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.
10 Hear the word of the Lord, O [a]princes of Sodom: hearken unto the Law of our God, O people of Gomorrah.
11 What have I to do with the multitude of your sacrifices, saith the Lord? I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and of the fat of fed beasts: and I [b]desire not the blood of bullocks, nor of lambs, nor of goats.
12 When ye come to appear before me, who required this of your hands to tread in my courts?
13 Bring no more oblations, [c]in vain: incense is an abomination unto me: I cannot suffer your new moons, nor Sabbath, nor solemn days (it is iniquity) nor solemn assemblies.
14 My soul hateth your [d]new moons and your appointed feasts: they are a burden unto me: I am weary to bear them.
15 And when you shall stretch out your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: and though ye make many prayers, I will not hear: for your hands are full [e]of blood.
16 [f]Wash you, make you clean, take away the evil of your works from before mine eyes: cease to do evil.
17 Learn to [g]do well: seek judgment, relieve the oppressed: judge the fatherless, and defend the widow.
18 Come now, [h]and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins were as crimson, they shall be made [i]white as snow: though they were red like scarlet, they shall be as wool,
19 If ye [j]consent and obey, ye shall eat the good things of the land.
20 But if ye refuse and be rebellious, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
The First Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians
1 1 He therefore beginneth with thanksgiving, 4 to put them in mind that whatsoever was praiseworthy in them, it came of God’s goodness: 7 and that they are ensamples unto others.
1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, unto the Church of the Thessalonians, which is in God the Father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be with you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 [a]We give God thanks always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers.
3 [b]Without ceasing, remembering your effectual faith, and diligent love, and the patience of your hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God, even our Father,
4 Knowing, beloved brethren, that ye are [c]elect of God.
5 [d]For our Gospel was not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the holy Ghost, and in [e]much assurance, as ye know after what manner we were among you for your sakes.
6 [f]And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, and received the word in much affliction, with [g]joy of the holy Ghost,
7 So that ye were as ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and in Achaia.
8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord, not in Macedonia and in Achaia only: but your faith also which is toward God, spread abroad in all quarters, that we need not to speak anything.
9 For [h]they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, [i]and how ye turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God.
10 And to look for his son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus which delivereth us from [j]that wrath to come.
20 4 From whence John’s Baptism was. 9 The wickedness of the Priests is noted by the parable of the vineyard and the husbandmen. 21 To give tribute to Caesar. 27 He convinceth the Sadducees denying the resurrection. 41 How Christ is the son of David.
1 And (A)[a]it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the Temple, and preached the Gospel, the high Priests and the Scribes came upon him, with the Elders,
2 And spake unto him, saying, Tell us by what authority thou doest these things, or who is he that hath given thee this authority?
3 And he answered, and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing: tell me therefore:
4 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?
5 And they reasoned within themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven, he will say, Why then believed ye him not?
6 But if we shall say, Of men, all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a Prophet.
7 Therefore they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.
8 Then Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you, by what authority I do these things.
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