Morning Prayer

A Reading from the Book of Revelation.

1 A great portent appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. 2 She was pregnant and was crying out in birthpangs, in the agony of giving birth. 3 Then another portent appeared in heaven: a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. 4 His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bear a child, so that he might devour her child as soon as it was born. 5 And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron. But her child was snatched away and taken to God and to his throne; 6 and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, so that there she can be nourished for one thousand two hundred sixty days.

A Reading from the Wisdom of Ben Sira.

14 Slander has shaken many,    and scattered them from nation to nation; it has destroyed strong cities,    and overturned the houses of the great. 15 Slander has driven virtuous women from their homes,    and deprived them of the fruit of their toil. 16 Those who pay heed to slander will not find rest,    nor will they settle down in peace. 17 The blow of a whip raises a welt,    but a blow of the tongue crushes the bones. 18 Many have fallen by the edge of the sword,    but not as many as have fallen because of the tongue. 19 Happy is one who is protected from it,    who has not been exposed to its anger, who has not borne its yoke,    and has not been bound with its fetters. 20 For its yoke is a yoke of iron,    and its fetters are fetters of bronze; 21 its death is an evil death,    and Hades is preferable to it. 22 It has no power over the godly;    they will not be burned in its flame. 23 Those who forsake the Lord will fall into its power;    it will burn among them and will not be put out. It will be sent out against them like a lion;    like a leopard it will mangle them. 0 As you fence in your property with thorns, 0    so make a door and a bolt for your mouth. 0 As you lock up your silver and gold, 0    so make balances and scales for your words. 26 Take care not to err with your tongue, and fall victim to one lying in wait.