The Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
Morning Prayer
Sunday
1st
Lesson
Isaiah 61
1 The spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because
the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath
sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the
captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 To
proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of
our God; to comfort all that mourn; 3 To appoint unto them that mourn in
Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning,
the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be
called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might
be glorified. 4 And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up
the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the
desolations of many generations. 5 And strangers shall stand and feed
your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your
vinedressers. 6 But ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord; men shall
call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the
Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves. 7 For your shame
ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their
portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double:
everlasting joy shall be unto them. 8 For I the Lord love judgment, I
hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth,
and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. 9 And their seed
shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people:
all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which
the Lord hath blessed. 10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul
shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of
salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a
bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth
herself with her jewels. 11 For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and
as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so
the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before
all the nations.
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1st
Lesson
Deuteronomy 4:5-13, 32-40
5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and
judgments, even as the Lord my God commanded me, that ye should do so in
the land whither ye go to possess it. 6 Keep therefore and do them; for
this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations,
which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation
is a wise and understanding people. 7 For what nation is there so great,
who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things
that we call upon him for? 8 And what nation is there so great, that
hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set
before you this day? 9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul
diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and
lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them
thy sons, and thy sons' sons; 10 Specially the day that thou stoodest
before the Lord thy God in Horeb, when the Lord said unto me, Gather me
the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may
learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and
that they may teach their children. 11 And ye came near and stood under
the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire unto the midst of
heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness. 12 And the Lord spake
unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words,
but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice. 13 And he declared unto
you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten
commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.
32 For ask now of the days that are past, which
were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and
ask from the one side of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been
any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it? 33
Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the
fire, as thou hast heard, and live? 34 Or hath God assayed to go and
take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by temptations, by
signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by a
stretched out arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the Lord
your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? 35 Unto thee it was
shewed, that thou mightest know that the Lord he is God; there is none
else beside him. 36 Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that
he might instruct thee: and upon earth he shewed thee his great fire;
and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire. 37 And because
he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and
brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt; 38 To
drive out nations from before thee greater and mightier than thou art,
to bring thee in, to give thee their land for an inheritance, as it is
this day. 39 Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart,
that the Lord he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath:
there is none else. 40 Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his
commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with
thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy
days upon the earth, which the Lord thy God giveth thee, for ever. 41
Then Moses severed three cities on this side Jordan toward the
sunrising; 42 That the slayer might flee thither, which should kill his
neighbour unawares, and hated him not in times past; and that fleeing
unto one of these cities he might live: 43 Namely, Bezer in the
wilderness, in the plain country, of the Reubenites; and Ramoth in
Gilead, of the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan, of the Manassites. 44 And
this is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel: 45 These
are the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which Moses
spake unto the children of Israel, after they came forth out of Egypt,
46 On this side Jordan, in the valley over against Bethpeor, in the land
of Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon, whom Moses and the
children of Israel smote, after they were come forth out of Egypt: 47
And they possessed his land, and the land of Og king of Bashan, two
kings of the Amorites, which were on this side Jordan toward the sun
rising; 48 From Aroer, which is by the bank of the river Arnon, even
unto mount Sion, which is Hermon, 49 And all the plain on this side
Jordan eastward, even unto the sea of the plain, under the springs of
Pisgah.
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The
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
Morning Prayer
Sunday
2nd
Lesson
Luke 4:16-32
16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been
brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the
sabbath day, and stood up for to read. 17 And there was delivered unto
him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he
found the place where it was written, 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon
me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he
hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the
captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them
that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 20 And
he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down.
And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on
him. 21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture
fulfilled in your ears. 22 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the
gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not
this Joseph's son? 23 And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me
this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in
Capernaum, do also here in thy country. 24 And he said, Verily I say
unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. 25 But I tell you
of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the
heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was
throughout all the land; 26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save
unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. 27 And
many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none
of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian. 28 And all they in the
synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, 29 And
rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of
the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down
headlong. 30 But he passing through the midst of them went his way, 31
And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the
sabbath days. 32 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word
was with power.
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2nd
Lesson
Ephesians 2
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in
trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the
course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air,
the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among
whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our
flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by
nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is rich in
mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were
dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are
saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in
heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might
shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through
Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should
boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good
works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 11
Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh,
who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision
in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at that time ye were without Christ,
being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the
covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13
But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by
the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and
hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having
abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments
contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so
making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body
by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached
peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18 For
through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19 Now
therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens
with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the
foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the
chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together
groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded
together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
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The
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
Evening Prayer
Sunday
1st
Lesson
Isaiah 45:20
20 Assemble yourselves and come; draw near
together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge
that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that
cannot save.
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1st
Lesson
Daniel 10:10-19
dan 10 10 And, behold, an hand touched me, which
set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. 11 And he said unto
me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak
unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he
had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. 12 Then said he unto
me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine
heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words
were heard, and I am come for thy words. 13 But the prince of the
kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael,
one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the
kings of Persia. 14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall
befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many
days. 15 And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward
the ground, and I became dumb. 16 And, behold, one like the similitude
of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake,
and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my
sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength. 17 For how
can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me,
straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath
left in me. 18 Then there came again and touched me one like the
appearance of a man, and he strengthened me, 19 And said, O man greatly
beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And
when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord
speak; for thou hast strengthened me.
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The
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
Evening Prayer
Sunday
2nd
Lesson
Romans 10
1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God
for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2 For I bear them record that
they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they
being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish
their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the
righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for
righteousness to every one that believeth. 5 For Moses describeth the
righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things
shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh
on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven?
(that is, to bring Christ down from above:) 7 Or, Who shall descend into
the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) 8 But what
saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart:
that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt
confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart
that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with
the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever
believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference
between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto
all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the
Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they
have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have
not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall
they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are
the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings
of good things! 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias
saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith cometh by
hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 18 But I say, Have they not
heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words
unto the ends of the world. 19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First
Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people,
and by a foolish nation I will anger you. 20 But Esaias is very bold,
and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest
unto them that asked not after me. 21 But to Israel he saith, All day
long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying
people.
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2nd
Lesson
Mark 6:45
45 And straightway he constrained his disciples
to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida,
while he sent away the people.
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The
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
Morning Prayer
Monday
1st
Lesson
Proverbs 20:9-12, 17-22
9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am
pure from my sin? 10 Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them
are alike abomination to the Lord. 11 Even a child is known by his
doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. 12 The
hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of
them.
17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but
afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel. 18 Every purpose is
established by counsel: and with good advice make war. 19 He that goeth
about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him
that flattereth with his lips. 20 Whoso curseth his father or his
mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
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2nd
Lesson
Colossians 1:1-17
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will
of God, and Timotheus our brother, 2 To the saints and faithful brethren
in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God
our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 We give thanks to God and the
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 Since we
heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to
all the saints, 5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven,
whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; 6 Which
is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit,
as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace
of God in truth: 7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear
fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; 8 Who also
declared unto us your love in the Spirit. 9 For this cause we also,
since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire
that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and
spiritual understanding; 10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto
all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the
knowledge of God; 11 Strengthened with all might, according to his
glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; 12
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers
of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from
the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his
dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the
forgiveness of sins: 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the
firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that
are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether
they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things
were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by
him all things consist.
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The
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
Evening Prayer
Monday
1st
Lesson
Ezekiel 34:25
25 And I will make with them a covenant of
peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they
shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. 26 And I
will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will
cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of
blessing. 27 And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the
earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land,
and shall know that I am the Lord, when I have broken the bands of their
yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves
of them. 28 And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither
shall the beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely,
and none shall make them afraid. 29 And I will raise up for them a plant
of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land,
neither bear the shame of the heathen any more. 30 Thus shall they know
that I the Lord their God am with them, and that they, even the house of
Israel, are my people, saith the Lord God. 31 And ye my flock, the flock
of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord
God.
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2nd
Lesson
John 6:41-59
41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he
said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. 42 And they said, Is
not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how
is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? 43 Jesus therefore
answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. 44 No man can
come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will
raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, And they
shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and
hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. 46 Not that any man hath
seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. 47
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting
life. 48 I am that bread of life. 49 Your fathers did eat manna in the
wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which cometh down from
heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51 I am the living
bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he
shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I
will give for the life of the world. 52 The Jews therefore strove among
themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 53 Then
Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the
flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54
Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I
will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and
my blood is drink indeed. 56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my
blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father hath sent
me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live
by me. 58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your
fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall
live for ever. 59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in
Capernaum.
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The
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
Morning Prayer
Tuesday
1st
Lesson
Proverbs 21:21
21 He that followeth after righteousness and
mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour. 22 A wise man scaleth the
city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence
thereof. 23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from
troubles. 24 Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud
wrath. 25 The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse
to labour. 26 He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous
giveth and spareth not. 27 The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination:
how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind? 28 A false
witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly. 29 A
wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his
way. 30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the
Lord. 31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is
of the Lord.
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2nd
Lesson
Colossians 1:18--2:5
18 And he is the head of the body, the church:
who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he
might have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him
should all fulness dwell; 20 And, having made peace through the blood of
his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say,
whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 21 And you, that
were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet
now hath he reconciled 22 In the body of his flesh through death, to
present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23 If
ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away
from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached
to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a
minister; 24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that
which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's
sake, which is the church: 25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to
the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word
of God; 26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from
generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27 To whom God
would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among
the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28 Whom we
preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we
may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 29 Whereunto I also
labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me
mightily.
1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I
have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen
my face in the flesh; 2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit
together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of
understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the
Father, and of Christ; 3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and
knowledge. 4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with
enticing words. 5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you
in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of
your faith in Christ.
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The
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
Evening Prayer
Tuesday
1st
Lesson
Ezekiel 36:22-28
22 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus
saith the Lord God; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but
for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen,
whither ye went. 23 And I will sanctify my great name, which was
profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them;
and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God, when
I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. 24 For I will take you
from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will
bring you into your own land. 25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon
you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your
idols, will I cleanse you. 26 A new heart also will I give you, and a
new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart
out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27 And I will
put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye
shall keep my judgments, and do them. 28 And ye shall dwell in the land
that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be
your God.
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2nd
Lesson
John 6:60
60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they
had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? 61 When
Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto
them, Doth this offend you? 62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man
ascend up where he was before? 63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the
flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are
spirit, and they are life. 64 But there are some of you that believe
not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not,
and who should betray him. 65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you,
that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my
Father. 66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no
more with him. 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast
the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art
that Christ, the Son of the living God. 70 Jesus answered them, Have not
I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? 71 He spake of Judas
Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being
one of the twelve.
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The
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
Morning Prayer
Wednesday
1st
Lesson
Proverbs 22:1-6, 17-25
1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great
riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. 2 The rich and
poor meet together: the Lord is the maker of them all. 3 A prudent man
foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are
punished. 4 By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour,
and life. 5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that
doth keep his soul shall be far from them. 6 Train up a child in the way
he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
17 Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the
wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. 18 For it is a pleasant
thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy
lips. 19 That thy trust may be in the Lord, I have made known to thee
this day, even to thee. 20 Have not I written to thee excellent things
in counsels and knowledge, 21 That I might make thee know the certainty
of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to
them that send unto thee? 22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor:
neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: 23 For the Lord will plead
their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them. 24 Make no
friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
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2nd
Lesson
Colossians 2:6-19
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the
Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in
the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit,
after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not
after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead
bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all
principality and power: 11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the
circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of
the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12 Buried with him in baptism,
wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of
God, who hath raised him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your
sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together
with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the
handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us,
and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having
spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly,
triumphing over them in it. 16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat,
or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the
sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is
of Christ. 18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary
humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he
hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 And not holding
the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment
ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of
God.
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The
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
Evening Prayer
Wednesday
1st
Lesson
Ezekiel 37:1-14
1 The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried
me out in the spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the
valley which was full of bones, 2 And caused me to pass by them round
about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo,
they were very dry. 3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones
live? And I answered, O Lord God, thou knowest. 4 Again he said unto me,
Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the
word of the Lord. 5 Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I
will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: 6 And I will lay
sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with
skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I
am the Lord. 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied,
there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together,
bone to his bone. 8 And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came
up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath
in them. 9 Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son
of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord God; Come from the four
winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. 10 So
I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they
lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army. 11 Then he
said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel:
behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut
off from our parts. 12 Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith
the Lord God; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause
you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of
Israel. 13 And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your
graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, 14 And shall
put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your
own land: then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and
performed it, saith the Lord.
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2nd
Lesson
John 7:1-13
1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee:
for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him. 2
Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand. 3 His brethren therefore
said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also
may see the works that thou doest. 4 For there is no man that doeth any
thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do
these things, shew thyself to the world. 5 For neither did his brethren
believe in him. 6 Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come:
but your time is alway ready. 7 The world cannot hate you; but me it
hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil. 8 Go
ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is
not yet full come. 9 When he had said these words unto them, he abode
still in Galilee. 10 But when his brethren were gone up, then went he
also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. 11 Then
the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he? 12 And there
was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is
a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people. 13 Howbeit no
man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.
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The
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
Morning Prayer
Thursday
1st
Lesson
Proverbs 23:20-21, 29-35
20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous
eaters of flesh: 21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to
poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.
29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath
contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath
redness of eyes? 30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to
seek mixed wine. 31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it
giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. 32 At the
last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. 33 Thine eyes
shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
34 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or
as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. 35 They have stricken me, shalt
thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not:
when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.
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2nd
Lesson
Colossians 2:20--3:11
20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the
rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye
subject to ordinances, 21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22 Which
all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines
of men? 23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship,
and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the
satisfying of the flesh.
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those
things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye
are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is
our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 5
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication,
uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness,
which is idolatry: 6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on
the children of disobedience: 7 In the which ye also walked some time,
when ye lived in them. 8 But now ye also put off all these; anger,
wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9 Lie
not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his
deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge
after the image of him that created him: 11 Where there is neither Greek
nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor
free: but Christ is all, and in all.
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The
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
Evening Prayer
Thursday
1st
Lesson
Ezekiel 37:21b
21 And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God;
Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen,
whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them
into their own land: 22 And I will make them one nation in the land upon
the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and
they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into
two kingdoms any more at all: 23 Neither shall they defile themselves
any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with
any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their
dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so
shall they be my people, and I will be their God. 24 And David my
servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd:
they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do
them. 25 And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob
my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell
therein, even they, and their children, and their children's children
for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever. 26
Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an
everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply
them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. 27 My
tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they
shall be my people. 28 And the heathen shall know that I the Lord do
sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for
evermore.
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2nd
Lesson
John 7:14-24
14 Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went
up into the temple, and taught. 15 And the Jews marvelled, saying, How
knoweth this man letters, having never learned? 16 Jesus answered them,
and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. 17 If any man
will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God,
or whether I speak of myself. 18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his
own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is
true, and no unrighteousness is in him. 19 Did not Moses give you the
law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me? 20
The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill
thee? 21 Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye
all marvel. 22 Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because
it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day
circumcise a man. 23 If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision,
that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because
I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day? 24 Judge not
according to the appearance, but judge righteous
judgment.
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The
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
Morning Prayer
Friday
1st
Lesson
Proverbs 24:23
23 These things also belong to the wise. It is
not good to have respect of persons in judgment. 24 He that saith unto
the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations
shall abhor him: 25 But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a
good blessing shall come upon them. 26 Every man shall kiss his lips
that giveth a right answer. 27 Prepare thy work without, and make it fit
for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house. 28 Be not a
witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy
lips. 29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will
render to the man according to his work. 30 I went by the field of the
slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; 31 And,
lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face
thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. 32 Then I saw, and
considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. 33 Yet a
little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an
armed man.
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2nd
Lesson
Colossians 3:12-17
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy
and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness,
longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if
any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also
do ye. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond
of perfectness. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the
which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16 Let the
word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and
admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing
with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatsoever ye do in word
or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and
the Father by him.
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The
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
Evening Prayer
Friday
1st
Lesson
Ezekiel 39:21
21 And I will set my glory among the heathen,
and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my
hand that I have laid upon them. 22 So the house of Israel shall know
that I am the Lord their God from that day and forward. 23 And the
heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for
their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my
face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell
they all by the sword. 24 According to their uncleanness and according
to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from
them. 25 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Now will I bring again the
captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and
will be jealous for my holy name; 26 After that they have borne their
shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me,
when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid. 27 When
I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of
their enemies' lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many
nations; 28 Then shall they know that I am the Lord their God, which
caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have
gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more
there. 29 Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have
poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord
God.
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2nd
Lesson
John 7:25-36
25 Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not
this he, whom they seek to kill? 26 But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and
they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the
very Christ? 27 Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when Christ
cometh, no man knoweth whence he is. 28 Then cried Jesus in the temple
as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am
not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not. 29
But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me. 30 Then they
sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was
not yet come. 31 And many of the people believed on him, and said, When
Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath
done? 32 The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things
concerning him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to
take him. 33 Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with
you, and then I go unto him that sent me. 34 Ye shall seek me, and shall
not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come. 35 Then said the
Jews among themselves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him?
will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the
Gentiles? 36 What manner of saying is this that he said, Ye shall seek
me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot
come?
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The
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
Morning Prayer
Saturday
1st
Lesson
Proverbs 25:11-15, 17-22
11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in
pictures of silver. 12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine
gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. 13 As the cold of snow
in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send
him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters. 14 Whoso boasteth
himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain. 15 By long
forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the
bone.
17 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house;
lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee. 18 A man that beareth false
witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken
tooth, and a foot out of joint. 20 As he that taketh away a garment in
cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to
an heavy heart. 21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and
if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: 22 For thou shalt heap coals
of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee.
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2nd
Lesson
Colossians 3:18--4:6
18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own
husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and be
not bitter against them. 20 Children, obey your parents in all things:
for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. 21 Fathers, provoke not your
children to anger, lest they be discouraged. 22 Servants, obey in all
things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as
menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: 23 And whatsoever
ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 Knowing that
of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve
the Lord Christ. 25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong
which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
1 Masters, give unto your servants that which is
just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven. 2 Continue
in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; 3 Withal praying
also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak
the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: 4 That I may make
it manifest, as I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are
without, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech be alway with grace,
seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every
man.
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The
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
Evening Prayer
Saturday
1st
Lesson
Ezekiel 43:1-9
1 Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the
gate that looketh toward the east: 2 And, behold, the glory of the God
of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise
of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory. 3 And it was
according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to
the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city: and the visions
were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my
face. 4 And the glory of the Lord came into the house by the way of the
gate whose prospect is toward the east. 5 So the spirit took me up, and
brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the Lord
filled the house. 6 And I heard him speaking unto me out of the house;
and the man stood by me. 7 And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of
my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in
the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall
the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by
their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places.
8 In their setting of their threshold by my thresholds, and their post
by my posts, and the wall between me and them, they have even defiled my
holy name by their abominations that they have committed: wherefore I
have consumed them in mine anger. 9 Now let them put away their
whoredom, and the carcases of their kings, far from me, and I will dwell
in the midst of them for ever.
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2nd
Lesson
John 7:37
37 In the last day, that great day of the feast,
Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me,
and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out
of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of
the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy
Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) 40
Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a
truth this is the Prophet. 41 Others said, This is the Christ. But some
said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee? 42 Hath not the scripture said,
That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of
Bethlehem, where David was? 43 So there was a division among the people
because of him. 44 And some of them would have taken him; but no man
laid hands on him. 45 Then came the officers to the chief priests and
Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him? 46 The
officers answered, Never man spake like this man. 47 Then answered them
the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived? 48 Have any of the rulers or of the
Pharisees believed on him? 49 But this people who knoweth not the law
are cursed. 50 Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by
night, being one of them,) 51 Doth our law judge any man, before it hear
him, and know what he doeth? 52 They answered and said unto him, Art
thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no
prophet. 53 And every man went unto his own house.
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