Book of Common Prayer
Psalm 23
The Good Shepherd
A psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my shepherd;(A)
I have what I need.(B)
2 He lets me lie down in green pastures;(C)
he leads me beside quiet waters.(D)
3 He renews my life;
he leads me along the right paths[a]
for his name’s sake.(E)
4 Even when I go through the darkest valley,[b]
I fear no danger,
for you are with me;(F)
your rod and your staff—they comfort me.(G)
Psalm 121
The Lord Our Protector
A song of ascents.
1 I lift my eyes toward the mountains.
Where will my help come from?(A)
2 My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.(B)
3 He will not allow your foot to slip;
your Protector will not slumber.(C)
4 Indeed, the Protector of Israel
does not slumber or sleep.(D)
Job Replies to the Lord
42 Then Job replied to the Lord:
2 I[a] know that you can do anything
and no plan of yours can be thwarted.(A)
3 You asked, “Who is this who conceals my counsel with ignorance?”(B)
Surely I spoke about things I did not understand,
things too wondrous for me to[b] know.(C)
4 You said, “Listen now, and I will speak.
When I question(D) you, you will inform me.”
5 I had heard reports about you,
but now my eyes(E) have seen you.
6 Therefore, I reject my words and am sorry for them;
I am dust and ashes.[c][d]
A Living Hope
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.(A) Because of his great mercy(B) he has given us new birth(C) into a living hope(D) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead(E) 4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable,(F) undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven(G) for you. 5 You are being guarded by God’s power(H) through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.(I) 6 You rejoice in this,[a] even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials(J) 7 so that the proven character of your faith(K)—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire(L)—may result(M) in praise, glory, and honor(N) at the revelation of Jesus Christ.(O) 8 Though you have not seen(P) him, you love him;(Q) though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice(R) with inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Psalm 27
My Stronghold
Of David.
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom should I fear?(A)
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
whom should I dread?(B)
2 When evildoers came against me to devour my flesh,(C)
my foes and my enemies stumbled and fell.(D)
3 Though an army deploys against me,
my heart will not be afraid;
though a war breaks out against me,
I will still be confident.(E)
4 I have asked one thing from the Lord;
it is what I desire:
to dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,(F)
gazing on the beauty of the Lord(G)
and seeking him in his temple.(H)
5 For he will conceal me in his shelter
in the day of adversity;
he will hide me under the cover of his tent;
he will set me high on a rock.(I)
6 Then my head will be high
above my enemies around me;(J)
I will offer sacrifices in his tent with shouts of joy.(K)
I will sing and make music to the Lord.(L)
7 Lord, hear my voice when I call;
be gracious to me and answer me.(M)
8 My heart says this about you:
“Seek[a] his face.”
Lord, I will seek your face.(N)
9 Do not hide your face from me;(O)
do not turn your servant away in anger.(P)
You have been my helper;(Q)
do not leave me or abandon me,
God of my salvation.
10 Even if my father and mother abandon me,
the Lord cares for me.(R)
The Way to the Father
14 “Don’t let your heart be troubled.(A) Believe[a] in God; (B) believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going (C) to prepare a place for you? 3 If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again(D) and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also.(E) 4 You know the way to where I am going.”[b](F)
5 “Lord,” Thomas(G) said, “we don’t know where you’re going. How can we know the way?”
6 Jesus told him, “I am(H) the way,(I) the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you know me, you will also know[c] my Father.(J) From now on you do know him(K) and have seen him.”
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