131  Domine, non est
   
1 O LORD, I am not proud; *
    I have no haughty looks.
   
2 I do not occupy myself with great matters, *
    or with things that are too hard for me.
   
3 But I still my soul and make it quiet,
like a child upon its mother's breast; *
    my soul is quieted within me.
   
4 O Israel, wait upon the LORD, *
    from this time forth for evermore.
   
  Twenty-eighth Day: Morning Prayer
   
  132  Memento, Domine
   
1 LORD, remember David, *
    and all the hardships he endured;

 

 

Psalms 131, 132     785

 

2 How he swore an oath to the LORD *
    and vowed a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:
   
3 "I will not come under the roof of my house, *
    nor climb up into my bed;
   
4 I will not allow my eyes to sleep, *
    nor let my eyelids slumber;
   
5 Until I find a place for the LORD, *
    a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob."
   
6 "The ark! We heard it was in Ephratah; *
    we found it in the fields of Jearim.
   
7 Let us go to God's dwelling place; *
    let us fall upon our knees before his footstool."
   
8 Arise, O LORD, into your resting-place, *
    you and the ark of your strength.
   
9 Let your priests be clothed with righteousness; *
    let your faithful people sing with joy.
   
10 For your servant David's sake, *
    do not turn away the face of your Anointed.
   
11 The LORD has sworn an oath to David; *
    in truth, he will not break it:
   
12 "A son, the fruit of your body *
    will I set upon your throne.
   
13 If your children keep my covenant
and my testimonies that I shall teach them, *
    their children will sit upon your throne for evermore."
   
14 For the LORD has chosen Zion; *
    he has desired her for his habitation:
   
15 "This shall be my resting-place for ever; *
    here will I dwell, for I delight in her.

 

 

786    Psalm 132

 

16 I will surely bless her provisions, *
    and satisfy her poor with bread.
   
17 I will clothe her priests with salvation, *
    and her faithful people will rejoice and sing.
   
18 There will I make the horn of David flourish; *
    I have prepared a lamp for my Anointed.
   
19 As for his enemies, I will clothe them with shame; *
    but as for him, his crown will shine."
   
  133  Ecce, quam bonum!
   
1 Oh, how good and pleasant it is, *
    when brethren live together in unity!
   
2 It is like fine oil upon the head *
    that runs down upon the beard,
   
3 Upon the beard of Aaron, *
    and runs down upon the collar of his robe.
   
4 It is like the dew of Hermon *
    that falls upon the hills of Zion.
   
5 For there the LORD has ordained the blessing: *
    life for evermore.
   
  134  Ecce nunc
   
1 Behold now, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, *
    you that stand by night in the house of the LORD.
   
2 Lift up your hands in the holy place and bless the LORD; *
    the LORD who made heaven and earth bless
                              you out of Zion.

 

 

Psalms 133, 134     787

 

  135  Laudate nomen
   
1 Hallelujah!
Praise the Name of the LORD; *
    give praise, you servants of the LORD.
   
2 You who stand in the house of the LORD, *
    in the courts of the house of our God.
   
3 Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; *
    sing praises to his Name, for it is lovely.
   
4 For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself *
    and Israel for his own possession.
   
5 For I know that the LORD is great, *
    and that our Lord is above all gods.
   
6 The LORD does whatever pleases him, in heaven and on earth, *
    in the seas and all the deeps.
   
7 He brings up rain clouds from the ends of the earth; *
    he sends out lightning with the rain,
    and brings the winds out of his storehouse.
   
8 It was he who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, *
    the firstborn both of man and beast.
   
9 He sent signs and wonders into the midst of you, O Egypt, *
    against Pharaoh and all his servants.
   
10 He overthrew many nations *
    and put mighty kings to death:
   
11 Sihon, king of the Amorites,
and Og, the kingdoms of Bashan, *
    and all the kings of Canaan.
   
12 He gave their land to be an inheritance, *
    an inheritance for Israel his people.

 

 

788    Psalm 135

 
13 O LORD, your Name is everlasting; *
    your renown, O LORD, endures from age to age.
   
14 For the LORD gives his people justice *
    and shows compassion to his servants.
   
15 The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, *
    the work of human hands.
   
16 They have mouths, but they cannot speak; *
    eyes have they, but they cannot see.
   
17 They have ears, but they cannot hear; *
    neither is there any breath in their mouth.
   
18 Those who make them are like them, *
    and so are all who put their trust in them.
   
19 Bless the LORD, O house of Israel; *
    O house of Aaron, bless the LORD.
   
20 Bless the LORD, O house of Levi; *
    you who fear the LORD, bless the LORD.
   
21 Blessed be the LORD out of Zion, *
    who dwells in Jerusalem.
    Hallelujah!
   
  Twenty-eighth Day: Evening Prayer
   
  136  Confitemini
   
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, *
    for his mercy endures for ever.
   
2 Give thanks to the God of gods, *
    for his mercy endures for ever.

 

 

Psalm 136     789

 

3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords, *
    for his mercy endures for ever.
   
   
4 Who only does great wonders, *
    for his mercy endures for ever;
   
5 Who by wisdom made the heavens, *
    for his mercy endures for ever;
   
6 Who spread out the earth upon the waters, *
    for his mercy endures for ever;
   
7 Who created great lights, *
    for his mercy endures for ever;
   
8 The sun to rule the day, *
    for his mercy endures for ever;
   
9 The moon and the stars to govern the night, *
    for his mercy endures for ever.
   
   
10 Who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, *
    for his mercy endures for ever;
   
11 And brought out Israel from among them, *
    for his mercy endures for ever;
   
12 With a mighty hand and a stretched-out arm, *
    for his mercy endures for ever;
   
13 Who divided the Red Sea in two, *
    for his mercy endures for ever;
   
14 And made Israel to pass through the midst of it, *
    for his mercy endures for ever;
   
15 But swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea, *
    for his mercy endures for ever;

 

 

790    Psalm 136

 

16 Who led his people through the wilderness, *
    for his mercy endures for ever.
   
   
17 Who struck down great kings, *
    for his mercy endures for ever;
   
18 And slew mighty kings, *
    for his mercy endures for ever;
   
19 Sihon, king of the Amorites, *
    for his mercy endures for ever;
   
20 And Og, the king of Bashan, *
    for his mercy endures for ever;
   
21 And gave away their lands for an inheritance, *
    for his mercy endures for ever;
   
22 An inheritance for Israel his servant, *
    for his mercy endures for ever.
   
   
23 Who remembered us in our low estate, *
    for his mercy endures for ever;
   
24 And delivered us from our enemies, *
    for his mercy endures for ever;
   
25 Who gives food to all creatures, *
    for his mercy endures for ever.
   
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven, *
    for his mercy endures for ever.

 

 

Psalm 136     791

 

  137  Super flumina
   
1 By the waters of Babylon we sat down and wept, *
    when we remembered you, O Zion.
   
2 As for our harps, we hung them up *
    on the trees in the midst of that land.
   
3 For those who led us away captive asked us for a song,
and our oppressors called for mirth: *
   "Sing us one of the songs of Zion."
   
4 How shall we sing the LORD'S song *
    upon an alien soil?
   
5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, *
    let my right hand forget its skill.
   
6 Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth
if I do not remember you, *
    if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy.
   
   
7 Remember the day of Jerusalem, O LORD,
against the people of Edom, *
    who said, "Down with it! down with it!
    even to the ground!"
   
8 O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, *
    happy the one who pays you back
    for what you have done to us!
   
9 Happy shall he be who takes your little ones, *
    and dashes them against the rock!

 

 

792    Psalm 137

 

  138  Confitebor tibi
   
1 I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with my whole heart; *
    before the gods I will sing your praise.
   
2 I will bow down toward your holy temple
and praise your Name, *
    because of your love and faithfulness;
   
3 For you have glorified your Name *
    and your word above all things.
   
4 When I called, you answered me; *
    you increased my strength within me.
   
5 All the kings of the earth will praise you, O LORD, *
    when they have heard the words of your mouth.
   
6 They will sing of the ways of the LORD, *
    that great is the glory of the LORD.
   
7 Though the LORD be high, he cares for the lowly; *
    he perceives the haughty from afar.
   
8 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you keep me safe; *
    you stretch forth your hand against the fury of my enemies;
    your right hand shall save me.
   
9 The LORD will make good his purpose for me; *
    O LORD, your love endures for ever;
 do not abandon the works of your hands.

 

 

Psalm 138     793

 

  Twenty-ninth Day: Morning Prayer
   
  139  Domine, probasti
   
1 LORD, you have searched me out and known me; *
    you know my sitting down and my rising up;
    you discern my thoughts from afar.
   
2 You trace my journeys and my resting-places *
    and are acquainted with all my ways.
   
3 Indeed, there is not a word on my lips, *
    but you, O LORD, know it altogether.
   
4 You press upon me behind and before *
    and lay your hand upon me.
   
5 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; *
    it is so high that I cannot attain to it.
   
6 Where can I go then from your Spirit? *
    where can I flee from your presence?
   
7 If I climb up to heaven, you are there; *
    if I make the grave my bed, you are there also.
   
8 If I take the wings of the morning *
    and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
   
9 Even there your hand will lead me *
    and your right hand hold me fast.
   
10 If I say, "Surely the darkness will cover me, *
    and the light around me turn to night,"
   
11 Darkness is not dark to you;
the night is as bright as the day; *
    darkness and light to you are both alike.
   
12 For you yourself created my inmost parts; *
    you knit me together in my mother's womb.

 

 

794    Psalm 139

 

13 I will thank you because I am marvelously made; *
    your works are wonderful, and I know it well.
   
14 My body was not hidden from you, *
    while I was being made in secret
    and woven in the depths of the earth.
   
15 Your eyes beheld my limbs, yet unfinished in the womb;
all of them were written in your book; *
    they were fashioned day by day,
    when as yet there was none of them.
   
16 How deep I find your thoughts, O God! *
    how great is the sum of them!
   
17 If I were to count them, they would be more in number
                              than the sand; *
    to count them all, my life span would need to
                              be like yours.
   
   
18 Oh, that you would slay the wicked, O God! *
    You that thirst for blood, depart from me.
   
19 They speak despitefully against you; *
    your enemies take your Name in vain.
   
20 Do I not hate those, O LORD, who hate you? *
    and do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
   
21 I hate them with a perfect hatred; *
    they have become my own enemies.
   
22 Search me out, O God, and know my heart; *
    try me and know my restless thoughts.
   
23 Look well whether there be any wickedness in me *
    and lead me in the way that is everlasting.

 

 

Psalm 139     795

 

  140  Eripe me, Domine
   
1 Deliver me, O LORD, from evildoers; *
    protect me from the violent,
   
2 Who devise evil in their hearts *
    and stir up strife all day long.
   
3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; *
    adder's poison is under their lips.
   
4 Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; *
    protect me from the violent,
    who are determined to trip me up.
   
5 The proud have hidden a snare for me
and stretched out a net of cords; *
    they have set traps for me along the path.
   
6 I have said to the LORD, "You are my God; *
    listen, O LORD, to my supplication.
   
7 O Lord GOD, the strength of my salvation, *
    you have covered my head in the day of battle.
   
8 Do not grant the desires of the wicked, O LORD, *
    nor let their evil plans prosper.
   
9 Let not those who surround me lift up their heads; *
    let the evil of their lips overwhelm them.
   
10 Let hot burning coals fall upon them; *
    let them be cast into the mire, never to rise up again."
   
11 A slanderer shall not be established on the earth, *
    and evil shall hunt down the lawless.
   
12 I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the poor *
    and render justice to the needy.

 

 

796    Psalm 140

 

13 Surely, the righteous will give thanks to your Name, *
    and the upright shall continue in your sight.

 

 

Psalm 141     797