Morning Prayer Readings
Good Friday

The First Lesson
The Second Lesson
The Collect
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The Psalter


Psalm 22


The Twenty-Second Psalm

Deus, deus meus.


MY God, my God, look upon me; why hast thou forsaken me? * and art so far from my health, and from the words of my complaint?
 
O my God, I cry in the day-time, but thou hearest not; * and in the night season also I take no rest.
 
And thou continuest holy, * O thou Worship of Israel.
 
Our fathers hoped in thee; * they trusted in thee, and thou didst deliver them.
 
They called upon thee, and were holpen; * they put their trust in thee, and were not confounded.
 
But as for me, I am a worm, and no man; * a very scorn of men, and the outcast of the people.
 
All they that see me laugh me to scorn; * they shoot out their lips, and shake their heads, saying,
 
He trusted in the LORD, that he would deliver him; * let him deliver him, if he will have him.
 
But thou art he that took me out of my mother's womb; * thou wast my hope, when I hanged yet upon my mother's breasts.
 
I have been left unto thee ever since I was born; * thou art my God even from my mother's womb.
 
O go not from me; for trouble is hard at hand, * and there is none to help me.
 
Many oxen are come about me; * fat bulls of Bashan close me in on every side.
 
They gape upon me with their mouths, * as it were a ramping and a roaring lion.
 
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; * my heart also in the midst of my body is even like melting wax.
 
My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue cleaveth to my gums, * and thou bringest me into the dust of death.
 
For many dogs are come about me, * and the council of the wicked layeth siege against me.
 
They pierced my hands and my feet: I may tell all my bones: * they stand staring and looking upon me.
 
They part my garments among them, * and cast lots upon my vesture.
 
But be not thou far from me, O LORD; * thou art my succour, haste thee to help me.
 

 
vs 21 Deliver my soul from the sword, * my darling from the power of the dog.
 
Save me from the lion's mouth; * thou hast heard me also from among the horns of the unicorns.
 
I will declare thy Name unto my brethren; * in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
 

 
vs 23 O praise the LORD, ye that fear him: * magnify him, all ye of the seed of Jacob; and fear him, all ye seed of Israel.
 
For he hath not despised nor abhorred the low estate of the poor; * he hath not hid his face from him; but when he called unto him he heard him.
 
My praise is of thee in the great congregation; * my vows will I perform in the sight of them that fear him.
 
The poor shall eat, and be satisfied; they that seek after the LORD shall praise him: * your heart shall live for ever.
 
All the ends of the world shall remember themselves, and be turned unto the LORD; * and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before him.
 
For the kingdom is the LORD'S, * and he is the Governor among the nations.
 
All such as be fat upon earth * have eaten, and worshipped.
 
All they that go down into the dust shall kneel before him; * and no man hath quickened his own soul.
 
My seed shall serve him: * they shall be counted unto the Lord for a generation.
 
They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness * unto a people that shall be born, whom the Lord hath made.



Psalm 40:1-16


The Fortieth Psalm

Expectans expectavi.


I WAITED patiently for the LORD, * and he inclined unto me, and heard my calling.
 
He brought me also out of the horrible pit, out of the mire and clay, * and set my feet upon the rock, and ordered my goings.
 
And he hath put a new song in my mouth, * even a thanksgiving unto our God.
 
Many shall see it, and fear, * and shall put their trust in the LORD.
 
Blessed is the man that hath set his hope in the LORD, * and turned not unto the proud, and to such as go about with lies.
 
O LORD my God, great are the wondrous works which thou hast done, like as be also thy thoughts, which are to us-ward; * and yet there is no man that ordereth them unto thee.
 
If I should declare them, and speak of them, * they should be more than I am able to express.
 
Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, * but mine ears hast thou opened.
 
Burnt-offering and sacrifice for sin hast thou not required: * then said I, LO, I come;
 
In the volume of the book it is written of me, that I should fulfil thy will, O my God: * I am content to do it; yea, thy law is within my heart.
 
I have declared thy righteousness in the great congregation: * lo, I will not refrain my lips, O LORD, and that thou knowest.
 
I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; * my talk hath been of thy truth, and of thy salvation.
 
I have not kept back thy loving mercy and truth * from the great congregation.
 
Withdraw not thou thy mercy from me, O LORD; * let thy loving-kindness and thy truth alway preserve me.
 
For innumerable troubles are come about me; my sins have taken such hold upon me, that I am not able to look up; * yea, they are more in number than the hairs of my head, and my heart hath failed me.
 
O LORD, let it be thy pleasure to deliver me; * make haste, O LORD, to help me.
 

 
vs 17 Let them be ashamed, and confounded together, that seek after my soul to destroy it; * let them be driven backward, and put to rebuke, that wish me evil.
 
Let them be desolate, and rewarded with shame, * that say unto me, Fie upon thee! fie upon thee!
 
Let all those that seek thee, be joyful and glad in thee; * and let such as love thy salvation, say alway, The LORD be praised.
 
As for me, I am poor and needy; * but the Lord careth for me.
 
Thou art my helper and redeemer; * make no long tarrying, O my God.


Psalm 54


The Fifty-Fourth Psalm

Deus, in nomine.


SAVE me, O God, for thy Name's sake, * and avenge me in thy strength.
 
Hear my prayer, O God, * and hearken unto the words of my mouth.
 
For strangers are risen up against me; * and tyrants, which have not God before their eyes, seek after my soul.
 
Behold, God is my helper; * the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.
 
He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: * destroy thou them in thy truth.
 
An offering of a free heart will I give thee, and praise thy Name, O LORD; * because it is so comfortable.
 
For he hath delivered me out of all my trouble; * and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.



 



Note: either the First or Second selection may be read for the First Lesson

The First Lesson (First Selection)


Genesis 22:1-18


And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you. And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together. And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen. And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

The First Lesson (Second Selection)


Wisdom 2:1, 12-24


For the ungodly said, reasoning with themselves, but not aright, Our life is short and tedious, and in the death of a man there is no remedy: neither was there any man known to have returned from the grave. Therefore let us lie in wait for the righteous; because he is not for our turn, and he is clean contrary to our doings: he upbraideth us with our offending the law, and objecteth to our infamy the transgressings of our education. He professeth to have the knowledge of God: and he calleth himself the child of the Lord. He was made to reprove our thoughts. He is grievous unto us even to behold: for his life is not like other men's, his ways are of another fashion. We are esteemed of him as counterfeits: he abstaineth from our ways as from filthiness: he pronounceth the end of the just to be blessed, and maketh his boast that God is his father. Let us see if his words be true: and let us prove what shall happen in the end of him. For if the just man be the son of God, he will help him, and deliver him from the hand of his enemies. Let us examine him with despitefulness and torture, that we may know his meekness, and prove his patience. Let us condemn him with a shameful death: for by his own saying he shall be respected. Such things they did imagine, and were deceived: for their own wickedness hath blinded them. As for the mysteries of God, they kn ew them not: neither hoped they for the wages of righteousness, nor discerned a reward for blameless souls. For God created man to be immortal, and made him to be an image of his own eternity. Nevertheless through envy of the devil came death into the world: and they that do hold of his side do find it.



 

The Second Lesson

St. John 18

When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples. And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples. Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none. Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him, And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year. Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people. And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest. But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter. Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not. And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself. The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said. And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so? Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me? Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest. And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not. One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him? Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew. Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover. Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man? They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee. Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death: That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die. Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews? Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.



 

The Collect

Good Friday

ALMIGHTY God, we beseech thee graciously to behold this thy family, for which our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed, and given up into the hands of wicked men, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified; Receive our supplications and prayers, which we offer before thee for all estates of men in thy holy Church, that every member of the same, in his vocation and ministry, may truly and godly serve thee; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

MERCIFUL God, who hast made all men, and hatest nothing that thou hast made, nor desirest the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live; Have mercy upon all who know thee not as thou art revealed in the Gospel of thy Son. Take from them all ignorance, hardness of heart, and contempt of thy Word; and so fetch them home, blessed Lord, to thy fold, that they may be made one flock under one shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.



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