And be conversant in the dark sayings of para bles. He shall serve before great men, And appear before princes: He will travel through strange countries; men. He will give his heart to resort early to the Lord that made him, And will pray before the Most High. When the great Lord will, He shall be filled with the spirit of understanding: He shall pour forth the words of his wisdom, He shall shew forth that which he hath learned, Many shall commend his understanding; And while the world endureth, it shall not be blotted out: His memorial shall not depart away, And his name shall live from generation to generation. Nations shall shew forth his wisdom, And the congregation shall declare his praise. ECCLESIASTICUS XLIV Wisdom iv Let us now praise famous men, By whom the Lord hath wrought great glory. Wise were their words in their instruction: And set forth verses in writing: All these were honoured in their generations, Whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten. But their name liveth for evermore. For the memorial of virtue is immortal; And throughout all time it marcheth crowned in triumph, Victorious in the strife for the prizes that are undefiled. Therefore will the people tell of their wisdom, And the congregation will shew forth their praise. THE GOSPELS MATTHEW, MARK, AND LUKE LUKE I Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, For he hath visited and wrought redemption for And hath raised us up an hope of salvation In the house of his servant David (As he spake by the mouth of the holy prophets That have been since the world began); To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, And to remember his holy covenant; The promise which he gave unto our fathers, To grant unto us that we should serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him all our days. Yea and thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Most High: For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord To make ready his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people In the remission of their sins, Because of the tender mercy of our God, Whereby the dayspring from on high shall visit us, To shine upon them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death, And to guide our feet into the way of peace. |