Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity
Morning Prayer
Sunday
1st
Lesson
Micah 6:1-8
1 Hear ye now what the Lord saith; Arise,
contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice. 2
Hear ye, O mountains, the Lord's controversy, and ye strong foundations
of the earth: for the Lord hath a controversy with his people, and he
will plead with Israel. 3 O my people, what have I done unto thee? and
wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me. 4 For I brought thee up
out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of
servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. 5 O my
people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam
the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know
the righteousness of the Lord. 6 Wherewith shall I come before the Lord,
and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt
offerings, with calves of a year old? 7 Will the Lord be pleased with
thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give
my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of
my soul? 8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the
Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk
humbly with thy God?
 Return to Table of Bible
Readings
2nd
Lesson
Philippians 4:4-13
4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say,
Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at
hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your
hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever
things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are
just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if
there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye
have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the
God of peace shall be with you. 10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly,
that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye
were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in
respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith
to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to
abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full
and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all
things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Return to Table of Bible
Readings
1st
Lesson
1 Chronicles
10 Wherefore David blessed the Lord before all
the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel
our father, for ever and ever. 11 Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and
the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that
is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O
Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all. 12 Both riches and honour
come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and
might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto
all. 13 Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious
name. 14 But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to
offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of
thine own have we given thee. 15 For we are strangers before thee, and
sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a
shadow, and there is none abiding. 16 O Lord our God, all this store
that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name cometh
of thine hand, and is all thine own. 17 I know also, my God, that thou
triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the
uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and
now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer
willingly unto thee.
Return to Table of Bible
Readings
2nd
Lesson
Luke 17:5-10
5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase
our faith. 6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard
seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the
root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you. 7 But
which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto
him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and
gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward
thou shalt eat and drink? 9 Doth he thank that servant because he did
the things that were commanded him? I trow not. 10 So likewise ye, when
ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are
unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
Return to Table of Bible
Readings
1st
Lesson
Genesis 45:1-15, 25-28
1 Then Joseph could not refrain himself before
all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from
me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known
unto his brethren. 2 And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house
of Pharaoh heard. 3 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth
my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were
troubled at his presence. 4 And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near
to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your
brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. 5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor
angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me
before you to preserve life. 6 For these two years hath the famine been
in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall
neither be earing nor harvest. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve
you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great
deliverance. 8 So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and
he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a
ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. 9 Haste ye, and go up to my
father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me
lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not: 10 And thou shalt dwell
in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy
children, and thy children's children, and thy flocks, and thy herds,
and all that thou hast: 11 And there will I nourish thee; for yet there
are five years of famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that
thou hast, come to poverty. 12 And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes
of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you. 13
And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye
have seen; and ye shall haste and bring down my father hither. 14 And he
fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon
his neck. 15 Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them:
and after that his brethren talked with him.
25 And they went up out of Egypt, and came into
the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father, 26 And told him, saying,
Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And
Jacob's heart fainted, for he believed them not. 27 And they told him
all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw
the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their
father revived: 28 And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet
alive: I will go and see him before I die.
Return to Table of Bible
Readings
2nd
Lesson
Romans 12:9
9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that
which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned
one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11
Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12
Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 14
Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15 Rejoice with
them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16 Be of the same
mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of
low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. 17 Recompense to no man
evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it
be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath:
for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20
Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink:
for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not
overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Return to Table of Bible
Readings
Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity
Sunday
Evening Prayer
1st
Lesson
Jeremiah 7:1-11
1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord,
saying, 2 Stand in the gate of the Lord's house, and proclaim there this
word, and say, Hear the word of the Lord, all ye of Judah, that enter in
at these gates to worship the Lord. 3 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the
God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to
dwell in this place. 4 Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple
of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, are these.
5 For if ye throughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye throughly
execute judgment between a man and his neighbour; 6 If ye oppress not
the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood
in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt: 7 Then will I
cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your
fathers, for ever and ever. 8 Behold, ye trust in lying words, that
cannot profit. 9 Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear
falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye
know not; 10 And come and stand before me in this house, which is called
by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations? 11
Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in
your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the Lord.
Return to Table of Bible
Readings
2nd
Lesson
Luke 13:18-30
18 Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God
like? and whereunto shall I resemble it? 19 It is like a grain of
mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew,
and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches
of it. 20 And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?
21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of
meal, till the whole was leavened. 22 And he went through the cities and
villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 Then said one
unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, 24
Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will
seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 25 When once the master of the
house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand
without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and
he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: 26 Then
shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou
hast taught in our streets. 27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you
not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. 28 There
shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and
Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you
yourselves thrust out. 29 And they shall come from the east, and from
the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in
the kingdom of God. 30 And, behold, there are last which shall be first,
and there are first which shall be last.
Return to Table of Bible
Readings
1st
Lesson
Deuteronomy 8:1-14, 17-20
1 All the commandments which I command thee this
day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in
and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers. 2 And thou
shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty
years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what
was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.
3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with
manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he
might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every
word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live. 4 Thy
raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty
years. 5 Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man
chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee. 6 Therefore
thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, to walk in his
ways, and to fear him. 7 For the Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good
land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out
of valleys and hills; 8 A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig
trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; 9 A land
wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any
thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou
mayest dig brass. 10 When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt
bless the Lord thy God for the good land which he hath given thee. 11
Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his
commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee
this day: 12 Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built
goodly houses, and dwelt therein; 13 And when thy herds and thy flocks
multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou
hast is multiplied; 14 Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget
the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt,
from the house of bondage;
17 And thou say in thine heart, My power and the
might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. 18 But thou shalt
remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get
wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy
fathers, as it is this day. 19 And it shall be, if thou do at all forget
the Lord thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship
them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish. 20 As
the nations which the Lord destroyeth before your face, so shall ye
perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the Lord your
God.
Return to Table of Bible
Readings
2nd
Lesson
Luke 17:11-19
11 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem,
that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he
entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers,
which stood afar off: 13 And they lifted up their voices, and said,
Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 14 And when he saw them, he said unto
them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as
they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he
was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 And
fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a
Samaritan. 17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but
where are the nine? 18 There are not found that returned to give glory
to God, save this stranger. 19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way:
thy faith hath made thee whole.
Return to Table of Bible
Readings
1st
Lesson
1 Kings 3:4-15
4 And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice
there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did
Solomon offer upon that altar. 5 In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon
in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. 6 And
Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great
mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in
righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept
for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on
his throne, as it is this day. 7 And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made
thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little
child: I know not how to go out or come in. 8 And thy servant is in the
midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot
be numbered nor counted for multitude. 9 Give therefore thy servant an
understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good
and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? 10 And the
speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 And God
said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked
for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast
asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself
understanding to discern judgment; 12 Behold, I have done according to
thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so
that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any
arise like unto thee. 13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast
not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among
the kings like unto thee all thy days. 14 And if thou wilt walk in my
ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did
walk, then I will lengthen thy days. 15 And Solomon awoke; and, behold,
it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of
the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered
peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.
Return to Table of Bible
Readings
2nd
Lesson
Acts 17:16
16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his
spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to
idolatry. 17 Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and
with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with
him. 18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks,
encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some,
He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached
unto them Jesus, and the resurrection. 19 And they took him, and brought
him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof
thou speakest, is? 20 For thou bringest certain strange things to our
ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. 21 (For all the
Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing
else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.) 22 Then Paul stood
in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that
in all things ye are too superstitious. 23 For as I passed by, and
beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE
UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto
you. 24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he
is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25
Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing,
seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 26 And hath
made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the
earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of
their habitation; 27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might
feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of
your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. 29 Forasmuch
then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the
Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's
device. 30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now
commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a
day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man
whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in
that he hath raised him from the dead. 32 And when they heard of the
resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear
thee again of this matter. 33 So Paul departed from among them. 34
Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was
Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with
them.
Return to Table of Bible
Readings
Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity
Morning Prayer
Monday
1st
Lesson
2 Samuel 16:23. 17:14
23 And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he
counselled in those days, was as if a man had inquired at the oracle of
God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with
Absalom.
1 Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me
now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after
David this night: 2 And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak
handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him
shall flee; and I will smite the king only: 3 And I will bring back all
the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned:
so all the people shall be in peace. 4 And the saying pleased Absalom
well, and all the elders of Israel. 5 Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai
the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith. 6 And when
Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake unto him, saying, Ahithophel
hath spoken after this manner: shall we do after his saying? if not;
speak thou. 7 And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel
hath given is not good at this time. 8 For, said Hushai, thou knowest
thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in
their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father
is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people. 9 Behold, he is hid
now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come to pass, when
some of them be overthrown at the first, that whosoever heareth it will
say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom. 10 And
he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall
utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man,
and they which be with him are valiant men. 11 Therefore I counsel that
all Israel be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beersheba,
as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle
in thine own person. 12 So shall we come upon him in some place where he
shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on the
ground: and of him and of all the men that are with him there shall not
be left so much as one. 13 Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then
shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the
river, until there be not one small stone found there. 14 And Absalom
and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is
better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the Lord had appointed to
defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the Lord might
bring evil upon Absalom.
Return to Table of Bible
Readings
2nd
Lesson
2 Corinthians 6:1-10
1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech
you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2 (For he saith,
I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I
succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day
of salvation.) 3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be
not blamed: 4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of
God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 5
In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in
fastings; 6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by
the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, 7 By the word of truth, by the power
of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the
left, 8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as
deceivers, and yet true; 9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying,
and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; 10 As sorrowful, yet
alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and
yet possessing all things.
Return to Table of Bible
Readings
Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity
Evening Prayer
Monday
1st
Lesson
Ecclesiasticus
(Wisdom of Sirach). 19:20
20 The fear of the Lord is all wisdom; and in
all wisdom is the performance of the law, and the knowledge of his
omnipotency. 21 If a servant say to his master, I will not do as it
pleaseth thee; though afterward he do it, he angereth him that
nourisheth him. 22 The knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom, neither at
any time the counsel of sinners prudence. 23 There is a wickedness, and
the same an abomination; and there is a fool wanting in wisdom. 24 He
that hath small understanding, and feareth God, is better than one that
hath much wisdom, and transgresseth the law of the most High. 25 There
is an exquisite subtilty, and the same is unjust; and there is one that
turneth aside to make judgment appear; and there is a wise man that
justifieth in judgment. 26 There is a wicked man that hangeth down his
head sadly; but inwardly he is full of deceit, 27 Casting down his
countenance, and making as if he heard not: where he is not known, he
will do thee a mischief before thou be aware. 28 And if for want of
power he be hindered from sinning, yet when he findeth opportunity he
will do evil. 29 A man may be known by his look, and one that hath
understanding by his countenance, when thou meetest him. 30 A man's
attire, and excessive laughter, and gait, shew what he is.
Return to Table of Bible
Readings
2nd
Lesson
Matthew 5:1-16
1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a
mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2 And he
opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, 3 Blessed are the poor in
spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are they that
mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek: for they
shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst
after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the
merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart:
for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be
called the children of God. 10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for
righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are
ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all
manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be
exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted
they the prophets which were before you. 13 Ye are the salt of the
earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be
salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to
be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city
that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle,
and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light
unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in
heaven.
Return to Table of Bible
Readings
Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity
Morning Prayer
Tuesday
1st
Lesson
2 Samuel 17:15-23
15 Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar
the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders
of Israel; and thus and thus have I counselled. 16 Now therefore send
quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of
the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up,
and all the people that are with him. 17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed
by Enrogel; for they might not be seen to come into the city: and a
wench went and told them; and they went and told king David. 18
Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom: but they went both of
them away quickly, and came to a man's house in Bahurim, which had a
well in his court; whither they went down. 19 And the woman took and
spread a covering over the well's mouth, and spread ground corn thereon;
and the thing was not known. 20 And when Absalom's servants came to the
woman to the house, they said, Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the
woman said unto them, They be gone over the brook of water. And when
they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem. 21
And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of
the well, and went and told king David, and said unto David, Arise, and
pass quickly over the water: for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against
you. 22 Then David arose, and all the people that were with him, and
they passed over Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of
them that was not gone over Jordan. 23 And when Ahithophel saw that his
counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him
home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and
hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his
father.
Return to Table of Bible
Readings
2nd
Lesson
2 Corinthians 6:11. 7:1
11 O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you,
our heart is enlarged. 12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are
straitened in your own bowels. 13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I
speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged. 14 Be ye not unequally
yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness
with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15
And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that
believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God
with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I
will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they
shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye
separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will
receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons
and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
1 Having therefore these promises, dearly
beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and
spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Return to Table of Bible
Readings
Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity
Evening Prayer
Tuesday
1st
Lesson
Ecclesiasticus
(Wisdom of Sirach). 20:9-20
9 There is a sinner that hath good success in
evil things; and there is a gain that turneth to loss. 10 There is a
gift that shall not profit thee; and there is a gift whose recompence is
double. 11 There is an abasement because of glory; and there is that
lifteth up his head from a low estate. 12 There is that buyeth much for
a little, and repayeth it sevenfold. 13 A wise man by his words maketh
him beloved: but the graces of fools shall be poured out. 14 The gift of
a fool shall do thee no good when thou hast it; neither yet of the
envious for his necessity: for he looketh to receive many things for
one. 15 He giveth little, and upbraideth much; he openeth his mouth like
a crier; to day he lendeth, and to morrow will he ask it again: such an
one is to be hated of God and man. 16 The fool saith, I have no friends,
I have no thank for all my good deeds, and they that eat my bread speak
evil of me. 17 How oft, and of how many shall he be laughed to scorn!
for he knoweth not aright what it is to have; and it is all one unto him
as if he had it not. 18 To slip upon a pavement is better than to slip
with the tongue: so the fall of the wicked shall come speedily. 19 An
unseasonable tale will always be in the mouth of the unwise. 20 A wise
sentence shall be rejected when it cometh out of a fool's mouth; for he
will not speak it in due season.
Return to Table of Bible
Readings
2nd
Lesson
Matthew 5:17-26
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law,
or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily
I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall
in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever
therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach
men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but
whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the
kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness
shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in
no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. 21 Ye have heard that it was
said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill
shall be in danger of the judgment: 22 But I say unto you, That
whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger
of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be
in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be
in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the
altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be
reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 25 Agree
with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest
at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge
deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 26 Verily I
say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast
paid the uttermost farthing.
Return to Table of Bible
Readings
Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity
Morning Prayer
Wednesday
1st
Lesson
2 Samuel 18:1-17
1 And David numbered the people that were with
him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them. 2
And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab,
and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's
brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the
king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.
3 But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away,
they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for
us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is
better that thou succour us out of the city. 4 And the king said unto
them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate
side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands. 5 And
the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for
my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard
when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom. 6 So the
people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the
wood of Ephraim; 7 Where the people of Israel were slain before the
servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of
twenty thousand men. 8 For the battle was there scattered over the face
of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the
sword devoured. 9 And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom
rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great
oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between
the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away. 10
And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom
hanged in an oak. 11 And Joab said unto the man that told him, And,
behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou not smite him there to the
ground? And I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle.
12 And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand
shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand
against the king's son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and
Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.
13 Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for
there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have set
thyself against me. 14 Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee.
And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart
of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak. 15 And ten
young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and
slew him. 16 And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from
pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people. 17 And they took
Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very
great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his
tent.
Return to Table of Bible
Readings
2nd
Lesson
2 Corinthians 7:2
2 Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have
corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man. 3 I speak not this to
condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die
and live with you. 4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is
my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in
all our tribulation. 5 For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh
had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings,
within were fears. 6 Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are
cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus; 7 And not by his coming
only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he
told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me;
so that I rejoiced the more. 8 For though I made you sorry with a
letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the
same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. 9 Now
I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to
repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might
receive damage by us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance
to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh
death. 11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly
sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of
yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement
desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have
approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. 12 Wherefore, though I
wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor
for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the
sight of God might appear unto you. 13 Therefore we were comforted in
your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of
Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all. 14 For if I have
boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all
things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus,
is found a truth. 15 And his inward affection is more abundant toward
you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and
trembling ye received him. 16 I rejoice therefore that I have confidence
in you in all things.
Return to Table of Bible
Readings
Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity
Evening Prayer
Wednesday
1st
Lesson
Ecclesiasticus
(Wisdom of Sirach). 24:1-9, 18-22
1 Wisdom shall praise herself, and shall glory
in the midst of her people. 2 In the congregation of the most High shall
she open her mouth, and triumph before his power. 3 I came out of the
mouth of the most High, and covered the earth as a cloud. 4 I dwelt in
high places, and my throne is in a cloudy pillar. 5 I alone compassed
the circuit of heaven, and walked in the bottom of the deep. 6 In the
waves of the sea and in all the earth, and in every people and nation, I
got a possession. 7 With all these I sought rest: and in whose
inheritance shall I abide? 8 So the Creator of all things gave me a
commandment, and he that made me caused my tabernacle to rest, and said,
Let thy dwelling be in Jacob, and thine inheritance in Israel. 9 He
created me from the beginning before the world, and I shall never
fail.
18 I am the mother of fair love, and fear, and
knowledge, and holy hope: I therefore, being eternal, am given to all my
children which are named of him. 19 Come unto me, all ye that be
desirous of me, and fill yourselves with my fruits. 20 For my memorial
is sweeter than honey, and mine inheritance than the honeycomb. 21 They
that eat me shall yet be hungry, and they that drink me shall yet be
thirsty. 22 He that obeyeth me shall never be confounded, and they that
work by me shall not do amiss.
Return to Table of Bible
Readings
2nd
Lesson
Matthew 5:27-37
27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old
time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That
whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery
with her already in his heart. 29 And if thy right eye offend thee,
pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that
one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be
cast into hell. 30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and
cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members
should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 31
It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a
writing of divorcement: 32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put
away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to
commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced
committeth adultery. 33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by
them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform
unto the Lord thine oaths: 34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all;
neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: 35 Nor by the earth; for it
is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great
King. 36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not
make one hair white or black. 37 But let your communication be, Yea,
yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
Return to Table of Bible
Readings
Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity
Morning Prayer
Thursday
1st
Lesson
2 Samuel 18:19
19 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me
now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the Lord hath avenged him
of his enemies. 20 And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings
this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou
shalt bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead. 21 Then said Joab
to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself
unto Joab, and ran. 22 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to
Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab
said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings
ready? 23 But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run.
Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi. 24 And
David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof
over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and
behold a man running alone. 25 And the watchman cried, and told the
king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth.
And he came apace, and drew near. 26 And the watchman saw another man
running: and the watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold
another man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings.
27 And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is
like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a
good man, and cometh with good tidings. 28 And Ahimaaz called, and said
unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face
before the king, and said, Blessed be the Lord thy God, which hath
delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.
29 And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz
answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, and me thy servant, I saw a
great tumult, but I knew not what it was. 30 And the king said unto him,
Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still. 31
And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for
the Lord hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against
thee. 32 And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe?
And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise
against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is. 33 And the king
was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and
as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom!
would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
Return to Table of Bible
Readings
2nd
Lesson
2 Corinthians 8:1-15
1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the
grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; 2 How that in a
great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep
poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. 3 For to their
power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of
themselves; 4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the
gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to
the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. 6 Insomuch that we desired
Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same
grace also. 7 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and
utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us,
see that ye abound in this grace also. 8 I speak not by commandment, but
by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of
your love. 9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that,
though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through
his poverty might be rich. 10 And herein I give my advice: for this is
expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be
forward a year ago. 11 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as
there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of
that which ye have. 12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is
accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath
not. 13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: 14 But
by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for
their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want:
that there may be equality: 15 As it is written, He that had gathered
much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
Return to Table of Bible
Readings
Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity
Evening Prayer
Thursday
1st
Lesson
Ecclesiasticus
(Wisdom of Sirach). 28:13
13 Curse the whisperer and doubletongued: for
such have destroyed many that were at peace. 14 A backbiting tongue hath
disquieted many, and driven them from nation to nation: strong cities
hath it pulled down, and overthrown the houses of great men. 15 A
backbiting tongue hath cast out virtuous women, and deprived them of
their labours. 16 Whoso hearkeneth unto it shall never find rest, and
never dwell quietly. 17 The stroke of the whip maketh marks in the
flesh: but the stroke of the tongue breaketh the bones. 18 Many have
fallen by the edge of the sword: but not so many as have fallen by the
tongue. 19 Well is he that is defended through the venom thereof; who
hath not drawn the yoke thereof, nor hath been bound in her bands. 20
For the yoke thereof is a yoke of iron, and the bands thereof are bands
of brass. 21 The death thereof is an evil death, the grave were better
than it. 22 It shall not have rule over them that fear God, neither
shall they be burned with the flame thereof. 23 Such as forsake the Lord
shall fall into it; and it shall burn in them, and not be quenched; it
shall be sent upon them as a lion, and devour them as a leopard. 24 Look
that thou hedge thy possession about with thorns, and bind up thy silver
and gold, 25 And weigh thy words in a balance, and make a door and bar
for thy mouth. 26 Beware thou slide not by it, lest thou fall before him
that lieth in wait.
Return to Table of Bible
Readings
2nd
Lesson
Matthew 5:38
38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye
for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39 But I say unto you, That ye
resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn
to him the other also. 40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and
take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. 41 And whosoever shall
compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42 Give to him that asketh
thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. 43 Ye
have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and
hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them
that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which
despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children
of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the
evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46
For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the
publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye
more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore
perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Return to Table of Bible
Readings
Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity
Morning Prayer
Friday
1st
Lesson
2 Samuel 19:1-10
1 And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth
and mourneth for Absalom. 2 And the victory that day was turned into
mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the
king was grieved for his son. 3 And the people gat them by stealth that
day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in
battle. 4 But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud
voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son! 5 And Joab came into
the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of
all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of
thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives
of thy concubines; 6 In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy
friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither
princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had
lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well. 7
Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants:
for I swear by the Lord, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one
with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil
that befell thee from thy youth until now. 8 Then the king arose, and
sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the
king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king: for
Israel had fled every man to his tent. 9 And all the people were at
strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved us
out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of
the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom. 10 And
Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why
speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?
Return to Table of Bible
Readings
2nd
Lesson
2 Corinthians 8:16
16 But thanks be to God, which put the same
earnest care into the heart of Titus for you. 17 For indeed he accepted
the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto
you. 18 And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the
gospel throughout all the churches; 19 And not that only, but who was
also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is
administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of
your ready mind: 20 Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this
abundance which is administered by us: 21 Providing for honest things,
not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. 22 And
we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved
diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great
confidence which I have in you. 23 Whether any do inquire of Titus, he
is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be
inquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of
Christ. 24 Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof
of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.
Return to Table of Bible
Readings
Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity
Evening Prayer
Friday
1st
Lesson
Ecclesiasticus
(Wisdom of Sirach). 31:12-18, 25. 32:2
12 If thou sit at a bountiful table, be not
greedy upon it, and say not, There is much meat on it. 13 Remember that
a wicked eye is an evil thing: and what is created more wicked than an
eye? therefore it weepeth upon every occasion. 14 Stretch not thine hand
whithersoever it looketh, and thrust it not with him into the dish. 15
Judge not thy neighbour by thyself: and be discreet in every point. 16
Eat as it becometh a man, those things which are set before thee; and
devour note, lest thou be hated. 17 Leave off first for manners' sake;
and be not unsatiable, lest thou offend. 18 When thou sittest among
many, reach not thine hand out first of all.
25 Shew not thy valiantness in wine; for wine
hath destroyed many. 26 The furnace proveth the edge by dipping: so doth
wine the hearts of the proud by drunkeness. 27 Wine is as good as life
to a man, if it be drunk moderately: what life is then to a man that is
without wine? for it was made to make men glad. 28 Wine measurably drunk
and in season bringeth gladness of the heart, and cheerfulness of the
mind: 29 But wine drunken with excess maketh bitterness of the mind,
with brawling and quarrelling. 30 Drunkenness increaseth the rage of a
fool till he offend: it diminisheth strength, and maketh wounds. 31
Rebuke not thy neighbour at the wine, and despise him not in his mirth:
give him no despiteful words, and press not upon him with urging him [to
drink.]
1 If thou be made the master [of a feast,] lift
not thyself up, but be among them as one of the rest; take diligent care
for them, and so sit down. 2 And when thou hast done all thy office,
take thy place, that thou mayest be merry with them, and receive a crown
for thy well ordering of the feast.
Return to Table of Bible
Readings
2nd
Lesson
Matthew 6:1-18
1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men,
to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is
in heaven. 2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a
trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the
streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They
have their reward. 3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand
know what thy right hand doeth: 4 That thine alms may be in secret: and
thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. 5 And
when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they
love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the
streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have
their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and
when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and
thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 7 But when ye
pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that
they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8 Be not ye therefore like
unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before
ye ask him. 9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art
in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done
in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not
into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and
the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 14 For if ye forgive men their
trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye
forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your
trespasses. 16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a
sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear
unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 17 But
thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 18 That
thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in
secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee
openly.
Return to Table of Bible
Readings
Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity
Morning Prayer
Saturday
1st
Lesson
2 Samuel 19:11-23
11 And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar
the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye
the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all
Israel is come to the king, even to his house. 12 Ye are my brethren, ye
are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back
the king? 13 And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my
flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the
host before me continually in the room of Joab. 14 And he bowed the
heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that
they sent this word unto the king, Return thou, and all thy servants. 15
So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to
go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan. 16 And Shimei the
son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted and came down
with the men of Judah to meet king David. 17 And there were a thousand
men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and
his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over
Jordan before the king. 18 And there went over a ferry boat to carry
over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei
the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan;
19 And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me,
neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day
that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take
it to his heart. 20 For thy servant doth know that I have sinned:
therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of
Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king. 21 But Abishai the son of
Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this,
because he cursed the Lord's anointed? 22 And David said, What have I to
do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries
unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do
not I know that I am this day king over Israel? 23 Therefore the king
said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.
Return to Table of Bible
Readings
2nd
Lesson
2 Corinthians 9
1 For as touching the ministering to the saints,
it is superfluous for me to write to you: 2 For I know the forwardness
of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia
was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many. 3 Yet have
I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this
behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready: 4 Lest haply if they of
Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not,
ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting. 5 Therefore I
thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before
unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice
before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as
of covetousness. 6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap
also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also
bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let
him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful
giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye,
always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good
work: 9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to
the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. 10 Now he that
ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and
multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth
through us thanksgiving to God. 12 For the administration of this
service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also
by many thanksgivings unto God; 13 Whiles by the experiment of this
ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the
gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto
all men; 14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the
exceeding grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable
gift.
Return to Table of Bible
Readings
Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity
Evening Prayer
Saturday
1st
Lesson
Ecclesiasticus
(Wisdom of Sirach). 34:1-8
1 The hopes of a man void of understanding are
vain and false: and dreams lift up fools. 2 Whoso regardeth dreams is
like him that catcheth at a shadow, and followeth after the wind. 3 The
vision of dreams is the resemblance of one thing to another, even as the
likeness of a face to a face. 4 Of an unclean thing what can be
cleansed? and from that thing which is false what truth can come? 5
Divinations, and soothsayings, and dreams, are vain: and the heart
fancieth, as a woman's heart in travail. 6 If they be not sent from the
most High in thy visitation, set not thy heart upon them. 7 For dreams
have deceived many, and they have failed that put their trust in them. 8
The law shall be found perfect without lies: and wisdom is perfection to
a faithful mouth.
Return to Table of Bible
Readings
2nd
Lesson
Matthew 6:19
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon
earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through
and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where
neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break
through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart
be also. 22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be
single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be
evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light
that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 No man can
serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other;
or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve
God and mammon. 25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your
life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body,
what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than
raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do
they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them.
Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can
add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment?
Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither
do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his
glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe
the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the
oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we
drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these
things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye
have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God,
and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take
thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil
thereof.
Return to Table of Bible
Readings
|
