Twenty-ninth Day: Evening Prayer
   
  141  Domine, clamavi
   
1 O LORD, I call to you; come to me quickly; *
    hear my voice when I cry to you.
   
2 Let my prayer be set forth in your sight as incense, *
    the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
   
3 Set a watch before my mouth, O LORD,
and guard the door of my lips; *
    let not my heart incline to any evil thing.
   
4 Let me not be occupied in wickedness with evildoers, *
    nor eat of their choice foods.
   
5 Let the righteous smite me in friendly rebuke;
let not the oil of the unrighteous anoint my head; *
    for my prayer is continually against their wicked deeds.
   
6 Let their rulers be overthrown in stony places, *
    that they may know my words are true.
   
7 As when a plowman turns over the earth in furrows, *
    let their bones be scattered at the mouth of the grave.
   
8 But my eyes are turned to you, Lord GOD; *
    in you I take refuge;
    do not strip me of my life.
   
9 Protect me from the snare which they have laid for me *
    and from the traps of the evildoers.
   
10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, *
    while I myself escape.

 

 

Psalm 141     797

 

  142  Voce mea ad Dominum
   
1 I cry to the LORD with my voice; *
    to the LORD I make loud supplication.
   
2 I pour out my complaint before him *
    and tell him all my trouble.
   
3 When my spirit languishes within me, you know my path; *
    in the way wherein I walk they have hidden a trap for me.
   
4 I look to my right hand and find no one who knows me; *
    I have no place to flee to, and no one cares for me.
   
5 I cry out to you, O LORD; *
    I say, "You are my refuge,
    my portion in the land of the living."
   
6 Listen to my cry for help, for I have been brought very low; *
    save me from those who pursue me,
    for they are too strong for me.
   
7 Bring me out of prison, that I may give thanks to your Name; *
    when you have dealt bountifully with me,
    the righteous will gather around me.
   
  143  Domine, exaudi
   
1 LORD, hear my prayer,
and in your faithfulness heed my supplications; *
    answer me in your righteousness.
   
2 Enter not into judgment with your servant, *
    for in your sight shall no one living be justified.

 

 

798    Psalms 142, 143

 

3 For my enemy has sought my life;
he has crushed me to the ground; *
    he has made me live in dark places like those who
                              are long dead.
   
4 My spirit faints within me; *
    my heart within me is desolate.
   
5 I remember the time past;
I muse upon all your deeds; *
    I consider the works of your hands.
   
6 I spread out my hands to you; *
    my soul gasps to you like a thirsty land.
   
7 O LORD, make haste to answer me; my spirit fails me; *
    do not hide your face from me
    or I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.
   
8 Let me hear of your loving-kindness in the morning,
for I put my trust in you; *
    show me the road that I must walk,
    for I lift up my soul to you.
   
9 Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD, *
    for I flee to you for refuge.
   
10 Teach me to do what pleases you, for you are my God; *
    let your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
   
11 Revive me, O LORD, for your Name's sake; *
    for your righteousness' sake, bring me out of trouble.
   
   
12 Of your goodness, destroy my enemies
and bring all my foes to naught, *
    for truly I am your servant.

 

 

Psalm 143     799

 

  Thirtieth Day: Morning Prayer
   
  144  Benedictus Dominus
   
1 Blessed be the LORD my rock! *
    who trains my hands to fight and my fingers to battle;
   
2 My help and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, *
    my shield in whom I trust,
    who subdues the peoples under me.
   
3 O LORD, what are we that you should care for us? *
    mere mortals that you should think of us?
   
4 We are like a puff of wind; *
    our days are like a passing shadow.
   
5 Bow your heavens, O LORD, and come down; *
    touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.
   
6 Hurl the lightning and scatter them; *
    shoot out your arrows and rout them.
   
7 Stretch out your hand from on high; *
    rescue me and deliver me from the great waters,
    from the hand of foreign peoples,
   
8 Whose mouths speak deceitfully *
    and whose right hand is raised in falsehood.
   
9 O God, I will sing to you a new song; *
    I will play to you on a ten-stringed lyre.
   
10 You give victory to kings *
    and have rescued David your servant.
   
11 Rescue me from the hurtful sword *
    and deliver me from the hand of foreign peoples,
   
12 Whose mouths speak deceitfully *
    and whose right hand is raised in falsehood.

 

 

800    Psalm 144

 
13 May our sons be like plants well nurtured from their youth, *
    and our daughters like sculptured corners of a palace.
   
14 May our barns be filled to overflowing with all manner
                              of crops; *
    may the flocks in our pastures increase by thousands
                              and tens of thousands;
    may our cattle be fat and sleek.
   
15 May there be no breaching of the walls, no going into exile, *
    no wailing in the public squares.
   
16 Happy are the people of whom this is so! *
    happy are the people whose God is the LORD!
   
  145  Exaltabo te, Deus
   
1 I will exalt you, O God my King, *
    and bless your Name for ever and ever.
   
2 Every day will I bless you *
    and praise your Name for ever and ever.
   
3 Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised; *
    there is no end to his greatness.
   
4 One generation shall praise your works to another *
    and shall declare your power.
   
5 I will ponder the glorious splendor of your majesty *
    and all your marvelous works.
   
6 They shall speak of the might of your wondrous acts, *
    and I will tell of your greatness.
   
7 They shall publish the remembrance of your great goodness; *
    they shall sing of your righteous deeds.

 

 

Psalm 145     801

 

8 The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, *
    slow to anger and of great kindness.
   
9 The LORD is loving to everyone *
    and his compassion is over all his works.
   
10 All your works praise you, O LORD, *
    and your faithful servants bless you.
   
11 They make known the glory of your kingdom *
    and speak of your power;
   
12 That the peoples may know of your power *
    and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
   
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; *
    your dominion endures throughout all ages.
   
14 The LORD is faithful in all his words *
    and merciful in all his deeds.
   
15 The LORD upholds all those who fall; *
    he lifts up those who are bowed down.
   
16 The eyes of all wait upon you, O LORD, *
    and you give them their food in due season.
   
17 You open wide your hand *
    and satisfy the needs of every living creature.
   
18 The LORD is righteous in all his ways *
    and loving in all his works.
   
19 The LORD is near to those who call upon him, *
    to all who call upon him faithfully.
   
20 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; *
    he hears their cry and helps them.
   
21 The LORD preserves all those who love him, *
    but he destroys all the wicked.

 

 

802    Psalm 145

 

22 My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD; *
    let all flesh bless his holy Name for ever and ever.
   
  146  Lauda, anima mea
   
1 Hallelujah!
Praise the LORD, O my soul! *
    I will praise the LORD as long as I live;
    I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
   
2 Put not your trust in rulers, nor in any child of earth, *
    for there is no help in them.
   
3 When they breathe their last, they return to earth, *
    and in that day their thoughts perish.
   
4 Happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help! *
    whose hope is in the LORD their God;
   
5 Who made heaven and earth, the seas, and all that is in them; *
    who keeps his promise for ever;
   
6 Who gives justice to those who are oppressed, *
    and food to those who hunger.
   
7 The LORD sets the prisoners free;
the LORD opens the eyes of the blind; *
    the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down;
   
8 The LORD loves the righteous;
the LORD cares for the stranger; *
    he sustains the orphan and widow,
    but frustrates the way of the wicked.
   
9 The LORD shall reign for ever, *
    your God, O Zion, throughout all generations.
    Hallelujah!

 

 

Psalm 146     803

 

  Thirtieth Day: Evening Prayer
   
  147  Laudate Dominum
   
1 Hallelujah!
How good it is to sing praises to our God! *
    how pleasant it is to honor him with praise!
   
2 The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem; *
    he gathers the exiles of Israel.
   
3 He heals the brokenhearted *
    and binds up their wounds.
   
4 He counts the number of the stars *
    and calls them all by their names.
   
5 Great is our LORD and mighty in power; *
    there is no limit to his wisdom.
   
6 The LORD lifts up the lowly, *
    but casts the wicked to the ground.
   
7 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; *
    make music to our God upon the harp.
   
8 He covers the heavens with clouds *
    and prepares rain for the earth;
   
9 He makes grass to grow upon the mountains *
    and green plants to serve mankind.
   
10 He provides food for flocks and herds *
    and for the young ravens when they cry.
   
11 He is not impressed by the might of a horse; *
    he has no pleasure in the strength of a man;
   
12 But the LORD has pleasure in those who fear him, *
    in those who await his gracious favor.

 

 

804    Psalm 147

 

13 Worship the LORD, O Jerusalem; *
    praise your God, O Zion;
   
14 For he has strengthened the bars of your gates; *
    he has blessed your children within you.
   
15 He has established peace on your borders; *
    he satisfies you with the finest wheat.
   
16 He sends out his command to the earth, *
    and his word runs very swiftly.
   
17 He gives snow like wool; *
    he scatters hoarfrost like ashes.
   
18 He scatters his hail like bread crumbs; *
    who can stand against his cold?
   
19 He sends forth his word and melts them; *
    he blows with his wind, and the waters flow.
   
20 He declares his word to Jacob, *
    his statutes and his judgments to Israel.
   
21 He has not done so to any other nation; *
    to them he has not revealed his judgments.
    Hallelujah!
   
  148  Laudate Dominum
   
1 Hallelujah!
Praise the LORD from the heavens; *
    praise him in the heights.
   
2 Praise him, all you angels of his; *
    praise him, all his host.
   
3 Praise him, sun and moon; *
    praise him, all you shining stars.

 

 

Psalm 148     805

 

4 Praise him, heaven of heavens, *
    and you waters above the heavens.
   
5 Let them praise the Name of the LORD; *
    for he commanded, and they were created.
   
6 He made them stand fast for ever and ever; *
    he gave them a law which shall not pass away.
   
   
7 Praise the LORD from the earth, *
    you sea-monsters and all deeps;
   
8 Fire and hail, snow and fog, *
    tempestuous wind, doing his will;
   
9 Mountains and all hills, *
    fruit trees and all cedars;
   
10 Wild beasts and all cattle, *
    creeping things and wingèd birds;
   
11 Kings of the earth and all peoples, *
    princes and all rulers of the world;
   
12 Young men and maidens, *
    old and young together.
   
13 Let them praise the Name of the LORD, *
    for his Name only is exalted,
    his splendor is over earth and heaven.
   
14 He has raised up strength for his people
and praise for all his loyal servants, *
    the children of Israel, a people who are near him.
    Hallelujah!

 

 

806    Psalm 148

 

  149  Cantate Domino
   
1 Hallelujah!
Sing to the LORD a new song; *
    sing his praise in the congregation of the faithful.
   
2 Let Israel rejoice in his Maker; *
    let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
   
3 Let them praise his Name in the dance; *
    let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
   
4 For the LORD takes pleasure in his people *
    and adorns the poor with victory.
   
5 Let the faithful rejoice in triumph; *
    let them be joyful on their beds.
   
6 Let the praises of God be in their throat *
    and a two-edged sword in their hand;
   
7 To wreak vengeance on the nations *
    and punishment on the peoples;
   
8 To bind their kings in chains *
    and their nobles with links of iron;
   
9 To inflict on them the judgment decreed; *
    this is glory for all his faithful people.
    Hallelujah!
   
  150  Laudate Dominum
   
1 Hallelujah!
Praise God in his holy temple; *
    praise him in the firmament of his power.

 

 

Psalm 149, 150     807

 

2 Praise him for his mighty acts; *
    praise him for his excellent greatness.
   
3 Praise him with the blast of the ram's-horn; *
    praise him with lyre and harp.
   
4 Praise him with timbrel and dance; *
    praise him with strings and pipe.
   
5 Praise him with resounding cymbals; *
    praise him with loud-clanging cymbals.
   
6 Let everything that has breath *
    praise the Lord.
    Hallelujah!

 

 

808    Psalm 150