O HEAR ye this, all ye people; * ponder it with your ears, all ye that dwell in the world;
 
High and low, rich and poor, * one with another.
 
My mouth shall speak of wisdom, * and my heart shall muse of understanding.
 
I will incline mine ear to the parable, * and show my dark speech upon the harp.
 
Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, * when wickedness at my heels compasseth me round about?
 
There be some that put their trust in their goods, * and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches.
 
But no man may deliver his brother, * nor give a ransom unto God for him,
 
(For it cost more to redeem their souls, * so that he must let that alone for ever;)
 
That he shall live alway, * and not see the grave.
 
For he seeth that wise men also die and perish together, * as well as the ignorant and foolish, and leave their riches for other.
 
And yet they think that their houses shall continue for ever, and that their dwelling-places shall endure from one generation to another; * and call the lands after their own names.
 
Nevertheless, man being in honour abideth not, * seeing he may be compared unto the beasts that perish;
 
This their way is very foolishness; * yet their posterity praise their saying.
 
They lie in the grave like sheep; death is their shepherd; and the righteous shall have dominion over them in the morning: * their beauty shall consume in the sepulchre, and have no abiding.
 
But God hath delivered my soul from the power of the grave; * for he shall receive me.
 
Be not thou afraid, though one be made rich, * or if the glory of his house be increased;
 
For he shall carry nothing away with him when he dieth, * neither shall his pomp follow him.
 
For while he lived, he counted himself an happy man; * and so long as thou doest well unto thyself, men will speak good of thee.
 
He shall follow the generation of his fathers, * and shall never see light.
 
Man that is in honour but hath no understanding * is compared unto the beasts that perish.

At that time shall it be said to this people and to Jerusalem, A dry wind of the high places in the wilderness toward the daughter of my people, not to fan, nor to cleanse, Even a full wind from those places shall come unto me: now also will I give sentence against them. Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots shall be as a whirlwind: his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe unto us! for we are spoiled. O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee? For a voice declareth from Dan, and publisheth affliction from mount Ephraim. Make ye mention to the nations; behold, publish against Jerusalem, that watchers come from a far country, and give out their voice against the cities of Judah. As keepers of a field, are they against her round about; because she hath been rebellious against me, saith the Lord. Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee; this is thy wickedness, because it is bitter, because it reacheth unto thine heart. My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war. Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled: suddenly are my tents spoiled, and my curtains in a moment. How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet? For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

O LORD, who for our sake didst fast forty days and forty nights; Give us grace to use such abstinence, that, our flesh being subdued to the Spirit, we may ever obey thy godly motions in righteousness, and true holiness, to thy honour and glory, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. 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.

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