O BE joyful in God, all ye lands; * sing praises unto the honour of his Name; make his praise to be glorious.
Say unto God, O how wonderful art thou in thy works! * through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies bow down unto thee.
For all the world shall worship thee, * sing of thee, and praise thy Name.
O come hither, and behold the works of God; * how wonderful he is in his doing toward the children of men.
He turned the sea into dry land, * so that they went through the water on foot; there did we rejoice thereof.
He ruleth with his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: * and such as will not believe shall not be able to exalt themselves.
O praise our God, ye peoples, * and make the voice of his praise to be heard;
Who holdeth our soul in life; * and suffereth not our feet to slip.
For thou, O God, hast proved us; * thou also hast tried us, like as silver is tried.
Thou broughtest us into the snare; * and laidest trouble upon our loins.
Thou sufferedst men to ride over our heads; * we went through fire and water, and thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.
I will go into thine house with burnt-offerings, and will pay thee my vows, * which I promised with my lips, and spake with my mouth, when I was in trouble.
I will offer unto thee fat burnt-sacrifices, with the incense of rams; * I will offer bullocks and goats.
O come hither, and hearken, all ye that fear God; * and I will tell you what he hath done for my soul.
I called unto him with my mouth, * and gave him praises with my tongue.
If I incline unto wickedness with mine heart, * the Lord will not hear me.
But God hath heard me; * and considered the voice of my prayer.
Praised be God, who hath not cast out my prayer, * nor turned his mercy from me.

Curse the whisperer and doubletongued: for such have destroyed many that were at peace. 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. A backbiting tongue hath cast out virtuous women, and deprived them of their labours. Whoso hearkeneth unto it shall never find rest, and never dwell quietly. The stroke of the whip maketh marks in the flesh: but the stroke of the tongue breaketh the bones. Many have fallen by the edge of the sword: but not so many as have fallen by the tongue. Well is he that is defended through the venom thereof; who hath not drawn the yoke thereof, nor hath been bound in her bands. For the yoke thereof is a yoke of iron, and the bands thereof are bands of brass. The death thereof is an evil death, the grave were better than it. It shall not have rule over them that fear God, neither shall they be burned with the flame thereof. 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. Look that thou hedge thy possession about with thorns, and bind up thy silver and gold, And weigh thy words in a balance, and make a door and bar for thy mouth. Beware thou slide not by it, lest thou fall before him that lieth in wait.

Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 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. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 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; 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. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, give unto us the increase of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain that which thou dost promise, make us to love that which thou dost command; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Copyright © 2000-2024, CommonPrayer.org See our home page for further information

Privacy Policy

For information about this web page, please contact the Webmaster at: