Ninth Sunday after Trinity
Morning
Prayer
Sunday
1st Lesson
Ezekiel 14:1-11
1 Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before
me. 2 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 3 Son of man, these
men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock
of their iniquity before their face: should I be inquired of at all by
them? 4 Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the
Lord God; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in
his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his
face, and cometh to the prophet; I the Lord will answer him that cometh
according to the multitude of his idols; 5 That I may take the house of
Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me
through their idols. 6 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus
saith the Lord God; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and
turn away your faces from all your abominations. 7 For every one of the
house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which
separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and
putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh
to a prophet to inquire of him concerning me; I the Lord will answer him
by myself: 8 And I will set my face against that man, and will make him
a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my
people; and ye shall know that I am the Lord. 9 And if the prophet be
deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the Lord have deceived that
prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him
from the midst of my people Israel. 10 And they shall bear the
punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be
even as the punishment of him that seeketh unto him; 11 That the house
of Israel may go no more astray from me, neither be polluted any more
with all their transgressions; but that they may be my people, and I may
be their God, saith the Lord God.
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2nd Lesson
1 Thessalonians
1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the
Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to
please God, so ye would abound more and more. 2 For ye know what
commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of
God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in
sanctification and honour; 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as
the Gentiles which know not God: 6 That no man go beyond and defraud his
brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such,
as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7 For God hath not called
us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 8 He therefore that despiseth,
despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.
9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for
ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. 10 And indeed ye do
it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech
you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; 11 And that ye study to
be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands,
as we commanded you; 12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are
without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
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1st
Lesson
Wisdom
11:21—12:2
21 For thou canst shew thy great strength at all
times when thou wilt; and who may withstand the power of thine arm? 22
For the whole world before thee is as a little grain of the balance,
yea, as a drop of the morning dew that falleth down upon the earth. 23
But thou hast mercy upon all; for thou canst do all things, and winkest
at the sins of men, because they should amend. 24 For thou lovest all
the things that are, and abhorrest nothing which thou hast made: for
never wouldest thou have made any thing, if thou hadst hated it. 25 And
how could any thing have endured, if it had not been thy will? or been
preserved, if not called by thee? 26 But thou sparest all: for they are
thine, O Lord, thou lover of souls.
1 For thine incorruptible Spirit is in all
things. 2. Therefore chastenest thou them by little and little that
offend, and warnest them by putting them in remembrance wherein they
have offended, that leaving their wickedness they may believe on thee, O
Lord.
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Readings
2nd
Lesson
John 8:1-11
1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. 2 And
early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people
came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. 3 And the scribes and
Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had
set her in the midst, 4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken
in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that
such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 6 This they said, tempting
him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and
with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 7 So
when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto
them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at
her. 8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9 And they
which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by
one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left
alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had lifted up
himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are
those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11 She said, No man,
Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no
more.
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Readings
1st
Lesson
Genesis 28:102
10 And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went
toward Haran. 11 And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there
all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that
place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to
sleep. 12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and
the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending
and descending on it. 13 And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said,
I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land
whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; 14 And thy
seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to
the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in
thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15
And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither
thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not
leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. 16
And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in
this place; and I knew it not. 17 And he was afraid, and said, How
dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and
this is the gate of heaven. 18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning,
and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a
pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. 19 And he called the name of
that place Beth-el: but the name of that city was called Luz at the
first. 20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and
will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and
raiment to put on, 21 So that I come again to my father's house in
peace; then shall the Lord be my God: 22 And this stone, which I have
set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give
me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.
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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.
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Readings
Ninth
Sunday after Trinity
Evening Prayer
Sunday
1st
Lesson
Proverbs 4:1-4, 20-27
1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a
father, and attend to know understanding. 2 For I give you good
doctrine, forsake ye not my law. 3 For I was my father's son, tender and
only beloved in the sight of my mother. 4 He taught me also, and said
unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and
live.
20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear
unto my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in
the midst of thine heart. 22 For they are life unto those that find
them, and health to all their flesh. 23 Keep thy heart with all
diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. 24 Put away from thee a
froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. 25 Let thine eyes
look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. 26
Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. 27
Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from
evil.
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Readings
2nd
Lesson
Hebrews 12:1-13
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.
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Readings
1st
Lesson
Lamentations 3:40-58
40 Let us search and try our ways, and turn
again to the Lord. 41 Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God
in the heavens. 42 We have transgressed and have rebelled: thou hast not
pardoned. 43 Thou hast covered with anger, and persecuted us: thou hast
slain, thou hast not pitied. 44 Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud,
that our prayer should not pass through. 45 Thou hast made us as the
offscouring and refuse in the midst of the people. 46 All our enemies
have opened their mouths against us. 47 Fear and a snare is come upon
us, desolation and destruction. 48 Mine eye runneth down with rivers of
water for the destruction of the daughter of my people. 49 Mine eye
trickleth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission, 50 Till the
Lord look down, and behold from heaven. 51 Mine eye affecteth mine heart
because of all the daughters of my city. 52 Mine enemies chased me sore,
like a bird, without cause. 53 They have cut off my life in the dungeon,
and cast a stone upon me. 54 Waters flowed over mine head; then I said,
I am cut off. 55 I called upon thy name, O Lord, out of the low dungeon.
56 Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my
cry. 57 Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou
saidst, Fear not. 58 O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul;
thou hast redeemed my life.
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Readings
2nd
Lesson
Luke 15:11
11 And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12
And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion
of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13 And
not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his
journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous
living. 14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in
that land; and he began to be in want. 15 And he went and joined himself
to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed
swine. 16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that
the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17 And when he came to
himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread
enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to
my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven,
and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me
as one of thy hired servants. 20 And he arose, and came to his father.
But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had
compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 And the
son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy
sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22 But the father
said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and
put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring hither the
fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24 For this my
son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they
began to be merry. 25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came
and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. 26 And he
called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 27 And he
said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the
fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. 28 And he was
angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated
him. 29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I
serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet
thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: 30
But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living
with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. 31 And he said
unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 32
It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother
was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
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Readings
1st
Lesson
1 Samuel 31
1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and
the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain
in mount Gilboa. 2 And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon
his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and
Melchishua, Saul's sons. 3 And the battle went sore against Saul, and
the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers. 4 Then said
Saul unto his armour-bearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through
therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and
abuse me. But his armour-bearer would not; for he was sore afraid.
Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it. 5 And when his
armour-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword,
and died with him. 6 So Saul died, and his three sons, and his
armour-bearer, and all his men, that same day together. 7 And when the
men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley, and they that
were on the other side Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that
Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the
Philistines came and dwelt in them. 8 And it came to pass on the morrow,
when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and
his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa. 9 And they cut off his head, and
stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round
about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people.
10 And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened
his body to the wall of Bethshan. 11 And when the inhabitants of
Jabeshgilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul; 12
All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul
and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bethshan, and came to
Jabesh, and burnt them there. 13 And they took their bones, and buried
them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
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Readings
2nd
Lesson
Acts 13:1-3, 14-31, 38, 41-49
1 Now there were in the church that was at
Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was
called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought
up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord,
and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the
work whereunto I have called them. 3 And when they had fasted and
prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
14 But when they departed from Perga, they came
to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day,
and sat down. 15 And after the reading of the law and the prophets the
rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if
ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on. 16 Then Paul
stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that
fear God, give audience. 17 The God of this people of Israel chose our
fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land
of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it. 18 And about
the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness. 19
And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he
divided their land to them by lot. 20 And after that he gave unto them
judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the
prophet. 21 And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them
Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of
forty years. 22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them
David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have
found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall
fulfil all my will. 23 Of this man's seed hath God according to his
promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus: 24 When John had first
preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people
of Israel. 25 And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye
that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose
shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose. 26 Men and brethren,
children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God,
to you is the word of this salvation sent. 27 For they that dwell at
Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the
voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have
fulfilled them in condemning him. 28 And though they found no cause of
death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain. 29 And
when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down
from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. 30 But God raised him from
the dead: 31 And he was seen many days of them which came up with him
from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people.
38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and
brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of
sins:
41 Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish:
for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise
believe, though a man declare it unto you. 42 And when the Jews were
gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might
be preached to them the next sabbath. 43 Now when the congregation was
broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and
Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace
of God. 44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together
to hear the word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they
were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken
by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed
bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have
been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves
unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so
hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the
Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the
earth. 48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and
glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal
life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all
the region.
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Readings
Ninth
Sunday after Trinity
Monday
Morning Prayer
1st
Lesson
I Samuel 16:1-13
1 And the Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt
thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over
Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the
Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons. 2 And Samuel
said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the Lord said,
Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the Lord. 3
And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt
do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee. 4 And
Samuel did that which the Lord spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the
elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou
peaceably? 5 And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the
Lord: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he
sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice. 6 And
it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said,
Surely the Lord's anointed is before him. 7 But the Lord said unto
Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature;
because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man
looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. 8
Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he
said, Neither hath the Lord chosen this. 9 Then Jesse made Shammah to
pass by. And he said, Neither hath the Lord chosen this. 10 Again, Jesse
made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto
Jesse, The Lord hath not chosen these. 11 And Samuel said unto Jesse,
Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the
youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse,
Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. 12 And
he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful
countenance, and goodly to look to. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint
him: for this is he. 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed
him in the midst of his brethren: and the spirit of the Lord came upon
David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
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Readings
2nd
Lesson
Luke 17:20
20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees,
when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The
kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21 Neither shall they say,
Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. 22
And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire
to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. 23
And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them,
nor follow them. 24 For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one
part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall
also the Son of man be in his day. 25 But first must he suffer many
things, and be rejected of this generation. 26 And as it was in the days
of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 27 They did
eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until
the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed
them all. 28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat,
they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29 But
the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone
from heaven, and destroyed them all. 30 Even thus shall it be in the day
when the Son of man is revealed. 31 In that day, he which shall be upon
the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take
it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.
32 Remember Lot's wife. 33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall
lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. 34 I tell
you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be
taken, and the other shall be left. 35 Two women shall be grinding
together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 36 Two men shall
be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 37 And they
answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them,
Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered
together.
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Readings
Ninth
Sunday after Trinity
Monday
Evening Prayer
1st
Lesson
Esther 5
1 Now it came to pass on the third day, that
Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the
king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his
royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house. 2
And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court,
that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther
the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and
touched the top of the sceptre. 3 Then said the king unto her, What wilt
thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee
to the half of the kingdom. 4 And Esther answered, If it seem good unto
the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I
have prepared for him. 5 Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste,
that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the
banquet that Esther had prepared. 6 And the king said unto Esther at the
banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and
what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be
performed. 7 Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request
is; 8 If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please
the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king
and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will
do tomorrow as the king hath said. 9 Then went Haman forth that day
joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's
gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of
indignation against Mordecai. 10 Nevertheless Haman refrained himself:
and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh
his wife. 11 And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the
multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had
promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants
of the king. 12 Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no
man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but
myself; and tomorrow am I invited unto her also with the king. 13 Yet
all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting
at the king's gate. 14 Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends
unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and tomorrow speak
thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in
merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and
he caused the gallows to be made.
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Readings
2nd
Lesson
Romans 1:1-17
1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be
an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2 (Which he had promised
afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3 Concerning his Son
Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to
the flesh; 4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to
the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: 5 By whom we
have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among
all nations, for his name: 6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus
Christ: 7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 8
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith
is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I
serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I
make mention of you always in my prayers; 10 Making request, if by any
means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God
to come unto you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you
some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; 12 That is, that
I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and
me. 13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I
purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have
some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. 14 I am debtor
both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the
unwise. 15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to
you that are at Rome also. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of
Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that
believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is
the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written,
The just shall live by faith.
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Readings
Ninth
Sunday after Trinity
Tuesday
Morning Prayer
1st
Lesson
I Samuel 16:14
14 But the spirit of the Lord departed from
Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him. 15 And Saul's
servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth
thee. 16 Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee,
to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come
to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play
with his hand, and thou shalt be well. 17 And Saul said unto his
servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.
18 Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a
son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty
valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely
person, and the Lord is with him. 19 Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto
Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep. 20 And
Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and
sent them by David his son unto Saul. 21 And David came to Saul, and
stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his
armour-bearer. 22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray
thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight. 23 And it
came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David
took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was
well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
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Readings
2nd
Lesson
Luke 18:1-14
1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end,
that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; 2 Saying, There was in
a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 3 And there
was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of
mine adversary. 4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said
within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 5 Yet because
this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming
she weary me. 6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 7
And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto
him, though he bear long with them? 8 I tell you that he will avenge
them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find
faith on the earth? 9 And he spake this parable unto certain which
trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the
other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself,
God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust,
adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I
give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar
off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon
his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this
man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every
one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself
shall be exalted.
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Readings
Ninth
Sunday after Trinity
Tuesday
Evening Prayer
1st
Lesson
Esther 6
1 On that night could not the king sleep, and he
commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were
read before the king. 2 And it was found written, that Mordecai had told
of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, the keepers of
the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. 3 And the king
said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then
said the king's servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done
for him. 4 And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come
into the outward court of the king's house, to speak unto the king to
hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him. 5 And the
king's servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And
the king said, Let him come in. 6 So Haman came in. And the king said
unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to
honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight
to do honour more than to myself? 7 And Haman answered the king, For the
man whom the king delighteth to honour, 8 Let the royal apparel be
brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth
upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head: 9 And let this
apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most
noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king
delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of
the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom
the king delighteth to honour. 10 Then the king said to Haman, Make
haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do
even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let
nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken. 11 Then took Haman the
apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on
horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him,
Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.
12 And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hasted to his
house mourning, and having his head covered. 13 And Haman told Zeresh
his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then
said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the
seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not
prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him. 14 And while they
were yet talking with him, came the king's chamberlains, and hasted to
bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared.
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Readings
2nd
Lesson
Romans 2:1-16
1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man,
whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou
condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 2 But
we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them
which commit such things. 3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest
them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape
the judgment of God? 4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and
forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God
leadeth thee to repentance? 5 But after thy hardness and impenitent
heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and
revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6 Who will render to every
man according to his deeds: 7 To them who by patient continuance in well
doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 8 But
unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey
unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9 Tribulation and anguish, upon
every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the
Gentile; 10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh
good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 11 For there is no
respect of persons with God. 12 For as many as have sinned without law
shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law
shall be judged by the law; 13 (For not the hearers of the law are just
before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 14 For when the
Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in
the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15 Which
shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also
bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else
excusing one another;) 16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of
men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
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Readings
Ninth
Sunday after Trinity
Wednesday
Morning Prayer
1st
Lesson
I Samuel 17:1-11
1 Now the Philistines gathered together their
armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth
to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. 2 And
Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the
valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines. 3
And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel
stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between
them. 4 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the
Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a
span. 5 And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed
with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand
shekels of brass. 6 And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a
target of brass between his shoulders. 7 And the staff of his spear was
like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels
of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him. 8 And he stood and
cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out
to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to
Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. 9 If he be
able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants:
but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our
servants, and serve us. 10 And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of
Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together. 11 When Saul
and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed,
and greatly afraid.
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Readings
2nd
Lesson
Luke 18:15-30
15 And they brought unto him also infants, that
he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
16 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to
come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 17
Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as
a little child shall in no wise enter therein. 18 And a certain ruler
asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save
one, that is, God. 20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit
adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour
thy father and thy mother. 21 And he said, All these have I kept from my
youth up. 22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet
lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the
poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. 23
And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. 24
And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall
they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier
for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter
into the kingdom of God. 26 And they that heard it said, Who then can be
saved? 27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are
possible with God. 28 Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and
followed thee. 29 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is
no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or
children, for the kingdom of God's sake, 30 Who shall not receive
manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life
everlasting.
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Readings
Ninth
Sunday after Trinity
Wednesday
Evening Prayer
1st
Lesson
Esther 7
1 So the king and Haman came to banquet with
Esther the queen. 2 And the king said again unto Esther on the second
day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it
shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be
performed, even to the half of the kingdom. 3 Then Esther the queen
answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if
it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my
people at my request: 4 For we are sold, I and my people, to be
destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for
bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could
not countervail the king's damage. 5 Then the king Ahasuerus answered
and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst
presume in his heart to do so? 6 And Esther said, The adversary and
enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and
the queen. 7 And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath
went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his
life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined
against him by the king. 8 Then the king returned out of the palace
garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon
the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen
also before me in the house? As the word went out of the king's mouth,
they covered Haman's face. 9 And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said
before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman
had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the
house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon. 10 So they hanged
Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the
king's wrath pacified.
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Readings
2nd
Lesson
Romans 2:17
17 Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in
the law, and makest thy boast of God, 18 And knowest his will, and
approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of
the law; 19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the
blind, a light of them which are in darkness, 20 An instructor of the
foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the
truth in the law. 21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest
thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou
steal? 22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou
commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law
dishonourest thou God? 24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the
Gentiles through you, as it is written. 25 For circumcision verily
profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law,
thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. 26 Therefore if the
uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his
uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? 27 And shall not
uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who
by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? 28 For he is not
a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is
outward in the flesh: 29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and
circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter;
whose praise is not of men, but of God.
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Readings
Ninth
Sunday after Trinity
Thursday
Morning Prayer
1st
Lesson
I Samuel 17:17-27
17 And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now
for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves,
and run to the camp to thy brethren; 18 And carry these ten cheeses unto
the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take
their pledge. 19 Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in
the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. 20 And David rose up
early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and
went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host
was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle. 21 For Israel
and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army. 22
And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage,
and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren. 23 And as he
talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of
Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake
according to the same words: and David heard them. 24 And all the men of
Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid. 25
And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up?
surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who
killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give
him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel. 26 And
David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to
the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from
Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy
the armies of the living God? 27 And the people answered him after this
manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him.
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Readings
2nd
Lesson
Luke 18:31
31 Then he took unto him the twelve, and said
unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are
written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.
32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and
spitefully entreated, and spitted on: 33 And they shall scourge him, and
put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. 34 And they
understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them,
neither knew they the things which were spoken. 35 And it came to pass,
that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the
way side begging: 36 And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it
meant. 37 And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. 38 And
he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 39 And
they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but
he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 40 And
Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was
come near, he asked him, 41 Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto
thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. 42 And Jesus said
unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. 43 And
immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and
all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.
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Readings
Ninth
Sunday after Trinity
Thursday
Evening Prayer
1st
Lesson
Micah 1:1-7a
1 The word of the Lord that came to Micah the
Morasthite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah,
which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem. 2 Hear, all ye people;
hearken, O earth, and all that therein is: and let the Lord God be
witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple. 3 For, behold, the
Lord cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon
the high places of the earth. 4 And the mountains shall be molten under
him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the
waters that are poured down a steep place. 5 For the transgression of
Jacob is all this, and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the
transgression of Jacob? is it not Samaria? and what are the high places
of Judah? are they not Jerusalem? 6 Therefore I will make Samaria as an
heap of the field, and as plantings of a vineyard: and I will pour down
the stones thereof into the valley, and I will discover the foundations
thereof. 7 And all the graven images thereof shall be beaten to pieces,
and all the hires thereof shall be burned with the fire, and all the
idols thereof will I lay desolate: for she gathered it of the hire of an
harlot, and they shall return to the hire of an harlot.
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Readings
2nd
Lesson
Romans 3:1-20
1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what
profit is there of circumcision? 2 Much every way: chiefly, because that
unto them were committed the oracles of God. 3 For what if some did not
believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? 4
God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is
written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest
overcome when thou art judged. 5 But if our unrighteousness commend the
righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh
vengeance? (I speak as a man) 6 God forbid: for then how shall God judge
the world? 7 For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie
unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? 8 And not rather,
(as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us
do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just. 9 What then? are
we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews
and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 10 As it is written, There is
none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there
is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way,
they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good,
no, not one. 13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues
they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose
mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed
blood: 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17 And the way of
peace have they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them
who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the
world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law
there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the
knowledge of sin.
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Readings
Ninth
Sunday after Trinity
Friday
Morning Prayer
1st
Lesson
I Samuel 17:28-40
28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he
spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he
said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those
few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of
thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.
29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause? 30 And he
turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the
people answered him again after the former manner. 31 And when the words
were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul: and he
sent for him. 32 And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because
of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. 33 And Saul
said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight
with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.
34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and
there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: 35 And
I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth:
and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him,
and slew him. 36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this
uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied
the armies of the living God. 37 David said moreover, The Lord that
delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear,
he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said
unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee. 38 And Saul armed David with
his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed
him with a coat of mail. 39 And David girded his sword upon his armour,
and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto
Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put
them off him. 40 And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five
smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which
he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near
to the Philistine.
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Readings
2nd
Lesson
Luke 19:1-10
1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief
among the publicans, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see Jesus who
he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. 4
And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for
he was to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked
up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come
down; for to day I must abide at thy house. 6 And he made haste, and
came down, and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all
murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a
sinner. 8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the
half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from
any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. 9 And Jesus said
unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also
is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save
that which was lost.
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Readings
Ninth
Sunday after Trinity
Friday
Evening Prayer
2nd
Lesson
Micah 2
1 Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work
evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it,
because it is in the power of their hand. 2 And they covet fields, and
take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a
man and his house, even a man and his heritage. 3 Therefore thus saith
the Lord; Behold, against this family do I devise an evil, from which ye
shall not remove your necks; neither shall ye go haughtily: for this
time is evil. 4 In that day shall one take up a parable against you, and
lament with a doleful lamentation, and say, We be utterly spoiled: he
hath changed the portion of my people: how hath he removed it from me!
turning away he hath divided our fields. 5 Therefore thou shalt have
none that shall cast a cord by lot in the congregation of the Lord. 6
Prophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy: they shall not prophesy
to them, that they shall not take shame. 7 O thou that art named the
house of Jacob, is the spirit of the Lord straitened? are these his
doings? do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly? 8 Even of
late my people is risen up as an enemy: ye pull off the robe with the
garment from them that pass by securely as men averse from war. 9 The
women of my people have ye cast out from their pleasant houses; from
their children have ye taken away my glory for ever. 10 Arise ye, and
depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall
destroy you, even with a sore destruction. 11 If a man walking in the
spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine
and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people. 12 I
will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the
remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as
the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by
reason of the multitude of men. 13 The breaker is come up before them:
they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out
by it: and their king shall pass before them, and the Lord on the head
of them.
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Readings
2nd
Lesson
Romans 3:21
21 But now the righteousness of God without the
law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even
the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and
upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have
sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by
his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God
hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to
declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past,
through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his
righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which
believeth in Jesus. 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what
law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude
that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. 29 Is he
the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the
Gentiles also: 30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the
circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. 31 Do we then
make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the
law.
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Readings
Ninth
Sunday after Trinity
Saturday
Morning Prayer
1st
Lesson
I Samuel 17:41-51
41 And the Philistine came on and drew near unto
David; and the man that bare the shield went before him. 42 And when the
Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but
a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance. 43 And the Philistine
said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the
Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 And the Philistine said to
David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air,
and to the beasts of the field. 45 Then said David to the Philistine,
Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but
I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies
of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 46 This day will the Lord deliver thee
into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee;
and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day
unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all
the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 And all this
assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for
the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands. 48 And it
came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet
David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the
Philistine. 49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a
stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the
stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. 50
So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone,
and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the
hand of David. 51 Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine,
and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him,
and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their
champion was dead, they fled.
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Readings
2nd
Lesson
Luke 19:11-28
11 And as they heard these things, he added and
spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they
thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. 12 He said
therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for
himself a kingdom, and to return. 13 And he called his ten servants, and
delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. 14
But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We
will not have this man to reign over us. 15 And it came to pass, that
when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded
these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money,
that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 16 Then
came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. 17 And
he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been
faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. 18 And
the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. 19 And
he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. 20 And another
came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up
in a napkin: 21 For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou
takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not
sow. 22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee,
thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up
that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: 23 Wherefore then
gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have
required mine own with usury? 24 And he said unto them that stood by,
Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. 25
(And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) 26 For I say unto
you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that
hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. 27 But those
mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring
hither, and slay them before me. 28 And when he had thus spoken, he went
before, ascending up to Jerusalem.
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Readings
Ninth
Sunday after Trinity
Saturday
Evening Prayer
1st
Lesson
Micah 3:1-8
1 And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of
Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel; Is it not for you to know
judgment? 2 Who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their
skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones; 3 Who also eat
the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them; and they
break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as flesh
within the caldron. 4 Then shall they cry unto the Lord, but he will not
hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they
have behaved themselves ill in their doings. 5 Thus saith the Lord
concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their
teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they
even prepare war against him. 6 Therefore night shall be unto you, that
ye shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall
not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day
shall be dark over them. 7 Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the
diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is
no answer of God. 8 But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the
Lord, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his
transgression, and to Israel his sin.
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Readings
2nd
Lesson
Romans 4:1-12
1 What shall we say then that Abraham our
father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2 For if Abraham were
justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For
what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto
him for righteousness. 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not
reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but
believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for
righteousness. 6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the
man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7 Saying,
Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are
covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. 9
Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the
uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for
righteousness. 10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision,
or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 11 And
he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the
faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father
of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that
righteousness might be imputed unto them also: 12 And the father of
circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also
walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had
being yet uncircumcised.
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