The first reading is a reading from the book of Deuteronomy.

Moses spoke to the people and said,

Now Israel, hear the statutes and decrees which I am teaching you to observe that you may live,

and you may enter in and take possession of the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you.

Therefore, I teach you the statutes and decrees of the Lord, my God, has commanded me, that you may observe them in the land you are to

enter into, to occupy, observe them carefully. And thus will you give evidence of your wisdom and intelligence to the

nations you'll hear of all these statutes and say this great nation is truly a wise and

intelligent people for what great nation is there that has god so close to it as the

Lord our God is to us whenever we call upon him?

Or what great nation has statutes and decrees that are just as this whole law which I am setting before you today?

However, take care and be earnestly on your guard, not to forget the things which your own eyes have seen,

nor let them slip from your memory as long as you live,

but teach them to your children and your children's children.

The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Praise the Lord Jerusalem. Praise the Lord Jerusalem. Glorify the Lord,

O Israel. Praise your God, Uz Zion, for he has strengthened the bars of your gates. He has blessed

your children within you. Praise the Lord Jerusalem. He sends forth his command to the earth, swiftly

runs his word. He spreads snow like wool,

frost he strews like ashes. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem. He has proclaimed his word to Jacob,

his statutes, and his ornances to Israel. He has not done thus for any other nation. His

ordinances he has not made known to them.

Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

...