Preface In the selection and arrangement of these Responsive Readings the Revised Version has been used with the exception that in a few psalms, where the new rendering changes familiar passages, certain words and expressions, that have become endeared by years of use, are retained unchanged. The psalms have been arranged in parallelism and with a view to unity of thought. Long selections have been avoided and the last response of each reading has been given to the congregation. Imprecatory psalms and passages have been omitted and there has been the constant endeavor to make selections that can be appropriated and heartily used in public worship as expressions of personal praise and prayer and thanksgiving. The Beatitudes (Matt. 5, 3-12) Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. and Blessed are ye, when men shall reproach you, and persecute you, say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. : Rejoice and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. The Commandments (The Minister) GOD spake all these words, saying, I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. (The Minister and Congregation) I. Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. II. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments. III. Thou shalt not take the Name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh His Name in vain. IV. Remember the Sabbath-day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath-day, and hallowed it. V. Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. VI. Thou shalt not kill. VII. Thou shalt not commit adultery. VIII. Thou shalt not steal. IX. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. X. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor's. (The Minister) HEA EAR also the words of our Lord Jesus, how He saith: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. The Psalter. SELECTION 1 PSALMS 84, 24 I How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! 2 My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord; 3 My heart and my flesh cry out unto the living God. 4 Yea, the sparrow hath found her an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, 5 Even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God. 6 Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. 7 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the high ways to Zion. 8 Passing through the valley of Weeping they make it a place of springs; 9 Yea, the early rain covereth it with blessings. 10 They go from strength to strength, every one of them appeareth before God in Zion. II O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob. 12 Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed. 13 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. 14 I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. 15 For the Lord God is a sun and a shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. 16 O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee. 17 The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof; the world and they that dwell therein. 18 For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. 19 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? 20 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto falsehood, and hath not sworn deceitfully. 21 He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. |