BE merciful unto me, O God, for man goeth about to devour me; * he is daily fighting, and troubling me.
 
Mine enemies are daily at hand to swallow me up; * for they be many that fight against me, O thou Most Highest.
 
Nevertheless, though I am sometime afraid, * yet put I my trust in thee.
 
I will praise God, because of his word: * I have put my trust in God, and will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
 
They daily mistake my words; * all that they imagine is to do me evil.
 
They hold all together, and keep themselves close, * and mark my steps, when they lay wait for my soul.
 
Shall they escape for their wickedness? * thou, O God, in thy displeasure shalt cast them down.
 
Thou tellest my wanderings; put my tears into thy bottle: * are not these things noted in thy book?
 
Whensoever I call upon thee, then shall mine enemies be put to flight: * this I know; for God is on my side.
 
In God's word will I rejoice; * in the LORD'S word will I comfort me.
 
Yea, in God have I put my trust; * I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
 
Unto thee, O God, will I pay my vows; * unto thee will I give thanks.
 
For thou hast delivered my soul from death, and my feet from falling, * that I may walk before God in the light of the living.

But Samuel ministered before the Lord, being a child, girded with a linen ephod. Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The Lord give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the Lord. And they went unto their own home. And the Lord visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the Lord. Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people. Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the Lord's people to transgress. If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall entreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the Lord would slay them. And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the Lord, and also with men.

And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

O GOD, who hast prepared for those who love thee such good things as pass man's understanding; Pour into our hearts such love toward thee, that we, loving thee above all things, may obtain thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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