First Reading
from the Old Testament
from the Old Testament
The Lord sent a word against Jacob, and it fell on Israel; and all the people knew it-- Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria-- but in pride and arrogance of heart they said: "The bricks have fallen, but we will build with dressed stones; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place." So the LORD raised adversaries against them, and stirred up their enemies, the Arameans on the east and the Philistines on the west, and they devoured Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger has not turned away; his hand is stretched out still. The people did not turn to him who struck them, or seek the LORD of hosts. So the LORD cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed in one day-- elders and dignitaries are the head, and prophets who teach lies are the tail; for those who led this people led them astray, and those who were led by them were left in confusion. That is why the Lord did not have pity on their young people, or compassion on their orphans and widows; for everyone was godless and an evildoer, and every mouth spoke folly. For all this his anger has not turned away, his hand is stretched out still. (Isaiah 9:8-17, NRSV)
Second Reading
from the Epistles
from the Epistles
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive opinions. They will even deny the Master who bought them-- bringing swift destruction on themselves. Even so, many will follow their licentious ways, and because of these teachers the way of truth will be maligned. And in their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words. Their condemnation, pronounced against them long ago, has not been idle, and their destruction is not asleep. For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of deepest darkness to be kept until the judgment; and if he did not spare the ancient world, even though he saved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood on a world of the ungodly; and if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction and made them an example of what is coming to the ungodly; and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man greatly distressed by the licentiousness of the lawless (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by their lawless deeds that he saw and heard), then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trial, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment -- especially those who indulge their flesh in depraved lust, and who despise authority. Bold and willful, they are not afraid to slander the glorious ones, (2 Peter 2:1-10, NRSV)
The Holy Gospel
according to St Mark, the 1st Chapter
according to St Mark, the 1st Chapter
The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, "See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,'" John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." (Mark 1:1-8, NRSV)
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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