Lord, how many adversaries I have!
how many there are who rise up against me!
how many there are who say of me,
“There is no help for him in his God.”
But you, O Lord, are a shield about me;
you are my glory, the one who lifts up my head.

I call aloud upon the Lord,
and he answers me from his holy hill;
I lie down and go to sleep;
I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
I do not fear the multitudes of people
who set themselves against me all around.

Rise up, O Lord; set me free, O my God;
surely, you will strike all my enemies across the face,
you will break the teeth of the wicked.
Deliverance belongs to the Lord.
Your blessing be upon your people!

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen.

Redeemer of the nations, come;
reveal yourself by virgin birth.
Let every age with wonder know
that such a birth befits our God.

Conceived not from the seed of man
but by the Spirit’s wondrous breath,
the Word of God comes in the flesh,
as Mary’s womb brings forth its fruit.

The Virgin’s womb grows great with child,
this cloister is for ever pure;
the banners of her virtues gleam,
for in this temple God resides.

From bridal chamber let him come,
from royal Virgin, palace chaste,
with twofold nature God and man,
a champion swift to run his course.

The eternal Father’s equal, come,
bind on the trophy of our flesh;
and strengthen with your lasting power
the weakness of our mortal frame.

Your manger now with splendor shines
and night breaths forth new radiant light,
which no night may corrupt or dim:
so let it shine through constant faith.

To you, O Christ, most loving King,
and to the Father, glory be,
one with the Spirit Paraclete
for endless ages evermore. Amen.

O God, you have cast us off and broken us;
you have been angry;
oh, take us back to you again.

You have shaken the earth and split it open;
repair the cracks in it, for it totters.
You have made your people know hardship;
you have given us wine that makes us stagger.

You have set up a banner for those who fear you,
to be a refuge from the power of the bow.
Save us by your right hand and answer us,
that those who are dear to you may be delivered.

God spoke from his holy place and said:
“I will exult and parcel out Shechem;
I will divide the valley of Succoth.

“Gilead is mine and Manasseh is mine;
Ephraim is my helmet and Judah my scepter.

“Moab is my wash-basin,
on Edom I throw down my sandal to claim it,
and over Philistia will I shout in triumph.”

Who will lead me into the strong city?
who will bring me into Edom?
Have you not cast us off, O God?
you no longer go out, O God, with our armies.

Grant us your help against the enemy,
for vain is the help of man.
With God we will do valiant deeds,
and he shall tread our enemies under foot.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen.

Hear my cry, O God,
and listen to my prayer.
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.

For you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the enemy.
I will dwell in your house for ever;
I will take refuge under the cover of your wings.
For you, O God, have heard my vows;
you have granted me the heritage of those who fear your Name.

Add length of days to the king’s life;
let his years extend over many generations.
Let him sit enthroned before God for ever;
bid love and faithfulness watch over him.

So will I always sing the praise of your Name,
and day by day I will fulfill my vows.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen.

For God alone my soul in silence waits;
from him comes my salvation.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold, so that I shall not be greatly shaken.

How long will you assail me to crush me,
all of you together,
as if you were a leaning fence, a toppling wall?

They seek only to bring me down from my place of honor;
lies are their chief delight.
They bless with their lips,
but in their hearts they curse.

For God alone my soul in silence waits;
truly, my hope is in him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold, so that I shall not be shaken.

In God is my safety and my honor;
God is my strong rock and my refuge.
Put your trust in him always, O people,
pour out your hearts before him, for God is our refuge.

Those of high degree are but a fleeting breath,
even those of low estate cannot be trusted.
On the scales they are lighter than a breath,
all of them together.

Put no trust in extortion;
in robbery take no empty pride;
though wealth increase, set not your heart upon it.

God has spoken once, twice have I heard it,
that power belongs to God.
Steadfast love is yours, O Lord,
for you repay everyone according to his deeds.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen.

Be joyful in God, all you lands;
sing the glory of his Name;
sing the glory of his praise.

Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
because of your great strength your enemies cringe before you.
All the earth bows down before you,
sings to you, sings out your Name.”

Come now and see the works of God,
how wonderful he is in his doing toward all people.
He turned the sea into dry land,
so that they went through the water on foot,
and there we rejoiced in him.

In his might he rules for ever;
his eyes keep watch over the nations;
let no rebel rise up against him.

Bless our God, you peoples;
make the voice of his praise to be heard;
Who holds our souls in life,
and will not allow our feet to slip.

For you, O God, have proved us;
you have tried us just as silver is tried.
You brought us into the snare;
you laid heavy burdens upon our backs.

You let enemies ride over our heads;
we went through fire and water;
but you brought us out into a place of refreshment.

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.

I will offer you sacrifices of fat beasts
with the smoke of rams;
I will give you oxen and goats.

Come and listen, all you who fear God,
and I will tell you what he has done for me.
I called out to him with my mouth,
and his praise was on my tongue.

If I had found evil in my heart,
the Lord would not have heard me;
But in truth God has heard me;
he has attended to the voice of my prayer.
Blessed be God, who has not rejected my prayer,
nor withheld his love from me.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen.

Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered;
let those who hate him flee before him.
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.

But let the righteous be glad and rejoice before God;
let them also be merry and joyful.
Sing to God, sing praises to his Name;
exalt him who rides upon the heavens;
The Lord is his Name, rejoice before him!

Father of orphans, defender of widows,
God in his holy habitation!
God gives the solitary a home and brings forth prisoners into freedom;
but the rebels shall live in dry places.

O God, when you went forth before your people,
when you marched through the wilderness,
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.

You sent a gracious rain, O God, upon your inheritance;
you refreshed the land when it was weary.
Your people found their home in it;
in your goodness, O God, you have made provision for the poor.

The Lord gave the word;
great was the company of women who bore the tidings:
“Kings with their armies are fleeing away;
the women at home are dividing the spoils.”

Though you lingered among the sheepfolds,
you shall be like a dove whose wings are covered with silver,
whose feathers are like green gold.
When the Almighty scattered kings,
it was like snow falling in Zalmon.

O mighty mountain, O hill of Bashan!
O rugged mountain, O hill of Bashan!
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.

The chariots of God are twenty thousand,
even thousands of thousands;
the Lord comes in holiness from Sinai.
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.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen.

Blessed be the Lord day by day,
the God of our salvation, who bears our burdens.
He is our God, the God of our salvation;
God is the Lord, by whom we escape death.

God shall crush the heads of his enemies,
and the hairy scalp of those who go on still in their wickedness.
The Lord has said, “I will bring them back from Bashan;
I will bring them back from the depths of the sea;
that your foot may be dipped in blood,
the tongues of your dogs in the blood of your enemies.”

They see your procession, O God,
your procession into the sanctuary, my God and my King.
The singers go before, musicians follow after,
in the midst of maidens playing upon the hand-drums.

Bless God in the congregation;
bless the Lord, you that are of the fountain of Israel.
There is Benjamin, least of the tribes, at the head;
the princes of Judah in a company;
and the princes of Zebulon and Naphtali.

Send forth your strength, O God;
establish, O God, what you have wrought for us.
Kings shall bring gifts to you,
for your temple’s sake at Jerusalem.

Rebuke the wild beast of the reeds,
and the peoples, a herd of wild bulls with its calves.
Trample down those who lust after silver;
scatter the peoples that delight in war.
Let tribute be brought out of Egypt;
let Ethiopia stretch out her hands to God.

Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth;
sing praises to the Lord.
He rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens;
he sends forth his voice, his mighty voice.

Ascribe power to God;
his majesty is over Israel;
his strength is in the skies.
How wonderful is God in his holy places!
the God of Israel giving strength and power to his people!
Blessed be God!

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen.

Save me, O God,
for the waters have risen up to my neck.
I am sinking in deep mire,
and there is no firm ground for my feet.
I have come into deep waters,
and the torrent washes over me.

I have grown weary with my crying;
my throat is inflamed;
my eyes have failed from looking for my God.

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?

O God, you know my foolishness,
and my faults are not hidden from you.
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.

Surely, for your sake have I suffered reproach,
and shame has covered my face.
I have become a stranger to my own kindred,
an alien to my mother’s children.
Zeal for your house has eaten me up;
the scorn of those who scorn you has fallen upon me.

I humbled myself by fasting,
but that was turned to my reproach.
I put on sack-cloth also,
and became a byword among them.
Those who sit at the gate murmur against me,
and the drunkards make songs about me.

But as for me, this is my prayer to you,
at the time you have set, O Lord:
“In your great mercy, O God,
answer me with your unfailing help.

“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.

“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.”

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen.

“Answer me, O Lord, for your love is kind;
in your great compassion, turn to me.

“Hide not your face from your servant;
be swift and answer me, for I am in distress.
Draw near to me and redeem me;
because of my enemies deliver me.
You know my reproach, my shame, and my dishonor;
my adversaries are all in your sight.”

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.
They gave me gall to eat,
and when I was thirsty, they gave me vinegar to drink.

Let the table before them be a trap
and their sacred feasts a snare.
Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see,
and give them continual trembling in their loins.

Pour out your indignation upon them,
and let the fierceness of your anger overtake them.
Let their camp be desolate,
and let there be none to dwell in their tents.
For they persecute him whom you have stricken
and add to the pain of those whom you have pierced.

Lay to their charge guilt upon guilt,
and let them not receive your vindication.
Let them be wiped out of the book of the living
and not be written among the righteous.

As for me, I am afflicted and in pain;
your help, O God, will lift me up on high.
I will praise the Name of God in song;
I will proclaim his greatness with thanksgiving.

This will please the Lord more than an offering of oxen,
more than bullocks with horns and hoofs.
The afflicted shall see and be glad;
you who seek God, your heart shall live.

For the Lord listens to the needy,
and his prisoners he does not despise.
Let the heavens and the earth praise him,
the seas and all that moves in them.

For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah;
they shall live there and have it in possession.
The children of his servants will inherit it,
and those who love his Name will dwell therein.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen.

Be pleased, O God, to deliver me;
O Lord, make haste to help me.

Let those who seek my life be ashamed
and altogether dismayed;
let those who take pleasure in my misfortune
draw back and be disgraced.

Let those who say to me “Aha!” and gloat over me turn back,
because they are ashamed.
Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you;
let those who love your salvation say for ever,
“Great is the Lord!”

But as for me, I am poor and needy;
come to me speedily, O God.
You are my helper and my deliverer;
O Lord, do not tarry.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen.

In you, O Lord, have I taken refuge;
let me never be ashamed.
In your righteousness, deliver me and set me free;
incline your ear to me and save me.

Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe;
you are my crag and my stronghold.
Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the clutches of the evildoer and the oppressor.

For you are my hope, O Lord God,
my confidence since I was young.
I 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.

I have become a portent to many;
but you are my refuge and my strength.
Let my mouth be full of your praise
and your glory all the day long.
Do not cast me off in my old age;
forsake me not when my strength fails.

For my enemies are talking against me,
and those who lie in wait for my life take counsel together.
They say, “God has forsaken him;
go after him and seize him;
because there is none who will save.”
O God, be not far from me;
come quickly to help me, O my God.

Let 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.

But I shall always wait in patience,
and shall praise you more and more.
My mouth shall recount your mighty acts
and saving deeds all day long;
though I cannot know the number of them.

I will begin with the mighty works of the Lord God;
I will recall your righteousness, yours alone.
O God, you have taught me since I was young,
and to this day I tell of your wonderful works.

And 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.
Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the heavens;
you have done great things;
who is like you, O God?

You 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.
You strengthen me more and more;
you enfold and comfort me.

Therefore 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.
My lips will sing with joy when I play to you,
and so will my soul, which you have redeemed.

My tongue will proclaim your righteousness all day long,
for they are ashamed and disgraced who sought to do me harm.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen.

Give the King your justice, O God,
and your righteousness to the King’s Son;
That he may rule your people righteously
and the poor with justice;

That the mountains may bring prosperity to the people,
and the little hills bring righteousness.
He shall defend the needy among the people;
he shall rescue the poor and crush the oppressor.

He shall live as long as the sun and moon endure,
from one generation to another.
He shall come down like rain upon the mown field,
like showers that water the earth.
In his time shall the righteous flourish;
there shall be abundance of peace till the moon shall be no more.

He shall rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
His foes shall bow down before him,
and his enemies lick the dust.

The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall pay tribute,
and the kings of Arabia and Saba offer gifts.
All kings shall bow down before him,
and all the nations do him service.

For he shall deliver the poor who cries out in distress,
and the oppressed who has no helper.
He shall have pity on the lowly and poor;
he shall preserve the lives of the needy.
He shall redeem their lives from oppression and violence,
and dear shall their blood be in his sight.

Long 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.

May 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.

May 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.

Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous deeds!
And blessed be his glorious Name for ever!
and may all the earth be filled with his glory.
Amen. Amen.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen.

Truly, God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.
But as for me, my feet had nearly slipped;
I had almost tripped and fallen;
Because I envied the proud
and saw the prosperity of the wicked:

For they suffer no pain,
and their bodies are sleek and sound;
In the misfortunes of others they have no share;
they are not afflicted as others are;

Therefore they wear their pride like a necklace
and wrap their violence about them like a cloak.
Their iniquity comes from gross minds,
and their hearts overflow with wicked thoughts.

They scoff and speak maliciously;
out of their haughtiness they plan oppression.
They set their mouths against the heavens,
and their evil speech runs through the world.

And so the people turn to them
and find in them no fault.
They say, “How should God know?
is there knowledge in the Most High?”
So then, these are the wicked;
always at ease, they increase their wealth.

In vain have I kept my heart clean,
and washed my hands in innocence.
I have been afflicted all day long,
and punished every morning.
Had I gone on speaking this way,
I should have betrayed the generation of your children.

When I tried to understand these things,
it was too hard for me;
Until I entered the sanctuary of God
and discerned the end of the wicked.

Surely, you set them in slippery places;
you cast them down in ruin.
Oh, how suddenly do they come to destruction,
come to an end, and perish from terror!
Like a dream when one awakens, O Lord,
when you arise you will make their image vanish.

When my mind became embittered,
I was sorely wounded in my heart.
I was stupid and had no understanding;
I was like a brute beast in your presence.

Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
You will guide me by your counsel,
and afterwards receive me with glory.

Whom have I in heaven but you?
and having you I desire nothing upon earth.
Though my flesh and my heart should waste away,
God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.

Truly, those who forsake you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful.
But it is good for me to be near God;
I have made the Lord God my refuge.
I will speak of all your works
in the gates of the city of Zion.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen.