Sunday<\/p>\n
Reading from the Old Testament Ecclesiasticus this week<\/p>\n
Eccl.\u00a01<\/a><\/span>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.<\/p>\n 2<\/a><\/span>Extol not thyself in the counsel of thine own heart; that thy soul be not torn in pieces as a bull [straying alone.]<\/p>\n 3<\/a><\/span>Thou shalt eat up thy leaves, and lose thy fruit, and leave thyself as a dry tree.<\/p>\n 4<\/a><\/span>A wicked soul shall destroy him that hath it, and shall make him to be laughed to scorn of his enemies.<\/p>\n 5<\/a><\/span>Sweet language will multiply friends: and a fairspeaking tongue will increase kind greetings.<\/p>\n 6<\/a><\/span>Be in peace with many: nevertheless have but one counsellor of a thousand.<\/p>\n 7<\/a><\/span>If thou wouldest get a friend, prove him first and be not hasty to credit him.<\/p>\n 8<\/a><\/span>For some man is a friend for his own occasion, and will not abide in the day of thy trouble.<\/p>\n 9<\/a><\/span>And there is a friend, who being turned to enmity, and strife will discover thy reproach.<\/p>\n 10<\/a><\/span>Again, some friend is a companion at the table, and will not continue in the day of thy affliction.<\/p>\n 11<\/a><\/span>But in thy prosperity he will be as thyself, and will be bold over thy servants.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Prayer:\u00a0 O Lord, deprive me not of Thy heavenly good things.<\/p>\n O Lord, deliver me from the eternal torments.\u00a0 (St John Chrysostom hourly prayers)<\/p>\n Monday<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 2<\/a><\/span>Extol not thyself in the counsel of thine own heart; that thy soul be not torn in pieces as a bull [straying alone.]<\/p>\n 3<\/a><\/span>Thou shalt eat up thy leaves, and lose thy fruit, and leave thyself as a dry tree.<\/p>\n 4<\/a><\/span>A wicked soul shall destroy him that hath it, and shall make him to be laughed to scorn of his enemies.<\/p>\n 5<\/a><\/span>Sweet language will multiply friends: and a fairspeaking tongue will increase kind greetings.<\/p>\n 6<\/a><\/span>Be in peace with many: nevertheless have but one counsellor of a thousand.<\/p>\n 7<\/a><\/span>If thou wouldest get a friend, prove him first and be not hasty to credit him.<\/p>\n 8<\/a><\/span>For some man is a friend for his own occasion, and will not abide in the day of thy trouble.<\/p>\n 9<\/a><\/span>And there is a friend, who being turned to enmity, and strife will discover thy reproach.<\/p>\n 10<\/a><\/span>Again, some friend is a companion at the table, and will not continue in the day of thy affliction.<\/p>\n 11<\/a><\/span>But in thy prosperity he will be as thyself, and will be bold over thy servants.<\/p>\n 12<\/a><\/span>If thou be brought low, he will be against thee, and will hide himself from thy face.<\/p>\n 13<\/a><\/span>Separate thyself from thine enemies, and take heed of thy friends.<\/p>\n 14<\/a><\/span>A faithfu1l friend is a strong defence: and he that hath found such an one hath found a treasure.<\/p>\n 15<\/a><\/span>Nothing doth countervail a faithful friend, and his excellency is invaluable.<\/p>\n 16<\/a><\/span>A faithful friend is the medicine of life; and they that fear the Lord shall find him.<\/p>\n 17<\/a><\/span>Whoso feareth the Lord shall direct his friendship aright: for as he is, so shall his neighbour be also.<\/p>\n 18<\/a><\/span>My son, gather instruction from thy youth up: so shalt thou find wisdom till thine old age.<\/p>\n 19<\/a><\/span>Come 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.<\/p>\n 20<\/a><\/span>She is very unpleasant to the unlearned: he that is without understanding will not remain with her.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Prayer:\u00a0 O Lord, if I have sinned in mind or thought, in word or deed, forgive me.<\/p>\n O Lord, deliver me from all ignorance, forgetfulness, faint-heartedness, and stony insensibility. Ecclesiasticus 1:21<\/a><\/span>She will lie upon him as a mighty stone of trial; and he will cast her from him ere it be long.<\/p>\n 22<\/a><\/span>For wisdom is according to her name, and she is not manifest unto many.<\/p>\n 23<\/a><\/span>Give ear, my son, receive my advice, and refuse not my counsel,<\/p>\n 24<\/a><\/span>And put thy feet into her fetters, and thy neck into her chain.<\/p>\n 25<\/a><\/span>Bow down thy shoulder, and bear her, and be not grieved with her bonds.<\/p>\n 26<\/a><\/span>Come unto her with thy whole heart, and keep her ways with all thy power.<\/p>\n 27<\/a><\/span>Search, and seek, and she shall be made known unto thee: and when thou hast got hold of her, let her not go.<\/p>\n 28<\/a><\/span>For at the last thou shalt find her rest, and that shall be turned to thy joy.<\/p>\n 29<\/a><\/span>Then shall her fetters be a strong defence for thee, and her chains a robe of glory.<\/p>\n 30<\/a><\/span>For there is a golden ornament upon her, and her bands are purple lace.<\/p>\n 31<\/a><\/span>Thou shalt put her on as a robe of honour, and shalt put her about thee as a crown of joy.<\/p>\n 32<\/a><\/span>My son, if thou wilt, thou shalt be taught: and if thou wilt apply thy mind, thou shalt be prudent.<\/p>\n 33<\/a><\/span>If thou love to hear, thou shalt receive understanding: and if thou bow thine ear, thou shalt be wise,<\/p>\n 34<\/a><\/span>Stand in the multitude of the elders; and cleave unto him that is wise.<\/p>\n 35<\/a><\/span>Be willing to hear every godly discourse; and let not the parables of understanding escape thee.<\/p>\n 36<\/a><\/span>And if thou seest a man of understanding, get thee betimes unto him, and let thy foot wear the steps of his door.<\/p>\n 37<\/a><\/span>Let 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.<\/p>\n Prayer:\u00a0 O Lord, deliver me from every temptation.<\/p>\n O Lord, enlighten my heart which evil desire hath darkened.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wednesday<\/p>\n Ecclesiasticus 2:\u00a01<\/a><\/span>Do no evil, so shall no harm come unto thee.<\/p>\n 2<\/a><\/span>Depart from the unjust, and iniquity shall turn away from thee.<\/p>\n 3<\/a><\/span>My son, sow not upon the furrows of unrighteousness, and thou shalt not reap them sevenfold.<\/p>\n 4<\/a><\/span>Seek not of the Lord preeminence, neither of the king the seat of honour.<\/p>\n 5<\/a><\/span>justify not thyself before the Lord; and boast not of thy wisdom before the king.<\/p>\n 6<\/a><\/span>Seek 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.<\/p>\n 7<\/a><\/span>Offend not against the multitude of a city, and then thou shalt not cast thyself down among the people.<\/p>\n 8<\/a><\/span>Bind not one sin upon another; for in one thou shalt not be unpunished.<\/p>\n 9<\/a><\/span>Say not, God will look upon the multitude of my oblations, and when I offer to the most high God, he will accept it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Prayer:\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n O Lord, send Thy grace to my help, that I may glorify Thy holy name.<\/p>\n Thursday 11<\/a><\/span>Laugh no man to scorn in the bitterness of his soul: for there is one which humbleth and exalteth.<\/p>\n 12<\/a><\/span>Devise not a lie against thy brother; neither do the like to thy friend.<\/p>\n 13<\/a><\/span>Use not to make any manner of lie: for the custom thereof is not good.<\/p>\n 14<\/a><\/span>Use not many words in a multitude of elders, and make not much babbling when thou prayest.<\/p>\n 15<\/a><\/span>Hate not laborious work, neither husbandry, which the most High hath ordained.<\/p>\n 16<\/a><\/span>Number not thyself among the multitude of sinners, but remember that wrath will not tarry long.<\/p>\n 17<\/a><\/span>Humble thyself greatly: for the vengeance of the ungodly is fire and worms.<\/p>\n 18<\/a><\/span>Change not a friend for any good by no means; neither a faithful brother for the gold of Ophir.<\/p>\n 19<\/a><\/span>Forego not a wise and good woman: for her grace is above gold.<\/p>\n Prayer: O Lord Jesus Christ, write me Thy servant in the Book of Life, and grant me a good end.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Friday<\/p>\n Ecclesiasticus 2:20<\/a><\/span>Whereas thy servant worketh truly, entreat him not evil. nor the hireling that bestoweth himself wholly for thee.<\/p>\n 21<\/a><\/span>Let thy soul love a good servant, and defraud him not of liberty.<\/p>\n 22<\/a><\/span>Hast thou cattle? have an eye to them: and if they be for thy profit, keep them with thee.<\/p>\n 23<\/a><\/span>Hast thou children? instruct them, and bow down their neck from their youth.<\/p>\n 24<\/a><\/span>Hast thou daughters? have a care of their body, and shew not thyself cheerful toward them.<\/p>\n 25<\/a><\/span>Marry thy daughter, and so shalt thou have performed a weighty matter: but give her to a man of understanding.<\/p>\n 26<\/a><\/span>Hast thou a wife after thy mind? forsake her not: but give not thyself over to a light woman.<\/p>\n 27<\/a><\/span>Honour thy father with thy whole heart, and forget not the sorrows of thy mother.<\/p>\n 28<\/a><\/span>Remember that thou wast begotten of them; and how canst thou recompense them the things that they have done for thee?<\/p>\n Prayer:\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0O Lord, sprinkle into my heart the dew of Thy grace.<\/p>\n O Lord of heaven and earth, remember me Thy sinful servant, shameful and unclean, in Thy kingdom. Amen. Ecclesiasticus 2:Fear the Lord with all thy soul, and reverence his priests.<\/p>\n 30<\/a><\/span>Love him that made thee with all thy strength, and forsake not his ministers.<\/p>\n 31<\/a><\/span>Fear 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.<\/p>\n 32<\/a><\/span>And stretch thine hand unto the poor, that thy blessing may be perfected.<\/p>\n 33<\/a><\/span>A gift hath grace in the sight of every man living; and for the dead detain it not.<\/p>\n 34<\/a><\/span>Fail not to be with them that weep, and mourn with them that mourn.<\/p>\n 35<\/a><\/span>Be not slow to visit the sick: fir that shall make thee to be beloved.<\/p>\n
\nTuesday<\/p>\n
\nEcclesiasticus 2:10<\/a><\/span>Be not fainthearted when thou makest thy prayer, and neglect not to give alms.<\/p>\n
\nSaturday<\/p>\n