As Written in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer
Today is Wednesday, December 11, 2024
The liturgical color of the day is PURPLE
The Psalter
Psalm 118
The One Hundred Eighteenth Psalm
Confitemini Domino.
O GIVE thanks unto the LORD, for he is gracious; * because his mercy endureth for ever.
Let Israel now confess that he is gracious, * and that his mercy endureth for ever.
Let the house of Aaron now confess, * that his mercy endureth for ever.
Yea, let them now that fear the LORD confess, * that his mercy endureth for ever.
I called upon the LORD in trouble; * and the LORD heard me at large.
The LORD is on my side; * I will not fear what man doeth unto me.
The LORD taketh my part with them that help me; * therefore shall I see my desire upon mine enemies.
It is better to trust in the LORD, * than to put any confidence in man.
It is better to trust in the LORD, * than to put any confidence in princes.
All nations compassed me round about; * but in the Name of the LORD will I destroy them.
They kept me in on every side, they kept me in, I say, on every side; * but in the Name of the LORD will I destroy them.
They came about me like bees, and are extinct even as the fire among the thorns; * for in the Name of the LORD I will destroy them.
Thou hast thrust sore at me, that I might fall; * but the LORD was my help.
The LORD is my strength, and my song; * and is become my salvation.
The voice of joy and health is in the dwellings of the righteous; * the right hand of the LORD bringeth mighty things to pass.
The right hand of the LORD hath the pre-eminence; * the right hand of the LORD bringeth mighty things to pass.
I shall not die, but live, * and declare the works of the LORD.
The LORD hath chastened and corrected me; * but he hath not given me over unto death.
Open me the gates of righteousness, * that I may go into them, and give thanks unto the LORD.
This is the gate of the LORD, * the righteous shall enter into it.
I will thank thee; for thou hast heard me, * and art become my salvation.
The same stone which the builders refused, * is become the head-stone in the corner.
This is the LORD'S doing, * and it is marvellous in our eyes.
This is the day which the LORD hath made; * we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Help me now, O LORD: * O LORD, send us now prosperity.
Blessed be he that cometh in the Name of the LORD: * we have wished you good luck, we that are of the house of the LORD.
God is the LORD, who hath showed us light: * bind the sacrifice with cords, yea, even unto the horns of the altar.
Thou art my God, and I will thank thee; * thou art my God, and I will praise thee.
O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is gracious, * and his mercy endureth for ever.
The First Lesson
Wisdom 6:12-21
Wisdom is glorious, and never fadeth away: yea, she is easily seen of them that love her, and found of such as seek her. She preventeth them that desire her, in making herself first known unto them. Whoso seeketh her early shall have no great travail: for he shall find her sitting at his doors. To think therefore upon her is perfection of wisdom: and whoso watcheth for her shall quickly be without care. For she goeth about seeking such as are worthy of her, sheweth herself favourably unto them in the ways, and meeteth them in every thought. For the very true beginning of her is the desire of discipline; and the care of discipline is love; And love is the keeping of her laws; and the giving heed unto her laws is the assurance of incorruption; And incorruption maketh us near unto God: Therefore the desire of wisdom bringeth to a kingdom. If your delight be then in thrones and sceptres, O ye kings of the people, honour wisdom, that ye may reign for evermore.
The Second Lesson
II Thessalonians 2:1-12
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
The Collect