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Book of Common Prayer

Daily Old and New Testament readings based on the Book of Common Prayer.
Duration: 861 days
World English Bible (WEB)
Version
Psalm 140

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.

140 Deliver me, Yahweh, from evil men.
    Preserve me from violent men:
those who devise mischief in their hearts.
    They continually gather themselves together for war.
They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent.
    Viper’s poison is under their lips. Selah.
Yahweh, keep me from the hands of the wicked.
    Preserve me from the violent men who have determined to trip my feet.
The proud have hidden a snare for me,
    they have spread the cords of a net by the path.
    They have set traps for me. Selah.
I said to Yahweh, “You are my God.”
    Listen to the cry of my petitions, Yahweh.
Yahweh, the Lord, the strength of my salvation,
    you have covered my head in the day of battle.
Yahweh, don’t grant the desires of the wicked.
    Don’t let their evil plans succeed, or they will become proud. Selah.
As for the head of those who surround me,
    let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
10 Let burning coals fall on them.
    Let them be thrown into the fire,
    into miry pits, from where they never rise.
11 An evil speaker won’t be established in the earth.
    Evil will hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
12 I know that Yahweh will maintain the cause of the afflicted,
    and justice for the needy.
13 Surely the righteous will give thanks to your name.
    The upright will dwell in your presence.

Psalm 142

A contemplation by David, when he was in the cave. A Prayer.

142 I cry with my voice to Yahweh.
    With my voice, I ask Yahweh for mercy.
I pour out my complaint before him.
    I tell him my troubles.
When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,
    you knew my route.
On the path in which I walk,
    they have hidden a snare for me.
Look on my right, and see;
    for there is no one who is concerned for me.
    Refuge has fled from me.
    No one cares for my soul.
I cried to you, Yahweh.
    I said, “You are my refuge,
    my portion in the land of the living.”
Listen to my cry,
    for I am in desperate need.
Deliver me from my persecutors,
    for they are too strong for me.
Bring my soul out of prison,
    that I may give thanks to your name.
The righteous will surround me,
    for you will be good to me.

Psalm 141

A Psalm by David.

141 Yahweh, I have called on you.
    Come to me quickly!
    Listen to my voice when I call to you.
Let my prayer be set before you like incense;
    the lifting up of my hands like the evening sacrifice.
Set a watch, Yahweh, before my mouth.
    Keep the door of my lips.
Don’t incline my heart to any evil thing,
    to practice deeds of wickedness with men who work iniquity.
    Don’t let me eat of their delicacies.
Let the righteous strike me, it is kindness;
    let him reprove me, it is like oil on the head;
    don’t let my head refuse it;
    Yet my prayer is always against evil deeds.
Their judges are thrown down by the sides of the rock.
    They will hear my words, for they are well spoken.
“As when one plows and breaks up the earth,
    our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol.”[a]
For my eyes are on you, Yahweh, the Lord.
    I take refuge in you.
    Don’t leave my soul destitute.
Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me,
    from the traps of the workers of iniquity.
10 Let the wicked fall together into their own nets
    while I pass by.

Psalm 143

A Psalm by David.

143 Hear my prayer, Yahweh.
    Listen to my petitions.
    In your faithfulness and righteousness, relieve me.
Don’t enter into judgment with your servant,
    for in your sight no man living is righteous.
For the enemy pursues my soul.
    He has struck my life down to the ground.
    He has made me live in dark places, as those who have been long dead.
Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me.
    My heart within me is desolate.
I remember the days of old.
    I meditate on all your doings.
    I contemplate the work of your hands.
I spread out my hands to you.
    My soul thirsts for you, like a parched land. Selah.
Hurry to answer me, Yahweh.
    My spirit fails.
Don’t hide your face from me,
    so that I don’t become like those who go down into the pit.
Cause me to hear your loving kindness in the morning,
    for I trust in you.
Cause me to know the way in which I should walk,
    for I lift up my soul to you.
Deliver me, Yahweh, from my enemies.
    I flee to you to hide me.
10 Teach me to do your will,
    for you are my God.
Your Spirit is good.
    Lead me in the land of uprightness.
11 Revive me, Yahweh, for your name’s sake.
    In your righteousness, bring my soul out of trouble.
12 In your loving kindness, cut off my enemies,
    and destroy all those who afflict my soul,
    for I am your servant.

Proverbs 8:1-21

Doesn’t wisdom cry out?
    Doesn’t understanding raise her voice?
On the top of high places by the way,
    where the paths meet, she stands.
Beside the gates, at the entry of the city,
    at the entry doors, she cries aloud:
“I call to you men!
    I send my voice to the sons of mankind.
You simple, understand prudence!
    You fools, be of an understanding heart!
Hear, for I will speak excellent things.
    The opening of my lips is for right things.
For my mouth speaks truth.
    Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness.
    There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
They are all plain to him who understands,
    right to those who find knowledge.
10 Receive my instruction rather than silver,
    knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 For wisdom is better than rubies.
    All the things that may be desired can’t be compared to it.

12 “I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling.
    Find out knowledge and discretion.
13 The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil.
    I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.
14 Counsel and sound knowledge are mine.
    I have understanding and power.
15 By me kings reign,
    and princes decree justice.
16 By me princes rule,
    nobles, and all the righteous rulers of the earth.
17 I love those who love me.
    Those who seek me diligently will find me.
18 With me are riches, honor,
    enduring wealth, and prosperity.
19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold,
    my yield than choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,
    in the middle of the paths of justice,
21 that I may give wealth to those who love me.
    I fill their treasuries.

Philemon

Paul, a prisoner of Christ[a] Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker, to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, hearing of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, that the fellowship of your faith may become effective in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus. For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.

Therefore though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate, yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. 10 I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have become the father of in my chains,[b] 11 who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me. 12 I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, 13 whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News. 14 But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will. 15 For perhaps he was therefore separated from you for a while that you would have him forever, 16 no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much rather to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

17 If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me. 18 But if he has wronged you at all or owes you anything, put that to my account. 19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self besides). 20 Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord.

21 Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even beyond what I say.

22 Also, prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.

23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, 24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

John 12:9-19

A large crowd therefore of the Jews learned that he was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 But the chief priests conspired to put Lazarus to death also, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.

12 On the next day a great multitude had come to the feast. When they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 they took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet him, and cried out, “Hosanna![a] Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,(A) the King of Israel!”

14 Jesus, having found a young donkey, sat on it. As it is written, 15 “Don’t be afraid, daughter of Zion. Behold, your King comes, sitting on a donkey’s colt.”(B) 16 His disciples didn’t understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about him, and that they had done these things to him. 17 The multitude therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead was testifying about it. 18 For this cause also the multitude went and met him, because they heard that he had done this sign. 19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “See how you accomplish nothing. Behold, the world has gone after him.”

World English Bible (WEB)

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