The First Lesson
Ecclesiasticus 2
1 My son, if thou come to serve the Lord, prepare thy soul for temptation.
2 Set thy heart aright, and constantly endure, and make not haste in time of trouble.
3 Cleave unto him, and depart not away, that thou mayest be increased at thy last end.
4 Whatsoever is brought upon thee take cheerfully, and be patient when thou art changed to a low estate.
5 For gold is tried in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of adversity.
6 Believe in him, and he will help thee; order thy way aright, and trust in him.
7 Ye that fear the Lord, wait for his mercy; and go not aside, lest ye fall.
8 Ye that fear the Lord, believe him; and your reward shall not fail.
9 Ye that fear the Lord, hope for good, and for everlasting joy and mercy.
10 Look at the generations of old, and see; did ever any trust in the Lord, and was confounded? or did any abide in his fear, and was forsaken? or whom did he ever despise, that called upon him?
11 For the Lord is full of compassion and mercy, longsuffering, and very pitiful, and forgiveth sins, and saveth in time of affliction.
12 Woe be to fearful hearts, and faint hands, and the sinner that goeth two ways!
13 Woe unto him that is fainthearted! for he believeth not;therefore shall he not be defended.
14 Woe unto you that have lost patience! and what will ye do when the Lord shall visit you?
15 They that fear the Lord will not disobey his Word; and they that love him will keep his ways.
16 They that fear the Lord will seek that which is well, pleasing unto him; and they that love him shall be filled with the law.
17 They that fear the Lord will prepare their hearts, and humble their souls in his sight,
18 Saying, We will fall into the hands of the Lord, and not into the hands of men: for as his majesty is, so is his mercy.
The Second Lesson
Romans 15:17-33
17 I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.
18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,
19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:
21 But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.
22 For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you.
23 But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you;
24 Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.
25 But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.
26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.
27 It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.
28 When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.
29 And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.
30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;
31 That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;
32 That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.
33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
