The Lessons for the Christian Year

Transcription

1 The Lessons for e Christian Year The Readings for First Vespers and Matins for e Sundays and Major Feast Days of e year according to e English Office of e Western Rite Vicariate of e Antiochian Orodox Christian Archdiocese of Nor America 2011

2 The rubrics of The English Office Noted state at If in any Church upon a Sunday or Holy Day, bo Morning and Evening Prayer be not said, e Minister may read e Lessons appointed for eier Morning or Evening Prayer. Lessons for certain feasts not found in e Book of Common Prayer Lectionary have been provided from The Prayer Book Office (Morehouse-Goreham Co., 1944) and oer sources. Note at Lessons for e Feast of Dedication (page 360 and following) and e Common of e Patronal Festival of a Bishop (page 365 and following) have been added to e end of is collection. St. Gregory Orodox Church Washington, DC Exaltation of e Holy Cross 2011

3 First Vespers of e First Sunday in Advent First Lesson: Here beginne 13 chapter of e Book of Tobit: Then Tobit wrote a prayer of rejoicing, and said, Blessed be God at live for ever, and blessed be his kingdom. For he do scourge, and ha mercy: he leade down to hell, and bringe up again: neier is ere any at can avoid his hand. Confess him before e Gentiles, ye children of Israel: for he ha scattered us among em. There declare his greatness, and extol him before all e living: for he is our Lord, and he is e God our Faer for ever. And he will scourge us for our iniquities, and will have mercy again, and will gaer us out of all nations, among whom he ha scattered us. If ye turn to him wi your whole heart, and wi your whole mind, and deal uprightly before him, en will he turn unto you, and will not hide his face from you. Therefore see what he will do wi you, and confess him wi your whole mou, and praise e Lord of might, and extol e everlasting King. In e land of my captivity do I praise him, and declare his might and majesty to a sinful nation. O ye sinners, turn and do justice before him: who can tell if he will accept you, and have mercy on you? I will extol my God, and my soul shall praise e King of heaven, and shall rejoice in his greatness. Let all men speak, and let all praise him for his righteousness. O Jerusalem, e holy city, he will scourge ee for y children s works, and will have mercy again on e sons of e righteous. Give praise to e Lord, for he is good: and praise e everlasting King, at his tabernacle may be builded in ee again wi joy, and let him make joyful ere in ee ose at are captives, and love in ee for ever ose at are miserable. Many nations shall come from far to e name of e Lord God wi gifts in eir hands, even gifts to e King of heaven; all generations shall praise ee wi great joy. Cursed are all ey which hate ee, and blessed shall all be which love ee for ever. Rejoice and be glad for e children of e just: for ey shall be gaered togeer, and shall bless e Lord of e just. O blessed are ey which love ee, for ey shall rejoice in y peace: blessed are ey which have been sorrowful for all y scourges; for ey shall rejoice for ee, when ey have seen all y glory, and shall be glad for ever. Let my soul bless God e great King. For Jerusalem shall be built up wi sapphires and emeralds, and precious stone: y walls and towers and battlements wi pure gold. And e streets of Jerusalem shall be paved wi beryl and carbuncle and stones of Ophir. And all her streets shall say, Alleluia; and ey shall praise him, saying, Blessed be God, which ha extolled it for ever. // Here ende e first lesson. -1-

4 rd nd Second Lesson: Here beginne e 3 chapter of e 2 Epistle of Blessed Peter e Apostle: This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in bo which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful of e words which were spoken before by e holy prophets, and of e commandment of us e apostles of e Lord and Saviour: Knowing is first, at ere shall come in e last days scoffers, walking after eir own lusts, And saying, Where is e promise of his coming? for since e faers fell asleep, all ings continue as ey were from e beginning of e creation. For is ey willingly are ignorant of, at by e word of God e heavens were of old, and e ear standing out of e water and in e water: Whereby e world at en was, being overflowed wi water, perished: But e heavens and e ear, which are now, by e same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against e day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of is one ing, at one day is wi e Lord as a ousand years, and a ousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing at any should perish, but at all should come to repentance. But e day of e Lord will come as a ief in e night; in e which e heavens shall pass away wi a great noise, and e elements shall melt wi fervent heat, e ear also and e works at are erein shall be burned up. Seeing en at all ese ings shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto e coming of e day of God, wherein e heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and e elements shall melt wi fervent heat? Nevereless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new ear, wherein dwelle righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing at ye look for such ings, be diligent at ye may be found of him in peace, wiout spot, and blameless. And account at e longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved broer Paul also according to e wisdom given unto him ha written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in em of ese ings; in which are some ings hard to be understood, which ey at are unlearned and unstable wrest, as ey do also e oer scriptures, unto eir own destruction. Ye erefore, beloved, seeing ye know ese ings before, beware lest ye also, being led away wi e error of e wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in e knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory bo now and for ever. Amen. // Here ende e second lesson. -2-

5 Matins of e First Sunday in Advent First Lesson: Here beginne 55 chapter of e Book of e Prophet Isaiah: Ho, every one at irste, come ye to e waters, and he at ha no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk wiout money and wiout price. Wherefore do ye spend money for at which is not bread? and your labour for at which satisfie not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye at which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant wi you, even e sure mercies of David. Behold, I have given him for a witness to e people, a leader and commander to e people. Behold, ou shalt call a nation at ou knowest not, and nations at knew not ee shall run unto ee because of e Lord y God, and for e Holy One of Israel; for he ha glorified ee. Seek ye e Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let e wicked forsake his way, and e unrighteous man his oughts: and let him return unto e Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my oughts are not your oughts, neier are your ways my ways, sai e Lord. For as e heavens are higher an e ear, so are my ways higher an your ways, and my oughts an your oughts. For as e rain come down, and e snow from heaven, and returne not ier, but watere e ear, and make it bring for and bud, at it may give seed to e sower, and bread to e eater: So shall my word be at goe for out of my mou: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish at which I please, and it shall prosper in e ing whereto I sent it. For ye shall go out wi joy, and be led for wi peace: e mountains and e hills shall break for before you into singing, and all e trees of e field shall clap eir hands. Instead of e orn shall come up e fir tree, and instead of e brier shall come up e myrtle tree: and it shall be to e Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign at shall not be cut off. // Here ende e first lesson. st Second Lesson: Here beginne e 57 verse of e 1 chapter of e Gospel according to Luke: Now Elisabe s full time came at she should be delivered; and she brought for a son. And her neighbours and her cousins heard how e Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and ey rejoiced wi her. And it came to pass, at on e eigh day ey came to circumcise e child; and ey called him Zacharias, after e name of his faer. And his moer answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. And ey said unto her, There is none of y kindred -3-

6 at is called by is name. And ey made signs to his faer, how he would have him called. And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And ey marvelled all. And his mou was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God. And fear came on all at dwelt round about em: and all ese sayings were noised abroad roughout all e hill country of Judaea. And all ey at heard em laid em up in eir hearts, saying, What manner of child shall is be! And e hand of e Lord was wi him. And his faer Zacharias was filled wi e Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, Blessed be e Lord God of Israel; for he ha visited and redeemed his people, And ha raised up an horn of salvation for us in e house of his servant David; As he spake by e mou of his holy prophets, which have been since e world began: That we should be saved from our enemies, and from e hand of all at hate us; To perform e mercy promised to our faers, and to remember his holy covenant; The oa which he sware to our faer Abraham, That he would grant unto us, at we being delivered out of e hand of our enemies might serve him wiout fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all e days of our life. And ou, child, shalt be called e prophet of e Highest: for ou shalt go before e face of e Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by e remission of eir sins, Through e tender mercy of our God; whereby e dayspring from on high ha visited us, To give light to em at sit in darkness and in e shadow of dea, to guide our feet into e way of peace. And e child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in e deserts till e day of his shewing unto Israel. // Here ende e second lesson. First Vespers of e Second Sunday in Advent st First Lesson: Here beginne 13 chapter of e 1 Book of e Kings: And, behold, ere came a man of God out of Judah by e word of e Lord unto Beel: and Jeroboam stood by e altar to burn incense. And he cried against e altar in e word of e Lord, and said, O altar, altar, us sai e Lord; Behold, a child shall be born unto e house of David, Josiah by name; and upon ee shall he offer e priests of e high places at burn incense upon ee, and men s bones shall be burnt upon ee. And he gave a sign e same day, saying, This is e sign which e Lord ha spoken; Behold, e altar shall be rent, and e ashes at are upon it shall be poured out. And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard e saying of e man of God, which had cried against e altar in Beel, at he put for his -4-

7 hand from e altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put for against him, dried up, so at he could not pull it in again to him. The altar also was rent, and e ashes poured out from e altar, according to e sign which e man of God had given by e word of e Lord. And e king answered and said unto e man of God, Intreat now e face of e Lord y God, and pray for me, at my hand may be restored me again. And e man of God besought e Lord, and e kings hand was restored him again, and became as it was before. And e king said unto e man of God, Come home wi me, and refresh yself, and I will give ee a reward. And e man of God said unto e king, If ou wilt give me half ine house, I will not go in wi ee, neier will I eat bread nor drink water in is place: For so was it charged me by e word of e Lord, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by e same way at ou camest. So he went anoer way, and returned not by e way at he came to Beel. // Here ende e first lesson. Second Lesson: Here beginne e 9 chapter of e Revelation of Blessed John e Apostle: And e fif angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto e ear: and to him was given e key of e bottomless pit. And he opened e bottomless pit; and ere arose a smoke out of e pit, as e smoke of a great furnace; and e sun and e air were darkened by reason of e smoke of e pit. And ere came out of e smoke locusts upon e ear: and unto em was given power, as e scorpions of e ear have power. And it was commanded em at ey should not hurt e grass of e ear, neier any green ing, neier any tree; but only ose men which have not e seal of God in eir foreheads. And to em it was given at ey should not kill em, but at ey should be tormented five mons: and eir torment was as e torment of a scorpion, when he strike a man. And in ose days shall men seek dea, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and dea shall flee from em. And e shapes of e locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on eir heads were as it were crowns like gold, and eir faces were as e faces of men. And ey had hair as e hair of women, and eir tee were as e tee of lions. And ey had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and e sound of eir wings was as e sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. And ey had tails like unto scorpions, and ere were stings in eir tails: and eir power was to hurt men five mons. And ey had a king over em, which is e angel of e bottomless pit, whose name in e Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in e Greek tongue ha his name Apollyon. One -5-

8 woe is past; and, behold, ere come two woes more hereafter. // Here ende e second lesson. Matins of e Second Sunday in Advent First Lesson: Here beginne 35 chapter of e Book of e Prophet Isaiah: The wilderness and e solitary place shall be glad for em; and e desert shall rejoice, and blossom as e rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even wi joy and singing: e glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, e excellency of Carmel and Sharon, ey shall see e glory of e Lord, and e excellency of our God. Strengen ye e weak hands, and confirm e feeble knees. Say to em at are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come wi vengeance, even God wi a recompence; he will come and save you. Then e eyes of e blind shall be opened, and e ears of e deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall e lame man leap as an hart, and e tongue of e dumb sing: for in e wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in e desert. And e parched ground shall become a pool, and e irsty land springs of water: in e habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass wi reeds and rushes. And an highway shall be ere, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; e unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for ose: e wayfaring men, ough fools, shall not err erein. No lion shall be ere, nor any ravenous beast shall go up ereon, it shall not be found ere; but e redeemed shall walk ere: And e ransomed of e Lord shall return, and come to Zion wi songs and everlasting joy upon eir heads: ey shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. // Here ende e first lesson. Second Lesson: Here beginne e 14 verse of e 4 chapter of e Gospel according to Luke: And Jesus returned in e power of e Spirit into Galilee: and ere went out a fame of him rough all e region round about. And he taught in eir synagogues, being glorified of all. And he came to Nazare, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into e synagogue on e sabba day, and stood up for to read. And ere was delivered unto him e book of e prophet Esaias. And when he had opened e book, he found e place where it was written, The Spirit of e Lord is upon me, because he ha anointed me to preach e gospel to e poor; he ha sent me to heal e brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to e captives, and recovering of sight to e blind, to set at liberty -6-

9 em at are bruised, To preach e acceptable year of e Lord. And he closed e book, and he gave it again to e minister, and sat down. And e eyes of all em at were in e synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto em, This day is is scripture fulfilled in your ears. And all bare him witness, and wondered at e gracious words which proceeded out of his mou. And ey said, Is not is Joseph s son? And he said unto em, Ye will surely say unto me is proverb, Physician, heal yself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in y country. And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. But I tell you of a tru, many widows were in Israel in e days of Elias, when e heaven was shut up ree years and six mons, when great famine was roughout all e land; But unto none of em was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman at was a widow. And many lepers were in Israel in e time of Eliseus e prophet; and none of em was cleansed, saving Naaman e Syrian. And all ey in e synagogue, when ey heard ese ings, were filled wi wra, And rose up, and rust him out of e city, and led him unto e brow of e hill whereon eir city was built, at ey might cast him down headlong. But he passing rough e midst of em went his way, And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught em on e sabba days. And ey were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was wi power. // Here ende e second lesson. First Vespers of e Third Sunday in Advent st First Lesson: Here beginne 18 chapter of e 1 Book of e Kings: And it came to pass after many days, at e word of e Lord came to Elijah in e ird year, saying, Go, shew yself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon e ear. And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And ere was a sore famine in Samaria. And Ahab called Obadiah, which was e governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared e Lord greatly: For it was so, when Jezebel cut off e prophets of e Lord, at Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid em by fifty in a cave, and fed em wi bread and water.) And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into e land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save e horses and mules alive, at we lose not all e beasts. So ey divided e land between em to pass roughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went anoer way by himself. And as Obadiah was in e way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art ou at my -7-

10 lord Elijah? And he answered him, I am: go, tell y lord, Behold, Elijah is here. And he said, What have I sinned, at ou wouldest deliver y servant into e hand of Ahab, to slay me? As e Lord y God live, ere is no nation or kingdom, whier my lord ha not sent to seek ee: and when ey said, He is not ere; he took an oa of e kingdom and nation, at ey found ee not. And now ou sayest, Go, tell y lord, Behold, Elijah is here. And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from ee, at e Spirit of e Lord shall carry ee whier I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find ee, he shall slay me: but I y servant fear e Lord from my you. Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew e prophets of e Lord, how I hid an hundred men of e Lord s prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed em wi bread and water? And now ou sayest, Go, tell y lord, Behold, Elijah is here: and he shall slay me. And Elijah said, As e Lord of hosts live, before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself unto him to day. So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah. And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, at Ahab said unto him, Art ou he at trouble Israel? And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but ou, and y faer s house, in at ye have forsaken e commandments of e Lord, and ou hast followed Baalim. Now erefore send, and gaer to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and e prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and e prophets of e groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebels table. So Ahab sent unto all e children of Israel, and gaered e prophets togeer unto mount Carmel. // Here ende e first lesson. Second Lesson: Here beginne e 13 chapter of e Revelation of Blessed John e Apostle: And I stood upon e sand of e sea, and saw a beast rise up out of e sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads e name of blasphemy. And e beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as e feet of a bear, and his mou as e mou of a lion: and e dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great auority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to dea; and his deadly wound was healed: and all e world wondered after e beast. And ey worshipped e dragon which gave power unto e beast: and ey worshipped e beast, saying, Who is like unto e beast? who is able to make war wi him? And ere was given unto him a mou speaking great ings and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two mons. And he opened his mou in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and em at -8-

11 dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war wi e saints, and to overcome em: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all at dwell upon e ear shall worship him, whose names are not written in e book of life of e Lamb slain from e foundation of e world. If any man have an ear, let him hear. He at leade into captivity shall go into captivity: he at kille wi e sword must be killed wi e sword. Here is e patience and e fai of e saints. And I beheld anoer beast coming up out of e ear; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exercise all e power of e first beast before him, and cause e ear and em which dwell erein to worship e first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doe great wonders, so at he make fire come down from heaven on e ear in e sight of men, And deceive em at dwell on e ear by e means of ose miracles which he had power to do in e sight of e beast; saying to em at dwell on e ear, at ey should make an image to e beast, which had e wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto e image of e beast, at e image of e beast should bo speak, and cause at as many as would not worship e image of e beast should be killed. And he cause all, bo small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in eir right hand, or in eir foreheads: And at no man might buy or sell, save he at had e mark, or e name of e beast, or e number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him at ha understanding count e number of e beast: for it is e number of a man; and his number is Six hundred reescore and six. // Here ende e second lesson. Matins of e Third Sunday in Advent First Lesson: Here beginne 40 chapter of e Book of e Prophet Isaiah: Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, sai your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, at her warfare is accomplished, at her iniquity is pardoned: for she ha received of e Lord s hand double for all her sins. The voice of him at crie in e wilderness, Prepare ye e way of e Lord, make straight in e desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and e crooked shall be made straight, and e rough places plain: And e glory of e Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it togeer: for e mou of e Lord ha spoken it. The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all e goodliness ereof -9-

12 is as e flower of e field: The grass wiere, e flower fade: because e spirit of e Lord blowe upon it: surely e people is grass. The grass wiere, e flower fade: but e word of our God shall stand for ever. O Zion, at bringest good tidings, get ee up into e high mountain; O Jerusalem, at bringest good tidings, lift up y voice wi streng; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto e cities of Judah, Behold your God! Behold, e Lord God will come wi strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is wi him, and his work before him. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gaer e lambs wi his arm, and carry em in his bosom, and shall gently lead ose at are wi young. // Here ende e first lesson. Second Lesson: Here beginne e 3rd chapter of e Gospel according to Luke: Now in e fifteen year of e reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his broer Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of e region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias e tetrarch of Abilene, Annas and Caiaphas being e high priests, e word of God came unto John e son of Zacharias in e wilderness. And he came into all e country about Jordan, preaching e baptism of repentance for e remission of sins; As it is written in e book of e words of Esaias e prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in e wilderness, Prepare ye e way of e Lord, make his pas straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and e crooked shall be made straight, and e rough ways shall be made smoo; And all flesh shall see e salvation of God. Then said he to e multitude at came for to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who ha warned you to flee from e wra to come? Bring for erefore fruits wory of repentance, and begin not to say wiin yourselves, We have Abraham to our faer: for I say unto you, That God is able of ese stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also e axe is laid unto e root of e trees: every tree erefore which bringe not for good fruit is hewn down, and cast into e fire. And e people asked him, saying, What shall we do en? He answere and sai unto em, He at ha two coats, let him impart to him at ha none; and he at ha meat, let him do likewise. Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? And he said unto em, Exact no more an at which is appointed you. And e soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto em, Do violence to no man, neier accuse any falsely; and be content wi your wages. And as e people were in expectation, and all men -10-

13 mused in eir hearts of John, wheer he were e Christ, or not; John answered, saying unto em all, I indeed baptize you wi water; but one mightier an I come, e latchet of whose shoes I am not wory to unloose: he shall baptize you wi e Holy Ghost and wi fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will roughly purge his floor, and will gaer e wheat into his garner; but e chaff he will burn wi fire unquenchable. And many oer ings in his exhortation preached he unto e people. // Here ende e second lesson. First Vespers of e Four Sunday in Advent First Lesson: Here beginne e Book of e Prophet Jeremiah: The words of Jeremiah e son of Hilkiah, of e priests at were in Anao in e land of Benjamin: To whom e word of e Lord came in e days of Josiah e son of Amon king of Judah, in e irteen year of his reign. It came also in e days of Jehoiakim e son of Josiah king of Judah, unto e end of e eleven year of Zedekiah e son of Josiah king of Judah, unto e carrying away of Jerusalem captive in e fif mon. Then e word of e Lord came unto me, saying, Before I formed ee in e belly I knew ee; and before ou camest for out of e womb I sanctified ee, and I ordained ee a prophet unto e nations. Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But e Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for ou shalt go to all at I shall send ee, and whatsoever I command ee ou shalt speak. Be not afraid of eir faces: for I am wi ee to deliver ee, sai e Lord. Then e Lord put for his hand, and touched my mou. And e Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in y mou. See, I have is day set ee over e nations and over e kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to row down, to build, and to plant. Moreover e word of e Lord came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest ou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree. Then said e Lord unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it. And e word of e Lord came unto me e second time, saying, What seest ou? And I said, I see a seeing pot; and e face ereof is toward e nor. Then e Lord said unto me, Out of e nor an evil shall break for upon all e inhabitants of e land. For, lo, I will call all e families of e kingdoms of e nor, sai e Lord; and ey shall come, and ey shall set every one his rone at e entering of e gates of Jerusalem, and against all e walls ereof round about, and against all e cities of Judah. And I will utter my judgments against em touching all eir wickedness, -11-

14 who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto oer gods, and worshipped e works of eir own hands. Thou erefore gird up y loins, and arise, and speak unto em all at I command ee: be not dismayed at eir faces, lest I confound ee before em. For, behold, I have made ee is day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against e whole land, against e kings of Judah, against e princes ereof, against e priests ereof, and against e people of e land. And ey shall fight against ee; but ey shall not prevail against ee; for I am wi ee, sai e Lord, to deliver ee. // Here ende e first lesson. nd Second Lesson: Here beginne e 14 verse of e 3rd chapter of e 2 Epistle of Blessed Paul e Apostle to Timoy: But continue ou in e ings which ou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom ou hast learned em; And at from a child ou hast known e holy scriptures, which are able to make ee wise unto salvation rough fai which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That e man of God may be perfect, oroughly furnished unto all good works. I charge ee erefore before God, and e Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge e quick and e dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach e word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort wi all long suffering and doctrine. For e time will come when ey will not endure sound doctrine; but after eir own lusts shall ey heap to emselves teachers, having itching ears; And ey shall turn away eir ears from e tru, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch ou in all ings, endure afflictions, do e work of an evangelist, make full proof of y ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and e time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept e fai: Hencefor ere is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which e Lord, e righteous judge, shall give me at at day: and not to me only, but unto all em also at love his appearing. // Here ende e second lesson. Matins of e Four Sunday in Advent nd First Lesson: Here beginne 52 chapter of e Book of e Prophet Isaiah: Awake, awake; put on y streng, O Zion; put on y beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, e holy city: for hencefor ere shall no more come into ee e -12-

15 uncircumcised and e unclean. Shake yself from e dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose yself from e bands of y neck, O captive daughter of Zion. For us sai e Lord, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed wiout money. For us sai e Lord God, My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn ere; and e Assyrian oppressed em wiout cause. Now erefore, what have I here, sai e Lord, at my people is taken away for nought? ey at rule over em make em to howl, sai e Lord; and my name continually every day is blasphemed. Therefore my people shall know my name: erefore ey shall know in at day at I am he at do speak: behold, it is I. How beautiful upon e mountains are e feet of him at bringe good tidings, at publishe peace; at bringe good tidings of good, at publishe salvation; at sai unto Zion, Thy God reigne! Thy watchmen shall lift up e voice; wi e voice togeer shall ey sing: for ey shall see eye to eye, when e Lord shall bring again Zion. Break for into joy, sing togeer, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for e Lord ha comforted his people, he ha redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord ha made bare his holy arm in e eyes of all e nations; and all e ends of e ear shall see e salvation of our God. // Here ende e first lesson. Second Lesson: Here beginne e 25 chapter of e Gospel according to Matew: Jesus said, Then shall e kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took eir lamps, and went for to meet e bridegroom. And five of em were wise, and five were foolish. They at were foolish took eir lamps, and took no oil wi em: But e wise took oil in eir vessels wi eir lamps. While e bridegroom tarried, ey all slumbered and slept. And at midnight ere was a cry made, Behold, e bridegroom come; go ye out to meet him. Then all ose virgins arose, and trimmed eir lamps. And e foolish said unto e wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But e wise answered, saying, Not so; lest ere be not enough for us and you: but go ye raer to em at sell, and buy for yourselves. And while ey went to buy, e bridegroom came; and ey at were ready went in wi him to e marriage: and e door was shut. Afterward came also e oer virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch erefore, for ye know neier e day nor e hour wherein e Son of man come. // Here ende e second lesson. -13-

16 First Vespers of e Nativity of our Lord nd First Lesson: Here beginne 2 verse of e 5 chapter of e Book of e Prophet Micah: But ou, Belehem Ephratah, ough ou be little among e ousands of Judah, yet out of ee shall he come for unto me at is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings for have been from of old, from everlasting. Therefore will he give em up, until e time at she which travaile ha brought for: en e remnant of his breren shall return unto e children of Israel. And he shall stand and feed in e streng of e Lord, in e majesty of e name of e Lord his God; and ey shall abide: for now shall he be great unto e ends of e ear. And is man shall be e peace, when e Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, en shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men. And ey shall waste e land of Assyria wi e sword, and e land of Nimrod in e entrances ereof: us shall he deliver us from e Assyrian, when he come into our land, and when he treade wiin our borders. And e remnant of Jacob shall be in e midst of many people as a dew from e Lord, as e showers upon e grass, at tarrie not for man, nor waite for e sons of men. // Here ende e first lesson. st Second Lesson: Here beginne e 57 verse of e 1 chapter of e Gospel according to Luke: Now Elisabe s full time came at she should be delivered; and she brought for a son. And her neighbours and her cousins heard how e Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and ey rejoiced wi her. And it came to pass, at on e eigh day ey came to circumcise e child; and ey called him Zacharias, after e name of his faer. And his moer answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. And ey said unto her, There is none of y kindred at is called by is name. And ey made signs to his faer, how he would have him called. And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And ey marvelled all. And his mou was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God. And fear came on all at dwelt round about em: and all ese sayings were noised abroad roughout all e hill country of Judaea. And all ey at heard em laid em up in eir hearts, saying, What manner of child shall is be! And e hand of e Lord was wi him. And his faer Zacharias was filled wi e Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, Blessed be e Lord God of Israel; for he ha visited and redeemed his people, And ha raised up an horn of salvation for us in e house of his servant David; As he spake by e mou of his holy prophets, which have been since e world -14-

17 began: That we should be saved from our enemies, and from e hand of all at hate us; To perform e mercy promised to our faers, and to remember his holy covenant; The oa which he sware to our faer Abraham, That he would grant unto us, at we being delivered out of e hand of our enemies might serve him wiout fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all e days of our life. And ou, child, shalt be called e prophet of e Highest: for ou shalt go before e face of e Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by e remission of eir sins, Through e tender mercy of our God; whereby e dayspring from on high ha visited us, To give light to em at sit in darkness and in e shadow of dea, to guide our feet into e way of peace. And e child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in e deserts till e day of his shewing unto Israel. // Here ende e second lesson. Matins of e Nativity of our Lord nd First Lesson: Here beginne e 2 verse of e 9 chapter of e Book of e Prophet Isaiah: The people at walked in darkness have seen a great light: ey at dwell in e land of e shadow of dea, upon em ha e light shined. Thou hast multiplied e nation, and not increased e joy: ey joy before ee according to e joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when ey divide e spoil. For ou hast broken e yoke of his burden, and e staff of his shoulder, e rod of his oppressor, as in e day of Midian. For every battle of e warrior is wi confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but is shall be wi burning and fuel of fire. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and e government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Faer, The Prince of Peace. Of e increase of his government and peace ere shall be no end, upon e rone of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it wi judgment and wi justice from hencefor even for ever. The zeal of e Lord of hosts will perform is. // Here ende e first lesson. nd Second Lesson: Here beginne e 2 chapter of e Gospel according to Luke: And it came to pass in ose days, at ere went out a decree from Caesar Augustus at all e world should be taxed. (And is taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of e city of Nazare, into -15-

18 Judaea, unto e city of David, which is called Belehem; (because he was of e house and lineage of David:) To be taxed wi Mary his espoused wife, being great wi child. And so it was, at, while ey were ere, e days were accomplished at she should be delivered. And she brought for her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling cloes, and laid him in a manger; because ere was no room for em in e inn. And ere were in e same country shepherds abiding in e field, keeping watch over eir flock by night. And, lo, e angel of e Lord came upon em, and e glory of e Lord shone round about em: and ey were sore afraid. And e angel said unto em, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born is day in e city of David a Saviour, which is Christ e Lord. And is shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find e babe wrapped in swaddling cloes, lying in a manger. And suddenly ere was wi e angel a multitude of e heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in e highest, and on ear peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as e angels were gone away from em into heaven, e shepherds said one to anoer, Let us now go even unto Belehem, and see is ing which is come to pass, which e Lord ha made known unto us. And ey came wi haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and e babe lying in a manger. And when ey had seen it, ey made known abroad e saying which was told em concerning is child. And all ey at heard it wondered at ose ings which were told em by e shepherds. But Mary kept all ese ings, and pondered em in her heart. And e shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all e ings at ey had heard and seen, as it was told unto em. // Here ende e second lesson. First Vespers of e Sunday in e Octave of e Nativity (See lessons appointed for each day at Vespers) Matins of e Sunday in e Octave of e Nativity st st First Lesson: Here beginne 20 verse of e 1 chapter of e 1 Book of Samuel: Wherefore it came to pass, when e time was come about after Hannah had conceived, at she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of e Lord. And e man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto e Lord e yearly sacrifice, and his vow. But Hannah went not up; for she -16-

19 said unto her husband, I will not go up until e child be weaned, and en I will bring him, at he may appear before e Lord, and ere abide for ever. And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seeme ee good; tarry until ou have weaned him; only e Lord establish his word. So e woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him. And when she had weaned him, she took him up wi her, wi ree bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto e house of e Lord in Shiloh: and e child was young. And ey slew a bullock, and brought e child to Eli. And she said, Oh my lord, as y soul live, my lord, I am e woman at stood by ee here, praying unto e Lord. For is child I prayed; and e Lord ha given me my petition which I asked of him: Therefore also I have lent him to e Lord; as long as he live he shall be lent to e Lord. And he worshipped e Lord ere. // Here ende e first lesson. st Second Lesson: Here beginne e 18 verse of e 1 chapter of e Gospel according to Matew: Now e bir of Jesus Christ was on is wise: When as his moer Mary was espoused to Joseph, before ey came togeer, she was found wi child of e Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he ought on ese ings, behold, e angel of e Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, ou son of David, fear not to take unto ee Mary y wife: for at which is conceived in her is of e Holy Ghost. And she shall bring for a son, and ou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from eir sins. Now all is was done, at it might be fulfilled which was spoken of e Lord by e prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be wi child, and shall bring for a son, and ey shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God wi us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as e angel of e Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought for her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. // Here ende e second lesson. First Vespers of e Second Sunday after e Nativity (See lessons appointed for each day at Vespers) -17-

20 Matins of e Second Sunday after e Nativity nd First Lesson: Here beginne 2 chapter of e Book Exodus: And ere went a man of e house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi. And e woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him at he was a goodly child, she hid him ree mons. And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it wi slime and wi pitch, and put e child erein; and she laid it in e flags by e rivers brink. And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him. And e daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at e river; and her maidens walked along by e rivers side; and when she saw e ark among e flags, she sent her maid to fetch it. And when she had opened it, she saw e child: and, behold, e babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of e Hebrews children. Then said his sister to Pharaoh s daughter, Shall I go and call to ee a nurse of e Hebrew women, at she may nurse e child for ee? And Pharaoh s daughter said to her, Go. And e maid went and called e child s moer. And Pharaoh s daughter said unto her, Take is child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give ee y wages. And e women took e child, and nursed it. And e child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh s daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of e water. // Here ende e first lesson. nd Second Lesson: Here beginne e 13 verse of e 2 chapter of e Gospel according to Matew: And when ey were departed, behold, e angel of e Lord appeare to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take e young child and his moer, and flee into Egypt, and be ou ere until I bring ee word: for Herod will seek e young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took e young child and his moer by night, and departed into Egypt: And was ere until e dea of Herod: at it might be fulfilled which was spoken of e Lord by e prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. Then Herod, when he saw at he was mocked of e wise men, was exceeding wro, and sent for, and slew all e children at were in Belehem, and in all e coasts ereof, from two years old and under, according to e time which he had diligently enquired of e wise men. Then was fulfilled at which was spoken by Jeremy e prophet, saying, In Rama was ere a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because ey are not. // Here ende e second lesson. -18-

21 First Vespers of e Epiphany of our Lord First Lesson: Here beginne e 15 verse of e 24 chapter of e Book Numbers: And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam e son of Beor ha said, and e man whose eyes are open ha said: He ha said, which heard e words of God, and knew e knowledge of e most High, which saw e vision of e Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: ere shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite e corners of Moab, and destroy all e children of She. And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly. Out of Jacob shall come he at shall have dominion, and shall destroy him at remaine of e city. And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was e first of e nations; but his latter end shall be at he perish for ever. And he looked on e Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is y dwelling place, and ou puttest y nest in a rock. Nevereless e Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry ee away captive. And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doe is! And ships shall come from e coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever. // Here ende e first lesson. Second Lesson: Here beginne e 16 verse of e 28 chapter of e Gospel according to Matew: Then e eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed em. And when ey saw him, ey worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto em, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in ear. Go ye erefore, and teach all nations, baptizing em in e name of e Faer, and of e Son, and of e Holy Ghost: Teaching em to observe all ings whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am wi you always, even unto e end of e world. Amen. // Here ende e second lesson. Matins of e Epiphany of our Lord First Lesson: Here beginne 60 chapter of e Book of e Prophet Isaiah: Arise, shine; for y light is come, and e glory of e Lord is risen upon ee. For, behold, e darkness shall cover e ear, and gross darkness e people: but e -19-

22 Lord shall arise upon ee, and his glory shall be seen upon ee. And e Gentiles shall come to y light, and kings to e brightness of y rising. Lift up ine eyes round about, and see: all ey gaer emselves togeer, ey come to ee: y sons shall come from far, and y daughters shall be nursed at y side. Then ou shalt see, and flow togeer, and ine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because e abundance of e sea shall be converted unto ee, e forces of e Gentiles shall come unto ee. The multitude of camels shall cover ee, e dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all ey from Sheba shall come: ey shall bring gold and incense; and ey shall shew for e praises of e Lord. All e flocks of Kedar shall be gaered togeer unto ee, e rams of Nebaio shall minister unto ee: ey shall come up wi acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify e house of my glory. Who are ese at fly as a cloud, and as e doves to eir windows? Surely e isles shall wait for me, and e ships of Tarshish first, to bring y sons from far, eir silver and eir gold wi em, unto e name of e Lord y God, and to e Holy One of Israel, because he ha glorified ee. And e sons of strangers shall build up y walls, and eir kings shall minister unto ee: for in my wra I smote ee, but in my favour have I had mercy on ee. Therefore y gates shall be open continually; ey shall not be shut day nor night; at men may bring unto ee e forces of e Gentiles, and at eir kings may be brought. For e nation and kingdom at will not serve ee shall perish; yea, ose nations shall be utterly wasted. The glory of Lebanon shall come unto ee, e fir tree, e pine tree, and e box togeer, to beautify e place of my sanctuary; and I will make e place of my feet glorious. The sons also of em at afflicted ee shall come bending unto ee; and all ey at despised ee shall bow emselves down at e soles of y feet; and ey shall call ee; The city of e Lord, The Zion of e Holy One of Israel. Whereas ou has been forsaken and hated, so at no man went rough ee, I will make ee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations. Thou shalt also suck e milk of e Gentiles, and shalt suck e breast of kings: and ou shalt know at I e Lord am y Saviour and y Redeemer, e mighty One of Jacob. For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make y officers peace, and ine exactors righteousness. Violence shall no more be heard in y land, wasting nor destruction wiin y borders; but ou shalt call y walls Salvation, and y gates Praise. The sun shall be no more y light by day; neier for brightness shall e moon give light unto ee: but e Lord shall be unto ee an everlasting light, and y God y glory. Thy sun shall no more go down; neier -20-