October 29, 2022 :: Morning Prayer
Saturday after the Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity
Here beginneth the 10th chapter of Sirach.
A wise judge will instruct his people; and the government of a prudent man is well ordered.
As the judge of the people is himself, so are his officers; and what manner of man the ruler of the city is, such are all they that dwell therein.
An unwise king destroyeth his people; but through the prudence of them which are in authority the city shall be inhabited.
The power of the earth is in the hand of the Lord, and in due time he will set over it one that is profitable.
In the hand of God is the prosperity of man: and upon the person of the scribe shall he lay his honour.
Bear not hatred to thy neighbour for every wrong; and do nothing at all by injurious practices.
Pride is hateful before God and man: and by both doth one commit iniquity.
Because of unrighteous dealings, injuries, and riches got by deceit, the kingdom is translated from one people to another.
Why is earth and ashes proud? There is not a more wicked thing than a covetous man: for such an one setteth his own soul to sale; because while he liveth he casteth away his bowels.
The physician cutteth off a long disease; and he that is to day a king to morrow shall die.
For when a man is dead, he shall inherit creeping things, beasts, and worms.
The beginning of pride is when one departeth from God, and his heart is turned away from his Maker.
For pride is the beginning of sin, and he that hath it shall pour out abomination: and therefore the Lord brought upon them strange calamities, and overthrew them utterly.
The Lord hath cast down the thrones of proud princes, and set up the meek in their stead.
The Lord hath plucked up the roots of the proud nations, and planted the lowly in their place.
The Lord overthrew countries of the heathen, and destroyed them to the foundations of the earth.
He took some of them away, and destroyed them, and hath made their memorial to cease from the earth.
Pride was not made for men, nor furious anger for them that are born of a woman.
They that fear the Lord are a sure seed, and they that love him an honourable plant: they that regard not the law are a dishonourable seed; they that transgress the commandments are a deceivable seed.
Among brethren he that is chief is honourable; so are they that fear the Lord in his eyes.
The fear of the Lord goeth before the obtaining of authority: but roughness and pride is the losing thereof.
Whether he be rich, noble, or poor, their glory is the fear of the Lord.
It is not meet to despise the poor man that hath understanding; neither is it convenient to magnify a sinful man.
Great men, and judges, and potentates, shall be honoured; yet is there none of them greater than he that feareth the Lord.
Unto the servant that is wise shall they that are free do service: and he that hath knowledge will not grudge when he is reformed.
Be not overwise in doing thy business; and boast not thyself in the time of thy distress.
Better is he that laboureth, and aboundeth in all things, than he that boasteth himself, and wanteth bread.
My son, glorify thy soul in meekness, and give it honour according to the dignity thereof.
Who will justify him that sinneth against his own soul? and who will honour him that dishonoureth his own life?
The poor man is honoured for his skill, and the rich man is honoured for his riches.
He that is honoured in poverty, how much more in riches? and he that is dishonourable in riches, how much more in poverty?
Here endeth the first lesson.
Here beginneth the 15th chapter of Luke.
Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
And he said, A certain man had two sons:
And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.