Book of Common Prayer
BOOK ONE
(Psalms 1–41)
Psalm 1
1 Blessed is the person who does not
follow the advice of wicked people,
take the path of sinners,
or join the company of mockers.
2 Rather, he delights in the teachings of Yahweh
and reflects on his teachings day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted beside streams—
a tree that produces fruit in season
and whose leaves do not wither.
He succeeds in everything he does.[a]
4 Wicked people are not like that.
Instead, they are like husks that the wind blows away.
5 That is why wicked people will not be able to stand in the judgment
and sinners will not be able to stand where righteous people gather.
6 Yahweh knows the way of righteous people,
but the way of wicked people will end.
Psalm 2
1 Why do the nations gather together?
Why do their people devise useless plots?
2 Kings take their stands.
Rulers make plans together
against Yahweh and against his Mashiach[b] by saying,
3 “Let’s break apart their chains
and shake off their ropes.”
4 The one enthroned in heaven laughs.
Adonay makes fun of them.
5 Then he speaks to them in his anger.
In his burning anger he terrifies them by saying,
6 “I have installed my own king on Zion, my holy mountain.”
7 I will announce Yahweh’s decree.
He said to me:
“You are my Son.
Today I have become your Father.
8 Ask me, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance
and the ends of the earth as your own possession.
9 You will break them with an iron scepter.
You will smash them to pieces like pottery.”
10 Now, you kings, act wisely.
Be warned, you rulers of the earth!
11 Serve Yahweh with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, or he will become angry
and you will die on your way
because his anger will burst into flames.
Blessed is everyone who takes refuge in him.
Psalm 3
A psalm by David when he fled from his son Absalom.
1 O Yahweh, look how my enemies have increased!
Many are attacking me.
2 Many are saying about me,
“Even with Elohim on his side,
he won’t be victorious.” Selah
3 But you, O Yahweh, are a Magen that surrounds me.
You are my glory.
You hold my head high.
4 I call aloud to Yahweh,
and he answers me from his holy mountain. Selah
5 I lie down and sleep.
I wake up again because Yahweh continues to support me.
6 I am not afraid of the tens of thousands
who have taken positions against me on all sides.
7 Arise, O Yahweh!
Save me, O my Elohim!
You have slapped all my enemies in the face.
You have smashed the teeth of wicked people.
8 Victory belongs to Yahweh!
May your blessing rest on your people. Selah
Psalm 4
For the choir director; with stringed instruments; a psalm by David.
1 Answer me when I call, O Elohim of my righteousness.
You have freed me from my troubles.
Have pity on me, and hear my prayer!
2 You important people,
how long are you going to insult my honor?
How long are you going to love what is empty
and seek what is a lie? Selah
3 Know that Yahweh singles out godly people for himself.
Yahweh hears me when I call to him.
4 Tremble and do not sin.
Think about this on your bed and remain quiet. Selah
5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness
by trusting Yahweh.
6 Many are saying, “Who can show us anything good?”
Let the light of your presence shine on us, O Yahweh.
7 You put more joy in my heart
than when their grain and new wine increase.
8 I fall asleep in peace the moment I lie down
because you alone, O Yahweh, enable me to live securely.
Psalm 7
A shiggaion[a] by David; he sang it to Yahweh about the slanderous words of Cush, a descendant of Benjamin.
1 O Yahweh my Elohim, I have taken refuge in you.
Save me, and rescue me from all who are pursuing me.
2 Like a lion they will tear me to pieces
and drag me off with no one to rescue me.
3 O Yahweh my Elohim,
if I have done this—
if my hands are stained with injustice,
4 if I have paid back my friend with evil
or rescued someone who has no reason to attack me—[b]
5 then let the enemy chase me and catch me.
Let him trample my life into the ground.
Let him lay my honor in the dust. Selah
6 Arise in anger, O Yahweh.
Stand up against the fury of my attackers.
Wake up, my God.[c]
You have already pronounced judgment.
7 Let an assembly of people gather around you.
Take your seat high above them.
8 Yahweh judges the people of the world.
Judge me, O Yahweh,
according to my righteousness,
according to my integrity.
9 Let the evil within wicked people come to an end,
but make the righteous person secure,
O righteous Elohim who examines thoughts and emotions.
10 My Magen is Elohim above,
who saves those whose motives are decent.
11 Elohim is a fair Shophet,
an El who is angered by injustice every day.
12 If a person does not change, Elohim sharpens his sword.
By bending his bow, he makes it ready to shoot.
13 He prepares his deadly weapons
and turns them into flaming arrows.
14 See how that person conceives evil,
is pregnant with harm,
and gives birth to lies.
15 He digs a pit and shovels it out.
Then he falls into the hole that he made for others.
16 His mischief lands back on his own head.
His violence comes down on top of him.
17 I will give thanks to Yahweh for his righteousness.
I will make music to praise the name of Yahweh Elyon.
The Tribes of Reuben and Gad Request Land East of the Jordan River
32 The tribes of Reuben and Gad had a large number of livestock. They saw that the regions of Jazer and Gilead were a good place for livestock. 2 So they came to Moses, the priest Eleazar, and the leaders of the community, and said to them, 3 “Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon, 4 the land that Yahweh won for the community of Israel, is a good place for livestock. Gentlemen, we have livestock. 5 Please give us this land as our property. Don’t make us cross the Jordan River.”
6 Moses asked the tribes of Gad and Reuben, “Are you going to stay here while the rest of the Israelites go to war?
16 Then the tribes of Gad and Reuben came up to Moses and said, “Allow us to build stone fences for our livestock and cities for our families here. 17 Then we’ll be ready to march in battle formation[a] ahead of the other Israelites until we have brought them to their land. Meanwhile our families will live in walled cities, safe from the other people who live here. 18 We will not return to our homes until every Israelite has received his own land. 19 We won’t take possession of any land on the other side of the Jordan River, to the west and beyond. We already have our land here, east of the Jordan.”
20 Moses answered, “Do what you have said. In Yahweh’s presence have all your armed men get ready for battle. 21 Have them cross the Jordan, and fight until Yahweh forces out his enemies 22 and the land is conquered. Then you may come back. You will have fulfilled your military duty to Yahweh and Israel. This land will be your own property in Yahweh’s presence.
23 “If you don’t do all these things, you will be sinning against Yahweh. You can be sure that you will be punished for your sin. 24 Build cities for your families and stone fences for your flocks, but do what you have promised.”
25 Then the tribes of Gad and Reuben said to Moses, “Sir, we will do as you command. 26 Our children, our wives, our livestock, and all our other animals will stay here in the cities of Gilead. 27 But in Yahweh’s presence we will all get ready for battle and go with you, as you have said.”
26 At the same time the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we don’t know how to pray for what we need. But the Spirit intercedes along with our groans that cannot be expressed in words. 27 The one who searches our hearts knows what the Spirit has in mind. The Spirit intercedes for God’s people the way God wants him to.
Nothing Can Separate Us from God’s Love
28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God—those whom he has called according to his plan. 29 This is true because he already knew his people and had already appointed them to have the same form as the image of his Son. Therefore, his Son is the firstborn among many children. 30 He also called those whom he had already appointed. He approved of those whom he had called, and he gave glory to those whom he had approved of.
Jesus Disapproves of the Example Set by the Jewish Leaders(A)
23 Then Yeshua said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The experts in Moses’ Teachings and the Pharisees teach with Moses’ authority. 3 So be careful to do everything they tell you. But don’t follow their example, because they don’t practice what they preach. 4 They make loads that are hard to carry and lay them on the shoulders of the people. However, they are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
5 “They do everything to attract people’s attention. They make their headbands large and the tassels on their shawls long. 6 They love the place of honor at dinners and the front seats in synagogues. 7 They love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have people call them Rabbi. 8 But don’t make others call you Rabbi, because you have only one teacher, and you are all followers. 9 And don’t call anyone on earth your father, because you have only one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Don’t make others call you a leader, because you have only one leader, the Messiah. 11 The person who is greatest among you will be your servant. 12 Whoever honors himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be honored.
The Names of God Bible (without notes) © 2011 by Baker Publishing Group.