61  Exaudi, Deus
   
1 Hear my cry, O God, *
    and listen to my prayer.
   
2 I call upon you from the ends of the earth
with heaviness in my heart; *
    set me upon the rock that is higher than I.
   
3 For you have been my refuge, *
    a strong tower against the enemy.
   
4 I will dwell in your house for ever; *
    I will take refuge under the cover of your wings.
   
5 For you, O God, have heard my vows; *
    you have granted me the heritage of those
                              who fear your Name.
   
6 Add length of days to the king's life; *
    let his years extend over many generations.

 

 

668    Psalm 61

 
7 Let him sit enthroned before God for ever; *
    bid love and faithfulness watch over him.
   
8 So will I always sing the praise of your Name, *
    and day by day I will fulfill my vows.
   
  Twelfth Day: Morning Prayer
   
  62  Nonne Deo?
   
1 For God alone my soul in silence waits; *
    from him comes my salvation.
   
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, *
    my stronghold, so that I shall not be greatly shaken.
   
3 How long will you assail me to crush me,
all of you together, *
    as if you were a leaning fence, a toppling wall?
   
4 They seek only to bring me down from my place of honor; *
    lies are their chief delight.
   
5 They bless with their lips, *
    but in their hearts they curse.
   
6 For God alone my soul in silence waits; *
    truly, my hope is in him.
   
7 He alone is my rock and my salvation, *
    my stronghold, so that I shall not be shaken.
   
8 In God is my safety and my honor; *
    God is my strong rock and my refuge.
   
9 Put your trust in him always, O people, *
    pour out your hearts before him, for God is our refuge.

 

 

Psalm 62     669

 

10 Those of high degree are but a fleeting breath, *
    even those of low estate cannot be trusted.
   
11 On the scales they are lighter than a breath, *
    all of them together.
   
12 Put no trust in extortion;
in robbery take no empty pride; *
    though wealth increase, set not your heart upon it.
   
13 God has spoken once, twice have I heard it, *
    that power belongs to God.
   
14 Steadfast love is yours, O Lord, *
    for you repay everyone according to his deeds.
   
  63  Deus, Deus meus
   
1 O 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.
   
2 Therefore I have gazed upon you in your holy place, *
    that I might behold your power and your glory.
   
3 For your loving-kindness is better than life itself; *
    my lips shall give you praise.
   
4 So will I bless you as long as I live *
    and lift up my hands in your Name.
   
5 My soul is content, as with marrow and fatness, *
    and my mouth praises you with joyful lips,
   
6 When I remember you upon my bed, *
    and meditate on you in the night watches.
   
7 For you have been my helper, *
    and under the shadow of your wings I will rejoice.

 

 

670    Psalm 63

 

8 My soul clings to you; *
    your right hand holds me fast.
   
9 May those who seek my life to destroy it *
    go down into the depths of the earth;
   
10 Let them fall upon the edge of the sword, *
    and let them be food for jackals.
   
11 But 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.
   
  64  Exaudi, Deus
   
1 Hear my voice, O God, when I complain; *
    protect my life from fear of the enemy.
   
2 Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, *
    from the mob of evildoers.
   
3 They sharpen their tongue like a sword, *
    and aim their bitter words like arrows,
   
4 That they may shoot down the blameless from ambush; *
    they shoot without warning and are not afraid.
   
5 They hold fast to their evil course; *
     they plan how they may hide their snares.
   
6 They say, "Who will see us?
who will find out our crimes? *
    we have thought out a perfect plot."
   
7 The human mind and heart are a mystery; *
    but God will loose an arrow at them,
    and suddenly they will be wounded.

 

 

Psalm 64     671

 

8 He will make them trip over their tongues, *
    and all who see them will shake their heads.
   
9 Everyone will stand in awe and declare God's deeds; *
    they will recognize his works.
   
10 The 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
   
  65  Te decet hymnus
   
1 You are to be praised, O God, in Zion; *
    to you shall vows be performed in Jerusalem.
   
2 To you that hear prayer shall all flesh come, *
    because of their transgressions.
   
3 Our sins are stronger than we are, *
    but you will blot them out.
   
4 Happy 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.
   
5 Awesome 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.
   
6 You make fast the mountains by your power; *
    they are girded about with might.
   
7 You still the roaring of the seas, *
    the roaring of their waves,
    and the clamor of the peoples.

 

 

672    Psalm 65

 
8 Those 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.
   
9 You visit the earth and water it abundantly;
you make it very plenteous; *
    the river of God is full of water.
   
10 You prepare the grain, *
    for so you provide for the earth.
   
11 You drench the furrows and smooth out the ridges; *
    with heavy rain you soften the ground and bless its increase.
   
12 You crown the year with your goodness, *
    and your paths overflow with plenty.
   
13 May the fields of the wilderness be rich for grazing, *
    and the hills be clothed with joy.
   
14 May the meadows cover themselves with flocks,
and the valleys cloak themselves with grain; *
    let them shout for joy and sing.
   
  66  Jubilate Deo
   
1 Be joyful in God, all you lands; *
    sing the glory of his Name;
    sing the glory of his praise.
   
2 Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! *
    because of your great strength your enemies
                              cringe before you.
   
3 All the earth bows down before you, *
    sings to you, sings out your Name."

 

 

Psalm 66     673

 

4 Come now and see the works of God, *
    how wonderful he is in his doing toward all people.
   
5 He turned the sea into dry land,
so that they went through the water on foot, *
    and there we rejoiced in him.
   
6 In his might he rules for ever;
his eyes keep watch over the nations; *
    let no rebel rise up against him.
   
7 Bless our God, you peoples; *
    make the voice of his praise to be heard;
   
8 Who holds our souls in life, *
    and will not allow our feet to slip.
   
9 For you, O God, have proved us; *
    you have tried us just as silver is tried.
   
10 You brought us into the snare; *
    you laid heavy burdens upon our backs.
   
11 You let enemies ride over our heads;
we went through fire and water; *
    but you brought us out into a place of refreshment.
   
   
12 I 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.
   
13 I will offer you sacrifices of fat beasts
with the smoke of rams; *
    I will give you oxen and goats.
   
14 Come and listen, all you who fear God, *
    and I will tell you what he has done for me.

 

 

674    Psalm 66

 

15 I called out to him with my mouth, *
    and his praise was on my tongue.
   
16 If I had found evil in my heart, *
    the Lord would not have heard me;
   
17 But in truth God has heard me; *
    he has attended to the voice of my prayer.
   
18 Blessed be God, who has not rejected my prayer, *
    nor withheld his love from me.
   
  67  Deus misereatur
   
1 May God be merciful to us and bless us, *
    show us the light of his countenance and come to us.
   
2 Let your ways be known upon earth, *
    your saving health among all nations.
   
3 Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
    let all the peoples praise you.
   
4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, *
    for you judge the peoples with equity
    and guide all the nations upon earth.
   
5 Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
    let all the peoples praise you.
   
6 The earth has brought forth her increase; *
    may God, our own God, give us his blessing.
   
7 May God give us his blessing, *
    and may all the ends of the earth stand in awe of him.

 

 

Psalm 67     675

 

  Thirteenth Day:  Morning Prayer
   
  68  Exsurgat Deus
   
1 Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered; *
    let those who hate him flee before him.
   
2 Let 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.
   
3 But let the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; *
    let them also be merry and joyful.
   
4 Sing to God, sing praises to his Name;
exalt him who rides upon the heavens; *
    YAHWEH is his Name, rejoice before him!
   
5 Father of orphans, defender of widows, *
    God in his holy habitation!
   
6 God gives the solitary a home and brings forth prisoners
                              into freedom; *
    but the rebels shall live in dry places.
   
7 O God, when you went forth before your people, *
    when you marched through the wilderness,
   
8 The 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.
   
9 You sent a gracious rain, O God, upon your inheritance; *
    you refreshed the land when it was weary.
   
10 Your people found their home in it; *
    in your goodness, O God, you have made provision
                              for the poor.

 

 

676    Psalm 68

 

11 The 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."
   
13 Though you lingered among the sheepfolds, *
    you shall be like a dove whose wings are covered with silver,
    whose feathers are like green gold.
   
14 When the Almighty scattered kings, *
    it was like snow falling in Zalmon.
   
15 O mighty mountain, O hill of Bashan! *
    O rugged mountain, O hill of Bashan!
   
16 Why 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.
   
17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand,
even thousands of thousands; *
    the Lord comes in holiness from Sinai.
   
18 You 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.
   
19 Blessed be the Lord day by day, *
    the God of our salvation, who bears our burdens.
   
20 He is our God, the God of our salvation; *
    God is the LORD, by whom we escape death.
   
   
21 God shall crush the heads of his enemies, *
    and the hairy scalp of those who go on still in their
                              wickedness.

 

 

Psalm 68     677

 

22 The Lord has said, "I will bring them back from Bashan; *
    I will bring them back from the depths of the sea;
   
23 That your foot may be dipped in blood, *
    the tongues of your dogs in the blood of your enemies."
   
   
24 They see your procession, O God, *
    your procession into the sanctuary, my God and my King.
   
25 The singers go before, musicians follow after, *
    in the midst of maidens playing upon the hand-drums.
   
26 Bless God in the congregation; *
    bless the LORD, you that are of the fountain of Israel.
   
27 There is Benjamin, least of the tribes, at the head;
the princes of Judah in a company; *
    and the princes of Zebulon and Naphtali.
   
28 Send forth your strength, O God; *
    establish, O God, what you have wrought for us.
   
29 Kings shall bring gifts to you, *
    for your temple's sake at Jerusalem.
   
30 Rebuke the wild beast of the reeds, *
    and the peoples, a herd of wild bulls with its calves.
   
31 Trample down those who lust after silver; *
    scatter the peoples that delight in war.
   
32 Let tribute be brought out of Egypt; *
    let Ethiopia stretch out her hands to God.
   
33 Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; *
    sing praises to the Lord.
   
34 He rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens; *
    he sends forth his voice, his mighty voice.

 

 

678    Psalm 68

 

35 Ascribe power to God; *
    his majesty is over Israel;
    his strength is in the skies.
   
36 How 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
   
  69  Salvum me fac
   
1 Save me, O God, *
    for the waters have risen up to my neck.
   
2 I am sinking in deep mire, *
    and there is no firm ground for my feet.
   
3 I have come into deep waters, *
    and the torrent washes over me.
   
4 I have grown weary with my crying;
my throat is inflamed; *
    my eyes have failed from looking for my God.
   
5 Those 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?
   
6 O God, you know my foolishness, *
    and my faults are not hidden from you.
   
7 Let 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.

 

 

Psalm 69     679

 

8 Surely, for your sake have I suffered reproach, *
    and shame has covered my face.
   
9 I have become a stranger to my own kindred, *
    an alien to my mother's children.
   
10 Zeal for your house has eaten me up; *
    the scorn of those who scorn you has fallen upon me.
   
11 I humbled myself with fasting, *
    but that was turned to my reproach.
   
12 I put on sack-cloth also, *
    and became a byword among them.
   
13 Those who sit at the gate murmur against me, *
    and the drunkards make songs about me.
   
14 But 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.
   
16 Save me from the mire; do not let me sink; *
    let me be rescued from those who hate me
    and out of the deep waters.
   
17 Let 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.
   
18 Answer 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.
   
20 Draw near to me and redeem me; *
    because of my enemies deliver me.

 

 

680    Psalm 69

 

21 You know my reproach, my shame, and my dishonor; *
    my adversaries are all in your sight."
   
22 Reproach 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.
   
23 They gave me gall to eat, *
    and when I was thirsty, they gave me vinegar to drink.
   
   
24 Let the table before them be a trap *
    and their sacred feasts a snare.
   
25 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, *
    and give them continual trembling in their loins.
   
26 Pour out your indignation upon them, *
    and let the fierceness of your anger overtake them.
   
27 Let their camp be desolate, *
    and let there be none to dwell in their tents.
   
28 For they persecute him whom you have stricken *
    and add to the pain of those whom you have pierced.
   
29 Lay to their charge guilt upon guilt, *
    and let them not receive your vindication.
   
30 Let them be wiped out of the book of the living *
    and not be written among the righteous.
   
   
31 As for me, I am afflicted and in pain; *
    your help, O God, will lift me up on high.
   
32 I will praise the Name of God in song; *
    I will proclaim his greatness with thanksgiving.
   
33 This will please the LORD more than an offering of oxen, *
    more than bullocks with horns and hoofs.

 

 

Psalm 69     681

 
34 The afflicted shall see and be glad; *
    you who seek God, your heart shall live.
   
35 For the LORD listens to the needy, *
    and his prisoners he does not despise.
   
36 Let the heavens and the earth praise him, *
    the seas and all that moves in them;
   
37 For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah; *
    they shall live there and have it in possession.
   
38 The children of his servants will inherit it, *
    and those who love his Name will dwell therein.
   
  70  Deus, in adjutorium
   
1 Be pleased, O God, to deliver me; *
    O LORD, make haste to help me.
   
2 Let those who seek my life be ashamed
and altogether dismayed; *
    let those who take pleasure in my misfortune
    draw back and be disgraced.
   
3 Let those who say to me "Aha!" and gloat over me turn back, *
    because they are ashamed.
   
4 Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; *
    let those who love your salvation say for ever,
    "Great is the LORD!"
   
5 But as for me, I am poor and needy; *
    come to me speedily, O God.
   
6 You are my helper and my deliverer; *
    O LORD, do not tarry.

 

 

682    Psalm 70