Wednesday 20 December 2023 DAILY LECTIONARY

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Wednesday 20 December 2023 
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. And 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?’ Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood
before the angel. The 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.’ And 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.

 Then the angel of the Lord assured Joshua, saying ‘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. Now
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. For 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. On 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.’ At once I was in the spirit,* and there in heaven stood a
throne, with one seated on the throne! And the one seated there looks
like jasper and cornelian, and around the throne is a rainbow that
looks like an emerald. Around 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. Coming 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;
and 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: the 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. And 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? Blessed is that slave whom his master will
find at work when he arrives. Truly I tell you, he will put that one
in charge of all his possessions. But if that wicked slave says to
himself, “My master is delayed”, and he begins to beat his
fellow-slaves, and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that
slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour
that he does not know. He 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. 
This is my comfort in my distress,
   that your promise gives me life. 
The arrogant utterly deride me,
   but I do not turn away from your law. 
When I think of your ordinances from of old,
   I take comfort, O Lord. 
Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked,
   those who forsake your law. 
Your statutes have been my songs
   wherever I make my home. 
I remember your name in the night, O Lord,
   and keep your law. 
This blessing has fallen to me,
   for I have kept your precepts. 

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

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

Psalm 49

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

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

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

Such is the fate of the foolhardy,
   the end of those* who are pleased with their lot.
          Selah 
Like 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.* 
But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol,
   for he will receive me.
          Selah 

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