October 30, 2021 :: Evening Prayer
Saturday after the Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity
Here beginneth the 13th chapter of Sirach.
He that toucheth pitch shall be defiled therewith; and he that hath fellowship with a proud man shall be like unto him.
Burden not thyself above thy power while thou livest; and have no fellowship with one that is mightier and richer than thyself: for how agree the kettle and the earthen pot together? for if the one be smitten against the other, it shall be broken.
The rich man hath done wrong, and yet he threateneth withal: the poor is wronged, and he must intreat also.
If thou be for his profit, he will use thee: but if thou have nothing, he will forsake thee.
If thou have any thing, he will live with thee: yea, he will make thee bare, and will not be sorry for it.
If he have need of thee, he will deceive thee, and smile upon thee, and put thee in hope; he will speak thee fair, and say, What wantest thou?
And he will shame thee by his meats, until he have drawn thee dry twice or thrice, and at the last he will laugh thee to scorn: afterward, when he seeth thee, he will forsake thee, and shake his head at thee.
Beware that thou be not deceived, and brought down in thy jollity.
If thou be invited of a mighty man, withdraw thyself, and so much the more will he invite thee.
Press thou not upon him, lest thou be put back; stand not far off, lest thou be forgotten.
Affect not to be made equal unto him in talk, and believe not his many words: for with much communication will he tempt thee, and smiling upon thee will get out thy secrets:
But cruelly he will lay up thy words, and will not spare to do thee hurt, and to put thee in prison.
Observe, and take good heed, for thou walkest in peril of thy overthrowing: when thou hearest these things, awake in thy sleep.
Love the Lord all thy life, and call upon him for thy salvation.
Every beast loveth his like, and every man loveth his neighbour.
All flesh consorteth according to kind, and a man will cleave to his like.
What fellowship hath the wolf with the lamb? so the sinner with the godly.
What agreement is there between the hyena and a dog? and what peace between the rich and the poor?
As the wild ass is the lion's prey in the wilderness: so the rich eat up the poor.
As the proud hate humility: so doth the rich abhor the poor.
A rich man beginning to fall is held up of his friends: but a poor man being down is thrust also away by his friends.
When a rich man is fallen, he hath many helpers: he speaketh things not to be spoken, and yet men justify him: the poor man slipped, and yet they rebuked him too; he spake wisely, and could have no place.
When a rich man speaketh, every man holdeth his tongue, and, look, what he saith, they extol it to the clouds: but if the poor man speak, they say, What fellow is this? and if he stumble, they will help to overthrow him.
Riches are good unto him that hath no sin, and poverty is evil in the mouth of the ungodly.
The heart of a man changeth his countenance, whether it be for good or evil: and a merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance.
A cheerful countenance is a token of a heart that is in prosperity; and the finding out of parables is a wearisome labour of the mind.
Here endeth the first lesson.
Here beginneth the 4th chapter of Philippians.
Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.
And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.
Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.
Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.
Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you.
All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Cæsar's household.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.