Today's Readings - Common Prayer

The Psalter

Psalm 96

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O SING unto the LORD a new song; * sing unto the LORD, all the whole earth.

Sing unto the LORD, and praise his Name; * be telling of his salvation from day to day.

Declare his honour unto the heathen, * and his wonders unto all peoples.

For the LORD is great, and cannot worthily be praised; * he is more to be feared than all gods.

As for all the gods of the heathen, they are but idols; * but it is the LORD that made the heavens.

Glory and worship are before him; * power and honour are in his sanctuary.

Ascribe unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the peoples, * ascribe unto the LORD worship and power.

Ascribe unto the LORD the honour due unto his Name; * bring presents, and come into his courts.

O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness; * let the whole earth stand in awe of him.

Tell it out among the heathen, that the LORD is King, and that it is he who hath made the round world so fast that it cannot be moved; * and how that he shall judge the peoples righteously.

Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; * let the sea make a noise, and all that therein is.

Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it; * then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the LORD.

For he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth; * and with righteousness to judge the world, and the peoples with his truth.

The First Lesson

Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14

I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

The Second Lesson

Ephesians 4:1-16

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.