Proverbs 8:22-36
The LORD created me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of long ago. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth-- when he had not yet made earth and fields, or the world's first bits of soil. When he established the heavens, I was there, when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside him, like a master worker; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the human race. And now, my children, listen to me: happy are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. Happy is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD; but those who miss me injure themselves; all who hate me love death."
3 John 1:1-15
The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul. I was overjoyed when some of the friends arrived and testified to your faithfulness to the truth, namely how you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my children are walking in the truth. Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the friends, even though they are strangers to you; they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on in a manner worthy of God; for they began their journey for the sake of Christ, accepting no support from non-believers. Therefore we ought to support such people, so that we may become co-workers with the truth. I have written something to the church; but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing in spreading false charges against us. And not content with those charges, he refuses to welcome the friends, and even prevents those who want to do so and expels them from the church. Beloved, do not imitate what is evil but imitate what is good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. Everyone has testified favorably about Demetrius, and so has the truth itself. We also testify for him, and you know that our testimony is true. I have much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink; instead I hope to see you soon, and we will talk together face to face. Peace to you. The friends send you their greetings. Greet the friends there, each by name.
Matthew 12:15-21
When Jesus became aware of this, he departed. Many crowds followed him, and he cured all of them, and he ordered them not to make him known. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah: "Here is my servant, whom I have chosen, my beloved, with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not wrangle or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. He will not break a bruised reed or quench a smoldering wick until he brings justice to victory. And in his name the Gentiles will hope."
Morning Psalms
Psalm 20 Exaudiat te Dominus
1 May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble, the Name of the God of Jacob defend you;
2 Send you help from his holy place and strengthen you out of Zion;
3 Remember all your offerings and accept your burnt sacrifice;
4 Grant you your heart's desire and prosper all your plans.
5 We will shout for joy at your victory and triumph in the Name of our God; may the LORD grant all your requests.
6 Now I know that the LORD gives victory to his anointed; he will answer him out of his holy heaven, with the victorious strength of his right hand.
7 Some put their trust in chariots and some in horses, but we will call upon the Name of the LORD our God.
8 They collapse and fall down, but we will arise and stand upright.
9 O LORD, give victory to the king and answer us when we call.
Psalm 21 Domine, in virtute tua
1 The king rejoices in your strength, O LORD; how greatly he exults in your victory!
2 You have given him his heart's desire; you have not denied him the request of his lips.
3 For you meet him with blessings of prosperity, and set a crown of fine gold upon his head.
4 He asked you for life, and you gave it to him: length of days, for ever and ever.
5 His honor is great, because of your victory; splendor and majesty have you bestowed upon him.
6 For you will give him everlasting felicity and will make him glad with the joy of your presence.
7 For the king puts his trust in the LORD; because of the loving-kindness of the Most High, he will not fall.
8 Your hand will lay hold upon all your enemies; your right hand will seize all those who hate you.
9 You will make them like a fiery furnace at the time of your appearing, O LORD;
10 You will swallow them up in your wrath, and fire shall consume them.
11 You will destroy their offspring from the land and their descendants from among the peoples of the earth.
12 Though they intend evil against you and devise wicked schemes, yet they shall not prevail.
13 For you will put them to flight and aim your arrows at them.
14 Be exalted, O LORD, in your might; we will sing and praise your power.
Evening Psalms
Psalm 110 Dixit Dominus
1 The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool."
2 The LORD will send the scepter of your power out of Zion, saying, "Rule over your enemies round about you.
3 Princely state has been yours from the day of your birth; in the beauty of holiness have I begotten you, like dew from the womb of the morning."
4 The LORD has sworn and he will not recant: "You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek."
5 The Lord who is at your right hand will smite kings in the day of his wrath; he will rule over the nations.
6 He will heap high the corpses; he will smash heads over the wide earth.
7 He will drink from the brook beside the road; therefore he will lift high his head.
Psalm 116 Dilexi, quoniam
1 I love the LORD, because he has heard the voice of my supplication, because he has inclined his ear to me whenever I called upon him.
2 The cords of death entangled me; the grip of the grave took hold of me; I came to grief and sorrow.
3 Then I called upon the Name of the LORD: "O LORD, I pray you, save my life."
4 Gracious is the LORD and righteous; our God is full of compassion.
5 The LORD watches over the innocent; I was brought very low, and he helped me.
6 Turn again to your rest, O my soul. for the LORD has treated you well.
7 For you have rescued my life from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from stumbling.
8 I will walk in the presence of the LORD in the land of the living.
9 I believed, even when I said, "I have been brought very low." In my distress I said, "No one can be trusted."
10 How shall I repay the LORD for all the good things he has done for me?
11 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call upon the Name of the LORD.
12 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.
13 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his servants.
14 O LORD, I am your servant; I am your servant and the child of your handmaid; you have freed me from my bonds.
15 I will offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call upon the Name of the LORD.
16 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people,
17 In the courts of the LORD'S house, in the midst of you, O Jerusalem. Hallelujah!
Psalm 117 Laudate Dominum
1 Praise the LORD, all you nations; laud him, all you peoples.
2 For his loving-kindness toward us is great, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures for ever. Hallelujah!
