Evening Prayer Readings
January 3

The First Lesson
The Second Lesson
The Collect
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An Independent Traditional 1928 BCP Ministry

The Psalter


Psalm 34


The Thirty-Fourth Psalm

Benedicam Dominum.


I WILL alway give thanks unto the LORD; * his praise shall ever be in my mouth.
 
My soul shall make her boast in the LORD; * the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
 
O praise the LORD with me, * and let us magnify his Name together.
 
I sought the LORD, and he heard me; * yea, he delivered me out of all my fear.
 
They had an eye unto him, and were lightened; * and their faces were not ashamed.
 
Lo, the poor crieth, and the LORD heareth him; * yea, and saveth him out of all his troubles.
 
The angel of the LORD tarrieth round about them that fear him; * and delivereth them.
 
O taste, and see, how gracious the LORD is: * blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
 
O fear the LORD, ye that are his saints; * for they that fear him lack nothing.
 
The lions do lack, and suffer hunger; * but they who seek the LORD shall want no manner of thing that is good.
 
Come, ye children, and hearken unto me; * I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
 
What man is he that lusteth to live, * and would fain see good days?
 
Keep thy tongue from evil, * and thy lips, that they speak no guile.
 
Eschew evil, and do good; * seek peace, and ensue it.
 
The eyes of the LORD are over the righteous, * and his ears are open unto their prayers.
 
The countenance of the LORD is against them that do evil, * to root out the remembrance of them from the earth.
 
The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth them, * and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
 
The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart, * and will save such as be of an humble spirit.
 
Great are the troubles of the righteous; * but the LORD delivereth him out of all.
 
He keepeth all his bones, * so that not one of them is broken.
 
But misfortune shall slay the ungodly; * and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.
 
The LORD delivereth the souls of his servants; * and all they that put their trust in him shall not be destitute.



 

The First Lesson


Isaiah 65:8-16


Thus saith the Lord, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all. And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there. And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me. But ye are they that forsake the Lord, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number. Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not. Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed: Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit. And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord God shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name: That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.



 

The Second Lesson

Hebrews 4:14-5:14

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.



 

The Collect

The First Sunday after Christmas

ALMIGHTY God, who hast given us thy only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin; Grant that we being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.



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