Evening Prayer

A Reading from the Gospel According to John.

7 So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

A Reading from the Book of Proverbs.

20 Wisdom cries out in the street;    in the squares she raises her voice. 21 At the busiest corner she cries out;    at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: 22 ‘How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing    and fools hate knowledge? 23 Give heed to my reproof; I will pour out my thoughts to you;    I will make my words known to you. 24 Because I have called and you refused,    have stretched out my hand and no one heeded, 25 and because you have ignored all my counsel    and would have none of my reproof, 26 I also will laugh at your calamity;    I will mock when panic strikes you, 27 when panic strikes you like a storm,    and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,    when distress and anguish come upon you. 28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;    they will seek me diligently, but will not find me. 29 Because they hated knowledge    and did not choose the fear of the Lord, 30 would have none of my counsel,    and despised all my reproof, 31 therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way    and be sated with their own devices. 32 For waywardness kills the simple,    and the complacency of fools destroys them; 33 but those who listen to me will be secure and will live at ease, without dread of disaster.’