Thursday after First Sunday after Epiphany

EVENING

01.15.2026

Our Father, whichwho art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done inon earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them thatthose who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

O Lord, open thou our lips.

And our mouth shall show forth thy praise.

O God, make speed to save us.

O Lord, make haste to help us.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Praise ye the Lord.

The Lord's Name be praised.

—   ✤   —

Ps. 78.

Hear my law, O my people; incline your ears unto the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth in a parable: I will declare hard sentences of old;
Which we have heard and known, and such as our fathers have told us;
That we should not hide them from the children of the generations to come; but to shew the honour of the Lord, his mighty and wonderful works that he hath done.
He made a covenant with Jacob, and gave Israel a law, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children;
That their posterity might know it, and the children which were yet unborn;
To the intent that when they came up, they might shew their children the same;
That they might put their trust in God; and not to forget the works of God, but to keep his commandments;
And not to be as their forefathers, a faithless and stubborn generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit cleaveth not stedfastly unto God;
Like as the children of Ephraim; who being harnessed, and carrying bows, turned themselves back in the day of battle.
They kept not the covenant of God, and would not walk in his law;
But forgat what he had done, and the wonderful works that he had shewed for them.
Marvellous things did he in the sight of our forefathers, in the land of Egypt, even in the field of Zoan.
He divided the sea, and let them go through; he made the waters to stand on an heap.
In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night through with a light of fire.
He clave the hard rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink thereof, as it had been out of the great depth.
He brought waters out of the stony rock, so that it gushed out like the rivers.
Yet for all this they sinned more against him, and provoked the most Highest in the wilderness.
They tempted God in their hearts, and required meat for their lust.
They spake against God also, saying, Shall God prepare a table in the wilderness?
He smote the stony rock indeed, that the waters gushed out, and the streams flowed withal; but can he give bread also, or provide flesh for his people?
When the Lord heard this, he was wroth; so the fire was kindled in Jacob, and there came up heavy displeasure against Israel;
Because they believed not in God, and put not their trust in his help.
So he commanded the clouds above, and opened the doors of heaven.
He rained down manna also upon them for to eat, and gave them food from heaven.
So man did eat angels' food; for he sent them meat enough.
He caused the east wind to blow under heaven; and through his power he brought in the southwest wind.
He rained flesh upon them as thick as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea.
He let it fall among their tents, even round about their habitation.
So they did eat and were well filled, for he gave them their own desire: they were not disappointed of their lust.
But while the meat was yet in their mouths, the heavy wrath of God came upon them, and slew the wealthiest of them; yea, and smote down the chosen men that were in Israel.
But for all this they sinned yet more, and believed not his wondrous works.
Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.
When he slew them, they sought him, and turned them early, and inquired after God.
And they remembered that God was their strength, and that the high God was their redeemer.
Nevertheless, they did but flatter him with their mouth, and dissembled with him in their tongue.
For their heart was not whole with him, neither continued they stedfast in his covenant.
But he was so merciful, that he forgave their misdeeds, and destroyed them not.
Yea, many a time turned he his wrath away, and would not suffer his whole displeasure to arise.
For he considered that they were but flesh, and that they were even a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.
Many a time did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieved him in the desert.
They turned back, and tempted God, and moved the Holy One in Israel.
They thought not of his hand, and of the day when he delivered them from the hand of the enemy;
How he had wrought his miracles in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan.
He turned their waters into blood, so that they might not drink of the rivers.
He sent lice among them, and devoured them up; and frogs to destroy them.
He gave their fruit unto the caterpillar, and their labour unto the grasshopper.
He destroyed their vines with hailstones, and their mulberry trees with the frost.
He smote their cattle also with hailstones, and their flocks with hot thunderbolts.
He cast upon them the furiousness of his wrath, anger, displeasure, and trouble: and sent evil angels among them.
He made a way to his indignation, and spared not their soul from death; but gave their life over to the pestilence;
And smote all the firstborn in Egypt, the most principal and mightiest in the dwellings of Ham.
But as for his own people, he led them forth like sheep, and carried them in the wilderness like a flock.
He brought them out safely, that they should not fear, and overwhelmed their enemies with the sea.
And brought them within the borders of his sanctuary, even to his mountain which he purchased with his right hand.
He cast out the heathen also before them, caused their land to be divided among them for an heritage, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
So they tempted and displeased the most high God, and kept not his testimonies;
But turned their backs, and fell away like their forefathers; starting aside like a broken bow.
For they grieved him with their hill-altars, and provoked him to displeasure with their images.
When God heard this, he was wroth, and took sore displeasure at Israel.
So that he forsook the tabernacle in Silo, even the tent that he had pitched among men.
He delivered their power into captivity, and their beauty into the enemy's hand.
He gave his people over also unto the sword, and was wroth with his inheritance.
The fire consumed their young men, and their maidens were not given to marriage.
Their priests were slain with the sword, and there were no widows to make lamentation.
So the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a giant refreshed with wine.
He smote his enemies in the hinder parts, and put them to a perpetual shame.
He refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim;
But chose the tribe of Judah, even the hill of Sion which he loved.
And there he built his temple on high, and laid the foundation of it like the ground which he hath made continually.
He chose David also his servant, and took him away from the sheepfolds.
As he was following the ewes great with young ones he took him, that he might feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.
So he fed them with a faithful and true heart, and ruled them prudently with all his power.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Here beginneth the 28th chapter of Genesis.
And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.
Arise, go to Padan-aram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother.
And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people;
And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham.
And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padan-aram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother.
When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob, and sent him away to Padan-aram, to take him a wife from thence; and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan;
And that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Padan-aram;
And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father;
Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife.
And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, and went toward Haran.
And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.
And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.
And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;
And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.
And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not.
And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.
And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.
And he called the name of that place Beth-el: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.
And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,
So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God:
And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.
Here endeth the first lesson.

My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

For he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden.

For behold, from henceforth

all generations shall call me blessed.

For he that is mighty hath magnified me;

and holy is his Name.

And his mercy is on them that fear him

throughout all generations.

He hath showed strength with his arm;

he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He hath put down the mighty from their seat,

and hath exalted the humble and meek.

He hath filled the hungry with good things;

and the rich he hath sent empty away.

He remembering his mercy, hath holpen his servant Israel;

as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed, for ever.

Glory be to the Father,

and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning,

is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Here beginneth the 13th chapter of Romans.
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
Here endeth the second lesson.

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word.

For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

To be a light to lighten the Gentiles, and to be the glory of thy people Israel.

Glory be to the Father,

and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning,

is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

O Lord, we beseech thee mercifully to receive the prayers of thy people which call upon thee; and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil the same, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed; Give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give; that both our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments, and also that by thee we being defended from the fear of our enemies, may pass our time in rest and quietness, through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord; and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night, for the love of thy only Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.