DAILY OFFICE

Daily scripture readings from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer

Saturday, November 18

Today's readings include passages from Psalms, Revelation and Matthew.

Psalm 87

1 On the holy mount stands the city he founded; 2 the Lord loves the gates of Zion     more than all the dwelling places of Jacob. 3 Glorious things of you are spoken,     O city of God. Selah 4 Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon;     behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush—     “This one was born there,” they say. 5 And of Zion it shall be said,     “This one and that one were born in her”;     for the Most High himself will establish her. 6 The Lord records as he registers the peoples,     “This one was born there.” Selah 7 Singers and dancers alike say,     “All my springs are in you.”

 

Psalm 90

1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place     in all generations. 2 Before the mountains were brought forth,     or ever you had formed the earth and the world,     from everlasting to everlasting you are God. 3 You return man to dust     and say, “Return, O children of man!” 4 For a thousand years in your sight     are but as yesterday when it is past,     or as a watch in the night. 5 You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream,     like grass that is renewed in the morning: 6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;     in the evening it fades and withers. 7 For we are brought to an end by your anger;     by your wrath we are dismayed. 8 You have set our iniquities before you,     our secret sins in the light of your presence. 9 For all our days pass away under your wrath;     we bring our years to an end like a sigh. 10 The years of our life are seventy,     or even by reason of strength eighty;     yet their span is but toil and trouble;     they are soon gone, and we fly away. 11 Who considers the power of your anger,     and your wrath according to the fear of you? 12 So teach us to number our days     that we may get a heart of wisdom. 13 Return, O Lord! How long?     Have pity on your servants! 14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,     that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,     and for as many years as we have seen evil. 16 Let your work be shown to your servants,     and your glorious power to their children. 17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,     and establish the work of our hands upon us;     yes, establish the work of our hands!

 

Psalm 136

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,     for his steadfast love endures forever. 2 Give thanks to the God of gods,     for his steadfast love endures forever. 3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords,     for his steadfast love endures forever; 4 to him who alone does great wonders,     for his steadfast love endures forever; 5 to him who by understanding made the heavens,     for his steadfast love endures forever; 6 to him who spread out the earth above the waters,     for his steadfast love endures forever; 7 to him who made the great lights,     for his steadfast love endures forever; 8 the sun to rule over the day,     for his steadfast love endures forever; 9 the moon and stars to rule over the night,     for his steadfast love endures forever; 10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,     for his steadfast love endures forever; 11 and brought Israel out from among them,     for his steadfast love endures forever; 12 with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,     for his steadfast love endures forever; 13 to him who divided the Red Sea in two,     for his steadfast love endures forever; 14 and made Israel pass through the midst of it,     for his steadfast love endures forever; 15 but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea,     for his steadfast love endures forever; 16 to him who led his people through the wilderness,     for his steadfast love endures forever; 17 to him who struck down great kings,     for his steadfast love endures forever; 18 and killed mighty kings,     for his steadfast love endures forever; 19 Sihon, king of the Amorites,     for his steadfast love endures forever; 20 and Og, king of Bashan,     for his steadfast love endures forever; 21 and gave their land as a heritage,     for his steadfast love endures forever; 22 a heritage to Israel his servant,     for his steadfast love endures forever. 23 It is he who remembered us in our low estate,     for his steadfast love endures forever; 24 and rescued us from our foes,     for his steadfast love endures forever; 25 he who gives food to all flesh,     for his steadfast love endures forever. 26 Give thanks to the God of heaven,     for his steadfast love endures forever.

 

Revelation 20:1-6

1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. 2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while. 4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

 

Matthew 16:21-28

21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” 24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. 28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

 

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.