Lectionary Readings Book of Common Prayer - 1979 First Sunday of Advent

The Collect

First Sunday of Advent
Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever. Amen
Preface of Advent

Old Testament Reading

Isaiah 2:1-5
¹The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. ²Now it shall come to pass in the latter days Thatthe mountain of the LORD's house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it. ³Many people shall come and say, " Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. ⁴He shall judge between the nations, And rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore. ⁵O house of Jacob, come and let us walk In the light of the LORD. -- NKJV

Psalm

Psalm 122

Laetatus sum
1I was glad when they said to me, *
     "Let us go to the house of the LORD."
2Now our feet are standing *
     within your gates, O Jerusalem.
3Jerusalem is built as a city *
     that is at unity with itself;
4To which the tribes go up,
     the tribes of the LORD, *
     the assembly of Israel,
     to praise the Name of the LORD.
5For there are the thrones of judgment, *
     the thrones of the house of David.
6Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: *
     "May they prosper who love you.
7Peace be within your walls *
     and quietness within your towers.
8For my brethren and companions' sake, *
     I pray for your prosperity.
9Because of the house of the LORD our God, *
     I will seek to do you good."

New Testament Reading

Romans 13:8-14
⁸Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. ⁹For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." ¹⁰Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. ¹¹And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. ¹²The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. ¹³Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. ¹⁴But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. -- NKJV

Gospel Reading

Matthew 24:37-44
³⁷But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. ³⁸For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, ³⁹and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. ⁴⁰Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. ⁴¹Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. ⁴²Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. ⁴³But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. ⁴⁴Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. -- NKJV



Lectionary Readings
Book of Common Prayer - 1979
Sunday, November-24-2013
Proper 29

The Collect

Proper 29
Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in thy well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
Preface of the Lord's Day, or of Baptism

 

Old Testament Reading

Jeremiah 23:1-6
¹"Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!" says the LORD. ²Therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel against the shepherds who feed My people: "You have scattered My flock, driven them away, and not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your doings," says the LORD. ³"But I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all countries where I have driven them, and bring them back to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. ⁴I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, nor shall they be lacking," says the LORD. ⁵" Behold, the days are coming," says the LORD, " That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. ⁶In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. -- NKJV

 

Psalm

Psalm 46

Deus noster refugium
1God is our refuge and strength, *
     a very present help in trouble.
2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be moved, *
     and though the mountains be toppled into the depths of the sea;
3Though its waters rage and foam, *
     and though the mountains tremble at its tumult.
4The LORD of hosts is with us; *
     the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
5There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, *
     the holy habitation of the Most High.
6God is in the midst of her;
     she shall not be overthrown; *
     God shall help her at the break of day.
7The nations make much ado, and the kingdoms are shaken; *
     God has spoken, and the earth shall melt away.
8The LORD of hosts is with us; *
     the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
9Come now and look upon the works of the LORD, *
     what awesome things he has done on earth.
10It is he who makes war to cease in all the world; *
     he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear,
     and burns the shields with fire.
11"Be still, then, and know that I am God; *
     I will be exalted among the nations;
     I will be exalted in the earth."
12The LORD of hosts is with us; *
     the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

New Testament Reading

Colossians 1:11-20
¹¹strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; ¹²giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. ¹³He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, ¹⁴in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. ¹⁵He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. ¹⁷And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. ¹⁸And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. ¹⁹For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, ²⁰and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. -- NKJV

 

Gospel Reading

Luke 23:35-43
³⁵And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God." ³⁶The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, ³⁷and saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself." ³⁸And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. ³⁹Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us." ⁴⁰But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? ⁴¹And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." ⁴²Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." ⁴³And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." -- NKJV - OR -

Luke 19:29-38
²⁹And it came to pass, when He drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples, ³⁰saying, "Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here. ³¹And if anyone asks you, 'Why are you loosing it?' thus you shall say to him, 'Because the Lord has need of it.'" ³²So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to them. ³³But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, "Why are you loosing the colt?" ³⁴And they said, "The Lord has need of him." ³⁵Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him. ³⁶And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road. ³⁷Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, ³⁸saying: "'Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!' Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" -- NKJV

Lectionary Readings
Book of Common Prayer - 1979
Sunday, November-17-2013
Proper 28

The Collect

Proper 28
Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that, by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
Preface of the Lord's Day

 

Old Testament Reading

Malachi 3:13-4:2
3:¹³ " Your words have been harsh against Me," Says the LORD, " Yet you say, ' What have we spoken against You?' ¹⁴ You have said, ' It is useless to serve God; What profit is it that we have kept His ordinance, And that we have walked as mourners Before the LORD of hosts? ¹⁵ So now we call the proud blessed, For those who do wickedness are raised up; They even tempt God and go free.'" ¹⁶ Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, And the LORD listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the LORD And who meditate on His name. ¹⁷ " They shall be Mine," says the LORD of hosts, " On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them As a man spares his own son who serves him." ¹⁸ Then you shall again discern Between the righteous and the wicked, Between one who serves God And one who does not serve Him.4:¹ "For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up," Says the LORD of hosts, " That will leave them neither root nor branch. ² But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves. -- NKJV - AND -
Malachi 4:5-6
⁵Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. ⁶And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse." -- NKJV

 

Psalm

Psalm 98

Cantate Domino
1Sing to the LORD a new song, *
     for he has done marvelous things.
2With his right hand and his holy arm *
     has he won for himself the victory.
3The LORD has made known his victory; *
     his righteousness has he openly shown in
     the sight of the nations.
4He remembers his mercy and faithfulness to
     the house of Israel, *
     and all the ends of the earth have seen the
     victory of our God.
5Shout with joy to the LORD, all you lands; *
     lift up your voice, rejoice, and sing.
6Sing to the LORD with the harp, *
     with the harp and the voice of song.
7With trumpets and the sound of the horn *
     shout with joy before the King, the LORD.
8Let the sea make a noise and all that is in it, *
     the lands and those who dwell therein.
9Let the rivers clap their hands, *
     and let the hills ring out with joy before the LORD,
     when he comes to judge the earth.
10In righteousness shall he judge the world *
     and the peoples with equity.
11Light has sprung up for the righteous, *
     and joyful gladness for those who are truehearted.
12Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous, *
     and give thanks to his holy Name.

- OR -
Psalm 98:5-10

5Shout with joy to the LORD, all you lands; *
     lift up your voice, rejoice, and sing.
6Sing to the LORD with the harp, *
     with the harp and the voice of song.
7With trumpets and the sound of the horn *
     shout with joy before the King, the LORD.
8Let the sea make a noise and all that is in it, *
     the lands and those who dwell therein.
9Let the rivers clap their hands, *
     and let the hills ring out with joy before the LORD,
     when he comes to judge the earth.
10In righteousness shall he judge the world *
     and the peoples with equity.

New Testament Reading

2 Thessalonians 3:6-13
⁶But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. ⁷For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; ⁸nor did we eat anyone's bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, ⁹not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us. ¹⁰For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. ¹¹For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. ¹²Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. ¹³But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. -- NKJV

 

Gospel Reading

Luke 21:5-19
⁵Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, ⁶"These things which you see-the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down." ⁷So they asked Him, saying, "Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?" ⁸And He said: "Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time has drawn near.' Therefore do not go after them. ⁹But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately." ¹⁰Then He said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. ¹¹And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. ¹²But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake. ¹³But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. ¹⁴Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; ¹⁵for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. ¹⁶You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. ¹⁷And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. ¹⁸But not a hair of your head shall be lost. ¹⁹By your patience possess your souls. -- NKJV 

Lectionary Readings
Book of Common Prayer - 1979
Sunday, November-10-2013
Proper 27

 

Lectionary: 1979  |  Collect & Preface: Traditional

The Collect

Proper 27
O God, whose blessed Son was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant us, we beseech thee, that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves even as he is pure; that, when he shall appear again with power and great glory, we may be made like unto him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where with thee, O Father, and thee, O Holy Ghost, he liveth and reigneth ever, one God, world without end. Amen
Preface of the Lord's Day

Old Testament Reading

Job 19:23-27
²³"Oh, that my words were written! Oh, that they were inscribed in a book! ²⁴That they were engraved on a rock With an iron pen and lead, forever! ²⁵For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; ²⁶And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, ²⁷Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! -- NKJV

Psalm

Psalm 17

Exaudi, Domine
1Hear my plea of innocence, O LORD;
     give heed to my cry; *
     listen to my prayer, which does not come from lying lips.
2Let my vindication come forth from your presence; *
     let your eyes be fixed on justice.
3Weigh my heart, summon me by night, *
     melt me down; you will find no impurity in me.
4I give no offense with my mouth as others do; *
     I have heeded the words of your lips.
5My footsteps hold fast to the ways of your law; *
     in your paths my feet shall not stumble.
6I call upon you, O God, for you will answer me; *
     incline your ear to me and hear my words.
7Show me your marvelous loving-kindness, *
     O Savior of those who take refuge at your right hand
     from those who rise up against them.
8Keep me as the apple of your eye; *
     hide me under the shadow of your wings,
9From the wicked who assault me, *
     from my deadly enemies who surround me.
10They have closed their heart to pity, *
     and their mouth speaks proud things.
11They press me hard,
     now they surround me, *
     watching how they may cast me to the ground,
12Like a lion, greedy for its prey, *
     and like a young lion lurking in secret places.
13Arise, O LORD; confront them and bring them down; *
     deliver me from the wicked by your sword.
14Deliver me, O LORD, by your hand *
     from those whose portion in life is this world;
15Whose bellies you fill with your treasure, *
     who are well supplied with children
     and leave their wealth to their little ones.
16But at my vindication I shall see your face; *
     when I awake, I shall be satisfied, beholding
     your likeness.

- OR -
Psalm 17:1-8

1Hear my plea of innocence, O LORD;
     give heed to my cry; *
     listen to my prayer, which does not come from lying lips.
2Let my vindication come forth from your presence; *
     let your eyes be fixed on justice.
3Weigh my heart, summon me by night, *
     melt me down; you will find no impurity in me.
4I give no offense with my mouth as others do; *
     I have heeded the words of your lips.
5My footsteps hold fast to the ways of your law; *
     in your paths my feet shall not stumble.
6I call upon you, O God, for you will answer me; *
     incline your ear to me and hear my words.
7Show me your marvelous loving-kindness, *
     O Savior of those who take refuge at your right hand
     from those who rise up against them.
8Keep me as the apple of your eye; *
     hide me under the shadow of your wings,

New Testament Reading

2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5
2:¹³ But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, ¹⁴ to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁵ Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. ¹⁶ Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, ¹⁷ comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work. 3:¹ Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, ² and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. ³ But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. ⁴ And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you. ⁵ Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ. -- NKJV

Gospel Reading

Luke 20:27(28-33)34-38
²⁷Then some of the Sadducees, who deny that there is a resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, (²⁸saying: "Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother dies, having a wife, and he dies without children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. ²⁹Now there were seven brothers. And the first took a wife, and died without children. ³⁰And the second took her as wife, and he died childless. ³¹Then the third took her, and in like manner the seven also; and they left no children, and died. ³²Last of all the woman died also. ³³Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife does she become? For all seven had her as wife." )³⁴Jesus answered and said to them, "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. ³⁵But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; ³⁶nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. ³⁷But even Moses showed in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord 'the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' ³⁸For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him." -- NKJV 

Lectionary Readings Book of Common Prayer - 1979 Sunday, November-03-2013 All Saints Day (All Saints Day is Observed today and takes precedence over the Regular Sunday)

The Collect

All Saints Day
Almighty God, who hast knit together thine elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow thy blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that thou hast prepared for those who unfeignedly love thee; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen
Preface of All Saints

Old Testament Reading

Ecclesiasticus 44:1-10,13-14
¹ Let us now praise famous men, and our fathers in their generations. ² The Lord apportioned to them great glory, his majesty from the beginning. ³ There were those who ruled in their kingdoms, and were men renowned for their power, giving counsel by their understanding, and proclaiming prophecies; ⁴ leaders of the people in their deliberations and in understanding of learning for the people, wise in their words of instruction; ⁵ those who composed musical tunes, and set forth verses in writing; ⁶ rich men furnished with resources, living peaceably in their habitations-- ⁷ all these were honored in their generations, and were the glory of their times. ⁸ There are some of them who have left a name, so that men declare their praise. ⁹ And there are some who have no memorial, who have perished as though they had not lived; they have become as though they had not been born, and so have their children after them. ¹⁰ But these were men of mercy, whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten; ¹³ Their posterity will continue for ever, and their glory will not be blotted out. ¹⁴ Their bodies were buried in peace, and their name lives to all generations. -- RSV

Psalm

Psalm 149

Cantate Domino
1Hallelujah!
     Sing to the LORD a new song; *
     sing his praise in the congregation of the faithful.
2Let Israel rejoice in his Maker; *
     let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
3Let them praise his Name in the dance; *
     let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
4For the LORD takes pleasure in his people *
     and adorns the poor with victory.
5Let the faithful rejoice in triumph; *
     let them be joyful on their beds.
6Let the praises of God be in their throat *
     and a two-edged sword in their hand;
7To wreak vengeance on the nations *
     and punishment on the peoples;
8To bind their kings in chains *
     and their nobles with links of iron;
9To inflict on them the judgment decreed; *
     this is glory for all his faithful people.
     Hallelujah!

New Testament Reading

Revelation 7:2-4,9-17
² Then I saw another angel ascend from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, ³ saying, "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God upon their foreheads." ⁴ And I heard the number of the sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand sealed, out of every tribe of the sons of Israel, ⁹ After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no man could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, ¹⁰ and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb!" ¹¹ And all the angels stood round the throne and round the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, ¹² saying, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God for ever and ever! Amen." ¹³ Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, clothed in white robes, and whence have they come?" ¹⁴ I said to him, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. ¹⁵ Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night within his temple; and he who sits upon the throne will shelter them with his presence. ¹⁶ They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. ¹⁷ For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water; and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Gospel Reading

Matthew 5:1-12
¹ Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down his disciples came to him. ² And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: ³ "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. ⁵ "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. ⁶ "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. ⁷ "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. ⁸ "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. ⁹ "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. ¹⁰ "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ¹¹ "Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.