Morning Prayer

A Reading from the Book of Revelation.

9 After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. 10 They cried out in a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 singing, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” 13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you are the one that knows.” Then he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. 16 They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; 17 for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

A Reading from the Wisdom of Ben Sira.

5 Pleasant speech multiplies friends,    and a gracious tongue multiplies courtesies. 6 Let those who are friendly with you be many,    but let your advisers be one in a thousand. 7 When you gain friends, gain them through testing,    and do not trust them hastily. 8 For there are friends who are such when it suits them,    but they will not stand by you in time of trouble. 9 And there are friends who change into enemies,    and tell of the quarrel to your disgrace. 10 And there are friends who sit at your table,    but they will not stand by you in time of trouble. 11 When you are prosperous, they become your second self,    and lord it over your servants; 12 but if you are brought low, they turn against you,    and hide themselves from you. 13 Keep away from your enemies, and be on guard with your friends. 14 Faithful friends are a sturdy shelter:    whoever finds one has found a treasure. 15 Faithful friends are beyond price;    no amount can balance their worth. 16 Faithful friends are life-saving medicine;    and those who fear the Lord will find them. 17 Those who fear the Lord direct their friendship aright, for as they are, so are their neighbours also.