Daily Lectionary in Poetry Tuesday 30th December 2014

Psalm 148

Praise for God’s Universal Glory
1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
    praise him in the heights!
2 Praise him, all his angels;
    praise him, all his host!
3 Praise him, sun and moon;
    praise him, all you shining stars!
4 Praise him, you highest heavens,
    and you waters above the heavens!
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
    for he commanded and they were created.
6 He established them forever and ever;
    he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.[a]
7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
    you sea monsters and all deeps,
8 fire and hail, snow and frost,
    stormy wind fulfilling his command!
9 Mountains and all hills,
    fruit trees and all cedars!
10 Wild animals and all cattle,
    creeping things and flying birds!
11 Kings of the earth and all peoples,
    princes and all rulers of the earth!
12 Young men and women alike,
    old and young together!
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
    for his name alone is exalted;
    his glory is above earth and heaven.
14 He has raised up a horn for his people,
    praise for all his faithful,
    for the people of Israel who are close to him.
Praise the Lord!
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Praise the Lord
his angels
his hosts
the sun and moon
the stars and heavens
Praise the Lord

Praise the Lord
the trees
the animals
the peoples and rulers
the old and the young
Praise the Lord


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Proverbs 9:1-12

Wisdom’s Feast

9 Wisdom has built her house,
    she has hewn her seven pillars.
2 She has slaughtered her animals, she has mixed her wine,
    she has also set her table.
3 She has sent out her servant-girls, she calls
    from the highest places in the town,
4 “You that are simple, turn in here!”
    To those without sense she says,
5 “Come, eat of my bread
    and drink of the wine I have mixed.
6 Lay aside immaturity,[a] and live,
    and walk in the way of insight.”

General Maxims
7 Whoever corrects a scoffer wins abuse;
    whoever rebukes the wicked gets hurt.
8 A scoffer who is rebuked will only hate you;
    the wise, when rebuked, will love you.
9 Give instruction[b] to the wise, and they will become wiser still;
    teach the righteous and they will gain in learning.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
    and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied,
    and years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;
    if you scoff, you alone will bear it.


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Wisdom has built a house
Set her table
Announced her message
Come eat and drink and live with insight

Instruct the wise
They will become wiser
Teach the righteous
They will gain learning

The fear of the Lord
Is the beginning of wisdom
Insight is knowledge
Knowledge of the Lord

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2 Peter 3: 8-13

8 But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you,[a] not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.[b]

11 Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening[c] the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? 13 But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.
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One day with the Lord
Is like a thousand years
A thousand years
Is like just one day

The Lord is patient
He wishes none to suffer
The Lord is coming
He will not tell us when

We all must be waiting
Living good lives
Knowing that God is coming
We must be ready

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