The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

Daily Meditation
⁷ The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. 

Today’s Reading

Nahum
Chapter 1
The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

1 The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

² God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth; the Lord revengeth, and is furious; the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies. ³ The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. ⁴ He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth. ⁵ The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein. ⁶ Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him. ⁷ The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. ⁸ But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.

⁹ What do ye imagine against the Lord? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time. ¹⁰ For while they be folden together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry. ¹¹ There is one come out of thee, that imagineth evil against the Lord, a wicked counsellor.

¹² Thus saith the Lord; Though they be quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall pass through. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more. ¹³ For now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder. ¹⁴ And the Lord hath given a commandment concerning thee, that no more of thy name be sown: out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image: I will make thy grave; for thou art vile. ¹⁵ Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters

Daily Meditation
⁶ Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

Today’s Reading

Isaiah
Chapter 55
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters

1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. ² Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. ³ Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. ⁴ Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. ⁵ Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.

⁶ Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: ⁷ let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

⁸ For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. ⁹ For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. ¹⁰ For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: ¹¹ so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. ¹² For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. ¹³ Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

Fret not thyself because of evildoers,

Daily Meditation
⁸ Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

Today’s Reading

Psalm
Chapter 37
Fret not thyself because of evildoers,
A Psalm of David.

1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
² For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
³ Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
⁴ Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
⁵ Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
⁶ And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
⁷ Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
⁸ Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
⁹ For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.
¹⁰ For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
¹¹ But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
¹² The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
¹³ The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
¹⁴ The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.
¹⁵ Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
¹⁶ A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
¹⁷ For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the Lord upholdeth the righteous.
¹⁸ The Lord knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
¹⁹ They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
²⁰ But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.
²¹ The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.
²² For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.
²³ The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.
²⁴ Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.
²⁵ I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
²⁶ He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
²⁷ Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
²⁸ For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
²⁹ The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
³⁰ The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
³¹ The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
³² The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.
³³ The Lord will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
³⁴ Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
³⁵ I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
³⁶ Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
³⁷ Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
³⁸ But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.
³⁹ But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
⁴⁰ And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications:

Daily Meditation
¹⁰ Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

Today’s Reading

Psalm
Chapter 143
Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications:
A Psalm of David.

1 Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness. ² And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. ³ For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead. ⁴ Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate. ⁵ I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands. ⁶ I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.

⁷ Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. ⁸ Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee. ⁹ Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me. ¹⁰ Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. ¹¹ Quicken me, O Lord, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble. ¹² And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.

Bow down thine ear, O Lord, hear me: for I am poor and needy.

Daily Meditation
¹² I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.

Today’s Reading

Psalm
Chapter 86
Bow down thine ear, O Lord, hear me: for I am poor and needy.
A Prayer of David.

1 Bow down thine ear, O Lord, hear me: for I am poor and needy. ² Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee. ³ Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily. ⁴ Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. ⁵ For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. ⁶ Give ear, O Lord, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications. ⁷ In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.

⁸ Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works. ⁹ All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name. ¹⁰ For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.

¹¹ Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. ¹² I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. ¹³ For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell. ¹⁴ O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them. ¹⁵ But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. ¹⁶ O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid. ¹⁷ Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, Lord, hast holpen me, and comforted me.

When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.

Daily Meditation
²⁰ And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

Today’s Reading

The Gospel According To
St. Matthew
Chapter Eight
When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.

1 When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. ² And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. ³ And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. ⁴ And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

⁵ And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, ⁶ and saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. ⁷ And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. ⁸ The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. ⁹ For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. ¹⁰ When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. ¹¹ And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. ¹² But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ¹³ And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

¹⁴ And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever. ¹⁵ And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.

¹⁶ When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: ¹⁷ that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

¹⁸ Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side. ¹⁹ And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. ²⁰ And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. ²¹ And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. ²² But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

²³ And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. ²⁴ And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. ²⁵ And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. ²⁶ And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. ²⁷ But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

²⁸ And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. ²⁹ And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? ³⁰ And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding. ³¹ So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. ³² And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters. ³³ And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils. ³⁴ And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.

Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

Daily Meditation
⁵ Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

Today’s Reading

Psalm
Chapter 25
Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
A Psalm of David.

1 Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. ² O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me. ³ Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause. ⁴ Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. ⁵ Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. ⁶ Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old. ⁷ Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O Lord.

⁸ Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. ⁹ The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. ¹⁰ All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. ¹¹ For thy name’s sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great. ¹² What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. ¹³ His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth. ¹⁴ The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant. ¹⁵ Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.

¹⁶ Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted. ¹⁷ The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses. ¹⁸ Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins. ¹⁹ Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred. ²⁰ O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee. ²¹ Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.

²² Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.

When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:

Daily Meditation
²⁶ My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.

Today’s Reading

Proverbs
Chapter 23
When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:

1 When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee: ² and put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite. ³ Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat. ⁴ Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. ⁵ Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. ⁶ Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats: ⁷ for as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. ⁸ The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words. ⁹ Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words. ¹⁰ Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless: ¹¹ for their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee. ¹² Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge. ¹³ Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. ¹⁴ Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.

¹⁵ My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine. ¹⁶ Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things. ¹⁷ Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long. ¹⁸ For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off. ¹⁹ Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way. ²⁰ Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: ²¹ for the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

²² Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old. ²³ Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. ²⁴ The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. ²⁵ Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice. ²⁶ My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways. ²⁷ For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit. ²⁸ She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.

²⁹ Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? ³⁰ they that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. ³¹ Look not thou upon the wine when it is red,
when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. ³² At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. ³³ Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. ³⁴ Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. ³⁵ They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.

And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom…

Daily Meditation
¹⁰ Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?

Today’s Reading

2 Chronicles
Chapter 1
And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom…

1 And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly. ² Then Solomon spake unto all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every governor in all Israel, the chief of the fathers. ³ So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God, which Moses the servant of the Lord had made in the wilderness. ⁴ But the ark of God had David brought up from Kirjath-jearim to the place which David had prepared for it: for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem. ⁵ Moreover the brasen altar, that Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of the Lord: and Solomon and the congregation sought unto it. ⁶ And Solomon went up thither to the brasen altar before the Lord, which was at the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it.

⁷ In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee. ⁸ And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead. ⁹ Now, O Lord God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. ¹⁰ Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great? ¹¹ And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king: ¹² wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.

¹³ Then Solomon came from his journey to the high place that was at Gibeon to Jerusalem, from before the tabernacle of the congregation, and reigned over Israel. ¹⁴ And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, which he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem. ¹⁵ And the king made silver and gold at Jerusalem as plenteous as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycamore trees that are in the vale for abundance. ¹⁶ And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king’s merchants received the linen yarn at a price. ¹⁷ And they fetched up, and brought forth out of Egypt a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver, and an horse for an hundred and fifty: and so brought they out horses for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, by their means.

Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.

Daily Meditation
³⁴ Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

Today’s Reading

Psalm
Chapter 119
Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.

א  Aleph

1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.
² Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
³ They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.
⁴ Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.
⁵ O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!
⁶ Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.
⁷ I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.
⁸ I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.

ב  Beth

⁹ Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
¹⁰ With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
¹¹ Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
¹² Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes.
¹³ With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
¹⁴ I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
¹⁵ I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
¹⁶ I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

ג  Gimel

¹⁷ Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.
¹⁸ Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
¹⁹ I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.
²⁰ My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.
²¹ Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments.
²² Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies.
²³ Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.
²⁴ Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.

ד  Daleth

²⁵ My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.
²⁶ I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.
²⁷ Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.
²⁸ My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.
²⁹ Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.
³⁰ I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.
³¹ I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O Lord, put me not to shame.
³² I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.

ה  He

³³ Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.
³⁴ Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
³⁵ Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.
³⁶ Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.
³⁷ Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.
³⁸ Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.
³⁹ Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good.
⁴⁰ Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.

ו  Vau

⁴¹ Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, even thy salvation, according to thy word.
⁴² So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.
⁴³ And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.
⁴⁴ So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.
⁴⁵ And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.
⁴⁶ I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.
⁴⁷ And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.
⁴⁸ My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.

ז  Zain

⁴⁹ Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.
⁵⁰ This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.
⁵¹ The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law.
⁵² I remembered thy judgments of old, O Lord; and have comforted myself.
⁵³ Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.
⁵⁴ Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.
⁵⁵ I have remembered thy name, O Lord, in the night, and have kept thy law.
⁵⁶ This I had, because I kept thy precepts.

ח  Cheth

⁵⁷ Thou art my portion, O Lord: I have said that I would keep thy words.
⁵⁸ I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.
⁵⁹ I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
⁶⁰ I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.
⁶¹ The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.
⁶² At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.
⁶³ I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.
⁶⁴ The earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.

ט  Teth

⁶⁵ Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O Lord, according unto thy word.
⁶⁶ Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.
⁶⁷ Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
⁶⁸ Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.
⁶⁹ The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.
⁷⁰ Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.
⁷¹ It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
⁷² The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.

י  Jod

⁷³ Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.
⁷⁴ They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.
⁷⁵ I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.
⁷⁶ Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.
⁷⁷ Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.
⁷⁸ Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.
⁷⁹ Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies.
⁸⁰ Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.

כ  Caph

⁸¹ My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.
⁸² Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?
⁸³ For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.
⁸⁴ How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?
⁸⁵ The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law.
⁸⁶ All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.
⁸⁷ They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.
⁸⁸ Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.

ל  Lamed

⁸⁹ For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.
⁹⁰ Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.
⁹¹ They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants.
⁹² Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.
⁹³ I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.
⁹⁴ I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.
⁹⁵ The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.
⁹⁶ I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.

מ  Mem

⁹⁷ O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
⁹⁸ Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.
⁹⁹ I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.
¹⁰⁰ I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.
¹⁰¹ I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.
¹⁰² I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.
¹⁰³ How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
¹⁰⁴ Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

נ  Nun

¹⁰⁵ Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
¹⁰⁶ I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.
¹⁰⁷ I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O Lord, according unto thy word.
¹⁰⁸ Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, and teach me thy judgments.
¹⁰⁹ My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.
¹¹⁰ The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.
¹¹¹ Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.
¹¹² I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end.

ס  Samech

¹¹³ I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.
¹¹⁴ Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.
¹¹⁵ Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.
¹¹⁶ Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.
¹¹⁷ Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.
¹¹⁸ Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes: for their deceit is falsehood.
¹¹⁹ Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: therefore I love thy testimonies.
¹²⁰ My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.

ע  Ain

¹²¹ I have done judgment and justice: leave me not to mine oppressors.
¹²² Be surety for thy servant for good: let not the proud oppress me.
¹²³ Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness.
¹²⁴ Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes.
¹²⁵ I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.
¹²⁶ It is time for thee, Lord, to work: for they have made void thy law.
¹²⁷ Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.
¹²⁸ Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.

פ  Pe

¹²⁹ Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.
¹³⁰ The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
¹³¹ I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.
¹³² Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name.
¹³³ Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
¹³⁴ Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts.
¹³⁵ Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes.
¹³⁶ Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.

צ  Tzaddi

¹³⁷ Righteous art thou, O Lord, and upright are thy judgments.
¹³⁸ Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful.
¹³⁹ My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.
¹⁴⁰ Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.
¹⁴¹ I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts.
¹⁴² Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.
¹⁴³ Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights.
¹⁴⁴ The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.

ק  Koph

¹⁴⁵ I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O Lord: I will keep thy statutes.
¹⁴⁶ I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.
¹⁴⁷ I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word.
¹⁴⁸ Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.
¹⁴⁹ Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O Lord, quicken me according to thy judgment.
¹⁵⁰ They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law.
¹⁵¹ Thou art near, O Lord; and all thy commandments are truth.
¹⁵² Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.

ר  Resh

¹⁵³ Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law.
¹⁵⁴ Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word.
¹⁵⁵ Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.
¹⁵⁶ Great are thy tender mercies, O Lord: quicken me according to thy judgments.
¹⁵⁷ Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies.
¹⁵⁸ I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.
¹⁵⁹ Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O Lord, according to thy lovingkindness.
¹⁶⁰ Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

ש  Schin

¹⁶¹ Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.
¹⁶² I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.
¹⁶³ I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love.
¹⁶⁴ Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.
¹⁶⁵ Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
¹⁶⁶ Lord, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments.
¹⁶⁷ My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly.
¹⁶⁸ I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.

ת  Tau

¹⁶⁹ Let my cry come near before thee, O Lord: give me understanding according to thy word.
¹⁷⁰ Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy word.
¹⁷¹ My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes.
¹⁷² My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.
¹⁷³ Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts.
¹⁷⁴ I have longed for thy salvation, O Lord; and thy law is my delight.
¹⁷⁵ Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.
¹⁷⁶ I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant;
for I do not forget thy commandments.

Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me;

Daily Meditation
⁹ that this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord:

Today’s Reading

Isaiah
Chapter 30
Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me;

1 Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin: ² that walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt! ³ Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion. ⁴ For his princes were at Zoan, and his ambassadors came to Hanes. ⁵ They were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them, nor be an help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.

⁶ The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them. ⁷ For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still.

⁸ Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever: ⁹ that this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord: ¹⁰ which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: ¹¹ get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us. ¹² Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon: ¹³ therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant. ¹⁴ And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters’ vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit.
¹⁵ For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not. ¹⁶ But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift. ¹⁷ One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill.

¹⁸ And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him. ¹⁹ For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee. ²⁰ And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: ²¹ and thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. ²² Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence. 

²³ Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures. ²⁴ The oxen likewise and the young asses that ear the ground shall eat clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan. ²⁵ And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall. ²⁶ Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.

²⁷ Behold, the name of the Lord cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire: ²⁸ and his breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck,
to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity: and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err.
²⁹ Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the Lord, to the mighty One of Israel. ³⁰ And the Lord shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones. ³¹ For through the voice of the Lord shall the Assyrian be beaten down, which smote with a rod. ³² And in every place where the grounded staff shall pass, which the Lord shall lay upon him, it shall be with tabrets and harps: and in battles of shaking will he fight with it. ³³ For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the Lord, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.