April 25, 2025 :: Evening Prayer
Saint Mark's Day
Here beginneth the 5th chapter of Sirach.
Set not thy heart upon thy goods; and say not, I have enough for my life.
Follow not thine own mind and thy strength, to walk in the ways of thy heart:
And say not, Who shall controul me for my works? for the Lord will surely revenge thy pride.
Say not, I have sinned, and what harm hath happened unto me? for the Lord is longsuffering, he will in no wise let thee go.
Concerning propitiation, be not without fear to add sin unto sin:
And say not, His mercy is great; he will be pacified for the multitude of my sins: for mercy and wrath come from him, and his indignation resteth upon sinners.
Make no tarrying to turn to the Lord, and put not off from day to day: for suddenly shall the wrath of the Lord come forth, and in thy security thou shalt be destroyed, and perish in the day of vengeance.
Set not thine heart upon goods unjustly gotten; for they shall not profit thee in the day of calamity.
Winnow not with every wind, and go not into every way: for so doth the sinner that hath a double tongue.
Be stedfast in thy understanding; and let thy word be the same.
Be swift to hear; and let thy life be sincere; and with patience give answer.
If thou hast understanding, answer thy neighbour; if not, lay thy hand upon thy mouth.
Honour and shame is in talk: and the tongue of man is his fall.
Be not called a whisperer, and lie not in wait with thy tongue: for a foul shame is upon the thief, and an evil condemnation upon the double tongue.
Be not ignorant of any thing in a great matter or a small.
Here endeth the first lesson.
Here beginneth the 1st chapter of 1 John.
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.