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Today's Readings
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Wednesday, 5th April 2017 --- 27 Baramhat 1733
Matins
Proverbs 10 : 32 - end Proverbs 11 : 1 - 13 Isaiah 58 : 1 - 11 Job 40 : 1 - end Job 41 : 1 - 25
Proverbs 10 : 32 - end
Chapter 10
| 32 | The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, But the mouth of the wicked what is perverse.
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Proverbs 11 : 1 - 13
Chapter 11
| 1 | Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, But a just weight is His delight.
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| 2 | When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.
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| 3 | The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.
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| 4 | Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death.
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| 5 | The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright, But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.
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| 6 | The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, But the unfaithful will be caught by their lust.
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| 7 | When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish, And the hope of the unjust perishes.
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| 8 | The righteous is delivered from trouble, And it comes to the wicked instead.
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| 9 | The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor, But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.
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| 10 | When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices; And when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.
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| 11 | By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted, But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
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| 12 | He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor, But a man of understanding holds his peace.
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| 13 | A talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.
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Isaiah 58 : 1 - 11
Chapter 58
| 1 | "Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My people their transgression, And the house of Jacob their sins.
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| 2 | Yet they seek Me daily, And delight to know My ways, As a nation that did righteousness, And did not forsake the ordinance of their God. They ask of Me the ordinances of justice; They take delight in approaching God.
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| 3 | "Why have we fasted,' they say, "and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?'"In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, And exploit all your laborers.
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| 4 | Indeed you fast for strife and debate, And to strike with the fist of wickedness. You will not fast as you do this day, To make your voice heard on high.
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| 5 | Is it a fast that I have chosen, A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, And to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would you call this a fast, And an acceptable day to the LORD?
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| 6 | "Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke?
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| 7 | Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh?
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| 8 | Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
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| 9 | Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, "Here I am.'"If you take away the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
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| 10 | If you extend your soul to the hungry And satisfy the afflicted soul, Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your darkness shall be as the noonday.
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| 11 | The LORD will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
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Job 40 : 1 - end
Chapter 40
| 1 | Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said:
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| 2 | "Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? He who rebukes God, let him answer it."
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| 3 | Then Job answered the LORD and said:
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| 4 | "Behold, I am vile; What shall I answer You? I lay my hand over my mouth.
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| 5 | Once I have spoken, but I will not answer; Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further."
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| 6 | Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:
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| 7 | "Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me:
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| 8 | "Would you indeed annul My judgment? Would you condemn Me that you may be justified?
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| 9 | Have you an arm like God? Or can you thunder with a voice like His?
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| 10 | Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor, And array yourself with glory and beauty.
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| 11 | Disperse the rage of your wrath; Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him.
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| 12 | Look on everyone who is proud, and bring him low; Tread down the wicked in their place.
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| 13 | Hide them in the dust together, Bind their faces in hidden darkness.
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| 14 | Then I will also confess to you That your own right hand can save you.
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| 15 | "Look now at the behemoth, which I made along with you; He eats grass like an ox.
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| 16 | See now, his strength is in his hips, And his power is in his stomach muscles.
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| 17 | He moves his tail like a cedar; The sinews of his thighs are tightly knit.
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| 18 | His bones are like beams of bronze, His ribs like bars of iron.
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| 19 | He is the first of the ways of God; Only He who made him can bring near His sword.
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| 20 | Surely the mountains yield food for him, And all the beasts of the field play there.
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| 21 | He lies under the lotus trees, In a covert of reeds and marsh.
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| 22 | The lotus trees cover him with their shade; The willows by the brook surround him.
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| 23 | Indeed the river may rage, Yet he is not disturbed; He is confident, though the Jordan gushes into his mouth,
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| 24 | Though he takes it in his eyes, Or one pierces his nose with a snare.
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Job 41 : 1 - 25
Chapter 41
| 1 | "Can you draw out Leviathan with a hook, Or snare his tongue with a line which you lower?
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| 2 | Can you put a reed through his nose, Or pierce his jaw with a hook?
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| 3 | Will he make many supplications to you? Will he speak softly to you?
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| 4 | Will he make a covenant with you? Will you take him as a servant forever?
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| 5 | Will you play with him as with a bird, Or will you leash him for your maidens?
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| 6 | Will your companions make a banquet of him? Will they apportion him among the merchants?
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| 7 | Can you fill his skin with harpoons, Or his head with fishing spears?
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| 8 | Lay your hand on him; Remember the battle--Never do it again!
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| 9 | Indeed, any hope of overcoming him is false; Shall one not be overwhelmed at the sight of him?
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| 10 | No one is so fierce that he would dare stir him up. Who then is able to stand against Me?
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| 11 | Who has preceded Me, that I should pay him? Everything under heaven is Mine.
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| 12 | "I will not conceal his limbs, His mighty power, or his graceful proportions.
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| 13 | Who can remove his outer coat? Who can approach him with a double bridle?
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| 14 | Who can open the doors of his face, With his terrible teeth all around?
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| 15 | His rows of scales are his pride, Shut up tightly as with a seal;
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| 16 | One is so near another That no air can come between them;
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| 17 | They are joined one to another, They stick together and cannot be parted.
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| 18 | His sneezings flash forth light, And his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
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| 19 | Out of his mouth go burning lights; Sparks of fire shoot out.
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| 20 | Smoke goes out of his nostrils, As from a boiling pot and burning rushes.
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| 21 | His breath kindles coals, And a flame goes out of his mouth.
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| 22 | Strength dwells in his neck, And sorrow dances before him.
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| 23 | The folds of his flesh are joined together; They are firm on him and cannot be moved.
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| 24 | His heart is as hard as stone, Even as hard as the lower millstone.
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| 25 | When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid; Because of his crashings they are beside themselves.
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Acknowledgement
Opening page