Proverbs 10:1-12
The proverbs of Solomon. A wise child makes a glad father, but a foolish child is a mother's grief. Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death. The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. A child who gathers in summer is prudent, but a child who sleeps in harvest brings shame. Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot. The wise of heart will heed commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin. Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever follows perverse ways will be found out. Whoever winks the eye causes trouble, but the one who rebukes boldly makes peace. The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.
1 Timothy 1:1-17
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, To Timothy, my loyal child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I urge you, as I did when I was on my way to Macedonia, to remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach any different doctrine, and not to occupy themselves with myths and endless genealogies that promote speculations rather than the divine training that is known by faith. But the aim of such instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith. Some people have deviated from these and turned to meaningless talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make assertions. Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it legitimately. This means understanding that the law is laid down not for the innocent but for the lawless and disobedient, for the godless and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their father or mother, for murderers, fornicators, sodomites, slave traders, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me. I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-- of whom I am the foremost. But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Matthew 12:22-32
Then they brought to him a demoniac who was blind and mute; and he cured him, so that the one who had been mute could speak and see. All the crowds were amazed and said, "Can this be the Son of David?" But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "It is only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons, that this fellow casts out the demons." He knew what they were thinking and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? If I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you. Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his property, without first tying up the strong man? Then indeed the house can be plundered. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
Morning Psalms
Psalm 25 Ad te, Domine, levavi
1 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul; my God, I put my trust in you; let me not be humiliated, nor let my enemies triumph over me.
2 Let none who look to you be put to shame; let the treacherous be disappointed in their schemes.
3 Show me your ways, O LORD, and teach me your paths.
4 Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; in you have I trusted all the day long.
5 Remember, O LORD, your compassion and love, for they are from everlasting.
6 Remember not the sins of my youth and my transgressions; remember me according to your love and for the sake of your goodness, O LORD.
7 Gracious and upright is the LORD; therefore he teaches sinners in his way.
8 He guides the humble in doing right and teaches his way to the lowly.
9 All the paths of the LORD are love and faithfulness to those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
10 For your Name's sake, O LORD, forgive my sin, for it is great.
11 Who are they who fear the LORD? he will teach them the way that they should choose.
12 They shall dwell in prosperity, and their offspring shall inherit the land.
13 The LORD is a friend to those who fear him and will show them his covenant.
14 My eyes are ever looking to the LORD, for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.
15 Turn to me and have pity on me, for I am left alone and in misery.
16 The sorrows of my heart have increased; bring me out of my troubles.
17 Look upon my adversity and misery and forgive me all my sin.
18 Look upon my enemies, for they are many, and they bear a violent hatred against me.
19 Protect my life and deliver me; let me not be put to shame, for I have trusted in you.
20 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for my hope has been in you.
21 Deliver Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.
Evening Psalms
Psalm 9 Confitebor tibi
1 I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all your marvelous works.
2 I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing to your Name, O Most High.
3 When my enemies are driven back, they will stumble and perish at your presence.
4 For you have maintained my right and my cause; you sit upon your throne judging right.
5 You have rebuked the ungodly and destroyed the wicked; you have blotted out their name for ever and ever.
6 As for the enemy, they are finished, in perpetual ruin, their cities plowed under, the memory of them perished;
7 But the LORD is enthroned for ever; he has set up this throne for judgment.
8 It is he who rules the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with equity.
9 The LORD will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in time of trouble.
10 Those who know your Name will put their trust in you, for you never forsake those who seek you, O LORD.
11 Sing praise to the LORD who dwells in Zion; proclaim to the peoples the things he has done.
12 The Avenger of blood will remember them; he will not forget the cry of the afflicted.
13 Have pity on me, O LORD; see the misery I suffer from those who hate me, O you who lift me up from the gate of death;
14 So that I may tell of all your praises and rejoice in your salvation in the gates of the city of Zion.
15 The ungodly have fallen into the pit they dug, and in the snare they set is their own foot caught.
16 The LORD is known by his acts of justice; the wicked are trapped in the works of their own hands.
17 The wicked shall be given over to the grave, and also all the people that forget God.
18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish for ever.
19 Rise up, O LORD, let not the ungodly have the upper hand; let them be judged before you.
20 Put fear upon them, O LORD; let the ungodly know they are but mortal.
Psalm 15 Domine, quis habitabit?
1 LORD, who may dwell in your tabernacle? who may abide upon your holy hill?
2 Whoever leads a blameless life and does what is right, who speaks the truth from his heart.
3 There is no guile upon his tongue; he does no evil to his friend; he does not heap contempt upon his neighbor.
4 In his sight the wicked is rejected, but he honors those who fear the LORD.
5 He has sworn to do no wrong and does not take back his word.
6 He does not give his money in hope of gain, nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
7 Whoever does these things shall never be overthrown.
