Fourth Sunday after Easter
Morning
Prayer
Sunday
1st Lesson
Job 19:21-27a
21 Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the
hand of God hath touched me. 22 Why do ye persecute me as God, and are
not satisfied with my flesh? 23 Oh that my words were now written! oh
that they were printed in a book! 24 That they were graven with an iron
pen and lead in the rock for ever! 25 For I know that my redeemer
liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26 And
though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I
see God: 27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and
not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
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2nd Lesson
John 12:44
44 Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on
me, but on him that sent me. 45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent
me. 46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me
should not abide in darkness. 47 And if any man hear my words, and
believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to
save the world. 48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words,
hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall
judge him in the last day. 49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the
Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and
what I should speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is life
everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto
me, so I speak.
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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
Acts 3:1-21
1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of
prayer, being the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother's
womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which
is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; 3
Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. 4
And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5
And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 6
Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I
thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. 7 And he
took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet
and ankle bones received strength. 8 And he leaping up stood, and
walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and
praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God: 10
And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of
the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which
had happened unto him. 11 And as the lame man which was healed held
Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that
is called Solomon's, greatly wondering. 12 And when Peter saw it, he
answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or
why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness
we had made this man to walk? 13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and
of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye
delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was
determined to let him go. 14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just,
and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; 15 And killed the Prince
of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong,
whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this
perfect soundness in the presence of you all. 17 And now, brethren, I
wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. 18 But
those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his
prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. 19 Repent ye
therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the
times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; 20 And he
shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: 21 Whom the
heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which
God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world
began.
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Fourth Sunday after Easter
Evening Prayer
Sunday
1st Lesson
Daniel 12:1-4, 13
1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which
standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of
trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same
time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that
shall be found written in the book.2 And many of them that sleep in the
dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to
shame and everlasting contempt.3 And they that be wise shall shine as
the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to
righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.4 But thou, O Daniel, shut
up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall
run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
13 But go thou
thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at
the end of the days.
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2nd Lesson
1 Thessalonians 4:13
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them
which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also
which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto
you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the
coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the
Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of
the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall
rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up
together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so
shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with
these words.
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1st Lesson
Isaiah 60:13
13 The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine
tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I
will make the place of my feet glorious. 14 The sons also of them that
afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised
thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall
call thee, The city of the Lord, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel. 15
Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through
thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.
16 Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the
breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and
thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob. 17 For brass I will bring gold,
and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones
iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors
righteousness. 18 Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting
nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls
Salvation, and thy gates Praise. 19 The sun shall be no more thy light
by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but
the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
20 Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw
itself: for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of
thy mourning shall be ended. 21 Thy people also shall be all righteous:
they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the
work of my hands, that I may be glorified. 22 A little one shall become
a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the Lord will hasten it
in his time.
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2nd Lesson
John 8:12-30
12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the
world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have
the light of life. 13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou
bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true. 14 Jesus answered and
said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true:
for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I
come, and whither I go. 15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. 16
And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and
the Father that sent me. 17 It is also written in your law, that the
testimony of two men is true. 18 I am one that bear witness of myself,
and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me. 19 Then said they
unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor
my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also. 20
These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and
no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come. 21 Then said
Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die
in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come. 22 Then said the Jews, Will
he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come. 23 And
he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this
world; I am not of this world. 24 I said therefore unto you, that ye
shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die
in your sins. 25 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith
unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning. 26 I
have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is
true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.
27 They understood not that he spake to them of the Father. 28 Then said
Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye
know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father
hath taught me, I speak these things. 29 And he that sent me is with me:
the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that
please him. 30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.
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Fourth Sunday after Easter
Morning Prayer
Monday
1st Lesson
Number 10:29
29 And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses'
father in law, We are journeying unto the place of which the Lord said,
I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the
Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel. 30 And he said unto him, I will
not go; but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred. 31 And he
said, Leave us not, I pray thee; forasmuch as thou knowest how we are to
encamp in the wilderness, and thou mayest be to us instead of eyes. 32
And it shall be, if thou go with us, yea, it shall be, that what
goodness the Lord shall do unto us, the same will we do unto thee. 33
And they departed from the mount of the Lord three days' journey: and
the ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them in the three days'
journey, to search out a resting place for them. 34 And the cloud of the
Lord was upon them by day, when they went out of the camp. 35 And it
came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, Lord,
and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee
before thee. 36 And when it rested, he said, Return, O Lord, unto the
many thousands of Israel.
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2nd Lesson
Hebrews 11:32
32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of
Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and
Samuel, and of the prophets: 33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms,
wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of
weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the
armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again:
and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might
obtain a better resurrection: 36 And others had trial of cruel mockings
and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37 They were
stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword:
they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute,
afflicted, tormented; 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they
wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the
earth. 39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith,
received not the promise: 40 God having provided some better thing for
us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
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Fourth Sunday after
Easter
Evening Prayer
Monday
1st Lesson
Isaiah 51:1-11
1 Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the
Lord: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit
whence ye are digged. 2 Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah
that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased
him. 3 For the Lord shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste
places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like
the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein,
thanksgiving, and the voice of melody. 4 Hearken unto me, my people; and
give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I
will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people. 5 My
righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall
judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall
they trust. 6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth
beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth
shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in
like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness
shall not be abolished. 7 Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness,
the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men,
neither be ye afraid of their revilings. 8 For the moth shall eat them
up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my
righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to
generation. 9 Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord; awake,
as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that
hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon? 10 Art thou not it which hath
dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths
of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over? 11 Therefore the
redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and
everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and
joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.
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2nd Lesson
Ephesians 4:1-16
1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk
worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and
meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of
your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father
of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7 But unto
every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of
Christ. 8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led
captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9 (Now that he ascended,
what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the
earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above
all heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave some,
apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors
and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the
ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in
the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a
perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and
carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and
cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking
the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the
head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and
compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the
effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the
body unto the edifying of itself in love.
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of Readings
Fourth Sunday after
Easter
Morning Prayer
Tuesday
1st Lesson
Numbers 11:4-6, 10-15, 23,
31-32
4 And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a-lusting: and the
children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to
eat? 5 We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the
cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the
garlick: 6 But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all,
beside this manna, before our eyes.
10 Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every
man in the door of his tent: and the anger of the Lord was kindled
greatly; Moses also was displeased. 11 And Moses said unto the Lord,
Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not
found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this
people upon me? 12 Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten
them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a
nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou
swarest unto their fathers? 13 Whence should I have flesh to give unto
all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we
may eat. 14 I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is
too heavy for me. 15 And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray
thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not
see my wretchedness.
23 And the Lord said unto Moses, Is the Lord's hand waxed short? thou
shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.
31 And there went forth a wind from the Lord, and brought quails from
the sea, and let them fall by the camp, as it were a day's journey on
this side, and as it were a day's journey on the other side, round about
the camp, and as it were two cubits high upon the face of the earth. 32
And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the
next day, and they gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered
ten homers: and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about
the camp.
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2nd Lesson
Hebrews 12:1-17
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud
of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so
easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set
before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;
who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the
shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For
consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself,
lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 4 Ye have not yet resisted
unto blood, striving against sin. 5 And ye have forgotten the
exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise
not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of
him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son
whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as
with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if
ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye
bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh
which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather
be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they
verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for
our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no
chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous:
nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness
unto them which are exercised thereby. 12 Wherefore lift up the hands
which hang down, and the feeble knees; 13 And make straight paths for
your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it
rather be healed. 14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without
which no man shall see the Lord: 15 Looking diligently lest any man fail
of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble
you, and thereby many be defiled; 16 Lest there be any fornicator, or
profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the
blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though
he sought it carefully with tears.
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Fourth Sunday after
Easter
Evening Prayer
Tuesday
1st Lesson
Isaiah, 51:12-16
12 I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou
shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which
shall be made as grass; 13 And forgettest the Lord thy maker, that hath
stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and
hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor,
as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?
14 The captive exile hasteneth that he may be loosed, and that he should
not die in the pit, nor that his bread should fail. 15 But I am the Lord
thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: The Lord of hosts is
his name. 16 And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered
thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay
the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.
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2nd Lesson
Ephesians 4:17
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth
walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 Having
the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through
the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto
lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20 But ye have
not so learned Christ; 21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been
taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 That ye put off concerning
the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the
deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And
that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness
and true holiness. 25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man
truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26 Be ye
angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither
give place to the devil. 28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather
let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he
may have to give to him that needeth. 29 Let no corrupt communication
proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of
edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30 And grieve not
the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of
redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour,
and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye
kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God
for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
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Fourth Sunday after
Easter
Morning Prayer
Wednesday
1st Lesson
Numbers 12
1 And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian
woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. 2 And
they said, Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken
also by us? And the Lord heard it. 3 (Now the man Moses was very meek,
above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.) 4 And the Lord
spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye
three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out.
5 And the Lord came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the
door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came
forth. 6 And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among
you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will
speak unto him in a dream. 7 My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful
in all mine house. 8 With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even
apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the Lord
shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my
servant Moses? 9 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them; and
he departed. 10 And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and,
behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon
Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous. 11 And Aaron said unto Moses,
Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have
done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned. 12 Let her not be as one
dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his
mother's womb. 13 And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, Heal her now, O
God, I beseech thee. 14 And the Lord said unto Moses, If her father had
but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be
shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in
again. 15 And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the
people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again. 16 And afterward
the people removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of
Paran.
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2nd Lesson
Hebrews 12:18
18 For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that
burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, 19 And
the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that
heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: 20
(For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a
beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a
dart: 21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly
fear and quake:) 22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city
of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company
of angels, 23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which
are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits
of just men made perfect, 24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new
covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things
than that of Abel. 25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if
they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall
not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: 26
Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet
once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27 And this word,
Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken,
as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may
remain. 28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let
us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and
godly fear: 29 For our God is a consuming fire.
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of Readings
Fourth Sunday after
Easter
Evening Prayer
Wednesday
1st Lesson
Isaiah 52:1-2, 7-12
1 Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful
garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more
come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. 2 Shake thyself from
the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands
of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.
7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth
good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good,
that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth 8 Thy
watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they
sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again
Zion. 9 Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of
Jerusalem: for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed
Jerusalem. 10 The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all
the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of
our God. 11 Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no
unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the
vessels of the Lord. 12 For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by
flight: for the Lord will go before you; and the God of Israel will be
your rearward.
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of Readings
2nd Lesson
Ephesians 5:1-14
1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 And walk in
love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an
offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. 3 But
fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once
named among you, as becometh saints; 4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish
talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of
thanks. 5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor
covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of
Christ and of God. 6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because
of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of
disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 8 For ye were
sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children
of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and
righteousness and truth;) 10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but
rather reprove them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things
which are done of them in secret. 13 But all things that are reproved
are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is
light. 14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from
the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
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of Readings
Fourth Sunday after
Easter
Morning Prayer
Thursday
1st Lesson
Numbers 13:17-26, 30-33
17 And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto
them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain: 18 And
see the land, what it is; and the people that dwelleth therein, whether
they be strong or weak, few or many; 19 And what the land is that they
dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they
dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds; 20 And what the land is,
whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be
ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was
the time of the firstripe grapes. 21 So they went up, and searched the
land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath. 22
And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman,
Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (Now Hebron was built
seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) 23 And they came unto the brook of
Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes,
and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the
pomegranates, and of the figs. 24 The place was called the brook Eshcol,
because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down
from thence. 25 And they returned from searching of the land after forty
days. 26 And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the
congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to
Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation,
and shewed them the fruit of the land.
30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up
at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. 31 But the
men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the
people; for they are stronger than we. 32 And they brought up an evil
report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel,
saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land
that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw
in it are men of a great stature. 33 And there we saw the giants, the
sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as
grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
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2nd Lesson
Hebrews 13:1-8
1 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Be not forgetful to entertain
strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 3 Remember
them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer
adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. 4 Marriage is
honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and
adulterers God will judge. 5 Let your conversation be without
covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath
said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly
say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto
me. 7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto
you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their
conversation. 8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for
ever.
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Fourth Sunday after
Easter
Evening Prayer
Thursday
1st Lesson
Isaiah 54:1-10
1 Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing,
and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the
children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith
the Lord. 2 Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth
the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and
strengthen thy stakes; 3 For thou shalt break forth on the right hand
and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the
desolate cities to be inhabited. 4 Fear not; for thou shalt not be
ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame:
for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the
reproach of thy widowhood any more. 5 For thy Maker is thine husband;
the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel;
The God of the whole earth shall he be called. 6 For the Lord hath
called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of
youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God. 7 For a small moment have
I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. 8 In a
little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting
kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer. 9 For
this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the
waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I
would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. 10 For the mountains
shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart
from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the
Lord that hath mercy on thee.
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2nd Lesson
Ephesians 5:15
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not
unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18 And be not
drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing
and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for
all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. 22 Wives,
submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the
husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the
church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is
subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every
thing. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the
church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse
it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to
himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such
thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 So ought men
to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth
himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and
cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his
body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man
leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they
two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak
concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let every one of you
in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that
she reverence her husband.
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of Readings
Fourth Sunday after
Easter
Morning Prayer
Friday
1st Lesson
Numbers 14:1-10
1 And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the
people wept that night. 2 And all the children of Israel murmured
against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto
them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we
had died in this wilderness! 3 And wherefore hath the Lord brought us
unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children
should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? 4 And
they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into
Egypt. 5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the
assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel. 6 And Joshua the
son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that
searched the land, rent their clothes: 7 And they spake unto all the
company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed
through to search it, is an exceeding good land. 8 If the Lord delight
in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land
which floweth with milk and honey. 9 Only rebel not ye against the Lord,
neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their
defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not.
10 But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory
of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all
the children of Israel.
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2nd Lesson
Hebrews 13:9-16
9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a
good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats,
which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. 10 We have
an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the
sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. 12
Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own
blood, suffered without the gate. 13 Let us go forth therefore unto him
without the camp, bearing his reproach. 14 For here have we no
continuing city, but we seek one to come. 15 By him therefore let us
offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of
our lips giving thanks to his name. 16 But to do good and to communicate
forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
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Fourth Sunday after
Easter
Evening Prayer
Friday
1st Lesson
Isaiah 54:11
11 O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold,
I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with
sapphires. 12 And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of
carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones. 13 And all thy
children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of
thy children. 14 In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt
be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it
shall not come near thee. 15 Behold, they shall surely gather together,
but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall
for thy sake. 16 Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals
in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I
have created the waster to destroy. 17 No weapon that is formed against
thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in
judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the
Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.
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2nd Lesson
Ephesians 6:1-9
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2
Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with
promise;) 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on
the earth. 4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but
bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. 5 Servants, be
obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear
and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; 6 Not with
eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the
will of God from the heart; 7 With good will doing service, as to the
Lord, and not to men: 8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man
doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or
free. 9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing
threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is
there respect of persons with him.
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Fourth Sunday after
Easter
Morning Prayer
Saturday
1st Lesson
Numbers 14:11-25
11 And the Lord said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke
me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which
I have shewed among them? 12 I will smite them with the pestilence, and
disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier
than they. 13 And Moses said unto the Lord, Then the Egyptians shall
hear it, (for thou broughtest up this people in thy might from among
them;) 14 And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land: for
they have heard that thou Lord art among this people, that thou Lord art
seen face to face, and that thy cloud standeth over them, and that thou
goest before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar
of fire by night. 15 Now if thou shalt kill all this people as one man,
then the nations which have heard the fame of thee will speak, saying,
16 Because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land
which he sware unto them, therefore he hath slain them in the
wilderness. 17 And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my Lord be
great, according as thou hast spoken, saying, 18 The Lord is
longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression,
and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the
fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation. 19
Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the
greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from
Egypt even until now. 20 And the Lord said, I have pardoned according to
thy word: 21 But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with
the glory of the Lord. 22 Because all those men which have seen my
glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and
have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;
23 Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers,
neither shall any of them that provoked me see it: 24 But my servant
Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me
fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed
shall possess it. 25 (Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelt in the
valley.) Tomorrow turn you, and get you into the wilderness by the way
of the Red sea.
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2nd Lesson
Hebrews 13:17
17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for
they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may
do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. 18
Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things
willing to live honestly. 19 But I beseech you the rather to do this,
that I may be restored to you the sooner. 20 Now the God of peace, that
brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the
sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 Make you
perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is
wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for
ever and ever. Amen. 22 And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of
exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words. 23 Know
ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come
shortly, I will see you. 24 Salute all them that have the rule over you,
and all the saints. They of Italy salute you. 25 Grace be with you all.
Amen.
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of Readings
Fourth Sunday after
Easter
Evening Prayer
Saturday
1st Lesson
Isaiah 55
1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that
hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price. 2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that
which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not?
hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your
soul delight itself in fatness. 3 Incline your ear, and come unto me:
hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant
with you, even the sure mercies of David. 4 Behold, I have given him for
a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. 5 Behold,
thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew
not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God, and for the
Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee. 6 Seek ye the Lord while
he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked
forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him
return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God,
for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are
higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my
thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For as the rain cometh down, and the
snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and
maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and
bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my
mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that
which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 12
For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains
and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the
trees of the field shall clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thorn shall
come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle
tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign
that shall not be cut off.
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2nd Lesson
Ephesians 6:10
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of
his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to
stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against
flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the
rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in
high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye
may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having
on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the
preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of
faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the
wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the
Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and
supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance
and supplication for all saints; 19 And for me, that utterance may be
given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the
mystery of the gospel, 20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that
therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. 21 But that ye also may
know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful
minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things: 22 Whom I have
sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and
that he might comfort your hearts. 23 Peace be to the brethren, and love
with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be
with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
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