Book of Common Prayer
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 [a]heathen (A)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 [b]Christ.
3 [c]Let us break their bands, and cast their cords from us.
4 (B)But he that dwelleth in the heaven shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
5 [d]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 [e]decree: that is, the Lord hath said unto me, (C)Thou art my son; this [f]day have I begotten thee.
8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the [g]ends of the earth for thy possession.
9 (D)Thou shalt crush them with a scepter of iron, and break them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
10 [h]Be wise now therefore, ye kings: be learned ye judges of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord in fear, and rejoice in trembling.
12 [i]Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye [j]perish in the way, when his wrath shall suddenly burn. Blessed are all that trust in him.
26 1 David oppressed with many injuries, finding no help in the world, calleth for aid from God: and assured of his integrity towards Saul, desireth God to be his judge, and to defend his innocence. 6 Finally he maketh mention of his sacrifice, which he will offer for his deliverance, and desireth to be in the company of the faithful in the Congregation of God, whence he was banished by Saul, promising integrity of life, and open praises and thanksgiving.
A Psalm of David.
1 Judge me, [a]O Lord, for I have walked in mine innocency: my trust hath been also in the Lord: therefore shall I not slide.
2 Prove me, O Lord, and try me: examine my [b]reins, and mine heart.
3 For thy [c]lovingkindness is before mine eyes: therefore have I walked in thy truth.
4 I have not [d]haunted with vain persons, neither kept company with the dissemblers.
5 I have hated the assembly of the evil, and have not companied with the wicked.
6 I will [e]wash mine hands in innocency, O Lord, and compass thine altar,
7 That I may declare with the voice of thanksgiving, and set forth all thy wondrous works.
8 O Lord, I have loved the habitation of thine house, and the place where thine honor dwelleth.
9 [f]Gather not my soul with the sinners, nor my life with the bloody men:
10 In whose hand is [g]wickedness, and their right hand is full of bribes.
11 But I will walk in mine innocency: redeem me therefore, and be merciful unto me.
12 My foot standeth in [h]uprightness: I will praise thee, O Lord, in the Congregations.
13 Rejoice, O [a]heavens; and be joyful, O earth; burst forth into praise, O mountains; for God hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.
14 But Zion said, The Lord hath [b]forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.
15 Can a woman forget her child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? though they should forget, yet will I not forget thee.
16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palm of mine [c]hands: thy [d]walls are ever in my sight.
17 Thy builders make [e]haste: thy destroyers and they that made thee waste, are departed from thee.
18 Lift up thine eyes round about and behold: all these gather themselves together and come to thee: as I live, saith the Lord, thou shalt surely [f]put them all upon thee as a garment, and gird thyself with them like a bride.
19 For thy desolations, and thy waste places, and thy land destroyed, shall surely be now narrow for them that shall dwell in it, and they that dwell devour thee, shall be far away.
20 The children of thy barrenness shall say again in thine ears, The place is strait for me: give place to me that I may dwell.
21 Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I am barren and desolate, a captive and a wanderer to and fro? and who hath nourished them? behold, I was left alone: whence are these?
22 Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the [g]Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people, and they shall bring thy sons in their arms: and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.
23 And Kings [h]shall be thy nursing fathers, and Queens shall be thy nurses: they shall worship thee with their faces toward the earth, and lick up the [i]dust of thy feet: and thou shalt know that I am the Lord: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.
18 1 The greatest in the kingdom of God. 5 To receive a little child. 6 To give offence. 7 Offences. 9 The pulling out of the eye. 10 The Angels. 11 The lost sheep. 15 The telling of one his fault. 17 Excommunication. 21 We must always pardon the brother that repenteth. 23 The parable of the king that taketh an account of his servants.
1 The (A)same time the disciples came unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2 [a]And Jesus called a [b]little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
3 And said, Verily I say unto you, except ye be (B)[c]converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 And whosoever shall receive one such little child in my Name, receiveth me.
6 (C)[d]But whosoever shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him, that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
7 [e]Woe be unto the world because of offences, for it must needs be that [f]offences shall come, but woe be to that man by whom the offence cometh.
8 (D)Wherefore, if thy hand or thy foot cause thee to [g]offend, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life, halt, or maimed, than having two hands, or two feet, to be cast into everlasting fire.
9 And if thine eye cause thee to offend, pluck it out and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
10 [h]See that ye despise not one of these little ones: for I say unto you, that in heaven their (E)Angels always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
11 For (F)the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
12 How think ye? (G)If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave ninety and nine, and go into the mountains, and seek that which is gone astray?
13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray:
14 So is it not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
19 1 To the intent he might move the faithful to deeper consideration of God’s glory, he setteth before their eyes the most exquisite workmanship of the heavens, with their proportion, and ornaments. 8 And afterward calleth them to the Law, wherein God hath revealed himself more familiarly to his chosen people. The which peculiar grace by commending the Law, he setteth forth more at large.
To him that excelleth. A Psalm of David.
1 The (A)[a]heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth the work of his hands.
2 [b]Day unto day uttereth the same, and night unto night teacheth knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor [c]language, where their voice is not heard.
4 Their [d]line is gone forth through all the earth, and their words into the ends of the world: in them hath he set a tabernacle for the Sun.
5 Which cometh forth as a bridegroom out of his [e]chamber, and rejoiceth like a mighty man to run his race.
6 His going out is from the end of the heaven, and his compass is unto the ends of the same, and none is hid from the heat thereof.
7 The [f]Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, and giveth wisdom unto the simple.
8 The statutes of the Lord are right, and rejoice the heart, the commandment of the Lord is pure, and giveth light unto the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, and endureth forever: the judgments of the Lord are [g]truth: they are righteous [h]altogether,
10 And more to be [i]desired than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey, and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is thy servant made circumspect, and in keeping of them there is great [j]reward.
12 Who can understand his [k]faults? cleanse me from secret faults.
13 Keep thy servant also from [l]presumptuous sins: let them not reign over me: [m]so shall I be upright, and made clean from much wickedness.
14 Let the words of my mouth, and the [n]meditation of mine heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord my strength, and my redeemer.
126 1 This Psalm was made after the return of the people from Babylon, and showeth that the means of their deliverance was wonderful after the seventy years of captivity forspoken by Jeremiah, in Jer. 25:12 and 29:10.
A song of degrees, or Psalm of David.
1 When the Lord brought again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that [a]dream.
2 Then was our mouth [b]filled with laughter, and our tongue with joy: then said they among the [c]heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them.
3 The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we rejoice.
4 O Lord, bring again our captivity, as the [d]rivers in the South.
5 They that sow in tears, shall reap in joy.
6 They went weeping, and carried [e]precious seed: but they shall return with joy, and bring their sheaves.
13 ¶ (A)[a]Then they brought little children to him, that he should touch them, and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
14 But when Jesus saw it, he was displeased, and said to them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God [b]as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
16 And he took them up in his arms, and put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
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