DAILY OFFICE

Daily scripture readings from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer

Sunday, May 26

Today's readings include passages from Psalms, Job, Revelation and John.

Psalm 111

1 Praise the Lord!     I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,     in the company of the upright, in the congregation. Great are the works of the Lord,     studied by all who delight in them. Full of splendor and majesty is his work,     and his righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered;     the Lord is gracious and merciful. He provides food for those who fear him;     he remembers his covenant forever. He has shown his people the power of his works,     in giving them the inheritance of the nations. The works of his hands are faithful and just;     all his precepts are trustworthy; they are established forever and ever,     to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. He sent redemption to his people;     he has commanded his covenant forever.     Holy and awesome is his name! 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;     all those who practice it have a good understanding.     His praise endures forever!

Psalm 112

1 Praise the Lord!     Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,     who greatly delights in his commandments! His offspring will be mighty in the land;     the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house,     and his righteousness endures forever. Light dawns in the darkness for the upright;     he is gracious, merciful, and righteous. It is well with the man who deals generously and lends;     who conducts his affairs with justice. For the righteous will never be moved;     he will be remembered forever. He is not afraid of bad news;     his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. His heart is steady; he will not be afraid,     until he looks in triumph on his adversaries. He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor;     his righteousness endures forever;     his horn is exalted in honor. 10 The wicked man sees it and is angry;     he gnashes his teeth and melts away;     the desire of the wicked will perish!

Psalm 113

1 Praise the Lord!     Praise, O servants of the Lord,     praise the name of the Lord! Blessed be the name of the Lord     from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its setting,     the name of the Lord is to be praised! The Lord is high above all nations,     and his glory above the heavens! Who is like the Lord our God,     who is seated on high, who looks far down     on the heavens and the earth? He raises the poor from the dust     and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes,     with the princes of his people. He gives the barren woman a home,     making her the joyous mother of children.     Praise the Lord!

Psalm 146

1 Praise the Lord!     Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live;     I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. Put not your trust in princes,     in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth;     on that very day his plans perish. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,     whose hope is in the Lord his God, who made heaven and earth,     the sea, and all that is in them,     who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed,     who gives food to the hungry.     The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.     The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;     the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the sojourners;     he upholds the widow and the fatherless,     but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. 10 The Lord will reign forever,     your God, O Zion, to all generations.     Praise the Lord!

Psalm 147

1 Praise the Lord!     For it is good to sing praises to our God;     for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting. The Lord builds up Jerusalem;     he gathers the outcasts of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted     and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars;     he gives to all of them their names. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;     his understanding is beyond measure. The Lord lifts up the humble;     he casts the wicked to the ground. Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;     make melody to our God on the lyre! He covers the heavens with clouds;     he prepares rain for the earth;     he makes grass grow on the hills. He gives to the beasts their food,     and to the young ravens that cry. 10 His delight is not in the strength of the horse,     nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, 11 but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,     in those who hope in his steadfast love. 12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!     Praise your God, O Zion! 13 For he strengthens the bars of your gates;     he blesses your children within you. 14 He makes peace in your borders;     he fills you with the finest of the wheat. 15 He sends out his command to the earth;     his word runs swiftly. 16 He gives snow like wool;     he scatters frost like ashes. 17 He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs;     who can stand before his cold? 18 He sends out his word, and melts them;     he makes his wind blow and the waters flow. 19 He declares his word to Jacob,     his statutes and rules to Israel. 20 He has not dealt thus with any other nation;     they do not know his rules.     Praise the Lord!

Job 38:1-11; 42:1-5

1 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man;     I will question you, and you make it known to me. “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?     Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know!     Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk,     or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together     and all the sons of God shouted for joy? “Or who shut in the sea with doors     when it burst out from the womb, when I made clouds its garment     and thick darkness its swaddling band, 10 and prescribed limits for it     and set bars and doors, 11 and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther,     and here shall your proud waves be stayed’? ... 42:1 Then Job answered the Lord and said: “I know that you can do all things,     and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’     Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,     things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. ‘Hear, and I will speak;     I will question you, and you make it known to me.’ I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,     but now my eye sees you; ...

Revelation 19:4-16

And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” And from the throne came a voice saying,     “Praise our God,     all you his servants,     you who fear him,     small and great.” Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,     “Hallelujah!     For the Lord our God     the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult     and give him the glory,     for the marriage of the Lamb has come,     and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself     with fine linen, bright and pure”—     for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” 10 Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. 11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped inblood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

John 1:29-34

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.