Book of Common Prayer
Psalm 83[a]
A song. A psalm of Asaph.
1 O God, do not remain silent;(A)
do not turn a deaf ear,
do not stand aloof, O God.
2 See how your enemies growl,(B)
how your foes rear their heads.(C)
3 With cunning they conspire(D) against your people;
they plot against those you cherish.(E)
4 “Come,” they say, “let us destroy(F) them as a nation,(G)
so that Israel’s name is remembered(H) no more.”
5 With one mind they plot together;(I)
they form an alliance against you—
6 the tents of Edom(J) and the Ishmaelites,
of Moab(K) and the Hagrites,(L)
7 Byblos,(M) Ammon(N) and Amalek,(O)
Philistia,(P) with the people of Tyre.(Q)
8 Even Assyria(R) has joined them
to reinforce Lot’s descendants.[b](S)
9 Do to them as you did to Midian,(T)
as you did to Sisera(U) and Jabin(V) at the river Kishon,(W)
10 who perished at Endor(X)
and became like dung(Y) on the ground.
11 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb,(Z)
all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,(AA)
12 who said, “Let us take possession(AB)
of the pasturelands of God.”
Psalm 146
1 Praise the Lord.[a]
Praise the Lord,(A) my soul.
2 I will praise the Lord all my life;(B)
I will sing praise(C) to my God as long as I live.(D)
3 Do not put your trust in princes,(E)
in human beings,(F) who cannot save.
4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;(G)
on that very day their plans come to nothing.(H)
5 Blessed are those(I) whose help(J) is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord their God.
6 He is the Maker of heaven(K) and earth,
the sea, and everything in them—
he remains faithful(L) forever.
7 He upholds(M) the cause of the oppressed(N)
and gives food to the hungry.(O)
The Lord sets prisoners free,(P)
8 the Lord gives sight(Q) to the blind,(R)
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,(S)
the Lord loves the righteous.(T)
9 The Lord watches over the foreigner(U)
and sustains the fatherless(V) and the widow,(W)
but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.
10 The Lord reigns(X) forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the Lord.
Psalm 147
1 Praise the Lord.[b]
2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem;(AA)
he gathers the exiles(AB) of Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted(AC)
and binds up their wounds.(AD)
4 He determines the number of the stars(AE)
and calls them each by name.
5 Great is our Lord(AF) and mighty in power;(AG)
his understanding has no limit.(AH)
6 The Lord sustains the humble(AI)
but casts the wicked(AJ) to the ground.
8 He covers the sky with clouds;(AO)
he supplies the earth with rain(AP)
and makes grass grow(AQ) on the hills.
9 He provides food(AR) for the cattle
and for the young ravens(AS) when they call.
10 His pleasure is not in the strength(AT) of the horse,(AU)
nor his delight in the legs of the warrior;
11 the Lord delights(AV) in those who fear him,(AW)
who put their hope(AX) in his unfailing love.(AY)
12 Extol the Lord, Jerusalem;(AZ)
praise your God, Zion.
13 He strengthens the bars of your gates(BA)
and blesses your people(BB) within you.
14 He grants peace(BC) to your borders
and satisfies you(BD) with the finest of wheat.(BE)
15 He sends his command(BF) to the earth;
his word runs(BG) swiftly.
16 He spreads the snow(BH) like wool
and scatters the frost(BI) like ashes.
17 He hurls down his hail(BJ) like pebbles.
Who can withstand his icy blast?
18 He sends his word(BK) and melts them;
he stirs up his breezes,(BL) and the waters flow.
19 He has revealed his word(BM) to Jacob,(BN)
his laws and decrees(BO) to Israel.
20 He has done this for no other nation;(BP)
they do not know(BQ) his laws.[c]
Praise the Lord.(BR)
Psalm 85[a]
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1 You, Lord, showed favor to your land;
you restored the fortunes(A) of Jacob.
2 You forgave(B) the iniquity(C) of your people
and covered all their sins.[b]
3 You set aside all your wrath(D)
and turned from your fierce anger.(E)
4 Restore(F) us again, God our Savior,(G)
and put away your displeasure toward us.
5 Will you be angry with us forever?(H)
Will you prolong your anger through all generations?
6 Will you not revive(I) us again,
that your people may rejoice(J) in you?
7 Show us your unfailing love,(K) Lord,
and grant us your salvation.(L)
8 I will listen to what God the Lord says;
he promises peace(M) to his people, his faithful servants—
but let them not turn to folly.(N)
9 Surely his salvation(O) is near those who fear him,
that his glory(P) may dwell in our land.
10 Love and faithfulness(Q) meet together;
righteousness(R) and peace kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
and righteousness(S) looks down from heaven.
12 The Lord will indeed give what is good,(T)
and our land will yield(U) its harvest.
13 Righteousness goes before him
and prepares the way for his steps.
Psalm 86
A prayer of David.
1 Hear me, Lord, and answer(V) me,
for I am poor and needy.
2 Guard my life, for I am faithful to you;
save your servant who trusts in you.(W)
You are my God; 3 have mercy(X) on me, Lord,
for I call(Y) to you all day long.
4 Bring joy to your servant, Lord,
for I put my trust(Z) in you.
5 You, Lord, are forgiving and good,
abounding in love(AA) to all who call to you.
6 Hear my prayer, Lord;
listen to my cry(AB) for mercy.
7 When I am in distress,(AC) I call(AD) to you,
because you answer(AE) me.
8 Among the gods(AF) there is none like you,(AG) Lord;
no deeds can compare with yours.
9 All the nations you have made
will come(AH) and worship(AI) before you, Lord;
they will bring glory(AJ) to your name.
10 For you are great(AK) and do marvelous deeds;(AL)
you alone(AM) are God.
11 Teach me your way,(AN) Lord,
that I may rely on your faithfulness;(AO)
give me an undivided(AP) heart,
that I may fear(AQ) your name.
12 I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;(AR)
I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me(AS) from the depths,
from the realm of the dead.(AT)
14 Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God;
ruthless people are trying to kill me—
they have no regard for you.(AU)
15 But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious(AV) God,
slow to anger,(AW) abounding(AX) in love and faithfulness.(AY)
16 Turn to me(AZ) and have mercy(BA) on me;
show your strength(BB) in behalf of your servant;
save me, because I serve you
just as my mother did.(BC)
17 Give me a sign(BD) of your goodness,
that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.
The Glory of Zion
60 “Arise,(A) shine, for your light(B) has come,
and the glory(C) of the Lord rises upon you.
2 See, darkness(D) covers the earth
and thick darkness(E) is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
and his glory appears over you.
3 Nations(F) will come to your light,(G)
and kings(H) to the brightness of your dawn.
4 “Lift up your eyes and look about you:
All assemble(I) and come to you;
your sons come from afar,(J)
and your daughters(K) are carried on the hip.(L)
5 Then you will look and be radiant,(M)
your heart will throb and swell with joy;(N)
the wealth(O) on the seas will be brought to you,
to you the riches of the nations will come.
6 Herds of camels(P) will cover your land,
young camels of Midian(Q) and Ephah.(R)
And all from Sheba(S) will come,
bearing gold and incense(T)
and proclaiming the praise(U) of the Lord.
7 All Kedar’s(V) flocks will be gathered to you,
the rams of Nebaioth will serve you;
they will be accepted as offerings(W) on my altar,(X)
and I will adorn my glorious temple.(Y)
8 “Who are these(Z) that fly along like clouds,(AA)
like doves to their nests?
9 Surely the islands(AB) look to me;
in the lead are the ships of Tarshish,[a](AC)
bringing(AD) your children from afar,
with their silver and gold,(AE)
to the honor(AF) of the Lord your God,
the Holy One(AG) of Israel,
for he has endowed you with splendor.(AH)
10 “Foreigners(AI) will rebuild your walls,
and their kings(AJ) will serve you.
Though in anger I struck you,
in favor(AK) I will show you compassion.(AL)
11 Your gates(AM) will always stand open,
they will never be shut, day or night,
so that people may bring you the wealth of the nations(AN)—
their kings(AO) led in triumphal procession.
12 For the nation or kingdom that will not serve(AP) you will perish;
it will be utterly ruined.(AQ)
13 “The glory of Lebanon(AR) will come to you,
the juniper, the fir and the cypress together,(AS)
to adorn my sanctuary;(AT)
and I will glorify the place for my feet.(AU)
14 The children of your oppressors(AV) will come bowing before you;
all who despise you will bow down(AW) at your feet
and will call you the City(AX) of the Lord,
Zion(AY) of the Holy One(AZ) of Israel.
15 “Although you have been forsaken(BA) and hated,
with no one traveling(BB) through,
I will make you the everlasting pride(BC)
and the joy(BD) of all generations.
16 You will drink the milk of nations
and be nursed(BE) at royal breasts.
Then you will know(BF) that I, the Lord, am your Savior,(BG)
your Redeemer,(BH) the Mighty One of Jacob.(BI)
17 Instead of bronze I will bring you gold,(BJ)
and silver in place of iron.
Instead of wood I will bring you bronze,
and iron in place of stones.
I will make peace(BK) your governor
and well-being your ruler.(BL)
Dealing With False Teachers
14 Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words;(A) it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.(B) 16 Avoid godless chatter,(C) because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus(D) and Philetus, 18 who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place,(E) and they destroy the faith of some.(F) 19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm,(G) sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,”(H) and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord(I) must turn away from wickedness.”
20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use.(J) 21 Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.(K)
22 Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love(L) and peace, along with those who call on the Lord(M) out of a pure heart.(N) 23 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.(O) 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.(P) 25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,(Q) 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil,(R) who has taken them captive to do his will.
The Rich and the Kingdom of God(A)
17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees(B) before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”(C)
18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’[a]”(D)
20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor,(E) and you will have treasure in heaven.(F) Then come, follow me.”(G)
22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich(H) to enter the kingdom of God!”
24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is[b] to enter the kingdom of God!(I) 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”(J)
26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”
27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”(K)
28 Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”(L)
29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much(M) in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come(N) eternal life.(O) 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”(P)
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