Book of Common Prayer (ECUSA)/The Psalter/Book Two
Book Two
42Quemadmodum
1As the deer longs for the water‑brooks, *
so longs my soul for you, O God.
2My soul is athirst for God, athirst for the living God; *
when shall I come to appear before the presence of God?
3My tears have been my food day and night, *
while all day long they say to me,
“Where now is your God?”
4I pour out my soul when I think on these things: *
how I went with the multitude and led them into the house of God,
5With the voice of praise and thanksgiving, *
among those who keep holy‑day.
6Why are you so full of heaviness, O my soul? *
and why are you so disquieted within me?
7Put your trust in God; *
for I will yet give thanks to him,
who is the help of my countenance, and my God.
8My soul is heavy within me; *
therefore I will remember you from the land of Jordan,
and from the peak of Mizar among the heights of Hermon.
9One deep calls to another in the noise of your cataracts; *
all your rapids and floods have gone over me.
10The Lord grants his loving‑kindness in the daytime; *
in the night season his song is with me,
a prayer to the God of my life.
11I will say to the God of my strength,
“Why have you forgotten me? *
and why do I go so heavily while the enemy oppresses me?”
12While my bones are being broken, *
my enemies mock me to my face;
13All day long they mock me *
and say to me, “Where now is your God?”
14Why are you so full of heaviness, O my soul? *
and why are you so disquieted within me?
15Put your trust in God; *
for I will yet give thanks to him,
who is the help of my countenance, and my God.
43Judica me, Deus
1Give judgment for me, O God,
and defend my cause against an ungodly people; *
deliver me from the deceitful and the wicked.
2For you are the God of my strength;
why have you put me from you? *
and why do I go so heavily while the enemy oppresses me?
3Send out your light and your truth, that they may lead me, *
and bring me to your holy hill
and to your dwelling;
4That I may go to the altar of God,
to the God of my joy and gladness; *
and on the harp I will give thanks to you, O God my God.
5Why are you so full of heaviness, O my soul? *
and why are you so disquieted within me?
6Put your trust in God; *
for I will yet give thanks to him,
who is the help of my countenance, and my God.
Ninth Day: Morning Prayer
44Deus, auribus
1We have heard with our ears, O God,
our forefathers have told us, *
the deeds you did in their days,
in the days of old.
2How with your hand you drove the peoples out
and planted our forefathers in the land; *
how you destroyed nations and made your people flourish.
3For they did not take the land by their sword,
nor did their arm win the victory for them; *
but your right hand, your arm, and the light of your countenance,
because you favored them.
4You are my King and my God; *
you command victories for Jacob.
5Through you we pushed back our adversaries; *
through your Name we trampled on those who rose up against us.
6For I do not rely on my bow, *
and my sword does not give me the victory.
7Surely, you gave us victory over our adversaries *
and put those who hate us to shame.
8Every day we gloried in God, *
and we will praise your Name for ever.
9Nevertheless, you have rejected and humbled us *
and do not go forth with our armies.
10You have made us fall back before our adversary, *
and our enemies have plundered us.
11You have made us like sheep to be eaten *
and have scattered us among the nations.
12You are selling your people for a trifle *
and are making no profit on the sale of them.
13You have made us the scorn of our neighbors, *
a mockery and derision to those around us.
14You have made us a byword among the nations, *
a laughing‑stock among the peoples.
15My humiliation is daily before me, *
and shame has covered my face;
16Because of the taunts of the mockers and blasphemers, *
because of the enemy and avenger.
17All this has come upon us; *
yet we have not forgotten you,
nor have we betrayed your covenant.
18Our heart never turned back, *
nor did our footsteps stray from your path;
19Though you thrust us down into a place of misery, *
and covered us over with deep darkness.
20If we have forgotten the Name of our God, *
or stretched out our hands to some strange god,
21Will not God find it out? *
for he knows the secrets of the heart.
22Indeed, for your sake we are killed all the day long; *
we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
23Awake, O Lord! why are you sleeping? *
Arise! do not reject us for ever.
24Why have you hidden your face *
and forgotten our affliction and oppression?
25We sink down into the dust; *
our body cleaves to the ground.
26Rise up, and help us, *
and save us, for the sake of your steadfast love.
45Eructavit cor meum
1My heart is stirring with a noble song;
let me recite what I have fashioned for the king; *
my tongue shall be the pen of a skilled writer.
2You are the fairest of men; *
grace flows from your lips,
because God has blessed you for ever.
3Strap your sword upon your thigh, O mighty warrior, *
in your pride and in your majesty.
4Ride out and conquer in the cause of truth *
and for the sake of justice.
5Your right hand will show you marvelous things; *
your arrows are very sharp, O mighty warrior.
6The peoples are falling at your feet, *
and the king’s enemies are losing heart.
7Your throne, O God, endures for ever and ever, *
a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom;
you love righteousness and hate iniquity.
8Therefore God, your God, has anointed you *
with the oil of gladness above your fellows.
9All your garments are fragrant with myrrh, aloes, and cassia, *
and the music of strings from ivory palaces makes you glad.
10Kings’ daughters stand among the ladies of the court; *
on your right hand is the queen,
adorned with the gold of Ophir.
11“Hear, O daughter; consider and listen closely; *
forget your people and your father’s house.
12The king will have pleasure in your beauty; *
he is your master; therefore do him honor.
13The people of Tyre are here with a gift; *
the rich among the people seek your favor.”
14All glorious is the princess as she enters; *
her gown is cloth‑of‑gold.
15In embroidered apparel she is brought to the king; *
after her the bridesmaids follow in procession.
16With joy and gladness they are brought, *
and enter into the palace of the king.
17“In place of fathers, O king, you shall have sons; *
you shall make them princes over all the earth.
18I will make your name to be remembered
from one generation to another; *
therefore nations will praise you for ever and ever.”
46Deus noster refugium
1God is our refuge and strength, *
a very present help in trouble.
2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be moved, *
and though the mountains be toppled into the depths of the sea;
3Though its waters rage and foam, *
and though the mountains tremble at its tumult.
4The Lord of hosts is with us; *
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
5There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, *
the holy habitation of the Most High.
6God is in the midst of her;
she shall not be overthrown; *
God shall help her at the break of day.
7The nations make much ado, and the kingdoms are shaken; *
God has spoken, and the earth shall melt away.
8The Lord of hosts is with us; *
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
9Come now and look upon the works of the Lord, *
what awesome things he has done on earth.
10It is he who makes war to cease in all the world; *
he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear,
and burns the shields with fire.
11“Be still, then, and know that I am God; *
I will be exalted among the nations;
I will be exalted in the earth.”
12The Lord of hosts is with us; *
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Ninth Day: Evening Prayer
47Omnes gentes, plaudite
1Clap your hands, all you peoples; *
shout to God with a cry of joy.
2For the Lord Most High is to be feared; *
he is the great King over all the earth.
3He subdues the peoples under us, *
and the nations under our feet.
4He chooses our inheritance for us, *
the pride of Jacob whom he loves.
5God has gone up with a shout, *
the Lord with the sound of the ram’s‑horn.
6Sing praises to God, sing praises; *
sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7For God is King of all the earth; *
sing praises with all your skill.
8God reigns over the nations; *
God sits upon his holy throne.
9The nobles of the peoples have gathered together *
with the people of the God of Abraham.
10The rulers of the earth belong to God, *
and he is highly exalted.
48Magnus Dominus
1Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised; *
in the city of our God is his holy hill.
2Beautiful and lofty, the joy of all the earth, is the hill of Zion, *
the very center of the world and the city of the great King.
3God is in her citadels; *
he is known to be her sure refuge.
4Behold, the kings of the earth assembled *
and marched forward together.
5They looked and were astounded; *
they retreated and fled in terror.
6Trembling seized them there; *
they writhed like a woman in childbirth,
like ships of the sea when the east wind shatters them.
7As we have heard, so have we seen,
in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God; *
God has established her for ever.
8We have waited in silence on your loving‑kindness, O God, *
in the midst of your temple.
9Your praise, like your Name, O God, reaches to the world’s end; *
your right hand is full of justice.
10Let Mount Zion be glad
and the cities of Judah rejoice, *
because of your judgments.
11Make the circuit of Zion;
walk round about her; *
count the number of her towers.
12Consider well her bulwarks;
examine her strongholds; *
that you may tell those who come after.
13This God is our God for ever and ever; *
he shall be our guide for evermore.
49 Audite hæc, omnes
1Hear this, all you peoples;
hearken, all you who dwell in the world, *
you of high degree and low, rich and poor together.
2My mouth shall speak of wisdom, *
and my heart shall meditate on understanding.
3I will incline my ear to a proverb *
and set forth my riddle upon the harp.
4Why should I be afraid in evil days, *
when the wickedness of those at my heels surrounds me,
5The wickedness of those who put their trust in their goods, *
and boast of their great riches?
6We can never ransom ourselves, *
or deliver to God the price of our life;
7For the ransom of our life is so great, *
that we should never have enough to pay it,
8In order to live for ever and ever, *
and never see the grave.
9For we see that the wise die also;
like the dull and stupid they perish *
and leave their wealth to those who come after them.
10Their graves shall be their homes for ever,
their dwelling places from generation to generation, *
though they call the lands after their own names.
11Even though honored, they cannot live for ever; *
they are like the beasts that perish.
12Such is the way of those who foolishly trust in themselves, *
and the end of those who delight in their own words.
13Like a flock of sheep they are destined to die;
Death is their shepherd; *
they go down straightway to the grave.
14Their form shall waste away, *
and the land of the dead shall be their home.
15But God will ransom my life; *
he will snatch me from the grasp of death.
16Do not be envious when some become rich, *
or when the grandeur of their house increases;
17For they will carry nothing away at their death, *
nor will their grandeur follow them.
18Though they thought highly of themselves while they lived, *
and were praised for their success,
19They shall join the company of their forebears, *
who will never see the light again.
20Those who are honored, but have no understanding, *
are like the beasts that perish.
Tenth Day: Morning Prayer
50Deus deorum
1The Lord, the God of gods, has spoken; *
he has called the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.
2Out of Zion, perfect in its beauty, *
God reveals himself in glory.
3Our God will come and will not keep silence; *
before him there is a consuming flame,
and round about him a raging storm.
4He calls the heavens and the earth from above *
to witness the judgment of his people.
5“Gather before me my loyal followers, *
those who have made a covenant with me
and sealed it with sacrifice.”
6Let the heavens declare the rightness of his cause; *
for God himself is judge.
7Hear, O my people, and I will speak:
“O Israel, I will bear witness against you; *
for I am God, your God.
8I do not accuse you because of your sacrifices; *
your offerings are always before me.
9I will take no bull‑calf from your stalls, *
nor he‑goats out of your pens;
10For all the beasts of the forest are mine, *
the herds in their thousands upon the hills.
11I know every bird in the sky, *
and the creatures of the fields are in my sight.
12If I were hungry, I would not tell you, *
for the whole world is mine and all that is in it.
13Do you think I eat the flesh of bulls, *
or drink the blood of goats?
14Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving *
and make good your vows to the Most High.
15Call upon me in the day of trouble; *
I will deliver you, and you shall honor me.”
16But to the wicked God says: *
“Why do you recite my statutes,
and take my covenant upon your lips;
17Since you refuse discipline, *
and toss my words behind your back?
18When you see a thief, you make him your friend, *
and you cast in your lot with adulterers.
19You have loosed your lips for evil, *
and harnessed your tongue to a lie.
20You are always speaking evil of your brother *
and slandering your own mother’s son.
21These things you have done, and I kept still, *
and you thought that I am like you.”
22AI have made my accusation; *
I have put my case in order before your eyes.
23Consider this well, you who forget God, *
lest I rend you and there be none to deliver you.
24Whoever offers me the sacrifice of thanksgiving honors me; *
but to those who keep in my way will I show the salvation of God.”
51Miserere mei, Deus
1Have mercy on me, O God, according to your loving‑kindness; *
in your great compassion blot out my offenses.
2Wash me through and through from my wickedness *
and cleanse me from my sin.
3For I know my transgressions, *
and my sin is ever before me.
4Against you only have I sinned *
and done what is evil in your sight.
5And so you are justified when you speak *
and upright in your judgment.
6Indeed, I have been wicked from my birth, *
a sinner from my mother’s womb.
7For behold, you look for truth deep within me, *
and will make me understand wisdom secretly.
8Purge me from my sin, and I shall be pure; *
wash me, and I shall be clean indeed.
9Make me hear of joy and gladness, *
that the body you have broken may rejoice.
10Hide your face from my sins *
and blot out all my iniquities.
11Create in me a clean heart, O God, *
and renew a right spirit within me.
12Cast me not away from your presence *
and take not your holy Spirit from me.
13Give me the joy of your saving help again *
and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit.
14I shall teach your ways to the wicked, *
and sinners shall return to you.
15Deliver me from death, O God, *
and my tongue shall sing of your righteousness,
O God of my salvation.
16Open my lips, O Lord, *
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
17Had you desired it, I would have offered sacrifice, *
but you take no delight in burnt‑offerings.
18The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit; *
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
19Be favorable and gracious to Zion, *
and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
20Then you will be pleased with the appointed sacrifices,
with burnt‑offerings and oblations; *
then shall they offer young bullocks upon your altar.
52Quid gloriaris?
1You tyrant, why do you boast of wickedness *
against the godly all day long?
2You plot ruin;
your tongue is like a sharpened razor, *
O worker of deception.
3You love evil more than good *
and lying more than speaking the truth.
4You love all words that hurt, *
O you deceitful tongue.
5Oh, that God would demolish you utterly, *
topple you, and snatch you from your dwelling,
and root you out of the land of the living!
6The righteous shall see and tremble, *
and they shall laugh at him, saying,
7“This is the one who did not take God for a refuge, *
but trusted in great wealth
and relied upon wickedness.”
8But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; *
I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.
9I will give you thanks for what you have done *
and declare the goodness of your Name in the presence of the godly.
Tenth Day: Evening Prayer
53Dixit insipiens
1The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” *
All are corrupt and commit abominable acts;
there is none who does any good.
2God looks down from heaven upon us all, *
to see if there is any who is wise,
if there is one who seeks after God.
3Every one has proved faithless;
all alike have turned bad; *
there is none who does good; no, not one.
4Have they no knowledge, those evildoers *
who eat up my people like bread
and do not call upon God?
5See how greatly they tremble,
such trembling as never was; *
for God has scattered the bones of the enemy;
they are put to shame, because God has rejected them.
6Oh, that Israel’s deliverance would come out of Zion! *
when God restores the fortunes of his people
Jacob will rejoice and Israel be glad.
54Deus, in nomine
1Save me, O God, by your Name; *
in your might, defend my cause.
2Hear my prayer, O God; *
give ear to the words of my mouth.
3For the arrogant have risen up against me,
and the ruthless have sought my life, *
those who have no regard for God.
4Behold, God is my helper; *
it is the Lord who sustains my life.
5Render evil to those who spy on me; *
in your faithfulness, destroy them.
6I will offer you a freewill sacrifice *
and praise your Name, O Lord, for it is good.
7For you have rescued me from every trouble, *
and my eye has seen the ruin of my foes.
55Exaudi, Deus
1Hear my prayer, O God; *
do not hide yourself from my petition.
2Listen to me and answer me; *
I have no peace, because of my cares.
3I am shaken by the noise of the enemy *
and by the pressure of the wicked;
4For they have cast an evil spell upon me *
and are set against me in fury.
5My heart quakes within me, *
and the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
6Fear and trembling have come over me, *
and horror overwhelms me.
7And I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! *
I would fly away and be at rest.
8I would flee to a far‑off place *
and make my lodging in the wilderness.
9I would hasten to escape *
from the stormy wind and tempest.”
10Swallow them up, O Lord;
confound their speech; *
for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
11Day and night the watchmen make their rounds upon her walls, *
but trouble and misery are in the midst of her.
12There is corruption at her heart; *
her streets are never free of oppression and deceit.
13For had it been an adversary who taunted me,
then I could have borne it; *
or had it been an enemy who vaunted himself against me,
then I could have hidden from him.
14But it was you, a man after my own heart, *
my companion, my own familiar friend.
15We took sweet counsel together, *
and walked with the throng in the house of God.
16Let death come upon them suddenly;
let them go down alive into the grave; *
for wickedness is in their dwellings, in their very midst.
17But I will call upon God, *
and the Lord will deliver me.
18In the evening, in the morning, and at noonday,
I will complain and lament, *
and he will hear my voice.
19He will bring me safely back from the battle waged against me; *
for there are many who fight me.
20God, who is enthroned of old, will hear me and bring them down; *
they never change; they do not fear God.
21My companion stretched forth his hand against his comrade; *
he has broken his covenant.
22His speech is softer than butter, *
but war is in his heart.
23His words are smoother than oil, *
but they are drawn swords.
24Cast your burden upon the Lord,
and he will sustain you; *
he will never let the righteous stumble.
25For you will bring the bloodthirsty and deceitful *
down to the pit of destruction, O God.
26They shall not live out half their days, *
but I will put my trust in you.
Eleventh Day: Morning Prayer
56Miserere mei, Deus
1Have mercy on me, O God,
for my enemies are hounding me; *
all day long they assault and oppress me.
2They hound me all the day long; *
truly there are many who fight against me, O Most High.
3Whenever I am afraid, *
I will put my trust in you.
4In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust and will not be afraid, *
for what can flesh do to me?
5All day long they damage my cause; *
their only thought is to do me evil.
6They band together; they lie in wait; *
they spy upon my footsteps;
because they seek my life.
7Shall they escape despite their wickedness? *
O God, in your anger, cast down the peoples.
8You have noted my lamentation;
put my tears into your bottle; *
are they not recorded in your book?
9Whenever I call upon you, my enemies will be put to flight; *
this I know, for God is on my side.
10In God the Lord, whose word I praise,
in God I trust and will not be afraid, *
for what can mortals do to me?
11I am bound by the vow I made to you, O God; *
I will present to you thank‑offerings;
12For you have rescued my soul from death and my feet from stumbling, *
that I may walk before God in the light of the living.
57Miserere mei, Deus
1Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful,
for I have taken refuge in you; *
in the shadow of your wings will I take refuge
until this time of trouble has gone by.
2I will call upon the Most High God, *
the God who maintains my cause.
3He will send from heaven and save me;
he will confound those who trample upon me; *
God will send forth his love and his faithfulness.
4I lie in the midst of lions that devour the people; *
their teeth are spears and arrows,
their tongue a sharp sword.
5They have laid a net for my feet,
and I am bowed low; *
they have dug a pit before me,
but have fallen into it themselves.
6Exalt yourself above the heavens, O God, *
and your glory over all the earth.
7My heart is firmly fixed, O God, my heart is fixed; *
I will sing and make melody.
8Wake up, my spirit;
awake, lute and harp; *
I myself will waken the dawn.
9I will confess you among the peoples, O Lord; *
I will sing praise to you among the nations.
10For your loving‑kindness is greater than the heavens, *
and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
11Exalt yourself above the heavens, O God, *
and your glory over all the earth.
58Si vere utique
1Do you indeed decree righteousness, you rulers? *
do you judge the peoples with equity?
2No; you devise evil in your hearts, *
and your hands deal out violence in the land.
3The wicked are perverse from the womb; *
liars go astray from their birth.
4They are as venomous as a serpent, *
they are like the deaf adder which stops its ears,
5Which does not heed the voice of the charmer, *
no matter how skillful his charming.
6O God, break their teeth in their mouths; *
pull the fangs of the young lions, O Lord.
7Let them vanish like water that runs off; *
let them wither like trodden grass.
8Let them be like the snail that melts away, *
like a stillborn child that never sees the sun.
9Before they bear fruit, let them be cut down like a brier; *
like thorns and thistles let them be swept away.
10The righteous will be glad when they see the vengeance; *
they will bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked.
11And they will say,
“Surely, there is a reward for the righteous; *
surely, there is a God who rules in the earth.”
Eleventh Day: Evening Prayer
59Eripe me de inimicis
1Rescue me from my enemies, O God; *
protect me from those who rise up against me.
2Rescue me from evildoers *
and save me from those who thirst for my blood.
3See how they lie in wait for my life,
how the mighty gather together against me; *
not for any offense or fault of mine, O Lord.
4Not because of any guilt of mine *
they run and prepare themselves for battle.
5Rouse yourself, come to my side, and see; *
for you, Lord God of hosts, are Israel’s God.
6Awake, and punish all the ungodly; *
show no mercy to those who are faithless and evil.
7They go to and fro in the evening; *
they snarl like dogs and run about the city.
8Behold, they boast with their mouths,
and taunts are on their lips; *
“For who.” they say, “will hear us?”
9But you, O Lord, you laugh at them; *
you laugh all the ungodly to scorn.
10My eyes are fixed on you, O my Strength; *
for you, O God, are my stronghold.
11My merciful God comes to meet me; *
God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.
12Slay them, O God, lest my people forget; *
send them reeling by your might
and put them down, O Lord our shield.
13For the sins of their mouths, for the words of their lips,
for the cursing and lies that they utter, *
let them be caught in their pride.
14Make an end of them in your wrath; *
make an end of them, and they shall be no more.
15Let everyone know that God rules in Jacob, *
and to the ends of the earth.
16They go to and fro in the evening; *
they snarl like dogs and run about the city.
{{nop} 17They forage for food, *
and if they are not filled, they howl.
18For my part, I will sing of your strength; *
I will celebrate your love in the morning;
19For you have become my stronghold, *
a refuge in the day of my trouble.
20To you, O my Strength, will I sing; *
for you, O God, are my stronghold and my merciful God.
60Deus, repulisti nos
1O God, you have cast us off and broken us; *
you have been angry;
oh, take us back to you again.
2You have shaken the earth and split it open; *
repair the cracks in it, for it totters.
3You have made your people know hardship; *
you have given us wine that makes us stagger.
4You have set up a banner for those who fear you, *
to be a refuge from the power of the bow.
5Save us by your right hand and answer us, *
that those who are dear to you may be delivered.
6God spoke from his holy place and said: *
“I will exult and parcel out Shechem;
I will divide the valley of Succoth.
7Gilead is mine and Manasseh is mine; *
Ephraim is my helmet and Judah my scepter.
8Moab is my wash‑basin,
on Edom I throw down my sandal to claim it, *
and over Philistia will I shout in triumph.”
9Who will lead me into the strong city? *
who will bring me into Edom?
10Have you not cast us off, O God? *
you no longer go out, O God, with our armies.
11Grant us your help against the enemy, *
for vain is the help of man.
12With God we will do valiant deeds, *
and he shall tread our enemies under foot.
61Exaudi, Deus
1Hear my cry, O God, *
and listen to my prayer.
2I call upon you from the ends of the earth
with heaviness in my heart; *
set me upon the rock that is higher than I.
3For you have been my refuge, *
a strong tower against the enemy.
4I will dwell in your house for ever; *
I will take refuge under the cover of your wings.
5For you, O God, have heard my vows; *
you have granted me the heritage of those who fear your Name.
6Add length of days to the king’s life; *
let his years extend over many generations.
7Let him sit enthroned before God for ever; *
bid love and faithfulness watch over him.
8So will I always sing the praise of your Name, *
and day by day I will fulfill my vows.
Twelfth Day: Morning Prayer
62Nonne Deo?
1For God alone my soul in silence waits; *
from him comes my salvation.
2He alone is my rock and my salvation, *
my stronghold, so that I shall not be greatly shaken.
3How long will you assail me to crush me,
all of you together, *
as if you were a leaning fence, a toppling wall?
4They seek only to bring me down from my place of honor; *
lies are their chief delight.
5They bless with their lips, *
but in their hearts they curse.
6For God alone my soul in silence waits; *
truly, my hope is in him.
7He alone is my rock and my salvation, *
my stronghold, so that I shall not be shaken.
8In God is my safety and my honor; *
God is my strong rock and my refuge.
9Put your trust in him always, O people, *
pour out your hearts before him, for God is our refuge.
10Those of high degree are but a fleeting breath, *
even those of low estate cannot be trusted.
11On the scales they are lighter than a breath, *
all of them together.
12Put no trust in extortion; in robbery take no empty pride; *
though wealth increase, set not your heart upon it.
13God has spoken once, twice have I heard it, *
that power belongs to God.
14Steadfast love is yours, O Lord, *
for you repay everyone according to his deeds.
63Deus, Deus meus
1O God, you are my God; eagerly I seek you; *
my soul thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you,
as in a barren and dry land where there is no water.
2Therefore I have gazed upon you in your holy place, *
that I might behold your power and your glory.
3For your loving‑kindness is better than life itself; *
my lips shall give you praise.
4So will I bless you as long as I live *
and lift up my hands in your Name.
5My soul is content, as with marrow and fatness, *
and my mouth praises you with joyful lips,
6When I remember you upon my bed, *
and meditate on you in the night watches.
7For you have been my helper, *
and under the shadow of your wings I will rejoice.
8My soul clings to you; *
your right hand holds me fast.
9May those who seek my life to destroy it *
go down into the depths of the earth;
10Let them fall upon the edge of the sword, *
and let them be food for jackals.
11But the king will rejoice in God;
all those who swear by him will be glad; *
for the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped.
64Exaudi, Deus
1Hear my voice, O God, when I complain; *
protect my life from fear of the enemy.
2Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, *
from the mob of evildoers.
3They sharpen their tongue like a sword, *
and aim their bitter words like arrows,
4That they may shoot down the blameless from ambush; *
they shoot without warning and are not afraid.
5They hold fast to their evil course; *
they plan how they may hide their snares.
6They say, “Who will see us?
who will find out our crimes? *
we have thought out a perfect plot.”
7The human mind and heart are a mystery; *
but God will loose an arrow at them,
and suddenly they will be wounded.
8He will make them trip over their tongues, *
and all who see them will shake their heads.
9Everyone will stand in awe and declare God’s deeds; *
they will recognize his works.
10The righteous will rejoice in the Lord and put their trust in him, *
and all who are true of heart will glory.
Twelfth Day: Evening Prayer
65Te decet hymnus
1You are to be praised, O God, in Zion; *
to you shall vows be performed in Jerusalem.
2To you that hear prayer shall all flesh come, *
because of their transgressions.
3Our sins are stronger than we are, *
but you will blot them out.
4Happy are they whom you choose
and draw to your courts to dwell there! *
they will be satisfied by the beauty of your house,
by the holiness of your temple.
5Awesome things will you show us in your righteousness,
O God of our salvation, *
O Hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the seas that are far away.
6You make fast the mountains by your power; *
they are girded about with might.
7You still the roaring of the seas, *
the roaring of their waves,
and the clamor of the peoples.
8Those who dwell at the ends of the earth will tremble at your marvelous signs; *
you make the dawn and the dusk to sing for joy.
9You visit the earth and water it abundantly;
you make it very plenteous; *
the river of God is full of water.
10You prepare the grain, *
for so you provide for the earth.
11You drench the furrows and smooth out the ridges; *
with heavy rain you soften the ground and bless its increase.
12You crown the year with your goodness, *
and your paths overflow with plenty.
13May the fields of the wilderness be rich for grazing, *
and the hills be clothed with joy.
14May the meadows cover themselves with flocks,
and the valleys cloak themselves with grain; *
let them shout for joy and sing.
66Jubilate Deo
1Be joyful in God, all you lands; *
sing the glory of his Name;
sing the glory of his praise.
2Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! *
because of your great strength your enemies cringe before you.
3All the earth bows down before you, *
sings to you, sings out your Name.”
4Come now and see the works of God, *
how wonderful he is in his doing toward all people.
5He turned the sea into dry land,
so that they went through the water on foot, *
and there we rejoiced in him.
6In his might he rules for ever;
his eyes keep watch over the nations; *
let no rebel rise up against him.
7Bless our God, you peoples; *
make the voice of his praise to be heard;
8Who holds our souls in life, *
and will not allow our feet to slip.
9For you, O God, have proved us; *
you have tried us just as silver is tried.
10You brought us into the snare; *
you laid heavy burdens upon our backs.
11You let enemies ride over our heads;
we went through fire and water; *
but you brought us out into a place of refreshment.
12I will enter your house with burnt‑offerings
and will pay you my vows, *
which I promised with my lips
and spoke with my mouth when I was in trouble.
13I will offer you sacrifices of fat beasts
with the smoke of rams; *
I will give you oxen and goats.
14Come and listen, all you who fear God, *
and I will tell you what he has done for me.
15I called out to him with my mouth, *
and his praise was on my tongue.
16If I had found evil in my heart, *
the Lord would not have heard me;
17But in truth God has heard me; *
he has attended to the voice of my prayer.
18Blessed be God, who has not rejected my prayer, *
nor withheld his love from me.
67Deus misereatur
1May God be merciful to us and bless us, *
show us the light of his countenance and come to us.
2Let your ways be known upon earth, *
your saving health among all nations.
3Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
let all the peoples praise you.
4Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, *
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide all the nations upon earth.
5Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
let all the peoples praise you.
6The earth has brought forth her increase; *
may God, our own God, give us his blessing.
7May God give us his blessing, *
and may all the ends of the earth stand in awe of him.
Thirteenth Day: Morning Prayer
68Exsurgat Deus
1Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered; *
let those who hate him flee before him.
2Let them vanish like smoke when the wind drives it away; *
as the wax melts at the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
3But let the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; *
let them also be merry and joyful.
4Sing to God, sing praises to his Name;
exalt him who rides upon the heavens; *
Yahweh is his Name, rejoice before him!
5Father of orphans, defender of widows, *
God in his holy habitation!
6God gives the solitary a home and brings forth prisoners into freedom; *
but the rebels shall live in dry places.
7O God, when you went forth before your people, *
when you marched through the wilderness,
8The earth shook, and the skies poured down rain,
at the presence of God, the God of Sinai, *
at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9You sent a gracious rain, O God, upon your inheritance; *
you refreshed the land when it was weary.
10Your people found their home in it; *
in your goodness, O God, you have made provision for the poor.
11The Lord gave the word; *
great was the company of women who bore the tidings:
12“Kings with their armies are fleeing away; *
the women at home are dividing the spoils.”
13Though you lingered among the sheepfolds, *
you shall be like a dove whose wings are covered with silver,
whose feathers are like green gold.
14When the Almighty scattered kings, *
it was like snow falling in Zalmon.
15O mighty mountain, O hill of Bashan! *
O rugged mountain, O hill of Bashan!
16Why do you look with envy, O rugged mountain,
at the hill which God chose for his resting place? *
truly, the Lord will dwell there for ever.
17The chariots of God are twenty thousand,
even thousands of thousands; *
the Lord comes in holiness from Sinai.
18You have gone up on high and led captivity captive;
you have received gifts even from your enemies, *
that the Lord God might dwell among them.
19Blessed be the Lord day by day, *
the God of our salvation, who bears our burdens.
20He is our God, the God of our salvation; *
God is the Lord, by whom we escape death.
21God shall crush the heads of his enemies, *
and the hairy scalp of those who go on still in their wickedness.
22The Lord has said, “I will bring them back from Bashan; *
I will bring them back from the depths of the sea;
23That your foot may be dipped in blood, *
the tongues of your dogs in the blood of your enemies.”
24They see your procession, O God, *
your procession into the sanctuary, my God and my King.
25The singers go before, musicians follow after, *
in the midst of maidens playing upon the hand‑drums.
26Bless God in the congregation; *
bless the Lord, you that are of the fountain of Israel.
27There is Benjamin, least of the tribes, at the head;
the princes of Judah in a company; *
and the princes of Zebulon and Naphtali.
28Send forth your strength, O God; *
establish, O God, what you have wrought for us.
29Kings shall bring gifts to you, *
for your temple’s sake at Jerusalem.
30Rebuke the wild beast of the reeds, *
and the peoples, a herd of wild bulls with its calves.
31Trample down those who lust after silver; *
scatter the peoples that delight in war.
32Let tribute be brought out of Egypt; *
let Ethiopia stretch out her hands to God.
33Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; *
sing praises to the Lord.
34He rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens; *
he sends forth his voice, his mighty voice.
35Ascribe power to God; *
his majesty is over Israel;
his strength is in the skies.
36How wonderful is God in his holy places! *
the God of Israel giving strength and power to his people!
Blessed be God!
Thirteenth Day: Evening Prayer
69Salvum me fac
1Save me, O God, *
for the waters have risen up to my neck.
2I am sinking in deep mire, *
and there is no firm ground for my feet.
3I have come into deep waters, *
and the torrent washes over me.
4I have grown weary with my crying;
my throat is inflamed; *
my eyes have failed from looking for my God.
5Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head;
my lying foes who would destroy me are mighty. *
Must I then give back what I never stole?
6O God, you know my foolishness, *
and my faults are not hidden from you.
7Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, Lord God of hosts; *
let not those who seek you be disgraced because of me, O God of Israel.
8Surely, for your sake have I suffered reproach, *
and shame has covered my face.
9I have become a stranger to my own kindred, *
an alien to my mother’s children.
10Zeal for your house has eaten me up; *
the scorn of those who scorn you has fallen upon me.
11I humbled myself with fasting, *
but that was turned to my reproach.
12I put on sack‑cloth also, *
and became a byword among them.
13Those who sit at the gate murmur against me, *
and the drunkards make songs about me.
14But as for me, this is my prayer to you, *
at the time you have set, O Lord:
15“In your great mercy, O God, *
answer me with your unfailing help.
16Save me from the mire; do not let me sink; *
let me be rescued from those who hate me
and out of the deep waters.
17Let not the torrent of waters wash over me,
neither let the deep swallow me up; *
do not let the Pit shut its mouth upon me.
18Answer me, O Lord, for your love is kind; *
in your great compassion, turn to me.”
19“Hide not your face from your servant; *
be swift and answer me, for I am in distress.
20Draw near to me and redeem me; *
because of my enemies deliver me.
21You know my reproach, my shame, and my dishonor; *
my adversaries are all in your sight.”
22Reproach has broken my heart, and it cannot be healed; *
I looked for sympathy, but there was none,
for comforters, but I could find no one.
23They gave me gall to eat, *
and when I was thirsty, they gave me vinegar to drink.
24Let the table before them be a trap *
and their sacred feasts a snare.
25Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, *
and give them continual trembling in their loins.
26Pour out your indignation upon them, *
and let the fierceness of your anger overtake them.
27Let their camp be desolate, *
and let there be none to dwell in their tents.
28For they persecute him whom you have stricken *
and add to the pain of those whom you have pierced.
29Lay to their charge guilt upon guilt, *
and let them not receive your vindication.
30Let them be wiped out of the book of the living *
and not be written among the righteous.
31As for me, I am afflicted and in pain; *
your help, O God, will lift me up on high.
32I will praise the Name of God in song; *
I will proclaim his greatness with thanksgiving.
33This will please the Lord more than an offering of oxen, *
more than bullocks with horns and hoofs.
34The afflicted shall see and be glad; *
you who seek God, your heart shall live.
35For the Lord listens to the needy, *
and his prisoners he does not despise.
36Let the heavens and the earth praise him, *
the seas and all that moves in them;
37For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah; *
they shall live there and have it in possession.
38The children of his servants will inherit it, *
and those who love his Name will dwell therein.
70Deus, in adjutorium
1Be pleased, O God, to deliver me; *
O Lord, make haste to help me.
2Let those who seek my life be ashamed
and altogether dismayed; *
let those who take pleasure in my misfortune
draw back and be disgraced.
3Let those who say to me “Aha!” and gloat over me turn back, *
because they are ashamed.
4Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; *
let those who love your salvation say for ever,
“Great is the Lord!”
5But as for me, I am poor and needy; *
come to me speedily, O God.
6You are my helper and my deliverer; *
O Lord, do not tarry.
Fourteenth Day: Morning Prayer
71In te, Domine, speravi
1In you, O Lord, have I taken refuge; *
let me never be ashamed.
2In your righteousness, deliver me and set me free; *
incline your ear to me and save me.
3Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe; *
you are my crag and my stronghold.
4Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, *
from the clutches of the evildoer and the oppressor.
5For you are my hope, O Lord God, *
my confidence since I was young.
6I have been sustained by you ever since I was born;
from my mother’s womb you have been my strength; *
my praise shall be always of you.
7I have become a portent to many; *
but you are my refuge and my strength.
8Let my mouth be full of your praise *
and your glory all the day long.
9Do not cast me off in my old age; *
forsake me not when my strength fails.
10For my enemies are talking against me, *
and those who lie in wait for my life take counsel together.
11They say, “God has forsaken him;
go after him and seize him; *
because there is none who will save.”
12O God, be not far from me; *
come quickly to help me, O my God.
13Let those who set themselves against me be put to shame and be disgraced; *
let those who seek to do me evil be covered with scorn and reproach.
14But I shall always wait in patience, *
and shall praise you more and more.
15My mouth shall recount your mighty acts
and saving deeds all day long; *
though I cannot know the number of them.
16I will begin with the mighty works of the Lord God; *
I will recall your righteousness, yours alone.
17O God, you have taught me since I was young, *
and to this day I tell of your wonderful works.
18And now that I am old and gray‑headed, O God, do not forsake me, *
till I make known your strength to this generation
and your power to all who are to come.
19Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the heavens; *
you have done great things;
who is like you, O God?
20You have showed me great troubles and adversities, *
but you will restore my life
and bring me up again from the deep places of the earth.
21You strengthen me more and more; *
you enfold and comfort me,
22Therefore I will praise you upon the lyre for your faithfulness, O my God; *
I will sing to you with the harp, O Holy One of Israel.
23My lips will sing with joy when I play to you, *
and so will my soul, which you have redeemed.
24My tongue will proclaim your righteousness all day long, *
for they are ashamed and disgraced who sought to do me harm.
72Deus, judicium
1Give the King your justice, O God, *
and your righteousness to the King’s Son;
2That he may rule your people righteously *
and the poor with justice;
3That the mountains may bring prosperity to the people, *
and the little hills bring righteousness.
4He shall defend the needy among the people; *
he shall rescue the poor and crush the oppressor.
5He shall live as long as the sun and moon endure, *
from one generation to another.
6He shall come down like rain upon the mown field, *
like showers that water the earth.
7In his time shall the righteous flourish; *
there shall be abundance of peace till the moon shall be no more.
8He shall rule from sea to sea, *
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
9His foes shall bow down before him, *
and his enemies lick the dust.
10The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall pay tribute, *
and the kings of Arabia and Saba offer gifts.
11All kings shall bow down before him, *
and all the nations do him service.
12For he shall deliver the poor who cries out in distress, *
and the oppressed who has no helper.
13He shall have pity on the lowly and poor; *
he shall preserve the lives of the needy.
14He shall redeem their lives from oppression and violence, *
and dear shall their blood be in his sight.
15Long may he live!
and may there be given to him gold from Arabia; *
may prayer be made for him always,
and may they bless him all the day long.
16May there be abundance of grain on the earth,
growing thick even on the hilltops; *
may its fruit flourish like Lebanon,
and its grain like grass upon the earth.
17May his Name remain for ever
and be established as long as the sun endures; *
may all the nations bless themselves in him and call him blessed.
18Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, *
who alone does wondrous deeds!
19And blessed be his glorious Name for ever! *
and may all the earth be filled with his glory. Amen. Amen.