Open Word

FIRST READING

Isaiah 6:1-5

Verse 1. In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted; and the train of His robe filled the temple. Verse 2. Above Him stood seraphim, each having six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. Verse 3. And they were calling out to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; all the earth is full of His glory.” Verse 4. At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook, and the temple was filled with smoke. Verse 5. Then I said: “Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.”

PSALM

Psalm 72

Of Solomon. Endow the king with Your justice, O God, and the son of the king with Your righteousness.

May he judge Your people with righteousness and Your afflicted with justice.

May the mountains bring peace to the people, and the hills bring righteousness.

May he vindicate the afflicted among the people; may he save the children of the needy and crush the oppressor.

May they fear him as long as the sun shines, as long as the moon remains, through all generations.

May he be like rain that falls on freshly cut grass, like spring showers that water the earth.

May the righteous flourish in his days and prosperity abound until the moon is no more.

May he rule from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth.

May the nomads bow before him, and his enemies lick the dust.

May the kings of Tarshish and distant shores bring tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.

May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.

For he will deliver the needy who cry out and the afflicted who have no helper.

He will take pity on the poor and needy and save the lives of the oppressed.

He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their blood is precious in his sight.

Long may he live! May gold from Sheba be given him. May people ever pray for him; may they bless him all day long.

May there be an abundance of grain in the land; may it sway atop the hills. May its fruit trees flourish like the forests of Lebanon, the people of its cities like the grass of the field.

May his name endure forever; may his name continue as long as the sun shines. In him may all nations be blessed; may they call him blessed.

Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.

And blessed be His glorious name forever; may all the earth be filled with His glory. Amen and amen.

Thus conclude the prayers of David son of Jesse.

SECOND READING

Acts 7:44-53

Verse 44. Our fathers had the tabernacle of the Testimony with them in the wilderness. It was constructed exactly as God had directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen. Verse 45. And our fathers who received it brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations God drove out before them. It remained until the time of David, Verse 46. who found favor in the sight of God and asked to provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. Verse 47. But it was Solomon who built the house for Him. Verse 48. However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says: Verse 49. ‘Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me, says the Lord, or where will My place of repose be? Verse 50. Has not My hand made all these things?’ Verse 51. You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did. Verse 52. Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers — Verse 53. you who received the law ordained by angels, yet have not kept it.”