Ecclesiasticus 28:14-26
Slander has shaken many, and scattered them from nation to nation; it has destroyed strong cities, and overturned the houses of the great. Slander has driven virtuous women from their homes, and deprived them of the fruit of their toil. Those who pay heed to slander will not find rest, nor will they settle down in peace. The blow of a whip raises a welt, but a blow of the tongue crushes the bones. Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but not as many as have fallen because of the tongue. Happy is the one who is protected from it, who has not been exposed to its anger, who has not borne its yoke, and has not been bound with its fetters. For its yoke is a yoke of iron, and its fetters are fetters of bronze; its death is an evil death, and Hades is preferable to it. It has no power over the godly; they will not be burned in its flame. Those who forsake the Lord will fall into its power; it will burn among them and will not be put out. It will be sent out against them like a lion; like a leopard it will mangle them. As you fence in your property with thorns, As you lock up your silver and gold, so make balances and scales for your words. so make a door and a bolt for your mouth. Take care not to err with your tongue, and fall victim to one lying in wait.
Revelation 12:1-6
A great portent appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pangs, in the agony of giving birth. Then another portent appeared in heaven: a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bear a child, so that he might devour her child as soon as it was born. And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron. But her child was snatched away and taken to God and to his throne; and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, so that there she can be nourished for one thousand two hundred sixty days.
Luke 11:37-52
While he was speaking, a Pharisee invited him to dine with him; so he went in and took his place at the table. The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not first wash before dinner. Then the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? So give for alms those things that are within; and see, everything will be clean for you. "But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and herbs of all kinds, and neglect justice and the love of God; it is these you ought to have practiced, without neglecting the others. Woe to you Pharisees! For you love to have the seat of honor in the synagogues and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces. Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without realizing it." One of the lawyers answered him, "Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us too." And he said, "Woe also to you lawyers! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not lift a finger to ease them. Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets whom your ancestors killed. So you are witnesses and approve of the deeds of your ancestors; for they killed them, and you build their tombs. Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, 'I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,' so that this generation may be charged with the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be charged against this generation. Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge; you did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering."
Morning Psalms
Psalm 119: Zayin Memor esto verbi tui
49 Remember your word to your servant, because you have given me hope.
50 This is my comfort in my trouble, that your promise gives me life.
51 The proud have derided me cruelly, but I have not turned from your law.
52 When I remember your judgments of old, O LORD, I take great comfort.
53 I am filled with a burning rage, because of the wicked who forsake your law.
54 Your statutes have been like songs to me wherever I have lived as a stranger.
55 I remember your Name in the night, O LORD, and dwell upon your law.
56 This is how it has been with me, because I have kept your commandments.
Psalm 119: Heth Portio mea, Domine
57 You only are my portion, O LORD; I have promised to keep your words.
58 I entreat you with all my heart, be merciful to me according to your promise.
59 I have considered my ways and turned my feet toward your decrees.
60 I hasten and do not tarry to keep your commandments.
61 Though the cords of the wicked entangle me, I do not forget your law.
62 At midnight I will rise to give you thanks, because of your righteous judgments.
63 I am a companion of all who fear you and of those who keep your commandments.
64 The earth, O LORD, is full of your love; instruct me in your statutes.
Psalm 119: Teth Bonitatem fecisti
65 O LORD, you have dealt graciously with your servant, according to your word.
66 Teach me discernment and knowledge, for I have believed in your commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.
68 You are good and you bring forth good; instruct me in your statutes.
69 The proud have smeared me with lies, but I will keep your commandments with my whole heart.
70 Their heart is gross and fat, but my delight is in your law.
71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.
72 The law of your mouth is dearer to me than thousands in gold and silver.
Evening Psalms
Psalm 49 Audite haec, omnes
1 Hear this, all you peoples; hearken, all you who dwell in the world, you of high degree and low, rich and poor together.
2 My mouth shall speak of wisdom, and my heart shall meditate on understanding.
3 I will incline my ear to a proverb and set forth my riddle upon the harp.
4 Why should I be afraid in evil days, when the wickedness of those at my heels surrounds me,
5 The wickedness of those who put their trust in their goods, and boast of their great riches?
6 We can never ransom ourselves, or deliver to God the price of our life;
7 For the ransom of our life is so great, that we should never have enough to pay it,
8 In order to live for ever and ever, and never see the grave.
9 For we see that the wise die also; like the dull and stupid they perish and leave their wealth to those who come after them.
10 Their graves shall be their homes for ever, their dwelling places from generation to generation, though they call the lands after their own names.
11 Even though honored, they cannot live for ever; they are like the beasts that perish.
12 Such is the way of those who foolishly trust in themselves, and the end of those who delight in their own words.
13 Like a flock of sheep they are destined to die; Death is their shepherd; they go down straightway to the grave.
14 Their form shall waste away, and the land of the dead shall be their home.
15 But God will ransom my life; he will snatch me from the grasp of death.
16 Do not be envious when some become rich, or when the grandeur of their house increases;
17 For they will carry nothing away at their death, nor will their grandeur follow them.
18 Though they thought highly of themselves while they lived, and were praised for their success,
19 They shall join the company of their forebears, who will never see the light again.
20 Those who are honored, but have no understanding, are like the beasts that perish.
Psalm 53 Dixit insipiens
1 The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." All are corrupt and commit abominable acts; there is none who does any good.
2 God looks down from heaven upon us all, to see if there is any who is wise, if there is one who seeks after God.
3 Every one has proved faithless; all alike have turned bad; there is none who does good; no, not one.
4 Have they no knowledge, those evildoers who eat up my people like bread and do not call upon God?
5 See how greatly they tremble, such trembling as never was; for God has scattered the bones of the enemy; they are put to shame, because God has rejected them.
6 Oh, that Israel's deliverance would come out of Zion! when God restores the fortunes of his people Jacob will rejoice and Israel be glad.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The New Revised Standard Version Bible may be quoted and/or reprinted up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses without express written permission of the publisher, provided the verses quoted do not amount to a complete book of the Bible or account for fifty percent (50%) of the total work in which they are quoted.
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