WEEKLY READINGS

SEXAGESIMA

Sunday

February 7^th 2010

Lessons and Psalms

The 1928 The Book of Common Prayer found on page xvi

(Psalm 71,* Isaiah 50:4-10, 2 Corinthians 12:1-12)

The Book of Psalms

Psalm 71 In te, Domine, speravi.

1. IN thee, O LORD, have I put my trust; let me never be put to confusion, * but rid me and deliver me in thy righteousness; incline thine ear unto me, and save me.
2. Be thou my stronghold, whereunto I may alway resort: * thou hast promised to help me, for thou art my house of defence, and my castle.
3. Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the ungodly, * out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.
4. For thou, O Lord GOD, art the thing that I long for: * thou art my hope, even from my youth.
5. Through thee have I been holden up ever since I was born: * thou art he that took me out of my mother's womb: my praise shall be alway of thee.
6. I am become as it were a monster unto many, * but my sure trust is in thee.
7. O let my mouth be filled with thy praise, * that I may sing of thy glory and honour all the day long.
8. Cast me not away in the time of age; * forsake me not when my strength faileth me.
9. For mine enemies speak against me; * and they that lay wait for my soul take their counsel together, saying,
10. God hath forsaken him; * persecute him, and take him, for there is none to deliver him.
11. Go not far from me, O God; * my God, haste thee to help me.
12. Let them be confounded and perish that are against my soul; * let them be covered with shame and dishonour that seek to do me evil.
13. As for me, I will patiently abide alway, * and will praise thee more and more.
14. My mouth shall daily speak of thy righteousness and salvation; * for I know no end thereof.
15. I will go forth in the strength of the Lord GOD, *and will make mention of thy righteousness only.
16. Thou, O God, hast taught me from my youth up until now; * therefore will I tell of thy wondrous works.
17. Forsake me not, O God, in mine old age, when I am gray-headed, * until I have showed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to all them that are yet for to come.
18. Thy righteousness, O God, is very high, * and great things are they that thou hast done: O God, who is like unto thee!
19. O what great troubles and adversities hast thou showed me ! and yet didst thou turn and refresh me; * yea, and broughtest me from the deep of the earth again.
20. Thou hast brought me to great honour, * and comforted me on every side:
21. Therefore will I praise thee, and thy faithfulness, O God, playing upon an instrument

of music: * unto thee will I sing upon the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.
22. My lips will be glad when I sing unto thee; * and so will my soul whom thou hast delivered.
23. My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long; * for they are confounded and brought unto shame that seek to do me evil.

Here beginnith the 1^st lesson that is written in the 50^th chapter of Isaiah beginning at the 4^th verse.

The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. The Lord God hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back. I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me. Behold, the Lord God will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up. Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.

Here endeth the 1^st lesson.

Here beginnith the 2^nd lesson that is written in the 12th chapter of 2Corinthians beginning at the 1^st verse.

It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing. Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

Here endeth the 2^nd lesson.

The Collect

Sexagesima

O LORD God, who seest that we put not our trust in any thing we do; Mercifully grant that by thy power we may be defended against all adversity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.