11   In Domino confido
   
1 In the LORD have I taken refuge; *
    how then can you say to me,
    "Fly away like a bird to the hilltop;
   
2 For see how the wicked bend the bow
and fit their arrows to the string, *
    to shoot from ambush at the true of heart.
   
3 When the foundations are being destroyed, *
    what can the righteous do?"
   
4 The LORD is in his holy temple; *
    the LORD'S throne is in heaven.
   
5 His eyes behold the inhabited world; *
    his piercing eye weighs our worth.
   
6 The LORD weighs the righteous as well as the wicked, *
    but those who delight in violence he abhors.
   
7 Upon the wicked he shall rain coals of fire and
                              burning sulphur; *
    a scorching wind shall be their lot.
   
8 For the LORD is righteous;
he delights in righteous deeds; *
    and the just shall see his face.

 

 

596    Psalm 11

 
  Second Day: Evening Prayer
   
  12   Salvum me fac
   
1 Help me, LORD, for there is no godly one left; *
    the faithful have vanished from among us.
   
2 Everyone speaks falsely with his neighbor; *
    with a smooth tongue they speak from a double heart.
   
3 Oh, that the LORD would cut off all smooth tongues, *
    and close the lips that utter proud boasts!
   
4 Those who say, "With our tongue will we prevail; *
    our lips are our own; who is lord over us?"
   
5 "Because the needy are oppressed,
and the poor cry out in misery, *
    I will rise up," says the LORD,
    "and give them the help they long for."
   
6  The words of the LORD are pure words, *
    like silver refined from ore
    and purified seven times in the fire.
   
7 O LORD, watch over us *
    and save us from this generation for ever.
   
8 The wicked prowl on every side, *
    and that which is worthless is highly prized by everyone.
   
  13   Usquequo, Domine?
   
   
1 How long, O LORD?
will you forget me for ever? *
    how long will you hide your face from me?

 

 

Psalm 12, 13     597

 

2 How long shall I have perplexity in my mind,
and grief in my heart, day after day? *
    how long shall my enemy triumph over me?
   
3 Look upon me and answer me, O LORD my God; *
    give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death;
   
4 Lest my enemy say, "I have prevailed over him," *
    and my foes rejoice that I have fallen.
   
5 But I put my trust in your mercy; *
    my heart is joyful because of your saving help.
   
6 I will sing to the LORD, for he has dealt with me richly; *
    I will praise the Name of the Lord Most High.
   
  14   Dixit insipiens
   
1 The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." *
    All are corrupt and commit abominable acts;
    there is none who does any good.
   
2 The LORD looks down from heaven upon us all, *
    to see if there is any who is wise,
    if there is one who seeks after God.
   
3 Every one has proved faithless;
all alike have turned bad; *
    there is none who does good; no, not one.
   
4 Have they no knowledge, all those evildoers *
    who eat up my people like bread
    and do not call upon the LORD?
   
5 See how they tremble with fear, *
    because God is in the company of the righteous.
   
6 Their aim is to confound the plans of the afflicted, *
    but the LORD is their refuge.

 

 

598    Psalm 14

 
7 Oh, that Israel's deliverance would come out of Zion! *
    when the LORD restores the fortunes of his people,
    Jacob will rejoice and Israel be glad.
   
  Third Day: Morning Prayer
   
  15   Domine, quis habitabit?
   
1 LORD, who may dwell in your tabernacle? *
    who may abide upon your holy hill?
   
2 Whoever leads a blameless life and does what is right, *
    who speaks the truth from his heart.
   
3 There is no guile upon his tongue;
he does no evil to his friend; *
    he does not heap contempt upon his neighbor.
   
4 In his sight the wicked is rejected, *
    but he honors those who fear the LORD.
   
5 He has sworn to do no wrong *
    and does not take back his word.
   
6 He does not give his money in hope of gain, *
    nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
   
7 Whoever does these things *
    shall never be overthrown.
   
  16   Conserva me, Domine
   
1 Protect me, O God, for I take refuge in you; *
    I have said to the LORD, "You are my Lord,
    my good above all other."

 

 

Psalm 15, 16     599

 

2 All my delight is upon the godly that are in the land, *
    upon those who are noble among the people.
   
3 But those who run after other gods *
    shall have their troubles multiplied.
   
4 Their libations of blood I will not offer, *
    nor take the names of their gods upon my lips.
   
   
5 O LORD, you are my portion and my cup; *
    it is you who uphold my lot.
   
6 My boundaries enclose a pleasant land; *
    indeed, I have a goodly heritage.
   
7 I will bless the LORD who gives me counsel; *
    my heart teaches me, night after night.
   
8 I have set the LORD always before me; *
    because he is at my right hand I shall not fall.
   
9 My heart, therefore, is glad, and my spirit rejoices; *
    my body also shall rest in hope.
   
10 For you will not abandon me to the grave, *
    nor let your holy one see the Pit.
   
11 You will show me the path of life; *
    in your presence there is fullness of joy,
    and in your right hand are pleasures for evermore.
   
  17   Exaudi, Domine
   
1 Hear my plea of innocence, O LORD;
give heed to my cry; *
    listen to my prayer, which does not come from lying lips.

 

 

600    Psalm 17

 
2 Let my vindication come forth from your presence; *
    let your eyes be fixed on justice.
   
3 Weigh my heart, summon me by night, *
    melt me down; you will find no impurity in me.
   
4 I give no offense with my mouth as others do; *
    I have heeded the words of your lips.
   
5 My footsteps hold fast to the ways of your law; *
    in your paths my feet shall not stumble.
   
6 I call upon you, O God, for you will answer me; *
    incline your ear to me and hear my words.
   
7 Show me your marvelous loving-kindness, *
    O Savior of those who take refuge at your right hand
    from those who rise up against them.
   
8 Keep me as the apple of your eye; *
    hide me under the shadow of your wings,
   
9 From the wicked who assault me, *
    from my deadly enemies who surround me.
   
10 They have closed their heart to pity, *
    and their mouth speaks proud things.
   
11 They press me hard,
now they surround me, *
    watching how they may cast me to the ground,
   
12 Like a lion, greedy for its prey, *
    and like a young lion lurking in secret places.
   
13 Arise, O LORD; confront them and bring them down; *
    deliver me from the wicked by your sword.
   
14 Deliver me, O LORD, by your hand *
    from those whose portion in life is this world;

 

 

Psalm 17     601

 

15 Whose bellies you fill with your treasure, *
    who are well supplied with children
    and leave their wealth to their little ones.
   
16 But at my vindication I shall see your face; *
    when I awake, I shall be satisfied, beholding
                             your likeness.
   
  Third Day: Evening Prayer
   
  18 
   
  Part I     Diligam te, Domine.
   
1 I love you, O LORD my strength, *
    O LORD my stronghold, my crag, and my haven.
   
2 My God, my rock in whom I put my trust, *
    my shield, the horn of my salvation, and my refuge;
    you are worthy of praise.
   
3 I will call upon the LORD, *
    and so shall I be saved from my enemies.
   
4 The breakers of death rolled over me, *
    and the torrents of oblivion made me afraid.
   
5 The cords of hell entangled me, *
    and the snares of death were set for me.
   
6 I called upon the LORD in my distress *
    and cried out to my God for help.
   
7 He heard my voice from his heavenly dwelling; *
    my cry of anguish came to his ears.

 

 

602    Psalm 18

 
8 The earth reeled and rocked; *
    the roots of the mountains shook;
    they reeled because of his anger.
   
9 Smoke rose from his nostrils
and a consuming fire out of his mouth; *
    hot burning coals blazed forth from him.
   
10 He parted the heavens and came down *
    with a storm cloud under his feet.
   
11 He mounted on cherubim and flew; *
    he swooped on the wings of the wind.
   
12 He wrapped darkness about him; *
    he made dark waters and thick clouds his pavilion.
   
13 From the brightness of his presence, through the clouds, *
    burst hailstones and coals of fire.
   
14 The LORD thundered out of heaven; *
    the Most High uttered his voice.
   
15 He loosed his arrows and scattered them; *
    he hurled thunderbolts and routed them.
   
16 The beds of the seas were uncovered,
and the foundations of the world laid bare, *
    at your battle cry, O LORD,
    at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.
   
17 He reached down from on high and grasped me; *
    he drew me out of great waters.
   
18 He delivered me from my strong enemies
and from those who hated me; *
    for they were too mighty for me.
   
19 They confronted me in the day of my disaster; *
    but the LORD was my support.

 

 

Psalm 18     603

 

20 He brought me out into an open place; *
    he rescued me because he delighted in me.
   
   
  Psalm 18:  Part II     Et retribuet mihi
   
21 The LORD rewarded me because of my righteous dealing; *
    because my hands were clean he rewarded me;
   
22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD *
    and have not offended against my God;
   
23 For all his judgments are before my eyes, *
    and his decrees I have not put away from me;
   
24 For I have been blameless with him *
    and have kept myself from iniquity;
   
25 Therefore the LORD rewarded me according to my
                               righteous dealing, *
    because of the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
   
26 With the faithful you show yourself faithful, O God; *
    with the forthright you show yourself forthright.
   
27 With the pure you show yourself pure, *
    but with the crooked you are wily.
   
28 You will save a lowly people, *
    but you will humble the haughty eyes.
   
29 You, O LORD, are my lamp; *
    my God, you make my darkness bright.
   
30 With you I will break down an enclosure; *
    with the help of my God I will scale any wall.
   
31 As for God, his ways are perfect;
the words of the LORD are tried in the fire; *
    he is a shield to all who trust in him.

 

 

604    Psalm 18

 
32 For who is God, but the LORD? *
    who is the Rock, except our God?
   
33 It is God who girds me about with strength *
    and makes my way secure.
   
34 He makes me sure-footed like a deer *
    and lets me stand firm on the heights.
   
35 He trains my hands for battle *
    and my arms for bending even a bow of bronze.
   
36 You have given me your shield of victory; *
    your right hand also sustains me;
    your loving care makes me great.
   
37 You lengthen my stride beneath me, *
    and my ankles do not give way.
   
38 I pursue my enemies and overtake them; *
    I will not turn back till I have destroyed them.
   
39 I strike them down, and they cannot rise; *
    they fall defeated at my feet.
   
40 You have girded me with strength for the battle; *
    you have cast down my adversaries beneath me;
    you have put my enemies to flight.
   
41 I destroy those who hate me;
they cry out, but there is none to help them; *
    they cry to the LORD, but he does not answer.
   
42 I beat them small like dust before the wind; *
    I trample them like mud in the streets.
   
43 You deliver me from the strife of the peoples; *
    you put me at the head of the nations.
   
44 A people I have not known shall serve me;
no sooner shall they hear than they shall obey me; *
    strangers will cringe before me.

 

 

Psalm 18     605

 

45 The foreign peoples will lose heart; *
    they shall come trembling out of their strongholds.
   
46 The LORD lives!  Blessed is my Rock! *
    Exalted is the God of my salvation!
   
47 He is the God who gave me victory *
    and cast down the peoples beneath me.
   
48 You rescued me from the fury of my enemies;
you exalted me above those who rose against me; *
    you saved me from my deadly foe.
   
49 Therefore will I extol you among the nations, O LORD, *
    and sing praises to your Name.
   
50 He multiplies the victories of his king; *
    he shows loving-kindness to his anointed,
    to David and his descendants for ever.
   
  Fourth Day: Morning Prayer
   
  19   Caeli enarrant
   
1 The heavens declare the glory of God, *
    and the firmament shows his handiwork.
   
2 One day tells its tale to another, *
    and one night imparts knowledge to another.
   
3 Although they have no words or language, *
    and their voices are not heard,
   
4 Their sound has gone out into all lands, *
    and their message to the ends of the world.
   
5 In the deep has he set a pavilion for the sun; *
    it comes forth like a bridegroom out of his chamber;
    it rejoices like a champion to run its course.

 

 

606    Psalm 19

 
6 It goes forth from the uttermost edge of the heavens
and runs about to the end of it again; *
    nothing is hidden from its burning heat.
   
   
7 The law of the LORD is perfect
                              and revives the soul; *
    the testimony of the LORD is sure
                               and gives wisdom to the innocent.
   
8 The statutes of the LORD are just
                              and rejoice the heart; *
    the commandment of the LORD is clear
                               and gives light to the eyes.
   
9 The fear of the LORD is clean
                              and endures for ever; *
    the judgments of the LORD are true
                               and righteous altogether.
   
10 More to be desired are they than gold,
                              more than much fine gold, *
    sweeter far than honey,
                               than honey in the comb.
   
11 By them also is your servant enlightened, *
    and in keeping them there is great reward.
   
12 Who can tell how often he offends? *
    cleanse me from my secret faults.
   
13 Above all, keep your servant from presumptuous sins;
let them not get dominion over me; *
    then shall I be whole and sound,
    and innocent of a great offense.
   
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my
                              heart be acceptable in your sight, *
    O LORD, my strength and my redeemer.

 

 

Psalm 19     607

 

  20   Exaudiat te Dominus
   
1 May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble, *
    the Name of the God of Jacob defend you;
   
2 Send you help from his holy place *
    and strengthen you out of Zion;
   
3 Remember all your offerings *
    and accept your burnt sacrifice;
   
4 Grant you your heart's desire *
    and prosper all your plans.
   
5 We will shout for joy at your victory
and triumph in the Name of our God; *
    may the LORD grant all your requests.
   
6 Now I know that the LORD gives victory to his anointed; *
    he will answer him out of his holy heaven,
    with the victorious strength of his right hand.
   
7 Some put their trust in chariots and some in horses, *
    but we will call upon the Name of the LORD our God.
   
8 They collapse and fall down, *
    but we will arise and stand upright.
   
9 O LORD, give victory to the king *
    and answer us when we call.

 

 

608    Psalm 20