Wednesday 2 September 2009<!--StartFragment-->
<p class="MsoNormal">DAILY LECTIONARY</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Email Evangelism, forward to a friend: http://www.dailylectionary.org</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">1 Kings 9:24-10:13<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">But Pharaoh’s daughter went up from the city of David to her own house that Solomon had built for her; then he built the Millo.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Three times a year Solomon used to offer up burnt-offerings and sacrifices of well-being on the altar that he built for the Lord, offering incense* before the Lord. So he completed the house.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>King Solomon built a fleet of ships at Ezion-geber, which is near Eloth on the shore of the Red Sea,* in the land of Edom. Hiram sent his servants with the fleet, sailors who were familiar with the sea, together with the servants of Solomon. They went to Ophir, and imported from there four hundred and twenty talents of gold, which they delivered to King Solomon.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, (fame due to* the name of the Lord), she came to test him with hard questions. She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels bearing spices, and very much gold, and precious stones; and when she came to Solomon, she told him all that was on her mind. Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing hidden from the king that he could not explain to her. When the queen of Sheba had observed all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, their clothing, his valets, and his burnt-offerings that he offered at the house of the Lord, there was no more spirit in her.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>So she said to the king, ‘The report was true that I heard in my own land of your accomplishments and of your wisdom, but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it. Not even half had been told me; your wisdom and prosperity far surpass the report that I had heard. Happy are your wives!* Happy are these your servants, who continually attend you and hear your wisdom! Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel! Because the Lord loved Israel for ever, he has made you king to execute justice and righteousness.’ Then she gave the king one hundred and twenty talents of gold, a great quantity of spices, and precious stones; never again did spices come in such quantity as that which the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Moreover, the fleet of Hiram, which carried gold from Ophir, brought from Ophir a great quantity of almug wood and precious stones. From the almug wood the king made supports for the house of the Lord, and for the king’s house, lyres also and harps for the singers; no such almug wood has come or been seen to this day.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Meanwhile, King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba every desire that she expressed, as well as what he gave her out of Solomon’s royal bounty. Then she returned to her own land, with her servants.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">James 3:1-12</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters,* for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature,* and is itself set on fire by hell.* For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters,* this ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters,* yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Mark 15:1-11</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate asked him, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ He answered him, ‘You say so.’ Then the chief priests accused him of many things. Pilate asked him again, ‘Have you no answer? See how many charges they bring against you.’ But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Now at the festival he used to release a prisoner for them, anyone for whom they asked. Now a man called Barabbas was in prison with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection. So the crowd came and began to ask Pilate to do for them according to his custom. Then he answered them, ‘Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?’ For he realized that it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed him over. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Morning Psalms: Psalm 38</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 38</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>or discipline me in your wrath.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For your arrows have sunk into me,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and your hand has come down on me.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">There is no soundness in my flesh</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>because of your indignation;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">there is no health in my bones</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>because of my sin.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For my iniquities have gone over my head;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they weigh like a burden too heavy for me.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">My wounds grow foul and fester</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>because of my foolishness;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I am utterly bowed down and prostrate;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>all day long I go around mourning.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For my loins are filled with burning,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and there is no soundness in my flesh.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I am utterly spent and crushed;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I groan because of the tumult of my heart.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">O Lord, all my longing is known to you;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>my sighing is not hidden from you.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My heart throbs, my strength fails me;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>as for the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My friends and companions stand aloof from my affliction,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and my neighbours stand far off.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Those who seek my life lay their snares;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>those who seek to hurt me speak of ruin,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and meditate treachery all day long.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">But I am like the deaf, I do not hear;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>like the mute, who cannot speak.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Truly, I am like one who does not hear,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and in whose mouth is no retort.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">But it is for you, O Lord, that I wait;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For I pray, ‘Only do not let them rejoice over me,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>those who boast against me when my foot slips.’</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">For I am ready to fall,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and my pain is ever with me.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I confess my iniquity;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I am sorry for my sin.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Those who are my foes without cause* are mighty,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and many are those who hate me wrongfully.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Those who render me evil for good</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>are my adversaries because I follow after good.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Do not forsake me, O Lord;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>O my God, do not be far from me;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">make haste to help me,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>O Lord, my salvation.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Evening Psalms: Psalm 119:25-48</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 119:25-48</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">My soul clings to the dust;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>revive me according to your word.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When I told of my ways, you answered me;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>teach me your statutes.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Make me understand the way of your precepts,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and I will meditate on your wondrous works.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My soul melts away for sorrow;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>strengthen me according to your word.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Put false ways far from me;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and graciously teach me your law.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I have chosen the way of faithfulness;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I set your ordinances before me.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I cling to your decrees, O Lord;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>let me not be put to shame.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I run the way of your commandments,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for you enlarge my understanding.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and I will observe it to the end.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Give me understanding, that I may keep your law</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and observe it with my whole heart.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Lead me in the path of your commandments,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for I delight in it.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Turn my heart to your decrees,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and not to selfish gain.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Turn my eyes from looking at vanities;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>give me life in your ways.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Confirm to your servant your promise,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>which is for those who fear you.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Turn away the disgrace that I dread,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for your ordinances are good.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">See, I have longed for your precepts;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in your righteousness give me life.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>your salvation according to your promise.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then I shall have an answer for those who taunt me,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for I trust in your word.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for my hope is in your ordinances.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I will keep your law continually,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for ever and ever.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I shall walk at liberty,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for I have sought your precepts.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I will also speak of your decrees before kings,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and shall not be put to shame;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I find my delight in your commandments,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>because I love them.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I revere your commandments, which I love,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and I will meditate on your statutes.</p>
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