to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.
who is worth to be praised and exalted for ever.
Bless the Lord all people of the earth:
who is worth to be praised and exalted for ever.
O people of God bless the Lord:
bless the Lord you priests of the Lord,
Bless the Lord you servants of the Lord:
who is worthy to be praised and exalted for ever.
Bless the Lord all you of upright spirit:
bless the Lord you that are holy and humble in heart.
Bless the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit:
who is worthy to be praised and exalted for ever.
let us pray with one heart and mind.
so may the light of your presence, O God,
set our hearts on fire with love for you;
now and for ever. Amen.
I called to the Lord and he answered me.
2 Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips
and from a deceitful tongue.
3 What shall be given to you?
What more shall be done to you, deceitful tongue?
4 The sharp arrows of a warrior,
tempered in burning coals!
5 Woe is me, that I must lodge in Meshech
and dwell among the tents of Kedar.
6 My soul has dwelt too long
with enemies of peace.
7 I am for making peace,
but when I speak of it, they make ready for war.
from where is my help to come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
the maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not suffer your foot to stumble;
he who watches over you will not sleep.
4 Behold, he who keeps watch over Israel
shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord himself watches over you;
the Lord is your shade at your right hand,
6 So that the sun shall not strike you by day,
neither the moon by night.
7 The Lord shall keep you from all evil;
it is he who shall keep your soul.
8 The Lord shall keep watch over your going out
and your coming in,
from this time forth for evermore.
Let us go to the house of the Lord.
2 And now our feet are standing
within your gates, O Jerusalem;
3 Jerusalem, built as a city
that is at unity in itself.
4 Thither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord,
as is decreed for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the Lord.
5 For there are set the thrones of judgement,
the thrones of the house of David.
6 O pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
May they prosper who love you.
7 Peace be within your walls
and tranquillity within your palaces.
8 For my kindred and companions sake,
I will pray that peace be with you.
9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I will seek to do you good.
2 Samuel 9 (Listen)
David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth
9:1 And David said, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David. And the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “I am your servant.” 3 And the king said, “Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?” Ziba said to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.” 4 The king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “He is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.” 5 Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar. 6 And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “Behold, I am your servant.” 7 And David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.” 8 And he paid homage and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?”
9 Then the king called Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s grandson. 10 And you and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him and shall bring in the produce, that your master’s grandson may have bread to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s grandson shall always eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. 11 Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so will your servant do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s1 table, like one of the king’s sons. 12 And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. And all who lived in Ziba’s house became Mephibosheth’s servants. 13 So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he ate always at the king’s table. Now he was lame in both his feet.
Footnotes
[1] 9:11
(ESV)
Acts 8:4–25 (Listen)
Philip Proclaims Christ in Samaria
4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. 5 Philip went down to the city1 of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. 6 And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was much joy in that city.
Simon the Magician Believes
9 But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. 10 They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.” 11 And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles2 performed, he was amazed.
14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall3 of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.” 24 And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”
25 Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.
Footnotes
[1] 8:5
[2] 8:13
[3] 8:23
(ESV)
and bear much fruit to your glory.
the first-born of all creation.
For in him all things were created:
in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible.
All things were created through him and for him:
his is before all things
and in him all things hold together.
He is the head of the body, the Church:
he is the beginning, the first-born form the dead.
For it pleases God that in him
all fullness should dwell:
and through him all things be reconciled to himself.
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
Christ have mercy Lord have mercy.
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
And also with you.
Let us praise the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.
therefore can I lack nothing.
He shall make me lie down in green pastures:
and lead me beside still waters.
He shall refresh my soul:
and guide me in right pathways for his name's sake.
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil:
for you are with me,
your rod and your staff comfort me.
You spread a table before me in the presence
of those who trouble me:
you have anointed my head with oil,
and my cup shall be full.
Surely your goodness and loving-kindness
shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Let us pray with one heart and mind.
his mercy endures for ever.
2 Let Israel now proclaim,
His mercy endures for ever.
3 Let the house of Aaron now proclaim,
His mercy endures for ever.
4 Let those who fear the Lord proclaim,
His mercy endures for ever.
5 In my constraint I called to the Lord;
the Lord answered and set me free.
6 The Lord is at my side; I will not fear;
what can flesh do to me?
7 With the Lord at my side as my saviour,
I shall see the downfall of my enemies.
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to put any confidence in flesh.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to put any confidence in princes.
10 All the nations encompassed me,
but by the name of the Lord I drove them back.
11 They hemmed me in, they hemmed me in on every side,
but by the name of the Lord I drove them back.
12 They swarmed about me like bees;
they blazed like fire among thorns,
but by the name of the Lord I drove them back.
13 Surely, I was thrust to the brink,
but the Lord came to my help.
14 The Lord is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation.
15 Joyful shouts of salvation
sound from the tents of the righteous:
16 The right hand of the Lord does mighty deeds;
the right hand of the Lord raises up;
the right hand of the Lord does mighty deeds.
17 I shall not die, but live
and declare the works of the Lord.
18 The Lord has punished me sorely,
but he has not given me over to death.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord;
the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is the Lords doing,
and it is marvellous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the Lord has made;
we will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Come, O Lord, and save us we pray.
Come, Lord, send us now prosperity.
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord;
we bless you from the house of the Lord.
27 The Lord is God; he has given us light;
link the pilgrims with cords
right to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God and I will thank you;
you are my God and I will exalt you.
29 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his mercy endures for ever.
Micah 6 (Listen)
The Indictment of the Lord
6:1 Hear what the LORD says:
Arise, plead your case before the mountains,
and let the hills hear your voice.
2 Hear, you mountains, the indictment of the LORD,
and you enduring foundations of the earth,
for the LORD has an indictment against his people,
and he will contend with Israel.
3 “O my people, what have I done to you?
How have I wearied you? Answer me!
4 For I brought you up from the land of Egypt
and redeemed you from the house of slavery,
and I sent before you Moses,
Aaron, and Miriam.
5 O my people, remember what Balak king of Moab devised,
and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him,
and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal,
that you may know the righteous acts of the LORD.”
What Does the Lord Require?
6 “With what shall I come before the LORD,
and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
7 Will the LORD be pleased with1 thousands of rams,
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 has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the LORD require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,2
and to walk humbly with your God?
Destruction of the Wicked
9 The voice of the LORD cries to the city—
and it is sound wisdom to fear your name:
“Hear of the rod and of him who appointed it!3
10 Can I forget any longer the treasures4 of wickedness in the house of the wicked,
and the scant measure that is accursed?
11 Shall I acquit the man with wicked scales
and with a bag of deceitful weights?
12 Your5 rich men are full of violence;
your inhabitants speak lies,
and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.
13 Therefore I strike you with a grievous blow,
making you desolate because of your sins.
14 You shall eat, but not be satisfied,
and there shall be hunger within you;
you shall put away, but not preserve,
and what you preserve I will give to the sword.
15 You shall sow, but not reap;
you shall tread olives, but not anoint yourselves with oil;
you shall tread grapes, but not drink wine.
16 For you have kept the statutes of Omri,6
and all the works of the house of Ahab;
and you have walked in their counsels,
that I may make you a desolation, and your7 inhabitants a hissing;
so you shall bear the scorn of my people.”
Footnotes
[1] 6:7
[2] 6:8
[3] 6:9
[4] 6:10
[5] 6:12
[6] 6:16
[7] 6:16
(ESV)
Mark 6:30–44 (Listen)
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
30 The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. 35 And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. 36 Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii1 worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” 38 And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39 Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. 41 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. 42 And they all ate and were satisfied. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44 And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.
Footnotes
[1] 6:37
(ESV)
and bear much fruit to your glory.
so let us celebrate the feast,
Now with the old leaven of corruption and wickedness:
but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Christ once raised from the dead dies no more:
death has no more dominion over him.
In dying, he died to sin once for all:
in living, he lives to God.
See yourselves, therefor, as dead to sin:
and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Christ has been raised from the dead:
the first fruits of those who sleep.
For since by one man came death:
by another has come also the resurrection of the dead,
For as in Adam all die:
even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
Christ have mercy Lord have mercy.
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
And also with you.
Let us praise the Lord.
Thanks be to God.