HEAR my prayer, O God, * and hide not thyself from my petition.
Take heed unto me, and hear me, * how I mourn in my prayer, and am vexed;
The enemy crieth so, and the ungodly cometh on so fast; * for they are minded to do me some mischief, so maliciously are they set against me.
My heart is disquieted within me, * and the fear of death is fallen upon me.
Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, * and an horrible dread hath overwhelmed me.
And I said, O that I had wings like a dove! * for then would I flee away, and be at rest.
Lo, then would I get me away far off, * and remain in the wilderness.
I would make haste to escape, * because of the stormy wind and tempest.
Destroy their tongues, O Lord, and divide them; * for I have spied unrighteousness and strife in the city.
Day and night they go about within the walls thereof: * mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.
Wickedness is therein; * deceit and guile go not out of her streets.
For it is not an open enemy that hath done me this dishonour; * for then I could have borne it;
Neither was it mine adversary that did magnify himself against me; * for then peradventure I would have hid myself from him;
But it was even thou, my companion, * my guide, and mine own familiar friend.
We took sweet counsel together, * and walked in the house of God as friends.
Let death come hastily upon them, and let them go down alive into the pit; * for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.
As for me, I will call upon God, * and the LORD shall save me.
In the evening, and morning, and at noon-day will I pray, and that instantly; * and he shall hear my voice.
It is he that hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me; * for there were many that strove with me.
Yea, even God, that endureth for ever, shall hear me, and bring them down; * for they will not turn, nor fear God.
He laid his hands upon such as be at peace with him, * and he brake his covenant.
The words of his mouth were softer than butter, having war in his heart; * his words were smoother than oil, and yet be they very swords.
O cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall nourish thee, * and shall not suffer the righteous to fall for ever.
And as for them, * thou, O God, shalt bring them into the pit of destruction.
The blood-thirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days: * nevertheless, my trust shall be in thee, O Lord.

And in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, which is the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, unto Jerusalem: And he burnt the house of the Lord, and the king's house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great man's house burnt he with fire. And all the army of the Chaldees, that were with the captain of the guard, brake down the walls of Jerusalem round about. Now the rest of the people that were left in the city, and the fugitives that fell away to the king of Babylon, with the remnant of the multitude, did Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carry away. And as for the people that remained in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, even over them he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, ruler. But it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the seed royal, came, and ten men with him, and smote Gedaliah, that he died, and the Jews and the Chaldees that were with him at Mizpah. And all the people, both small and great, and the captains of the armies, arose, and came to Egypt: for they were afraid of the Chaldees.

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven. Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

O GOD, our refuge and strength, who art the author of all godliness; Be ready, we beseech thee, to hear the devout prayers of thy Church; and grant that those things which we ask faithfully we may obtain effectually; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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