November 10, 2022 :: Morning Prayer
Thursday after the Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity
Here beginneth the 33rd chapter of Sirach.
There shall no evil happen unto him that feareth the Lord; but in temptation even again he will deliver him.
A wise man hateth not the law; but he that is an hypocrite therein is as a ship in a storm.
A man of understanding trusteth in the law; and the law is faithful unto him, as an oracle.
Prepare what to say, and so thou shalt be heard: and bind up instruction, and then make answer.
The heart of the foolish is like a cartwheel; and his thoughts are like a rolling axletree.
A stallion horse is as a mocking friend, he neigheth under every one that sitteth upon him.
Why doth one day excel another, when as all the light of every day in the year is of the sun?
By the knowledge of the Lord they were distinguished: and he altered seasons and feasts.
Some of them hath he made high days, and hallowed them, and some of them hath he made ordinary days.
And all men are from the ground, and Adam was created of earth.
In much knowledge the Lord hath divided them, and made their ways diverse.
Some of them hath he blessed and exalted, and some of them hath he sanctified, and set near himself: but some of them hath he cursed and brought low, and turned out of their places.
As the clay is in the potter's hand, to fashion it at his pleasure: so man is in the hand of him that made him, to render to them as liketh him best.
Good is set against evil, and life against death: so is the godly against the sinner, and the sinner against the godly.
So look upon all the works of the most High; and there are two and two, one against another.
I awaked up last of all, as one that gathereth after the grapegatherers: by the blessing of the Lord I profited, and filled my winepress like a gatherer of grapes.
Consider that I laboured not for myself only, but for all them that seek learning.
Hear me, O ye great men of the people, and hearken with your ears, ye rulers of the congregation.
Give not thy son and wife, thy brother and friend, power over thee while thou livest, and give not thy goods to another: lest it repent thee, and thou intreat for the same again.
As long as thou livest and hast breath in thee, give not thyself over to any.
For better it is that thy children should seek to thee, than that thou shouldest stand to their courtesy.
In all thy works keep to thyself the preeminence; leave not a stain in thine honour.
At the time when thou shalt end thy days, and finish thy life, distribute thine inheritance.
Fodder, a wand, and burdens, are for the ass; and bread, correction, and work, for a servant.
If thou set thy servant to labour, thou shalt find rest: but if thou let him go idle, he shall seek liberty.
A yoke and a collar do bow the neck: so are tortures and torments for an evil servant.
Send him to labour, that he be not idle; for idleness teacheth much evil.
Set him to work, as is fit for him: if he be not obedient, put on more heavy fetters.
But be not excessive toward any; and without discretion do nothing.
If thou have a servant, let him be unto thee as thyself, because thou hast bought him with a price.
If thou have a servant, entreat him as a brother: for thou hast need of him, as of thine own soul: if thou entreat him evil, and he run from thee, which way wilt thou go to seek him?
Here endeth the first lesson.
Here beginneth the 2nd chapter of John.
And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.
And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,
And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;
And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.
And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
But he spake of the temple of his body.
When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.
But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,
And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.