Wednesday 19 December 2007 DAILY LECTIONARY

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Wednesday 19 December 2007 
DAILY LECTIONARY

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Zechariah 3:1-10

Then he showed me the high priest Joshua standing before the angel of
the Lord, and Satan* standing at his right hand to accuse him. 2And the
Lord said to Satan,* 'The Lord rebuke you, O Satan!* The Lord who has
chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this man a brand plucked from the
fire?' 3Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the
angel. 4The angel said to those who were standing before him, 'Take off
his filthy clothes.' And to him he said, 'See, I have taken your guilt
away from you, and I will clothe you in festal apparel.' 5And I said,
'Let them put a clean turban on his head.' So they put a clean turban on
his head and clothed him in the apparel; and the angel of the Lord was
standing by. 
6 Then the angel of the Lord assured Joshua, saying 7'Thus says the Lord
of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then you
shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you
the right of access among those who are standing here. 8Now listen,
Joshua, high priest, you and your colleagues who sit before you! For
they are an omen of things to come: I am going to bring my servant the
Branch. 9For on the stone that I have set before Joshua, on a single
stone with seven facets, I will engrave its inscription, says the Lord
of hosts, and I will remove the guilt of this land in a single day. 10On
that day, says the Lord of hosts, you shall invite each other to come
under your vine and fig tree.'
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Revelation 4:1-8

After this I looked, and there in heaven a door stood open! And the
first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said,
'Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.' 2At
once I was in the spirit,* and there in heaven stood a throne, with one
seated on the throne! 3And the one seated there looks like jasper and
cornelian, and around the throne is a rainbow that looks like an
emerald. 4Around the throne are twenty-four thrones, and seated on the
thrones are twenty-four elders, dressed in white robes, with golden
crowns on their heads. 5Coming from the throne are flashes of lightning,
and rumblings and peals of thunder, and in front of the throne burn
seven flaming torches, which are the seven spirits of God; 6and in front
of the throne there is something like a sea of glass, like crystal.
Around the throne, and on each side of the throne, are four living
creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: 7the first living creature
like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living
creature with a face like a human face, and the fourth living creature
like a flying eagle. 8And the four living creatures, each of them with
six wings, are full of eyes all around and inside. Day and night without
ceasing they sing,
'Holy, holy, holy,
the Lord God the Almighty,
   who was and is and is to come.' 
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Matthew 24:45-51

'Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom his master has put in
charge of his household, to give the other slaves* their allowance of
food at the proper time? 46Blessed is that slave whom his master will
find at work when he arrives. 47Truly I tell you, he will put that one
in charge of all his possessions. 48But if that wicked slave says to
himself, "My master is delayed", 49and he begins to beat his
fellow-slaves, and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50the master of that
slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that
he does not know. 51He will cut him in pieces* and put him with the
hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
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Morning Psalms:  Psalm 119:49-72

Psalm 119:49-72

Remember your word to your servant,
   in which you have made me hope. 
50This is my comfort in my distress,
   that your promise gives me life. 
51The arrogant utterly deride me,
   but I do not turn away from your law. 
52When I think of your ordinances from of old,
   I take comfort, O Lord. 
53Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked,
   those who forsake your law. 
54Your statutes have been my songs
   wherever I make my home. 
55I remember your name in the night, O Lord,
   and keep your law. 
56This blessing has fallen to me,
   for I have kept your precepts. 


57The Lord is my portion;
   I promise to keep your words. 
58I implore your favour with all my heart;
   be gracious to me according to your promise. 
59When I think of your ways,
   I turn my feet to your decrees; 
60I hurry and do not delay
   to keep your commandments. 
61Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me,
   I do not forget your law. 
62At midnight I rise to praise you,
   because of your righteous ordinances. 
63I am a companion of all who fear you,
   of those who keep your precepts. 
64The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love;
   teach me your statutes. 


65You have dealt well with your servant,
   O Lord, according to your word. 
66Teach me good judgement and knowledge,
   for I believe in your commandments. 
67Before I was humbled I went astray,
   but now I keep your word. 
68You are good and do good;
   teach me your statutes. 
69The arrogant smear me with lies,
   but with my whole heart I keep your precepts. 
70Their hearts are fat and gross,
   but I delight in your law. 
71It is good for me that I was humbled,
   so that I might learn your statutes. 
72The law of your mouth is better to me
   than thousands of gold and silver pieces. 
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Evening Psalms:  Psalm 49, 53

Psalm 49

Hear this, all you peoples;
   give ear, all inhabitants of the world, 
2both low and high,
   rich and poor together. 
3My mouth shall speak wisdom;
   the meditation of my heart shall be understanding. 
4I will incline my ear to a proverb;
   I will solve my riddle to the music of the harp. 


5Why should I fear in times of trouble,
   when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me, 
6those who trust in their wealth
   and boast of the abundance of their riches? 
7Truly, no ransom avails for one's life,*
   there is no price one can give to God for it. 
8For the ransom of life is costly,
   and can never suffice, 
9that one should live on for ever
   and never see the grave.* 


10When we look at the wise, they die;
   fool and dolt perish together
   and leave their wealth to others. 
11Their graves* are their homes for ever,
   their dwelling-places to all generations,
   though they named lands their own. 
12Mortals cannot abide in their pomp;
   they are like the animals that perish. 


13Such is the fate of the foolhardy,
   the end of those* who are pleased with their lot.
          Selah 
14Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol;
   Death shall be their shepherd;
straight to the grave they descend,*
   and their form shall waste away;
   Sheol shall be their home.* 
15But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol,
   for he will receive me.
          Selah 


16Do not be afraid when some become rich,
   when the wealth of their houses increases. 
17For when they die they will carry nothing away;
   their wealth will not go down after them. 
18Though in their lifetime they count themselves happy
   -for you are praised when you do well for yourself- 
19they* will go to the company of their ancestors,
   who will never again see the light. 
20Mortals cannot abide in their pomp;
   they are like the animals that perish.


Psalm 53

Fools say in their hearts, 'There is no God.'
   They are corrupt, they commit abominable acts;
   there is no one who does good. 


2God looks down from heaven on humankind
   to see if there are any who are wise,
   who seek after God. 


3They have all fallen away, they are all alike perverse;
   there is no one who does good,
   no, not one. 


4Have they no knowledge, those evildoers,
   who eat up my people as they eat bread,
   and do not call upon God? 


5There they shall be in great terror,
   in terror such as has not been.
For God will scatter the bones of the ungodly;*
   they will be put to shame,* for God has rejected them. 


6O that deliverance for Israel would come from Zion!
   When God restores the fortunes of his people,
   Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad.
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