Refrain: Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
1I will sing of faithfulness
and justice; •
to you, O Lord, will I sing.
2Let me be wise in the
way that is perfect: •
when will you come to me?
3I will walk with purity
of heart •
within the walls of my house.
4I will not set before
my eyes •
a counsel that is evil.
5I abhor the deeds of
unfaithfulness; •
they shall not cling to me. R
6A crooked heart shall
depart from me; •
I will not know a wicked person.
7One who slanders a neighbour
in secret •
I will quickly put to silence.
8Haughty eyes and an arrogant
heart •
I will not endure. R
9My eyes are upon the
faithful in the land, •
that they may dwell with me.
10One who walks in the
way that is pure •
shall be my servant.
11There shall not dwell
in my house •
one that practises deceit.
12One who utters falsehood
•
shall not continue in my sight. R
13Morning by morning will
I put to silence •
all the wicked in the land,
14To cut off from the
city of the Lord •
all those who practise evil.
Refrain: Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Keep us, O Lord,
in purity of heart and faithfulness to your commands,
that your servants may walk before you
in the way that is perfect;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Refrain: My help comes from the Lord.
1O Lord, hear my prayer
•
and let my crying come before you.
2Hide not your face from
me •
in the day of my distress.
3Incline your ear to me;
•
when I call, make haste to answer me, R
4For my days are consumed
in smoke •
and my bones burn away as in a furnace.
5My heart is smitten down
and withered like grass, •
so that I forget to eat my bread.
6From the sound of my
groaning •
my bones cleave fast to my skin.
7I am become like a vulture
in the wilderness, •
like an owl that haunts the ruins.
8I keep watch and am become
like a sparrow •
solitary upon the housetop.
9My enemies revile me
all the day long, •
and those who rage at me have sworn together against me.
10I have eaten ashes for
bread •
and mingled my drink with weeping,
11Because of your indignation
and wrath, •
for you have taken me up and cast me down.
12My days fade away like
a shadow •
and I am withered like grass. R
13But you, O Lord, shall
endure for ever •
and your name through all generations.
14You will arise and have
pity on Zion; •
it is time to have mercy upon her;
surely the time has come.
15For your servants love
her very stones •
and feel compassion for her dust.
16Then shall the nations
fear your name, O Lord, •
and all the kings of the earth your glory,
17When the Lord has built
up Zion •
and shown himself in glory;
18When he has turned to
the prayer of the destitute •
and has not despised their plea. R
19This shall be written
for those that come after, •
and a people yet unborn shall praise the Lord.
20For he has looked down
from his holy height; •
from the heavens he beheld the earth,
21That he might hear the
sighings of the prisoner •
and set free those condemned to die;
22That the name of the
Lord may be proclaimed in Zion •
and his praises in Jerusalem,
23When peoples are gathered
together •
and kingdoms also, to serve the Lord. R
24He has brought down
my strength in my journey •
and has shortened my days.
25I pray, ‘O my God, do
not take me in the midst of my days; •
your years endure throughout all generations.
26‘In the beginning you
laid the foundations of the earth, •
and the heavens are the work of your hands;
27‘They shall perish,
but you will endure; •
they all shall wear out like a garment.
28‘You change them like
clothing, and they shall be changed; •
but you are the same, and your years will not fail.
29‘The children of your
servants shall continue, •
and their descendants shall be established in your sight.’
Refrain: My help comes from the Lord.
Have pity on our frailty, O God,
and in the hour of our death
cast us not away as clothing that is worn,
for you are our eternal refuge;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Refrain: The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
1Bless the Lord, O my
soul, •
and all that is within me bless his holy name.
2Bless the Lord, O my
soul, •
and forget not all his benefits;
3Who forgives all your
sins •
and heals all your infirmities;
4Who redeems your life
from the Pit •
and crowns you with faithful love and compassion;
5Who satisfies you with
good things, •
so that your youth is renewed like an eagle’s. R
6The Lord executes righteousness
•
and judgement for all who are oppressed.
7He made his ways known
to Moses •
and his works to the children of Israel.
8The Lord is full of compassion
and mercy, •
slow to anger and of great kindness.
9He will not always accuse
us, •
neither will he keep his anger for ever.
10He has not dealt with
us according to our sins, •
nor rewarded us according to our wickedness. R
11For as the heavens are
high above the earth, •
so great is his mercy upon those who fear him.
12As far as the east is
from the west, •
so far has he set our sins from us.
13As a father has compassion
on his children, •
so is the Lord merciful towards those who fear him. R
14For he knows of what
we are made; •
he remembers that we are but dust.
15Our days are but as
grass; •
we flourish as a flower of the field;
16For as soon as the wind
goes over it, it is gone, •
and its place shall know it no more.
17But the merciful goodness
of the Lord is from of old
and endures for ever on those who fear him, •
and his righteousness on children’s children;
18On those who keep his
covenant •
and remember his commandments to do them. R
19The Lord has established
his throne in heaven, •
and his kingdom has dominion over all.
20Bless the Lord, you
angels of his, •
you mighty ones who do his bidding
and hearken to the voice of his word.
21Bless the Lord, all
you his hosts, •
you ministers of his who do his will.
22Bless the Lord, all
you works of his,
in all places of his dominion; •
bless the Lord, O my soul.
Refrain: The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
Merciful Lord,
as we come from dust and return to dust,
show us the face of our Redeemer,
that in our frailty we may bless your name
and praise you all our days;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Refrain: I will sing to the Lord as long as I live.
1Bless the Lord, O my
soul. •
O Lord my God, how excellent is your greatness!
2You are clothed with
majesty and honour, •
wrapped in light as in a garment.
3You spread out the heavens
like a curtain •
and lay the beams of your dwelling place in the waters above.
4You make the clouds your
chariot •
and ride on the wings of the wind.
5You make the winds your
messengers •
and flames of fire your servants. R
6You laid the foundations
of the earth, •
that it never should move at any time.
7You covered it with the
deep like a garment; •
the waters stood high above the hills.
8At your rebuke they fled;
•
at the voice of your thunder they hastened away.
9They rose up to the hills
and flowed down to the valleys beneath, •
to the place which you had appointed for them.
10You have set them their
bounds that they should not pass, •
nor turn again to cover the earth. R
11You send the springs
into the brooks, •
which run among the hills.
12They give drink to every
beast of the field, •
and the wild asses quench their thirst.
13Beside them the birds
of the air make their nests •
and sing among the branches.
14You water the hills
from your dwelling on high; •
the earth is filled with the fruit of your works. R
15You make grass to grow
for the cattle •
and plants to meet our needs,
16Bringing forth food
from the earth •
and wine to gladden our hearts,
17Oil to give us a cheerful
countenance •
and bread to strengthen our hearts.
18The trees of the Lord
are full of sap, •
the cedars of Lebanon which he planted,
19In which the birds build
their nests, •
while the fir trees are a dwelling for the stork.
20The mountains are a
refuge for the wild goats •
and the stony cliffs for the conies. R
21You appointed the moon
to mark the seasons, •
and the sun knows the time for its setting.
22You make darkness that
it may be night, •
in which all the beasts of the forest creep forth.
23The lions roar for their
prey •
and seek their food from God.
24The sun rises and they
are gone •
to lay themselves down in their dens.
25People go forth to their
work •
and to their labour until the evening. R
26O Lord, how manifold
are your works! •
In wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
27There is the sea, spread
far and wide, •
and there move creatures beyond number, both small and great.
28There go the ships,
and there is that Leviathan •
which you have made to play in the deep.
29All of these look to
you •
to give them their food in due season.
30When you give it them,
they gather it; •
you open your hand and they are filled with good.
31When you hide your face
they are troubled; •
when you take away their breath,
they die and return again to the dust.
32When you send forth
your spirit, they are created, •
and you renew the face of the earth. R
33May the glory of the
Lord endure for ever; •
may the Lord rejoice in his works;
34He looks on the earth
and it trembles; •
he touches the mountains and they smoke.
35I will sing to the Lord
as long as I live; •
I will make music to my God while I have my being.
36So shall my song please
him•
while I rejoice in the Lord.
37Let sinners be consumed
out of the earth
and the wicked be no more. •
Bless the Lord, O my soul.
Alleluia.
Refrain: I will sing to the Lord as long as I live.
Creator God,
send your Holy Spirit to renew this living world,
that the whole creation,
in its groaning and striving,
may know your loving purpose
and come to reflect your glory;
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Refrain: Remember the marvels the Lord has done.
1O give thanks to the
Lord and call upon his name; •
make known his deeds among the peoples.
2Sing to him, sing praises,
•
and tell of all his marvellous works.
3Rejoice in the praise
of his holy name; •
let the hearts of them rejoice who seek the Lord.
4Seek the Lord and his
strength; •
seek his face continually.
5Remember the marvels
he has done, •
his wonders and the judgements of his mouth,
6O seed of Abraham his
servant, •
O children of Jacob his chosen. R
7He is the Lord our God;
•
his judgements are in all the earth.
8He has always been mindful
of his covenant, •
the promise that he made for a thousand generations:
9The covenant he made
with Abraham, •
the oath that he swore to Isaac,
10Which he established
as a statute for Jacob, •
an everlasting covenant for Israel,
11Saying, ‘To you will
I give the land of Canaan •
to be the portion of your inheritance.’ R
12When they were but few
in number, •
of little account, and sojourners in the land,
13Wandering from nation
to nation, •
from one kingdom to another people,
14He suffered no one to
do them wrong •
and rebuked even kings for their sake,
15Saying, ‘Touch not my
anointed •
and do my prophets no harm.’ R
16Then he called down
famine over the land •
and broke every staff of bread.
17But he had sent a man
before them, •
Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
18They shackled his feet
with fetters; •
his neck was ringed with iron.
19Until all he foretold
came to pass, •
the word of the Lord tested him.
20The king sent and released
him; •
the ruler of peoples set him free.
21He appointed him lord
of his household •
and ruler of all he possessed,
22To instruct his princes
as he willed •
and to teach his counsellors wisdom. R
23Then Israel came into
Egypt; •
Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.
24And the Lord made his
people exceedingly fruitful; •
he made them too many for their adversaries,
25Whose heart he turned,
so that they hated his people •
and dealt craftily with his servants. R
26Then sent he Moses his
servant •
and Aaron whom he had chosen.
27He showed his signs
through their word •
and his wonders in the land of Ham.
28He sent darkness and
it grew dark; •
yet they did not heed his words.
29He turned their waters
into blood •
and slew all their fish.
30Their land swarmed with
frogs, •
even in their kings’ chambers.
31He spoke the word, and
there came clouds of flies, •
swarms of gnats within all their borders.
32He gave them hailstones
for rain •
and flames of lightning in their land.
33He blasted their vines
and their fig trees •
and shattered trees across their country.
34He spoke the word, and
the grasshoppers came •
and young locusts without number;
35They ate every plant
in their land •
and devoured the fruit of their soil.
36He smote all the firstborn
in their land, •
the first fruits of all their strength. R
37Then he brought them
out with silver and gold; •
there was not one among their tribes that stumbled.
38Egypt was glad at their
departing, •
for a dread of them had fallen upon them.
39He spread out a cloud
for a covering •
and a fire to light up the night.
40They asked and he brought
them quails; •
he satisfied them with the bread of heaven. R
41He opened the rock,
and the waters gushed out •
and ran in the dry places like a river.
42For he remembered his
holy word •
and Abraham, his servant.
43So he brought forth
his people with joy, •
his chosen ones with singing.
44He gave them the lands
of the nations •
and they took possession of the fruit of their toil,
45That they might keep
his statutes •
and faithfully observe his laws.
Alleluia.
Refrain: Remember the marvels the Lord has done.
God of our earthly pilgrimage,
feed your Easter people with the bread of heaven,
that we may hunger and thirst for righteousness
until we reach our promised land;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Refrain: The Lord remembered his covenant.
1Alleluia.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is gracious, •
for his faithfulness endures for ever.
2Who can express the mighty
acts of the Lord •
or show forth all his praise?
3Blessed are those who
observe what is right •
and always do what is just.
4Remember me, O Lord,
in the favour you bear for your people; •
visit me in the day of your salvation;
5That I may see the prosperity
of your chosen
and rejoice in the gladness of your people, •
and exult with your inheritance. R
6We have sinned like our
forebears; •
we have done wrong and dealt wickedly.
7In Egypt they did not
consider your wonders,
nor remember the abundance of your faithful love; •
they rebelled against the Most High at the Red Sea.
8But he saved them for
his name’s sake, •
that he might make his power to be known.
9He rebuked the Red Sea
and it was dried up; •
so he led them through the deep as through the wilderness.
10He saved them from the
adversary’s hand •
and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
11As for those that troubled
them, the waters overwhelmed them; •
there was not one of them left.
12Then they believed his
words •
and sang aloud his praise. R
13But soon they forgot
his deeds •
and would not wait for his counsel.
14A craving seized them
in the wilderness, •
and they put God to the test in the desert.
15He gave them their desire,
•
but sent a wasting sickness among them.
16They grew jealous of
Moses in the camp •
and of Aaron, the holy one of the Lord.
17So the earth opened
and swallowed up Dathan •
and covered the company of Abiram.
18A fire was kindled in
their company; •
the flame burnt up the wicked. R
19They made a calf at
Horeb •
and worshipped the molten image;
20Thus they exchanged
their glory •
for the image of an ox that feeds on hay.
21They forgot God their
saviour, •
who had done such great things in Egypt,
22Wonderful deeds in the
land of Ham •
and fearful things at the Red Sea.
23So he would have destroyed
them,
had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach,
•
to turn away his wrath from consuming them. R
24Then they scorned the
Promised Land •
and would not believe his word,
25But murmured in their
tents •
and would not heed the voice of the Lord.
26So he lifted his hand
against them •
and swore to overthrow them in the wilderness,
27To disperse their descendants
among the nations, •
and to scatter them throughout the lands. R
28They joined themselves
to the Baal of Peor •
and ate sacrifices offered to the dead.
29They provoked him to
anger with their evil deeds •
and a plague broke out among them.
30Then Phinehas stood
up and interceded •
and so the plague was stayed.
31This was counted to
him for righteousness •
throughout all generations for ever.
32They angered him also
at the waters of Meribah, •
so that Moses suffered for their sake;
33For they so embittered
his spirit •
that he spoke rash words with his lips. R
34They did not destroy
the peoples •
as the Lord had commanded them.
35They mingled with the
nations •
and learned to follow their ways,
36So that they worshipped
their idols, •
which became to them a snare.
37Their own sons and daughters
•
they sacrificed to evil spirits.
38They shed innocent blood,
•
the blood of their sons and daughters,
39Which they offered to
the idols of Canaan •
and the land was defiled with blood.
40Thus were they polluted
by their actions •
and in their wanton deeds went whoring after other gods. R
41Therefore was the wrath
of the Lord
kindled against his people, •
and he abhorred his inheritance.
42He gave them over to
the hand of the nations, •
and those who hated them ruled over them.
43So their enemies oppressed
them •
and put them in subjection under their hand.
44Many a time did he deliver
them,
but they rebelled through their own devices •
and were brought down through their wickedness.
45Nevertheless, he saw
their adversity, •
when he heard their lamentation.
46He remembered his covenant
with them •
and relented according to the greatness of his faithful love.
47He made them also to
be pitied •
by all who had taken them captive. R
48Save us, O Lord our
God,
and gather us from among the nations, •
that we may give thanks to your holy name
and glory in your praise.
49Blessed be the Lord,
the God of Israel,
from everlasting and to everlasting; •
and let all the people say, Amen.
Alleluia.
Refrain: The Lord remembered his covenant.
Holy God,
when our memories blot out your kindness
and we ignore your patient love,
remember us, re-make us,
and give to us poor sinners
the rich inheritance of Jesus Christ our Lord.
1O give thanks to the
Lord, for he is gracious, •
for his steadfast love endures for ever.
2Let the redeemed of the
Lord say this, •
those he redeemed from the hand of the enemy,
3And gathered out of the
lands
from the east and from the west, •
from the north and from the south.
4Some went astray in desert
wastes •
and found no path to a city to dwell in.
5Hungry and thirsty, •
their soul was fainting within them.
6So they cried to the
Lord in their trouble •
and he delivered them from their distress.
7He set their feet on
the right way •
till they came to a city to dwell in.
8 Let
them give thanks to the Lord for his goodness •
and the wonders he does for his children.
9 For
he satisfies the longing soul •
and fills the hungry soul with good.
10Some sat in darkness
and in the shadow of death, •
bound fast in misery and iron,
11For they had rebelled
against the words of God •
and despised the counsel of the Most High.
12So he bowed down their
heart with heaviness; •
they stumbled and there was none to help them.
13Then they cried to the
Lord in their trouble, •
and he delivered them from their distress.
14He brought them out
of darkness and out of the shadow of death, •
and broke their bonds asunder.
15 Let
them give thanks to the Lord for his goodness •
and the wonders he does for his children.
16 For
he has broken the doors of bronze •
and breaks the bars of iron in pieces.
17Some were foolish and
took a rebellious way, •
and were plagued because of their wrongdoing.
18Their soul abhorred
all manner of food •
and drew near to the gates of death.
19Then they cried to the
Lord in their trouble, •
and he delivered them from their distress.
20He sent forth his word
and healed them, •
and saved them from destruction.
21 Let
them give thanks to the Lord for his goodness •
and the wonders he does for his children.
22 Let
them offer him sacrifices of thanksgiving •
and tell of his acts with shouts of joy.
23Those who go down to
the sea in ships •
and ply their trade in great waters,
24These have seen the
works of the Lord •
and his wonders in the deep.
25For at his word the
stormy wind arose •
and lifted up the waves of the sea.
26They were carried up
to the heavens
and down again to the deep; •
their soul melted away in their peril.
27They reeled and staggered
like a drunkard •
and were at their wits’ end.
28Then they cried to the
Lord in their trouble, •
and he brought them out of their distress.
29He made the storm be
still •
and the waves of the sea were calmed.
30Then were they glad
because they were at rest, •
and he brought them to the haven they desired.
31 Let
them give thanks to the Lord for his goodness •
and the wonders he does for his children.
32 Let
them exalt him in the congregation of the people •
and praise him in the council of the elders.
33The Lord turns rivers
into wilderness •
and water springs into thirsty ground;
34A fruitful land he makes
a salty waste, •
because of the wickedness of those who dwell there.
35He makes the wilderness
a pool of water •
and water springs out of a thirsty land.
36There he settles the
hungry •
and they build a city to dwell in.
37They sow fields and
plant vineyards •
and bring in a fruitful harvest.
38He blesses them, so
that they multiply greatly; •
he does not let their herds of cattle decrease.
39He pours contempt on
princes •
and makes them wander in trackless wastes.
40They are diminished
and brought low, •
through stress of misfortune and sorrow,
41But he raises the poor
from their misery •
and multiplies their families like flocks of sheep.
42The upright will see
this and rejoice, •
but all wickedness will shut its mouth.
43Whoever is wise will
ponder these things •
and consider the loving-kindness of the Lord.
O living Christ,
rescue us from foolish passion
and still the storms of our self-will;
and, as you are our anchor in this life,
so bring us to the haven you have prepared for us;
for your mercy’s sake.
Refrain: Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.
1My heart is ready, O
God, my heart is ready; •
I will sing and give you praise.
2Awake, my soul; awake,
harp and lyre, •
that I may awaken the dawn.
3I will give you thanks,
O Lord, among the peoples; •
I will sing praise to you among the nations. R
4For your loving-kindness
is as high as the heavens •
and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
5Be exalted, O God, above
the heavens •
and your glory over all the earth.
6That your beloved may
be delivered, •
save us by your right hand and answer me. R
7God has spoken in his
holiness: •
‘I will triumph and divide Shechem
and share out the valley of Succoth.
8‘Gilead is mine and Manasseh
is mine; •
Ephraim is my helmet and Judah my sceptre.
9‘Moab shall be my washpot,
over Edom will I cast my sandal, •
across Philistia will I shout in triumph.’ R
10Who will lead me into
the strong city? •
Who will bring me into Edom?
11Have you not cast us
off, O God? •
Will you no longer go forth with our troops?
12O grant us your help
against the enemy, •
for earthly help is in vain.
13Through God will we
do great acts, •
for it is he that shall tread down our enemies.
Refrain: Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.
In times of terror, O God,
give us boldness
to act with courage, yet with mercy,
for you rule the nations with the
sword of truth;
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Refrain: O Lord
my God,
save me for your loving mercy’s sake.
1Keep silent no longer,
O God of my praise, •
for the mouth of wickedness and treachery
is opened against me.
2They have spoken against
me with a lying tongue; •
they encompassed me with words of hatred
and fought against me without a cause.
3In return for my love,
they set themselves against me, •
even though I had prayed for them.
4Thus have they repaid
me with evil for good, •
and hatred for my good will.
5They say, ‘Appoint a
wicked man over him, •
and let an accuser stand at his right hand.
6‘When he is judged, let
him be found guilty, •
and let his prayer be counted as sin. R
7‘Let his days be few
•
and let another take his office.
8‘Let his children be
fatherless •
and his wife become a widow.
9‘Let his children wander
to beg their bread; •
let them seek it in desolate places.
10‘Let the creditor seize
all that he has; •
let strangers plunder the fruit of his toil.
11‘Let there be no one
to keep faith with him, •
or have compassion on his fatherless children.
12‘Let his line soon come
to an end •
and his name be blotted out in the next generation. R
13‘Let the wickedness
of his fathers
be remembered before the Lord, •
and no sin of his mother be blotted out;
14‘Let their sin be always
before the Lord, •
that he may root out their name from the earth;
15‘Because he was not
minded to keep faith, •
but persecuted the poor and needy
and sought to kill the brokenhearted.
16‘He loved cursing and
it came to him; •
he took no delight in blessing and it was far from him.
17‘He clothed himself
with cursing as with a garment: •
it seeped into his body like water
and into his bones like oil;
18‘Let it be to him like
the cloak
which he wraps around him •
and like the belt that he wears continually.’
19Thus may the Lord repay
my accusers •
and those who speak evil against me. R
20But deal with me, O
Lord my God, according to your name; •
O deliver me, for sweet is your faithfulness.
21For I am helpless and
poor •
and my heart is disquieted within me.
22I fade like a shadow
that lengthens; •
I am shaken off like a locust.
23My knees are weak through
fasting •
and my flesh is dried up and wasted.
24I have become a reproach
to them; •
those who see me shake their heads in scorn. R
25Help me, O Lord my God;
•
save me for your loving mercy’s sake,
26And they shall know
that this is your hand, •
that you, O Lord, have done it.
27Though they curse, may
you bless; •
let those who rise up against me be confounded,
but let your servant rejoice.
28Let my accusers be clothed
with disgrace •
and wrap themselves in their shame as in a cloak.
29I will give great thanks
to the Lord with my mouth; •
in the midst of the multitude will I praise him;
30Because he has stood
at the right hand of the needy, •
to save them from those who would condemn them.
Refrain: O Lord
my God,
save me for your loving mercy’s sake.
Lord, when we are repaid with evil for good,
help us not to return evil for evil,
but to bear witness to your steadfast love,
shown in the face of your dear Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Refrain: The Lord is king and has put on glorious apparel.
1The Lord said to my lord,
‘Sit at my right hand, •
until I make your enemies your footstool.’
2May the Lord stretch
forth the sceptre of your power; •
rule from Zion in the midst of your enemies.
3‘Noble are you on this
day of your birth; •
on the holy mountain, from the womb of the dawn
the dew of your new birth is upon you.’ R
4The Lord has sworn and
will not retract: •
‘You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.’
5The king at your right
hand, O Lord, •
shall smite down kings in the day of his wrath. R
6In all his majesty, he
shall judge among the nations, •
smiting heads over all the wide earth.
7He shall drink from the
brook beside the way; •
therefore shall he lift high his head.
Refrain: The Lord is king and has put on glorious apparel.
Lord Jesus, divine Son and eternal priest,
inspire us with the confidence of your final conquest of evil,
and grant that daily on our way
we may drink of the brook of your eternal life
and so find courage against all adversities;
for your mercy’s sake.
Refrain: The Lord is gracious and full of compassion.
1Alleluia.
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
•
in the company of the faithful and in the congregation.
2The works of the Lord
are great, •
sought out by all who delight in them.
3His work is full of majesty
and honour •
and his righteousness endures for ever.
4He appointed a memorial
for his marvellous deeds; •
the Lord is gracious and full of compassion. R
5He gave food to those
who feared him; •
he is ever mindful of his covenant.
6He showed his people
the power of his works •
in giving them the heritage of the nations.
7The works of his hands
are truth and justice; •
all his commandments are sure. R
8They stand fast for ever
and ever; •
they are done in truth and equity.
9He sent redemption to
his people;
he commanded his covenant for ever; •
holy and awesome is his name.
10The fear of the Lord
is the beginning of wisdom;
a good understanding have those who live by it; •
his praise endures for ever.
Refrain: The Lord is gracious and full of compassion.
Gracious God, you are full of compassion;
may we who long for your kingdom to come
rejoice to do your will
and acknowledge your power alone to save;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Refrain: The righteous will be held in everlasting remembrance.
1Alleluia.
Blessed are those who fear the Lord •
and have great delight in his commandments.
2Their descendants will
be mighty in the land, •
a generation of the faithful that will be blest.
3Wealth and riches will
be in their house, •
and their righteousness endures for ever.
4Light shines in the darkness
for the upright; •
gracious and full of compassion are the righteous. R
5It goes well with those
who are generous in lending •
and order their affairs with justice,
6For they will never be
shaken; •
the righteous will be held in everlasting remembrance.
7They will not be afraid
of any evil tidings; •
their heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. R
8Their heart is sustained
and will not fear, •
until they see the downfall of their foes.
9They have given freely
to the poor;
their righteousness stands fast for ever; •
their head will be exalted with honour.
10The wicked shall see
it and be angry;
they shall gnash their teeth in despair; •
the desire of the wicked shall perish.
Refrain: The righteous will be held in everlasting remembrance.
Generous God,
save us from the meanness
that calculates its interest and hoards its earthly gain;
as we have freely received,
so may we freely give;
in the grace of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Refrain: From
the rising of the sun to its setting
let the name of the Lord be praised.
1Alleluia.
Give praise, you servants of the Lord, •
O praise the name of the Lord.
2Blessed be the name of
the Lord, •
from this time forth and for evermore.
3From the rising of the
sun to its setting •
let the name of the Lord be praised.
4The Lord is high above
all nations •
and his glory above the heavens. R
5Who is like the Lord
our God,
that has his throne so high, •
yet humbles himself to behold
the things of heaven and earth?
6He raises the poor from
the dust •
and lifts the needy from the ashes,
7To set them with princes,
•
with the princes of his people.
8He gives the barren woman
a place in the house •
and makes her a joyful mother of children.
Alleluia.
Refrain: From
the rising of the sun to its setting
let the name of the Lord be praised.
From the rising of the sun to its setting
we praise your name, O Lord;
may your promise to raise the poor from the dust
and turn the fortunes of the needy upside down
be fulfilled in our time also,
as it was in your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Refrain: Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord.
1When Israel came out
of Egypt, •
the house of Jacob from a people of a strange tongue,
2Judah became his sanctuary,
•
Israel his dominion.
3The sea saw that, and
fled; •
Jordan was driven back.
4The mountains skipped
like rams, •
the little hills like young sheep. R
5What ailed you, O sea,
that you fled? •
O Jordan, that you were driven back?
6You mountains, that you
skipped like rams, •
you little hills like young sheep?
7Tremble, O earth, at
the presence of the Lord, •
at the presence of the God of Jacob,
8Who turns the hard rock
into a pool of water, •
the flint-stone into a springing well.
Refrain: Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord.
Strike the rock of our hard hearts, O God,
and let our tears of joy and sorrow
mould us to bear the imprint of your love,
given in Christ our risen Lord.
Refrain: The Lord has been mindful of us and he will bless us.
1Not to us, Lord, not
to us,
but to your name give the glory, •
for the sake of your loving mercy and truth.
2Why should the nations
say, •
‘Where is now their God?’
3As for our God, he is
in heaven; •
he does whatever he pleases.
4Their idols are silver
and gold, •
the work of human hands. R
5They have mouths, but
cannot speak; •
eyes have they, but cannot see;
6They have ears, but cannot
hear; •
noses have they, but cannot smell;
7They have hands, but
cannot feel;
feet have they, but cannot walk; •
not a whisper do they make from their throats.
8Those who make them shall
become like them •
and so will all who put their trust in them. R
9But you, Israel, put
your trust in the Lord; •
he is their help and their shield.
10House of Aaron, trust
in the Lord; •
he is their help and their shield.
11You that fear the Lord,
trust in the Lord; •
he is their help and their shield.
12The Lord has been mindful
of us and he will bless us; •
may he bless the house of Israel;
may he bless the house of Aaron;
13May he bless those who
fear the Lord, •
both small and great together. R
14May the Lord increase
you more and more, •
you and your children after you.
15May you be blest by
the Lord, •
the maker of heaven and earth.
16The heavens are the
heavens of the Lord, •
but the earth he has entrusted to his children.
17The dead do not praise
the Lord, •
nor those gone down into silence;
18But we will bless the
Lord, •
from this time forth for evermore.
Alleluia.
Refrain: The Lord has been mindful of us and he will bless us.
Living God,
defend us from the idols which our hearts enthrone,
that we may not go down into silence
but be raised to our heaven of heavens
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Refrain: Gracious is the Lord and righteous.
1I love the Lord,
for he has heard the voice of my supplication; •
because he inclined his ear to me
on the day I called to him.
2The snares of death encompassed
me;
the pains of hell took hold of me; •
by grief and sorrow was I held.
3Then I called upon the
name of the Lord: •
‘O Lord, I beg you, deliver my soul.’
4Gracious is the Lord
and righteous; •
our God is full of compassion. R
5The Lord watches over
the simple; •
I was brought very low and he saved me.
6Turn again to your rest,
O my soul, •
for the Lord has been gracious to you.
7For you have delivered
my soul from death, •
my eyes from tears and my feet from falling.
8I will walk before the
Lord •
in the land of the living. R
9I believed that I should
perish
for I was sorely troubled; •
and I said in my alarm,
‘Everyone is a liar.’
10How shall I repay the
Lord •
for all the benefits he has given to me?
11I will lift up the cup
of salvation •
and call upon the name of the Lord.
12I will fulfil my vows
to the Lord •
in the presence of all his people. R
13Precious in the sight
of the Lord •
is the death of his faithful servants.
14O Lord, I am your servant,
•
your servant, the child of your handmaid;
you have freed me from my bonds.
15I will offer to you
a sacrifice of thanksgiving •
and call upon the name of the Lord.
16I will fulfil my vows
to the Lord •
in the presence of all his people,
17In the courts of the
house of the Lord, •
in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.
Alleluia.
Refrain: Gracious
is the Lord and righteous.
As we walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
may we call upon your name,
raise the cup of salvation,
and so proclaim your death, O Lord,
until you come in glory.
Refrain: Alleluia.
1O praise the Lord, all
you nations; •
praise him, all you peoples.
2For great is his steadfast
love towards us, •
and the faithfulness of the Lord endures for ever.
Alleluia.
Refrain: Alleluia.
Gracious God,
we praise you for your faithfulness
and pray that every nation may find your blessing
in the face of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Refrain: I will
give thanks to you,
for you have become my salvation.
1O give thanks to the
Lord, for he is good; •
his mercy endures for ever.
2Let Israel now proclaim,
•
‘His mercy endures for ever.’
3Let the house of Aaron
now proclaim, •
‘His mercy endures for ever.’
4Let those who fear the
Lord proclaim, •
‘His mercy endures for ever.’ R
5In my constraint I called
to the Lord; •
the Lord answered and set me free.
6The Lord is at my side;
I will not fear; •
what can flesh do to me?
7With the Lord at my side
as my saviour, •
I shall see the downfall of my enemies.
8It is better to take
refuge in the Lord •
than to put any confidence in flesh.
9It is better to take
refuge in the Lord •
than to put any confidence in princes. R
10All the nations encompassed
me, •
but by the name of the Lord I drove them back.
11They hemmed me in, they
hemmed me in on every side, •
but by the name of the Lord I drove them back.
12They swarmed about me
like bees;
they blazed like fire among thorns, •
but by the name of the Lord I drove them back.
13Surely, I was thrust
to the brink, •
but the Lord came to my help. R
14The Lord is my strength
and my song, •
and he has become my salvation.
15Joyful shouts of salvation
•
sound from the tents of the righteous:
16‘The right hand of the
Lord does mighty deeds;
the right hand of the Lord raises up; •
the right hand of the Lord does mighty deeds.’
17I shall not die, but
live •
and declare the works of the Lord.
18The Lord has punished
me sorely, •
but he has not given me over to death. R
19Open to me the gates
of righteousness, •
that I may enter and give thanks to the Lord.
20This is the gate of
the Lord; •
the righteous shall enter through it.
21I will give thanks to
you, for you have answered me •
and have become my salvation.
22The stone which the
builders rejected •
has become the chief cornerstone.
23This is the Lord’s doing,
•
and it is marvellous in our eyes.
24This is the day that
the Lord has made; •
we will rejoice and be glad in it.
25Come, O Lord, and save
us we pray. •
Come, Lord, send us now prosperity.
26Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord; •
we bless you from the house of the Lord.
27The Lord is God; he
has given us light; •
link the pilgrims with cords
right to the horns of the altar. R
28You are my God and I
will thank you; •
you are my God and I will exalt you.
29O give thanks to the
Lord, for he is good; •
his mercy endures for ever.
Refrain: I will
give thanks to you,
for you have become my salvation.
Saving God,
open the gates of righteousness,
that your pilgrim people may enter
and be built into a living temple
on the cornerstone of our salvation,
Jesus Christ our Lord.