy slaves.
92 ¶ Unless thy law had been my delight, I should have perished in my affliction.
93 ¶ I will never forget thy precepts; for with them thou hast caused me to live.
94 ¶ I am thine, keep me; for I have sought thy precepts.
95 ¶ The wicked have waited for me to destroy me, but I will consider thy testimonies.
96 ¶ I have seen an end of all perfection, but thy commandment is exceeding broad.
MEM.
97 ¶ O how I love thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
98 ¶ Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies, for they are eternal unto me.
99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, for thy testimonies have been my meditation.
100 I understand more than the elders because I keep thy precepts.
101 ¶ I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.
102 ¶ I have not departed from thy judgments, for thou hast taught me.
103 ¶ How sweet have been thy spoken words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 Through thy precepts I have obtained understanding; therefore I have hated every false way.
NUN.
105 ¶ Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my way.
106 ¶ I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep the judgments of thy righteousness.
107 ¶ I am afflicted very much; cause me to live, O LORD, according to thy word.
108 ¶ Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments.
109 ¶ My soul is continually in my hand; yet I do not forget thy law.
110 The wicked have laid a snare for me; yet did not I err from thy precepts.
111 ¶ I have taken thy testimonies as a heritage for ever; for they are the rejoicing of my heart.
112 I have inclined my heart to perform thy statutes always, even unto the end.
9 ¶ And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, came unto the prince of the priests
2 and asked him for letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
3 And as he proceeded, he came near Damascus; and suddenly there shone round about him a light from heaven;
4 and falling to the earth, he heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute me?
5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I AM Jesus whom thou dost persecute; it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what it behooves thee to do.
7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing indeed the voice, but seeing no one.
8 Then Saul arose from the earth; and opening his eyes, he saw no one; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus
9 where he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
10 ¶ And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; to whom the Lord said in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise and go into the street which is called Straight and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus; for, behold, he prays
12 and has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, of how much evil he has done to thy saints in Jerusalem,
14 and even here he has authority from the princes of the priests to bind all that call on thy name.
15 But the Lord said unto him, Go; for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;
16 for I will show him how much it behooves him to suffer for my name.
17 Then Ananias went and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared unto thee in the way as thou didst come, has sent me, that thou might receive thy sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales; and he received sight immediately and arose and was baptized.
19 And when he had received food, he was comforted. Then Saul was certain days with the disciples who were at Damascus.
20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
21 But all that heard him were amazed and said, Is not this he that destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem and came here for that intent that he might bring them bound unto the princes of the priests?
22 But Saul increased the more in strength and confounded the Jews who dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.
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