Sunday

Reading from the Old Testament Ecclesiasticus this week

Eccl. 1Instead of a friend become not an enemy; for [thereby] thou shalt inherit an ill name, shame, and reproach: even so shall a sinner that hath a double tongue.

2Extol not thyself in the counsel of thine own heart; that thy soul be not torn in pieces as a bull [straying alone.]

3Thou shalt eat up thy leaves, and lose thy fruit, and leave thyself as a dry tree.

4A wicked soul shall destroy him that hath it, and shall make him to be laughed to scorn of his enemies.

5Sweet language will multiply friends: and a fairspeaking tongue will increase kind greetings.

6Be in peace with many: nevertheless have but one counsellor of a thousand.

7If thou wouldest get a friend, prove him first and be not hasty to credit him.

8For some man is a friend for his own occasion, and will not abide in the day of thy trouble.

9And there is a friend, who being turned to enmity, and strife will discover thy reproach.

10Again, some friend is a companion at the table, and will not continue in the day of thy affliction.

11But in thy prosperity he will be as thyself, and will be bold over thy servants.

 

Prayer:  O Lord, deprive me not of Thy heavenly good things.

O Lord, deliver me from the eternal torments.  (St John Chrysostom hourly prayers)

Monday

Ecclesiasticus 1:Instead of a friend become not an enemy; for [thereby] thou shalt inherit an ill name, shame, and reproach: even so shall a sinner that hath a double tongue.

2Extol not thyself in the counsel of thine own heart; that thy soul be not torn in pieces as a bull [straying alone.]

3Thou shalt eat up thy leaves, and lose thy fruit, and leave thyself as a dry tree.

4A wicked soul shall destroy him that hath it, and shall make him to be laughed to scorn of his enemies.

5Sweet language will multiply friends: and a fairspeaking tongue will increase kind greetings.

6Be in peace with many: nevertheless have but one counsellor of a thousand.

7If thou wouldest get a friend, prove him first and be not hasty to credit him.

8For some man is a friend for his own occasion, and will not abide in the day of thy trouble.

9And there is a friend, who being turned to enmity, and strife will discover thy reproach.

10Again, some friend is a companion at the table, and will not continue in the day of thy affliction.

11But in thy prosperity he will be as thyself, and will be bold over thy servants.

12If thou be brought low, he will be against thee, and will hide himself from thy face.

13Separate thyself from thine enemies, and take heed of thy friends.

14A faithfu1l friend is a strong defence: and he that hath found such an one hath found a treasure.

15Nothing doth countervail a faithful friend, and his excellency is invaluable.

16A faithful friend is the medicine of life; and they that fear the Lord shall find him.

17Whoso feareth the Lord shall direct his friendship aright: for as he is, so shall his neighbour be also.

18My son, gather instruction from thy youth up: so shalt thou find wisdom till thine old age.

19Come unto her as one that ploweth and soweth, and wait for her good fruits: for thou shalt not toil much in labouring about her, but thou shalt eat of her fruits right soon.

20She is very unpleasant to the unlearned: he that is without understanding will not remain with her.

Prayer:  O Lord, if I have sinned in mind or thought, in word or deed, forgive me.

O Lord, deliver me from all ignorance, forgetfulness, faint-heartedness, and stony insensibility.
Tuesday

Ecclesiasticus 1:21She will lie upon him as a mighty stone of trial; and he will cast her from him ere it be long.

22For wisdom is according to her name, and she is not manifest unto many.

23Give ear, my son, receive my advice, and refuse not my counsel,

24And put thy feet into her fetters, and thy neck into her chain.

25Bow down thy shoulder, and bear her, and be not grieved with her bonds.

26Come unto her with thy whole heart, and keep her ways with all thy power.

27Search, and seek, and she shall be made known unto thee: and when thou hast got hold of her, let her not go.

28For at the last thou shalt find her rest, and that shall be turned to thy joy.

29Then shall her fetters be a strong defence for thee, and her chains a robe of glory.

30For there is a golden ornament upon her, and her bands are purple lace.

31Thou shalt put her on as a robe of honour, and shalt put her about thee as a crown of joy.

32My son, if thou wilt, thou shalt be taught: and if thou wilt apply thy mind, thou shalt be prudent.

33If thou love to hear, thou shalt receive understanding: and if thou bow thine ear, thou shalt be wise,

34Stand in the multitude of the elders; and cleave unto him that is wise.

35Be willing to hear every godly discourse; and let not the parables of understanding escape thee.

36And if thou seest a man of understanding, get thee betimes unto him, and let thy foot wear the steps of his door.

37Let thy mind be upon the ordinances of the Lord and meditate continually in his commandments: he shall establish thine heart, and give thee wisdom at thine owns desire.

Prayer:  O Lord, deliver me from every temptation.

O Lord, enlighten my heart which evil desire hath darkened.

 

Wednesday

Ecclesiasticus 2: 1Do no evil, so shall no harm come unto thee.

2Depart from the unjust, and iniquity shall turn away from thee.

3My son, sow not upon the furrows of unrighteousness, and thou shalt not reap them sevenfold.

4Seek not of the Lord preeminence, neither of the king the seat of honour.

5justify not thyself before the Lord; and boast not of thy wisdom before the king.

6Seek not to be judge, being not able to take away iniquity; lest at any time thou fear the person of the mighty, an stumblingblock in the way of thy uprightness.

7Offend not against the multitude of a city, and then thou shalt not cast thyself down among the people.

8Bind not one sin upon another; for in one thou shalt not be unpunished.

9Say not, God will look upon the multitude of my oblations, and when I offer to the most high God, he will accept it.

 

Prayer:  O Lord, as a man I have sinned, but do Thou, as the compassionate God, have mercy on me, seeing the infirmity of my soul.

O Lord, send Thy grace to my help, that I may glorify Thy holy name.

Thursday
Ecclesiasticus 2:10Be not fainthearted when thou makest thy prayer, and neglect not to give alms.

11Laugh no man to scorn in the bitterness of his soul: for there is one which humbleth and exalteth.

12Devise not a lie against thy brother; neither do the like to thy friend.

13Use not to make any manner of lie: for the custom thereof is not good.

14Use not many words in a multitude of elders, and make not much babbling when thou prayest.

15Hate not laborious work, neither husbandry, which the most High hath ordained.

16Number not thyself among the multitude of sinners, but remember that wrath will not tarry long.

17Humble thyself greatly: for the vengeance of the ungodly is fire and worms.

18Change not a friend for any good by no means; neither a faithful brother for the gold of Ophir.

19Forego not a wise and good woman: for her grace is above gold.

Prayer: O Lord Jesus Christ, write me Thy servant in the Book of Life, and grant me a good end.

O Lord my God, even though I have done nothing good in Thy sight, yet grant me by Thy grace to make a good beginning.

 

Friday

Ecclesiasticus 2:20Whereas thy servant worketh truly, entreat him not evil. nor the hireling that bestoweth himself wholly for thee.

21Let thy soul love a good servant, and defraud him not of liberty.

22Hast thou cattle? have an eye to them: and if they be for thy profit, keep them with thee.

23Hast thou children? instruct them, and bow down their neck from their youth.

24Hast thou daughters? have a care of their body, and shew not thyself cheerful toward them.

25Marry thy daughter, and so shalt thou have performed a weighty matter: but give her to a man of understanding.

26Hast thou a wife after thy mind? forsake her not: but give not thyself over to a light woman.

27Honour thy father with thy whole heart, and forget not the sorrows of thy mother.

28Remember that thou wast begotten of them; and how canst thou recompense them the things that they have done for thee?

Prayer:    O Lord, sprinkle into my heart the dew of Thy grace.

O Lord of heaven and earth, remember me Thy sinful servant, shameful and unclean, in Thy kingdom. Amen.
Saturday

Ecclesiasticus 2:Fear the Lord with all thy soul, and reverence his priests.

30Love him that made thee with all thy strength, and forsake not his ministers.

31Fear the Lord, and honor the priest; and give him his portion, as it is commanded thee; the firstfruits, and the trespass offering, and the gift of the shoulders, and the sacrifice of sanctification, and the firstfruits of the holy things.

32And stretch thine hand unto the poor, that thy blessing may be perfected.

33A gift hath grace in the sight of every man living; and for the dead detain it not.

34Fail not to be with them that weep, and mourn with them that mourn.

35Be not slow to visit the sick: fir that shall make thee to be beloved.

36Whatsoever thou takest in hand, remember the end, and thou shalt never do amiss.

Prayer:  O Lord, accept me in penitence.

O Lord, forsake me not.