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Book of Common Prayer

Daily Old and New Testament readings based on the Book of Common Prayer.
Duration: 861 days
New International Version (NIV)
Version
Psalm 56-58

Psalm 56[a]

For the director of music. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” Of David. A miktam.[b] When the Philistines had seized him in Gath.

Be merciful to me,(A) my God,
    for my enemies are in hot pursuit;(B)
    all day long they press their attack.(C)
My adversaries pursue me all day long;(D)
    in their pride many are attacking me.(E)

When I am afraid,(F) I put my trust in you.(G)
    In God, whose word I praise—(H)
in God I trust and am not afraid.(I)
    What can mere mortals do to me?(J)

All day long they twist my words;(K)
    all their schemes are for my ruin.
They conspire,(L) they lurk,
    they watch my steps,(M)
    hoping to take my life.(N)
Because of their wickedness do not[c] let them escape;(O)
    in your anger, God, bring the nations down.(P)

Record my misery;
    list my tears on your scroll[d](Q)
    are they not in your record?(R)
Then my enemies will turn back(S)
    when I call for help.(T)
    By this I will know that God is for me.(U)

10 In God, whose word I praise,
    in the Lord, whose word I praise—
11 in God I trust and am not afraid.
    What can man do to me?

12 I am under vows(V) to you, my God;
    I will present my thank offerings to you.
13 For you have delivered me from death(W)
    and my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before God
    in the light of life.(X)

Psalm 57[e](Y)

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.[f] When he had fled from Saul into the cave.(Z)

Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,
    for in you I take refuge.(AA)
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings(AB)
    until the disaster has passed.(AC)

I cry out to God Most High,
    to God, who vindicates me.(AD)
He sends from heaven and saves me,(AE)
    rebuking those who hotly pursue me—[g](AF)
    God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.(AG)

I am in the midst of lions;(AH)
    I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—
men whose teeth are spears and arrows,
    whose tongues are sharp swords.(AI)

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
    let your glory be over all the earth.(AJ)

They spread a net for my feet(AK)
    I was bowed down(AL) in distress.
They dug a pit(AM) in my path—
    but they have fallen into it themselves.(AN)

My heart, O God, is steadfast,
    my heart is steadfast;(AO)
    I will sing and make music.
Awake, my soul!
    Awake, harp and lyre!(AP)
    I will awaken the dawn.

I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
    I will sing of you among the peoples.
10 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
    your faithfulness reaches to the skies.(AQ)

11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;(AR)
    let your glory be over all the earth.(AS)

Psalm 58[h]

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.[i]

Do you rulers indeed speak justly?(AT)
    Do you judge people with equity?
No, in your heart you devise injustice,(AU)
    and your hands mete out violence on the earth.(AV)

Even from birth the wicked go astray;
    from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies.
Their venom is like the venom of a snake,(AW)
    like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears,
that will not heed(AX) the tune of the charmer,(AY)
    however skillful the enchanter may be.

Break the teeth in their mouths, O God;(AZ)
    Lord, tear out the fangs of those lions!(BA)
Let them vanish like water that flows away;(BB)
    when they draw the bow, let their arrows fall short.(BC)
May they be like a slug that melts away as it moves along,(BD)
    like a stillborn child(BE) that never sees the sun.

Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns(BF)
    whether they be green or dry—the wicked will be swept away.[j](BG)
10 The righteous will be glad(BH) when they are avenged,(BI)
    when they dip their feet in the blood of the wicked.(BJ)
11 Then people will say,
    “Surely the righteous still are rewarded;(BK)
    surely there is a God who judges the earth.”(BL)

Psalm 64-65

Psalm 64[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

Hear me, my God, as I voice my complaint;(A)
    protect my life from the threat of the enemy.(B)

Hide me from the conspiracy(C) of the wicked,(D)
    from the plots of evildoers.
They sharpen their tongues like swords(E)
    and aim cruel words like deadly arrows.(F)
They shoot from ambush at the innocent;(G)
    they shoot suddenly, without fear.(H)

They encourage each other in evil plans,
    they talk about hiding their snares;(I)
    they say, “Who will see it[b]?”(J)
They plot injustice and say,
    “We have devised a perfect plan!”
    Surely the human mind and heart are cunning.

But God will shoot them with his arrows;
    they will suddenly be struck down.
He will turn their own tongues against them(K)
    and bring them to ruin;
    all who see them will shake their heads(L) in scorn.(M)
All people will fear;(N)
    they will proclaim the works of God
    and ponder what he has done.(O)

10 The righteous will rejoice in the Lord(P)
    and take refuge in him;(Q)
    all the upright in heart will glory in him!(R)

Psalm 65[c]

For the director of music. A psalm of David. A song.

Praise awaits[d] you, our God, in Zion;(S)
    to you our vows will be fulfilled.(T)
You who answer prayer,
    to you all people will come.(U)
When we were overwhelmed by sins,(V)
    you forgave[e] our transgressions.(W)
Blessed are those you choose(X)
    and bring near(Y) to live in your courts!
We are filled with the good things of your house,(Z)
    of your holy temple.

You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds,(AA)
    God our Savior,(AB)
the hope of all the ends of the earth(AC)
    and of the farthest seas,(AD)
who formed the mountains(AE) by your power,
    having armed yourself with strength,(AF)
who stilled the roaring of the seas,(AG)
    the roaring of their waves,
    and the turmoil of the nations.(AH)
The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders;
    where morning dawns, where evening fades,
    you call forth songs of joy.(AI)

You care for the land and water it;(AJ)
    you enrich it abundantly.(AK)
The streams of God are filled with water
    to provide the people with grain,(AL)
    for so you have ordained it.[f]
10 You drench its furrows and level its ridges;
    you soften it with showers(AM) and bless its crops.
11 You crown the year with your bounty,(AN)
    and your carts overflow with abundance.(AO)
12 The grasslands of the wilderness overflow;(AP)
    the hills are clothed with gladness.(AQ)
13 The meadows are covered with flocks(AR)
    and the valleys are mantled with grain;(AS)
    they shout for joy and sing.(AT)

Error: 'Wisdom 9:1' not found for the version: New International Version
Error: 'Wisdom 9:7-18' not found for the version: New International Version
Colossians 3:18-4

Instructions for Christian Households(A)

18 Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands,(B) as is fitting in the Lord.

19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

21 Fathers,[a] do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance(C) from the Lord as a reward.(D) It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.(E)

Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair,(F) because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

Further Instructions

Devote yourselves to prayer,(G) being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door(H) for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery(I) of Christ, for which I am in chains.(J) Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise(K) in the way you act toward outsiders;(L) make the most of every opportunity.(M) Let your conversation be always full of grace,(N) seasoned with salt,(O) so that you may know how to answer everyone.(P)

Final Greetings

Tychicus(Q) will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant[b](R) in the Lord. I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our[c] circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.(S) He is coming with Onesimus,(T) our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you.(U) They will tell you everything that is happening here.

10 My fellow prisoner Aristarchus(V) sends you his greetings, as does Mark,(W) the cousin of Barnabas.(X) (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) 11 Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews[d] among my co-workers(Y) for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras,(Z) who is one of you(AA) and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you,(AB) that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature(AC) and fully assured. 13 I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea(AD) and Hierapolis. 14 Our dear friend Luke,(AE) the doctor, and Demas(AF) send greetings. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea,(AG) and to Nympha and the church in her house.(AH)

16 After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read(AI) in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.

17 Tell Archippus:(AJ) “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”(AK)

18 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.(AL) Remember(AM) my chains.(AN) Grace be with you.(AO)

Luke 7:36-50

Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman(A)(B)

36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet,(C) he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”

40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

“Tell me, teacher,” he said.

41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,[a] and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”

“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet,(D) but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss,(E) but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head,(F) but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”(G)

49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you;(H) go in peace.”(I)

New International Version (NIV)

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