Daily Readings
The Scripture readings appointed for the day, with the full text in your language. Follow the daily readings for your tradition, every morning, in the Bosko app.
Morning Prayer — First Lesson
Sirach 20
There is a reproof that is not comely; And there is a man that keeps silence, and he is wise. How good is it to reprove, rather than to be angry; And he that makes confession will be kept back from hurt. As is the lust of an eunuch to deflower a virgin; So is he that executes judgements with violence. There is one that keeps silence, and is found wise; And there is one that is hated for his much talk. There is one that keeps silence, for he has no answer to make; And there is that keeps silence, as knowing his time. A wise man will be silent till his time come; But the braggart and fool will overpass his time. He that uses many words will be abhorred; And he that takes to himself authority therein will be hated. There is a prosperity that a man finds in misfortunes; And there is a gain that turns to loss. There is a gift that will not profit you; And there is a gift whose recompense is double. There is an abasement because of glory; And there is that has lifted up his head from a low estate. There is that buys much for a little, And pays for it again sevenfold. He that is wise in words will make himself beloved; But the pleasantries of fools will be wasted. The gift of a fool will not profit you; For his eyes are many instead of one. He will give little, and upbraid much; And he will open his mouth like a crier: Today he will lend, and tomorrow he will ask it again: Such an one is a hateful man. The fool will say, I have no friend, And I have no thanks for my good deeds; They that eat my bread are of evil tongue. How often, and of how many, will he be laughed to scorn! A slip on a pavement is better than a slip with the tongue; So the fall of the wicked will come speedily. A man without grace is as a tale out of season: It will be continually in the mouth of the ignorant. A wise sentence from a fool’s mouth will be rejected; For he will not speak it in its season. There is that is hindered from sinning through lack; And when he takes rest, he will not be troubled. There is that destroys his soul through bashfulness; And by a foolish countenance he will destroy it. There is that for bashfulness promises to his friend; And he makes him his enemy for nothing. A lie is a foul blot in a man: It will be continually in the mouth of the ignorant. A thief is better than a man that is continually lying: But they both will inherit destruction. The disposition of a liar is dishonor; And his shame is with him continually. He that is wise in words will advance himself; And one that is prudent will please great men. He that tils his land will raise his heap high; And he that pleases great men will get pardon for iniquity. Presents and gifts blind the eyes of the wise, And as a muzzle on the mouth, turn away reproofs. Wisdom that is hid, and treasure that is out of sight, What profit is in them both? Better is a man that hides his folly Than a man that hides his wisdom.
Morning Prayer — Second Lesson
Luke 20
On one of those days, as he was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the Good News, the priests and scribes came to him with the elders. They asked him, “Tell us: by what authority do you do these things? Or who is giving you this authority?” He answered them, “I also will ask you one question. Tell me: the baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men?” They reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.” They answered that they didn’t know where it was from. Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” He began to tell the people this parable. “A man planted a vineyard, and rented it out to some farmers, and went into another country for a long time. At the proper season, he sent a servant to the farmers to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. But the farmers beat him, and sent him away empty. He sent yet another servant, and they also beat him, and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty. He sent yet a third, and they also wounded him, and threw him out. The lord of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. It may be that seeing him, they will respect him.’ “But when the farmers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.’ They threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy these farmers, and will give the vineyard to others.” When they heard that, they said, “May that never be!” But he looked at them and said, “Then what is this that is written, ‘The stone which the builders rejected was made the chief cornerstone?’ Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but it will crush whomever it falls on to dust.” The chief priests and the scribes sought to lay hands on him that very hour, but they feared the people—for they knew he had spoken this parable against them. They watched him and sent out spies, who pretended to be righteous, that they might trap him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the power and authority of the governor. They asked him, “Teacher, we know that you say and teach what is right, and aren’t partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Why do you test me? Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” They answered, “Caesar’s.” He said to them, “Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” They weren’t able to trap him in his words before the people. They marveled at his answer and were silent. Some of the Sadducees came to him, those who deny that there is a resurrection. They asked him, “Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies having a wife, and he is childless, his brother should take the wife and raise up children for his brother. There were therefore seven brothers. The first took a wife, and died childless. The second took her as wife, and he died childless. The third took her, and likewise the seven all left no children, and died. Afterward the woman also died. Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them will she be? For the seven had her as a wife.” Jesus said to them, “The children of this age marry, and are given in marriage. But those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. For they can’t die any more, for they are like the angels, and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed at the bush, when he called the Lord ‘The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ Now he is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for all are alive to him.” Some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, you speak well.” They didn’t dare to ask him any more questions. He said to them, “Why do they say that the Christ is David’s son? David himself says in the book of Psalms, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet.” ’ “David therefore calls him Lord, so how is he his son?” In the hearing of all the people, he said to his disciples, “Beware of those scribes who like to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts; who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers: these will receive greater condemnation.”
Evening Prayer — First Lesson
Sirach 21
My son, have you sinned? add no more thereto; And make supplication for your former sins. Flee from sin as from the face of a serpent; For if you draw near it will bite you: The teeth thereof are the teeth of a lion, Slaying the souls of men. All iniquity is as a two-edged sword; Its stroke has no healing. Terror and violence will lay waste riches; So the house of a haughty man will be laid waste. Supplication from a poor man’s mouth reaches to the ears of God, And his judgement comes speedily. One that hates reproof is in the path of the sinner; And he that fears the Lord will turn again in his heart. He that is mighty in tongue is known afar off: But the man of understanding knows when he slips. He that builds his house with other men’s money Is like one that gathers himself stones against winter. The congregation of wicked men is as tow wrapped together; And the end of them is a flame of fire. The way of sinners is made smooth with stones; And at the last end thereof is the pit of Hades. He that keeps the law becomes master of the intent thereof; And the end of the fear of the Lord is wisdom. He that is not clever will not be instructed; And there is a cleverness which makes bitterness to abound. The knowledge of a wise man will be made to abound as a flood; And his counsel as a fountain of life. The inward parts of a fool are like a broken vessel; And he will hold no knowledge. If a man of knowledge hear a wise word, He will commend it, and add to it: The dissolute man hears it, and it displeases him, And he puts it away behind his back. The discourse of a fool is like a burden in the way; But grace will be found on the lips of the wise. The mouth of the prudent man will be sought for in the congregation; And they will ponder his words in their heart. As a house that is destroyed, so is wisdom to a fool; And the knowledge of an unwise man is as talk without sense. Instruction is as fetters on the feet of an unwise man, And as manacles on the right hand. A fool lifts up his voice with laughter; But a clever man will scarce smile quietly. Instruction is to a prudent man as an ornament of gold, And as a bracelet upon his right arm. The foot of a fool is soon in another man’s house; But a man of experience will be ashamed of entering. A foolish man peepeth in from the door of another man’s house; But a man that is instructed will stand without. It is a lack of instruction in a man to listen at the door; But the prudent man will be grieved with the disgrace. The lips of strangers will be grieved at these things; But the words of prudent men will be weighed in the balance. The heart of fools is in their mouth; But the mouth of wise men is their heart. When the ungodly curses Satan, He curses his own soul. A whisperer defiles his own soul, And will be hated wherever he sojourneth.
Evening Prayer — Second Lesson
Colossians 4
Masters, give to your servants that which is just and equal, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching in it with thanksgiving, praying together for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds, that I may reveal it as I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. All my affairs will be made known to you by Tychicus, the beloved brother, faithful servant, and fellow bondservant in the Lord. I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts, together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you everything that is going on here. Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you received commandments, “if he comes to you, receive him”), and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for God’s Kingdom who are of the circumcision, men who have been a comfort to me. Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, salutes you, always striving for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I testify about him that he has great zeal for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for those in Hierapolis. Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you. Greet the brothers who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the assembly that is in his house. When this letter has been read among you, cause it to be read also in the assembly of the Laodiceans, and that you also read the letter from Laodicea. Tell Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you fulfill it.” The salutation of me, Paul, with my own hand: remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.
Readings follow the 1662 Book of Common Prayer (public domain). Scripture text is in the public domain. (World English Bible)
Daily readings, every morning
In Bosko the day's readings are waiting for you each morning — mark each one read so you never lose your place, read them in any of 30 translations, and sit with a short reflection. Your tradition's daily readings, tracked and always in your pocket.
