Epiphany

Friday in Epiphany

Friday, January 21, 2028

FIRST READING

Nehemiah 2:1-10

Verse 1. Now in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was set before him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had never been sad in his presence, Verse 2. so the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, though you are not ill? This could only be sadness of the heart.” I was overwhelmed with fear Verse 3. and replied to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should I not be sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” Verse 4. “What is your request?” replied the king. So I prayed to the God of heaven Verse 5. and answered the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city where my fathers are buried, so that I may rebuild it.” Verse 6. Then the king, with the queen seated beside him, asked me, “How long will your journey take, and when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me, and I set a time. Verse 7. I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may letters be given to me for the governors west of the Euphrates, so that they will grant me safe passage until I reach Judah. Verse 8. And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, so that he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel to the temple, for the city wall, and for the house I will occupy.” And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests. Verse 9. Then I went to the governors west of the Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me. Verse 10. But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were deeply disturbed that someone had come to seek the well-being of the Israelites.

PSALM

Psalm 19

Verse 1. For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.
Verse 2. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.
Verse 3. Without speech or language, without a sound to be heard,
Verse 4. their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens He has pitched a tent for the sun.
Verse 5. Like a bridegroom emerging from his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course,
Verse 6. it rises at one end of the heavens and runs its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.
Verse 7. The Law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making wise the simple.
Verse 8. The precepts of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart; the commandments of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
Verse 9. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the judgments of the LORD are true, being altogether righteous.
Verse 10. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
Verse 11. By them indeed Your servant is warned; in keeping them is great reward.
Verse 12. Who can discern his own errors? Cleanse me from my hidden faults.
Verse 13. Keep Your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless and cleansed of great transgression.
Verse 14. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

SECOND READING

Romans 12:1-8

Verse 1. Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Verse 2. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. Verse 3. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you. Verse 4. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and not all members have the same function, Verse 5. so in Christ we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another. Verse 6. We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one’s gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith; Verse 7. if it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; Verse 8. if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is giving, let him give generously; if it is leading, let him lead with diligence; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.