Micah 2:1-13
Alas for those who devise wickedness and evil deeds on their beds! When the morning dawns, they perform it, because it is in their power. They covet fields, and seize them; houses, and take them away; they oppress householder and house, people and their inheritance. Therefore thus says the LORD: Now, I am devising against this family an evil from which you cannot remove your necks; and you shall not walk haughtily, for it will be an evil time. On that day they shall take up a taunt song against you, and wail with bitter lamentation, and say, "We are utterly ruined; the LORD alters the inheritance of my people; how he removes it from me! Among our captors he parcels out our fields." Therefore you will have no one to cast the line by lot in the assembly of the LORD. "Do not preach"-- thus they preach-- "one should not preach of such things; disgrace will not overtake us." Should this be said, O house of Jacob? Is the LORD's patience exhausted? Are these his doings? Do not my words do good to one who walks uprightly? But you rise up against my people as an enemy; you strip the robe from the peaceful, from those who pass by trustingly with no thought of war. The women of my people you drive out from their pleasant houses; from their young children you take away my glory forever. Arise and go; for this is no place to rest, because of uncleanness that destroys with a grievous destruction. If someone were to go about uttering empty falsehoods, saying, "I will preach to you of wine and strong drink," such a one would be the preacher for this people! I will surely gather all of you, O Jacob, I will gather the survivors of Israel; I will set them together like sheep in a fold, like a flock in its pasture; it will resound with people. The one who breaks out will go up before them; they will break through and pass the gate, going out by it. Their king will pass on before them, the LORD at their head.
Acts 23:23-35
Then he summoned two of the centurions and said, "Get ready to leave by nine o'clock tonight for Caesarea with two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen. Also provide mounts for Paul to ride, and take him safely to Felix the governor." He wrote a letter to this effect: "Claudius Lysias to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings. This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, but when I had learned that he was a Roman citizen, I came with the guard and rescued him. Since I wanted to know the charge for which they accused him, I had him brought to their council. I found that he was accused concerning questions of their law, but was charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment. When I was informed that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him. " So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him during the night to Antipatris. The next day they let the horsemen go on with him, while they returned to the barracks. When they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him. On reading the letter, he asked what province he belonged to, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia, he said, "I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive." Then he ordered that he be kept under guard in Herod's headquarters.
Luke 7:18-35
The disciples of John reported all these things to him. So John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord to ask, "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?" When the men had come to him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?'" Jesus had just then cured many people of diseases, plagues, and evil spirits, and had given sight to many who were blind. And he answered them, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me." When John's messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who put on fine clothing and live in luxury are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written, 'See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.' I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John; yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." (And all the people who heard this, including the tax collectors, acknowledged the justice of God, because they had been baptized with John's baptism. But by refusing to be baptized by him, the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God's purpose for themselves.) "To what then will I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not weep.' For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, 'He has a demon' the Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Nevertheless, wisdom is vindicated by all her children."
Morning Psalms
Psalm 119: Qoph Clamavi in toto corde meo
145 I call with my whole heart; answer me, O LORD, that I may keep your statutes.
146 I call to you; oh, that you would save me! I will keep your decrees.
147 Early in the morning I cry out to you, for in your word is my trust.
148 My eyes are open in the night watches, that I may meditate upon your promise.
149 Hear my voice, O LORD, according to your loving-kindness; according to your judgments, give me life.
150 They draw near who in malice persecute me; they are very far from your law.
151 You, O LORD, are near at hand, and all your commandments are true.
152 Long have I known from your decrees that you have established them for ever.
Psalm 119: Resh Vide humilitatem
153 Behold my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget your law.
154 Plead my cause and redeem me; according to your promise, give me life.
155 Deliverance is far from the wicked, for they do not study your statutes.
156 Great is your compassion, O LORD; preserve my life, according to your judgments.
157 There are many who persecute and oppress me, yet I have not swerved from your decrees.
158 I look with loathing at the faithless, for they have not kept your word.
159 See how I love your commandments! O LORD, in your mercy, preserve me.
160 The heart of your word is truth; all your righteous judgments endure for evermore.
Psalm 119: Shin Principes persecuti sunt
161 Rulers have persecuted me without a cause, but my heart stands in awe of your word.
162 I am as glad because of your promise as one who finds great spoils.
163 As for lies, I hate and abhor them, but your law is my love.
164 Seven times a day do I praise you, because of your righteous judgments.
165 Great peace have they who love your law; for them there is no stumbling block.
166 I have hoped for your salvation, O LORD, and have fulfilled your commandments.
167 I have kept your decrees and I have loved them deeply.
168 I have kept your commandments and decrees, for all my ways are before you.
Psalm 119: Taw Appropinquet deprecatio
169 Let my cry come before you, O LORD; give me understanding, according to your word.
170 Let my supplication come before you; deliver me, according to your promise.
171 My lips shall pour forth your praise, when you teach me your statutes.
172 My tongue shall sing of your promise, for all your commandments are righteous.
173 Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your commandments.
174 I long for your salvation, O LORD, and your law is my delight.
175 Let me live, and I will praise you, and let your judgments help me.
176 I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost; search for your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.
Evening Psalms
Psalm 128 Beati omnes
1 Happy are they all who fear the LORD, and who follow in his ways!
2 You shall eat the fruit of your labor; happiness and prosperity shall be yours.
3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine within your house, your children like olive shoots round about your table.
4 The man who fears the LORD shall thus indeed be blessed.
5 The LORD bless you from Zion, and may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life.
6 May you live to see your children's children; may peace be upon Israel.
Psalm 129 Sæpe expugnaverunt
1 Greatly have they oppressed me since my youth, let Israel now say;
2 Greatly have they oppressed me since my youth", but they have not prevailed against me."
3 The plowmen plowed upon my back and made their furrows long.
4 The LORD, the Righteous One, has cut the cords of the wicked.
5 Let them be put to shame and thrown back, all those who are enemies of Zion.
6 Let them be like grass upon the housetops, which withers before it can be plucked;
7 Which does not fill the hand of the reaper, nor the bosom of him who binds the sheaves;
8 So that those who go by say not so much as, "The LORD prosper you. We wish you well in the Name of the LORD."
Psalm 130 De profundis
1 Out of the depths have I called to you, O LORD; LORD, hear my voice; let your ears consider well the voice of my supplication.
2 If you, LORD, were to note what is done amiss, O LORD, who could stand?
3 For there is forgiveness with you; therefore you shall be feared.
4 I wait for the LORD; my soul waits for him; in his word is my hope.
5 My soul waits for the LORD, more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.
6 O Israel, wait for the LORD, for with the LORD there is mercy;
7 With him there is plenteous redemption, and he shall redeem Israel from all their sins.
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.
