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 104
The One Hundred Fourth Psalm
Benedic, anima mea.
PRAISE the LORD, O my soul: * O LORD my God, thou art become exceeding glorious; thou art clothed with majesty and honour.
Thou deckest thyself with light as it were with a garment, * and spreadest out the heavens like a curtain.
Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters, * and maketh the clouds his chariot, and walketh upon the wings of the wind.
He maketh his angels winds, * and his ministers a flaming fire.
He laid the foundations of the earth, * that it never should move at any time.
Thou coveredst it with the deep like as with a garment; * the waters stand above the hills.
At thy rebuke they flee; * at the voice of thy thunder they haste away.
They go up as high as the hills, and down to the valleys beneath; * even unto the place which thou hast appointed for them.
Thou hast set them their bounds, which they shall not pass, * neither turn again to cover the earth.
He sendeth the springs into the rivers, * which run among the hills.
All beasts of the field drink thereof, * and the wild asses quench their thirst.
Beside them shall the fowls of the air have their habitation, * and sing among the branches.
He watereth the hills from above; * the earth is filled with the fruit of thy works.
He bringeth forth grass for the cattle, * and green herb for the service of men;
That he may bring food out of the earth, and wine that maketh glad the heart of man; * and oil to make him a cheerful countenance, and bread to strengthen man's heart.
The trees of the LORD also are full of sap; * even the cedars of Lebanon which he hath planted;
Wherein the birds make their nests; * and the firtrees are a dwelling for the stork.
The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; * and so are the stony rocks for the conies.
He appointed the moon for certain seasons, * and the sun knoweth his going down.
Thou makest darkness that it may be night; * wherein all the beasts of the forest do move.
The lions, roaring after their prey, * do seek their meat from God.
The sun ariseth, and they get them away together, * and lay them down in their dens.
Man goeth forth to his work, and to his labour, * until the evening.
O LORD, how manifold are thy works! * in wisdom hast thou made them all; the earth is full of thy riches.
So is the great and wide sea also; * wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.
There go the ships, and there is that leviathan, * whom thou hast made to take his pastime therein.
These wait all upon thee, * that thou mayest give them meat in due season.
When thou givest it them, they gather it; * and when thou openest thy hand, they are filled with good.
When thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: * when thou takest away their breath, they die, and are turned again to their dust.
When thou lettest thy breath go forth, they shall be made; * and thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
The glorious majesty of the LORD shall endure for ever; * the LORD shall rejoice in his works.
The earth shall tremble at the look of him; * if he do but touch the hills, they shall smoke.
I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live; * I will praise my God while I have my being.
And so shall my words please him: * my joy shall be in the LORD.
As for sinners, they shall be consumed out of the earth, * and the ungodly shall come to an end.
Praise thou the LORD, O my soul. * Praise the LORD.
The First Lesson
Malachi 3:16 - 4:6
Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts. Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
The Second Lesson
I Peter 3:1-12
Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
The Collect
Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Trinity
O LORD, we beseech thee, absolve thy people from their offences; that through thy bountiful goodness we may all be delivered from the bands of those sins, which by our frailty we have committed. Grant this, O heavenly Father, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen.