Evening Prayer Readings
Wednesday after Trinity 13

The First Lesson
The Second Lesson
The Collect
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The Psalter


Psalm 18:1-20


The Eighteenth Psalm

Diligam te, Domine.


I WILL love thee, O LORD, my strength. * The LORD is my stony rock, and my defence;
 
My Saviour, my God, and my might, in whom I will trust; * my buckler, the horn also of my salvation, and my refuge.
 
I will call upon the LORD, which is worthy to be praised; * so shall I be safe from mine enemies.
 
The sorrows of death compassed me, * and the overflowings of ungodliness made me afraid.
 
The pains of hell came about me; * the snares of death overtook me.
 
In my trouble I called upon the LORD, * and complained unto my God:
 
So he heard my voice out of his holy temple, * and my complaint came before him; it entered even into his ears.
 
The earth trembled and quaked, * the very foundations also of the hills shook, and were removed, because he was wroth.
 
There went a smoke out in his presence, * and a consuming fire out of his mouth, so that coals were kindled at it.
 
He bowed the heavens also, and came down, * and it was dark under his feet.
 
He rode upon the Cherubim, and did fly; * he came flying upon the wings of the wind.
 
He made darkness his secret place, * his pavilion round about him with dark water, and thick clouds to cover him.
 
At the brightness of his presence his clouds removed; * hailstones and coals of fire.
 
The LORD also thundered out of heaven, and the Highest gave his thunder; * hailstones and coals of fire.
 
He sent out his arrows, and scattered them; * he cast forth lightnings, and destroyed them.
 
The springs of waters were seen, and the foundations of the round world were discovered, * at thy chiding, O LORD, at the blasting of the breath of thy displeasure.
 
He sent down from on high to fetch me, * and took me out of many waters.
 
He delivered me from my strongest enemy, and from them which hate me; * for they were too mighty for me
 
They came upon me in the day of my trouble; * but the LORD was my upholder.
 
He brought me forth also into a place of liberty; * he brought me forth, even because he had a favour unto me.
 

 
vs 21 The LORD rewarded me after my righteous dealing, * according to the cleanness of my hands did he recompense me.
 
Because I have kept the ways of the LORD, * and have not forsaken my God, as the wicked doth.
 
For I have an eye unto all his laws, * and will not cast out his commandments from me.
 
I was also uncorrupt before him, * and eschewed mine own wickedness.
 
Therefore the LORD rewarded me after my righteous dealing, * and according unto the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.
 
With the holy thou shalt be holy, * and with a perfect man thou shalt be perfect.
 
With the clean thou shalt be clean, * and with the froward thou shalt be froward.
 
For thou shalt save the people that are in adversity, * and shalt bring down the high looks of the proud.
 
Thou also shalt light my candle; * the LORD my God shall make my darkness to be light.
 
For in thee I shall discomfit an host of men, * and with the help of my God I shall leap over the wall.
 
The way of God is an undefiled way: * the word of the LORD also is tried in the fire; he is the defender of all them that put their trust in him.
 
For who is God, but the LORD? * or who hath any strength, except our God?
 
It is God that girdeth me with strength of war, * and maketh my way perfect.
 
He maketh my feet like harts' feet, * and setteth me up on high.
 
He teacheth mine hands to fight, * and mine arms shall bend even a bow of steel.
 

 
vs 36 Thou hast given me the defence of thy salvation; * thy right hand also shall hold me up, and thy loving correction shall make me great.
 
Thou shalt make room enough under me for to go, * that my footsteps shall not slide.
 
I will follow upon mine enemies, and overtake them; * neither will I turn again till I have destroyed them.
 
I will smite them, that they shall not be able to stand, * but fall under my feet.
 
Thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle; * thou shalt throw down mine enemies under me.
 
Thou hast made mine enemies also to turn their backs upon me, * and I shall destroy them that hate me.
 
They shall cry, but there shall be none to help them; * yea, even unto the LORD shall they cry, but he shall not hear them.
 
I will beat them as small as the dust before the wind: * I will cast them out as the clay in the streets.
 
Thou shalt deliver me from the strivings of the people, * and thou shalt make me the head of the nations; a people whom I have not known shall serve me.
 
As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me; * the strangers shall feign obedience unto me.
 
The strangers shall fail, * and come trembling out of their strongholds.
 
The LORD liveth; and blessed be my strong helper, * and praised be the God of my salvation;
 
Even the God that seeth that I be avenged, * and subdueth the people unto me.
 
It is he that delivereth me from my cruel enemies, and setteth me up above mine adversaries: * thou shalt rid me from the wicked man.
 
For this cause will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the Gentiles, * and sing praises unto thy Name.
 
Great prosperity giveth he unto his King, * and showeth loving-kindness unto David his anointed, and unto his seed for evermore.



 

The First Lesson


Ecclesiasticus 4:20 - 5:7


Observe the opportunity, and beware of evil; and be not ashamed when it concerneth thy soul. For there is a shame that bringeth sin; and there is a shame which is glory and grace. Accept no person against thy soul, and let not the reverence of any man cause thee to fall. And refrain not to speak, when there is occasion to do good, and hide not thy wisdom in her beauty. For by speech wisdom shall be known: and learning by the word of the tongue. In no wise speak against the truth; but be abashed of the error of thine ignorance. Be not ashamed to confess thy sins; and force not the course of the river. Make not thyself an underling to a foolish man; neither accept the person of the mighty. Strive for the truth unto death, and the Lord shall fight for thee. Be not hasty in thy tongue, and in thy deeds slack and remiss. Be not as a lion in thy house, nor frantick among thy servants. Let not thine hand be stretched out to receive, and shut when thou shouldest repay. Set thy heart upon thy goods; and say not, I have enough for my life. Follow not thine own mind and thy strength, to walk in the ways of thy heart: And say not, Who shall controul me for my works? for the Lord will surely revenge thy pride. Say not, I have sinned, and what harm hath happened unto me? for the Lord is longsuffering, he will in no wise let thee go. Concerning propitiation, be not without fear to add sin unto sin: And say not His mercy is great; he will be pacified for the multitude of my sins: for mercy and wrath come from him, and his indignation resteth upon sinners. Make no tarrying to turn to the Lord, and put not off from day to day: for suddenly shall the wrath of the Lord come forth, and in thy security thou shalt be destroyed, and perish in the day of vengeance.



 

The Second Lesson

St. Matthew 2:13

And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.



 

The Collect

Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity

ALMIGHTY and merciful God, of whose only gift it cometh that thy faithful people do unto thee true and laudable service; Grant, we beseech thee, that we may so faithfully serve thee in this life, that we fail not finally to attain thy heavenly promises; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.



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