TRULY God is loving unto Israel: * even unto such as are of a clean heart.
Nevertheless, my feet were almost gone, * my treadings had well-nigh slipt.
And why? I was grieved at the wicked: * I do also see the ungodly in such prosperity.
For they are in no peril of death; * but are lusty and strong.
They come in no misfortune like other folk; * neither are they plagued like other men.
And this is the cause that they are so holden with pride, * and cruelty covereth them as a garment.
Their eyes swell with fatness, * and they do even what they lust.
They corrupt other, and speak of wicked blasphemy; * their talking is against the Most High.
For they stretch forth their mouth unto the heaven, * and their tongue goeth through the world.
Therefore fall the people unto them, * and thereout suck they no small advantage.
Tush, say they, how should God perceive it? * is there knowledge in the Most High?
Lo, these are the ungodly, * these prosper in the world, and these have riches in possession:
And I said, Then have I cleansed my heart in vain, * and washed my hands in innocency.
All the day long have I been punished, * and chastened every morning.
Yea, and I had almost said even as they; * but lo, then I should have condemned the generation of thy children.
Then thought I to understand this; * but it was too hard for me,
Until I went into the sanctuary of God: * then understood I the end of these men;
Namely, how thou dost set them in slippery places, * and castest them down, and destroyest them.
O how suddenly do they consume, * perish, and come to a fearful end!
Yea, even like as a dream when one awaketh; * so shalt thou make their image to vanish out of the city.
Thus my heart was grieved, * and it went even through my reins.
So foolish was I, and ignorant, * even as it were a beast before thee.
Nevertheless, I am alway by thee; * for thou hast holden me by my right hand.
Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, * and after that receive me with glory.
Whom have I in heaven but thee? * and there is none upon earth that I desire in comparison of thee.
My flesh and my heart faileth; * but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
For lo, they that forsake thee shall perish; * thou hast destroyed all them that are unfaithful unto thee.
But it is good for me to hold me fast by God, to put my trust in the Lord GOD, * and to speak of all thy works in the gates of the daughter of Sion.

Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Put your burnt offerings unto your sacrifices, and eat flesh. For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices: But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward. Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them: Yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck: they did worse than their fathers. Therefore thou shalt speak all these words unto them; but they will not hearken to thee: thou shalt also call unto them; but they will not answer thee. But thou shalt say unto them, This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the Lord their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth. Cut off thine hair, O Jerusalem, and cast it away, and take up a lamentation on high places; for the Lord hath rejected and forsaken the generation of his wrath.

And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him, Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again. And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared. And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John. But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

WE beseech thee, Almighty God, look upon the hearty desires of thy humble servants, and stretch forth the right hand of thy Majesty, to be our defence against all our enemies; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; 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: