DAILY OFFICE

Daily scripture readings from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer

Friday, May 12

Today's readings include passages from Psalms, Romans and Luke.

Psalm 106

1 Praise the Lord!     Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,     for his steadfast love endures forever! 2 Who can utter the mighty deeds of the Lord,     or declare all his praise? 3 Blessed are they who observe justice,     who do righteousness at all times! 4 Remember me, O Lord, when you show favor to your people;     help me when you save them, 5 that I may look upon the prosperity of your chosen ones,     that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation,     that I may glory with your inheritance. 6 Both we and our fathers have sinned;     we have committed iniquity; we have done wickedness. 7 Our fathers, when they were in Egypt,     did not consider your wondrous works;     they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love,     but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea. 8 Yet he saved them for his name's sake,     that he might make known his mighty power. 9 He rebuked the Red Sea, and it became dry,     and he led them through the deep as through a desert. 10 So he saved them from the hand of the foe     and redeemed them from the power of the enemy. 11 And the waters covered their adversaries;     not one of them was left. 12 Then they believed his words;     they sang his praise. 13 But they soon forgot his works;     they did not wait for his counsel. 14 But they had a wanton craving in the wilderness,     and put God to the test in the desert; 15 he gave them what they asked,     but sent a wasting disease among them. 16 When men in the camp were jealous of Moses     and Aaron, the holy one of the Lord, 17 the earth opened and swallowed up Dathan,     and covered the company of Abiram. 18 Fire also broke out in their company;     the flame burned up the wicked. 19 They made a calf in Horeb     and worshiped a metal image. 20 They exchanged the glory of God     for the image of an ox that eats grass. 21 They forgot God, their Savior,     who had done great things in Egypt, 22 wondrous works in the land of Ham,     and awesome deeds by the Red Sea. 23 Therefore he said he would destroy them—     had not Moses, his chosen one,     stood in the breach before him,     to turn away his wrath from destroying them. 24 Then they despised the pleasant land,     having no faith in his promise. 25 They murmured in their tents,     and did not obey the voice of the Lord. 26 Therefore he raised his hand and swore to them     that he would make them fall in the wilderness, 27 and would make their offspring fall among the nations,     scattering them among the lands. 28 Then they yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor,     and ate sacrifices offered to the dead; 29 they provoked the Lord to anger with their deeds,     and a plague broke out among them. 30 Then Phinehas stood up and intervened,     and the plague was stayed. 31 And that was counted to him as righteousness     from generation to generation forever. 32 They angered him at the waters of Meribah,     and it went ill with Moses on their account, 33 for they made his spirit bitter,     and he spoke rashly with his lips. 34 They did not destroy the peoples,     as the Lord commanded them, 35 but they mixed with the nations     and learned to do as they did. 36 They served their idols,     which became a snare to them. 37 They sacrificed their sons     and their daughters to the demons; 38 they poured out innocent blood,     the blood of their sons and daughters,     whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan,     and the land was polluted with blood. 39 Thus they became unclean by their acts,     and played the whore in their deeds. 40 Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against his people,     and he abhorred his heritage; 41 he gave them into the hand of the nations,     so that those who hated them ruled over them. 42 Their enemies oppressed them,     and they were brought into subjection under their power. 43 Many times he delivered them,     but they were rebellious in their purposes     and were brought low through their iniquity. 44 Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress,     when he heard their cry. 45 For their sake he remembered his covenant,     and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love. 46 He caused them to be pitied     by all those who held them captive. 47 Save us, O Lord our God,     and gather us from among the nations,     that we may give thanks to your holy name     and glory in your praise. 48 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,     from everlasting to everlasting!     And let all the people say, “Amen!”     Praise the Lord!

 

Romans 14:13-23

13 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. 15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. 16 So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. 20 Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. 21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. 22 The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

 

Luke 8:40-56

40 Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. 41 And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus' feet, he implored him to come to his house, 42 for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. 43 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. 44 She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. 45 And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” 47 And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. 48 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” 49 While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler's house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” 50 But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” 51 And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. 52 And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” 53 And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” 55 And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. 56 And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.

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