IN the LORD put I my trust; * how say ye then to my soul, that she should flee as a bird unto the hill?
 
For lo, the ungodly bend their bow, and make ready their arrows within the quiver, * that they may privily shoot at them which are true of heart.
 
If the foundations be destroyed, * what can the righteous do?
 
The LORD is in his holy temple; * the LORD'S seat is in heaven.
 
His eyes consider the poor, * and his eyelids try the children of men.
 
The LORD approveth the righteous: * but the ungodly, and him that delighteth in wickedness, doth his soul abhor.
 
Upon the ungodly he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, storm and tempest: * this shall be their portion to drink.
 
For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; * his countenance will behold the thing that is just.

HELP me, LORD, for there is not one godly man left; * for the faithful are minished from among the children of men.
 
They talk of vanity every one with his neighbour; * they do but flatter with their lips, and dissemble in their double heart.
 
The LORD shall root out all deceitful lips, * and the tongue that speaketh proud things;
 
Which have said, With our tongue will we prevail; * we are they that ought to speak; who is lord over us?

Now, for the comfortless troubles' sake of the needy, * and because of the deep sighing of the poor,
 
I will up, saith the LORD; * and will help every one from him that swelleth against him, and will set him at rest.
 
The words of the LORD are pure words; * even as the silver which from the earth is tried, and purified seven times in the fire.
 
Thou shalt keep them, O LORD; * thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
 
The ungodly walk on every side: * when they are exalted, the children of men are put to rebuke.

There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease. All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled. For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living? Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit. That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he. Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better? For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

GRANT, we beseech thee, merciful Lord, to thy faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve thee with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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

Privacy Policy

(Alternate/Backup Site) For information about this web page, please contact the Webmaster at: