Tuesday 30 March 2010<!--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">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Lamentations 1:17-22<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Zion stretches out her hands,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>but there is no one to comfort her;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">the Lord has commanded against Jacob</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>that his neighbours should become his foes;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jerusalem has become</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>a filthy thing among them.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord is in the right,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for I have rebelled against his word;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">but hear, all you peoples,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and behold my suffering;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">my young women and young men</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>have gone into captivity.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I called to my lovers</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>but they deceived me;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">my priests and elders</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>perished in the city</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">while seeking food</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>to revive their strength.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">See, O Lord, how distressed I am;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>my stomach churns,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">my heart is wrung within me,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>because I have been very rebellious.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the street the sword bereaves;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in the house it is like death.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">They heard how I was groaning,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>with no one to comfort me.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All my enemies heard of my trouble;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they are glad that you have done it.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bring on the day you have announced,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and let them be as I am.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let all their evildoing come before you;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and deal with them</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">as you have dealt with me</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>because of all my transgressions;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">for my groans are many</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and my heart is faint.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">2 Corinthians 1:8-22</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters,* of the affliction we experienced in Asia; for we were so utterly, unbearably crushed that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death so that we would rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He who rescued us from so deadly a peril will continue to rescue us; on him we have set our hope that he will rescue us again, as you also join in helping us by your prayers, so that many will give thanks on our* behalf for the blessing granted to us through the prayers of many.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Indeed, this is our boast, the testimony of our conscience: we have behaved in the world with frankness* and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God—and all the more towards you. For we write to you nothing other than what you can read and also understand; I hope you will understand until the end— as you have already understood us in part—that on the day of the Lord Jesus we are your boast even as you are our boast.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Since I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you might have a double favour;* I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and to come back to you from Macedonia and have you send me on to Judea. Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this? Do I make my plans according to ordinary human standards,* ready to say ‘Yes, yes’ and ‘No, no’ at the same time? As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been ‘Yes and No.’ For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not ‘Yes and No’; but in him it is always ‘Yes.’ For in him every one of God’s promises is a ‘Yes.’ For this reason it is through him that we say the ‘Amen’, to the glory of God. But it is God who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us, by putting his seal on us and giving us his Spirit in our hearts as a first instalment.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Mark 11:27-33</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Again they came to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority to do them?’ Jesus said to them, ‘I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin? Answer me.’ They argued with one another, ‘If we say, “From heaven”, he will say, “Why then did you not believe him?” But shall we say, “Of human origin”?’—they were afraid of the crowd, for all regarded John as truly a prophet. So they answered Jesus, ‘We do not know.’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.’<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Morning Psalms: Psalm 6, 12</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 6</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">Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>O Lord, heal me, for my bones are shaking with terror.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My soul also is struck with terror,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>while you, O Lord—how long?</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Turn, O Lord, save my life;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>deliver me for the sake of your steadfast love.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For in death there is no remembrance of you;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in Sheol who can give you praise?</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I am weary with my moaning;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>every night I flood my bed with tears;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I drench my couch with my weeping.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My eyes waste away because of grief;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they grow weak because of all my foes.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Depart from me, all you workers of evil,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord has heard my supplication;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the Lord accepts my prayer.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All my enemies shall be ashamed and struck with terror;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they shall turn back, and in a moment be put to shame.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 12</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Help, O Lord, for there is no longer anyone who is godly;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the faithful have disappeared from humankind.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They utter lies to each other;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the tongue that makes great boasts,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">those who say, ‘With our tongues we will prevail;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>our lips are our own—who is our master?’</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">‘Because the poor are despoiled, because the needy groan,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I will now rise up,’ says the Lord;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>‘I will place them in the safety for which they long.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The promises of the Lord are promises that are pure,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>silver refined in a furnace on the ground,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>purified seven times.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">You, O Lord, will protect us;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you will guard us from this generation for ever.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On every side the wicked prowl,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>as vileness is exalted among humankind.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Evening Psalms: Psalm 94</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 94</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">O Lord, you God of vengeance,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you God of vengeance, shine forth!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rise up, O judge of the earth;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>give to the proud what they deserve!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">O Lord, how long shall the wicked,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>how long shall the wicked exult?</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">They pour out their arrogant words;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>all the evildoers boast.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They crush your people, O Lord,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and afflict your heritage.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They kill the widow and the stranger,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they murder the orphan,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">and they say, ‘The Lord does not see;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the God of Jacob does not perceive.’</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Understand, O dullest of the people;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>fools, when will you be wise?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He who planted the ear, does he not hear?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He who formed the eye, does he not see?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He who disciplines the nations,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">he who teaches knowledge to humankind,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>does he not chastise?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord knows our thoughts,*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>that they are but an empty breath.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Happy are those whom you discipline, O Lord,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and whom you teach out of your law,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">giving them respite from days of trouble,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>until a pit is dug for the wicked.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For the Lord will not forsake his people;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he will not abandon his heritage;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">for justice will return to the righteous,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and all the upright in heart will follow it.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Who rises up for me against the wicked?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Who stands up for me against evildoers?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If the Lord had not been my help,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When I thought, ‘My foot is slipping’,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When the cares of my heart are many,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>your consolations cheer my soul.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Can wicked rulers be allied with you,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>those who contrive mischief by statute?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They band together against the life of the righteous,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and condemn the innocent to death.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But the Lord has become my stronghold,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and my God the rock of my refuge.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He will repay them for their iniquity</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and wipe them out for their wickedness;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the Lord our God will wipe them out.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
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