Book of Common Prayer
Psalm 88
A song; a psalm by Korah’s descendants; for the choir director; according to mahalath leannoth;[a] a maskil by Heman the Ezrahite.
1 O Yahweh Elohim, my savior,
I cry out to you during the day and at night.
2 Let my prayer come into your presence.
Turn your ear to hear my cries.
3 My soul is filled with troubles,
and my life comes closer to the grave.
4 I am numbered with those who go into the pit.
I am like a man without any strength—
5 abandoned with the dead,
like those who have been killed and lie in graves,
like those whom you no longer remember,
who are cut off from your power.
6 You have put me in the bottom of the pit—in deep, dark places.
7 Your rage lies heavily on me.
You make all your waves pound on me. Selah
8 You have taken my friends far away from me.
You made me disgusting to them.
I’m shut in, and I can’t get out.
9 My eyes grow weak because of my suffering.
All day long I call out to you, O Yahweh.
I stretch out my hands to you in prayer.
10 Will you perform miracles for those who are dead?
Will the spirits of the dead rise and give thanks to you? Selah
11 Will anyone tell about your mercy in Sheol
or about your faithfulness in Abaddon?
12 Will anyone know about your miracles in that dark place
or about your righteousness in the place where forgotten people live?
13 I cry out to you for help, O Yahweh,
and in the morning my prayer will come into your presence.
14 Why do you reject my soul, O Yahweh?
Why do you hide your face from me?
15 Ever since I was young, I have been suffering and near death.
I have endured your terrors, and now I am in despair.[b]
16 Your burning anger has swept over me.
Your terrors have destroyed me.
17 They swirl around me all day long like water.
They surround me on all sides.
18 You have taken my loved ones and friends far away from me.
Darkness is my only friend![c]
Psalm 91
1 Whoever lives under the shelter of Elyon
will remain in the shadow of Shadday.
2 I will say to Yahweh,
“You are my Machseh and my Metsuda, my Elohim in whom I trust.”
3 He is the one who will rescue you from hunters’ traps
and from deadly plagues.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge.
His truth is your shield and armor.
5 You do not need to fear
terrors of the night,
arrows that fly during the day,
6 plagues that roam the dark,
epidemics that strike at noon.
7 They will not come near you,
even though a thousand may fall dead beside you
or ten thousand at your right side.
8 You only have to look with your eyes
to see the punishment of wicked people.
9 You, O Yahweh, are my Machseh!
You have made Elyon your home.
10 No harm will come to you.
No sickness will come near your house.
11 He will put his angels in charge of you
to protect you in all your ways.
12 They will carry you in their hands
so that you never hit your foot against a rock.
13 You will step on lions and cobras.
You will trample young lions and snakes.
14 Because you love me, I will rescue you.
I will protect you because you know my name.
15 When you call to me, I will answer you.
I will be with you when you are in trouble.
I will save you and honor you.
16 I will satisfy you with a long life.
I will show you how I will save you.
Psalm 92
A psalm; a song; for the day of worship.
1 It is good to give thanks to Yahweh,
to make music to praise your name, O Elyon.
2 It is good to announce your mercy in the morning
and your faithfulness in the evening
3 on a ten-stringed instrument and a harp
and with a melody on a lyre.
4 You made me find joy in what you have done, O Yahweh.
I will sing joyfully about the works of your hands.
5 How spectacular are your works, O Yahweh!
How very deep are your thoughts!
6 A stupid person cannot know
and a fool cannot understand
7 that wicked people sprout like grass
and all troublemakers blossom like flowers,
only to be destroyed forever.
8 But you, O Yahweh, are highly honored forever.
9 Now look at your enemies, O Yahweh.
Now look at your enemies.
They disappear, and all troublemakers are scattered.
10 But you make me as strong as a wild bull,
and soothing lotion is poured on me.
11 My eyes gloat over those who spy on me.
My ears hear the cries of evildoers attacking me.
12 Righteous people flourish like palm trees
and grow tall like the cedars in Lebanon.
13 They are planted in Yahweh’s house.
They blossom in Elohim’s courtyards.
14 Even when they are old, they still bear fruit.
They are always healthy and fresh.
15 They make it known that Yahweh is decent.
He is my rock.
He is never unfair.
Abimelech Kills His Brothers
9 Abimelech, son of Jerubbaal [Gideon], went to Shechem to see the uncles on his mother’s side of the family. He spoke to them and his mother’s whole family. 2 He said, “Please ask all citizens of Shechem, ‘What seems best to you? Do you really want all of Jerubbaal’s 70 sons to rule you or just one man? Remember, I’m your own flesh and blood.’”
3 His uncles repeated everything he said to all citizens of Shechem. They were persuaded to follow Abimelech because he was their relative. 4 So they gave him 70 pieces of silver from the temple of Baal Berith. With the silver, Abimelech hired worthless and reckless men to follow him. 5 Then he went to his father’s home in Ophrah. There he executed his 70 brothers, Jerubbaal’s sons. But Jotham, Jerubbaal’s youngest son, survived because he hid. 6 All the citizens from Shechem and Beth Millo united. They went to the oak tree that was still standing in Shechem and proclaimed Abimelech king.
Jotham’s Story
7 When Jotham was told about this, he went to a high spot on Mount Gerizim. He shouted to them, “Listen to me, you citizens of Shechem, so that Elohim might listen to you.
8 “The trees went to anoint someone to be king over them.
They said to the olive tree,
‘Be our king!’
9 But the olive tree responded,
‘Should I stop producing oil,
which people use to honor gods and humans,
in order to rule the trees?’
10 Then the trees said to the fig tree,
‘You come and be our king!’
11 But the fig tree responded,
‘Should I stop producing my good, sweet fruit
in order to rule the trees?’
12 Then the trees said to the grapevine,
‘You come and be our king!’
13 But the grapevine responded,
‘Should I stop producing my wine,
which makes gods and humans happy,
in order to rule the trees?’
14 Then all the trees said to the thornbush,
‘You come and be our king!’
15 But the thornbush responded to the trees,
‘If you really want to anoint me to be your king,
then come and take shelter in my shade.
But if not, fire will come out of the thornbush
and burn up the cedars of Lebanon.’
16 “If you acted with sincerity and integrity when you made Abimelech king, be happy. If you treated Jerubbaal and his family well, if you treated him as he deserved, be happy.
19 So if you are now acting with sincerity and integrity toward Jerubbaal and his family, then be happy with Abimelech and let Abimelech be happy with you. 20 But if that’s not the case, let fire come out of Abimelech and burn up citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo. Also let fire come out of citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo and burn up Abimelech.”
21 Then Jotham ran away quickly. He went to Beerah and lived there to avoid his brother Abimelech.
13 After they found out that Peter and John had no education or special training, they were surprised to see how boldly they spoke. They realized that these men had been with Yeshua. 14 When they saw the man who was healed standing with Peter and John, they couldn’t say anything against the two apostles. 15 So they ordered Peter and John to leave the council room and began to discuss the matter among themselves. 16 They said, “What should we do to these men? Clearly, they’ve performed a miracle that everyone in Jerusalem knows about. We can’t deny that. 17 So let’s threaten them. Let’s tell them that they must never speak to anyone about the one named Yeshua. Then the news about the miracle that they have performed will not spread any further among the people.”
18 They called Peter and John and ordered them never to teach about Yeshua or even mention his name.
19 Peter and John answered them, “Decide for yourselves whether God wants people to listen to you rather than to him. 20 We cannot stop talking about what we’ve seen and heard.”
21 The authorities threatened them even more and then let them go. Since all the people were praising God for what had happened, the authorities couldn’t find any way to punish Peter and John. 22 (The man who was healed by this miracle was over 40 years old.)
The Apostles Pray for God’s Help
23 When Peter and John were released, they went to the other apostles and told them everything the chief priests and leaders had said. 24 When the apostles heard this, they were united and loudly prayed to God, “Master, you made the sky, the land, the sea, and everything in them. 25 You said through the Holy Spirit, who spoke through your servant David (our ancestor),
‘Why do the nations act arrogantly?
Why do their people devise useless plots?
26 Kings take their stand.
Rulers make plans together
against the Lord and against his Messiah.’
27 “In this city Herod and Pontius Pilate made plans together with non-Jewish people and the people of Israel. They made their plans against your holy servant Yeshua, whom you anointed. 28 Through your will and power, they did everything that you had already decided should be done.
29 “Lord, pay attention to their threats now, and allow us to speak your word boldly. 30 Show your power by healing, performing miracles, and doing amazing things through the power and the name of your holy servant Yeshua.”
31 When the apostles had finished praying, their meeting place shook. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God boldly.
Jesus Changes Water into Wine
2 Three days later a wedding took place in the city of Cana in Galilee. Yeshua’s mother was there. 2 Yeshua and his disciples had been invited too.
3 When the wine was gone, Yeshua’s mother said to him, “They’re out of wine.”
4 Yeshua said to her, “Why did you come to me? My time has not yet come.”
5 His mother told the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.”
6 Six stone water jars were there. They were used for Jewish purification rituals. Each jar held 18 to 27 gallons.
7 Yeshua told the servers, “Fill the jars with water.” The servers filled the jars to the brim. 8 Yeshua said to them, “Pour some, and take it to the person in charge.” The servers did as they were told.
9 The person in charge tasted the water that had become wine. He didn’t know where it had come from, although the servers who had poured the water knew. The person in charge called the groom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the best wine first. When people are drunk, the host serves cheap wine. But you have saved the best wine for now.”
11 Cana in Galilee was the place where Yeshua began to perform miracles. He made his glory public there, and his disciples believed in him.
12 After this, Yeshua, his mother, brothers, and disciples went to the city of Capernaum and stayed there for a few days.
The Names of God Bible (without notes) © 2011 by Baker Publishing Group.