Church of England home page Common Worship   Publications Site Map
    Psalm 101  
     
1
  I will sing of faithfulness and justice; 
    to you, O Lord, will I sing.
     
2
  Let me be wise in the way that is perfect: 
    when will you come to me?
     
     
3
  I will walk with purity of heart 
    within the walls of my house.
     
4
  I will not set before my eyes 
    a counsel that is evil.
     
5
  I abhor the deeds of unfaithfulness; 
    they shall not cling to me.
     
6
  A crooked heart shall depart from me; 
    I will not know a wicked person.
     
7
  One who slanders a neighbour in secret 
    I will quickly put to silence.
     
8
  Haughty eyes and an arrogant heart 
    I will not endure.
     
9
  My eyes are upon the faithful in the land, 
    that they may dwell with me.
     
10
  One who walks in the way that is pure 
    shall be my servant.
     
11
  There shall not dwell in my house 
    one that practises deceit.
     
12
  One who utters falsehood 
    shall not continue in my sight.
     
13
  Morning by morning will I put to silence 
    all the wicked in the land,
     
14
  To cut off from the city of the Lord 
    all those who practise evil.
     
    Psalm 102  
     
1
  O Lord, hear my prayer 
    and let my crying come before you.
     
2
  Hide not your face from me 
    in the day of my distress.
     
3
  Incline your ear to me; 
    when I call, make haste to answer me,
     
4
  For my days are consumed in smoke 
    and my bones burn away as in a furnace.
     
5
  My heart is smitten down and withered like grass, 
    so that I forget to eat my bread.
     
6
  From the sound of my groaning 
    my bones cleave fast to my skin.
     
7
  I am become like a vulture in the wilderness, 
    like an owl that haunts the ruins.
     
8
  I keep watch and am become like a sparrow 
    solitary upon the housetop.
     
9
  My enemies revile me all the day long, 
    and those who rage at me have sworn together against me.
     
10
  I have eaten ashes for bread 
    and mingled my drink with weeping,
     
11
  Because of your indignation and wrath, 
    for you have taken me up and cast me down.
     
12
  My days fade away like a shadow, 
    and I am withered like grass.
     
     
13
  But you, O Lord, shall endure for ever 
    and your name through all generations.
     
14
  You will arise and have pity on Zion; 
    it is time to have mercy upon her;
    surely the time has come.
     
15
  For your servants love her very stones 
    and feel compassion for her dust.
     
16
  Then shall the nations fear your name, O Lord, 
    and all the kings of the earth your glory,
     
17
  When the Lord has built up Zion 
    and shown himself in glory;
     
18
  When he has turned to the prayer of the destitute 
    and has not despised their plea.
     
19
  This shall be written for those that come after, 
    and a people yet unborn shall praise the Lord.
     
20
  For he has looked down from his holy height; 
    from the heavens he beheld the earth,
     
21
  That he might hear the sighings of the prisoner 
    and set free those condemned to die;
     
22
  That the name of the Lord may be proclaimed in Zion 
    and his praises in Jerusalem,
     
23
  When peoples are gathered together 
    and kingdoms also, to serve the Lord.
     
     
24
  He has brought down my strength in my journey 
    and has shortened my days.
     
25
  I 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.'
     
    Psalm 103  
     
1
  Bless the Lord, O my soul, 
    and all that is within me bless his holy name.
     
2
  Bless the Lord, O my soul, 
    and forget not all his benefits;
     
3
  Who forgives all your sins 
    and heals all your infirmities;
     
4
  Who redeems your life from the Pit 
    and crowns you with faithful love and compassion;
     
5
  Who satisfies you with good things, 
    so that your youth is renewed like an eagle's.
     
     
6
  The Lord executes righteousness 
    and judgement for all who are oppressed.
     
7
  He made his ways known to Moses 
    and his works to the children of Israel.
     
8
  The Lord is full of compassion and mercy, 
    slow to anger and of great kindness.
     
9
  He will not always accuse us, 
    neither will he keep his anger for ever.
     
10
  He has not dealt with us according to our sins, 
    nor rewarded us according to our wickedness.
     
11
  For as the heavens are high above the earth, 
    so great is his mercy upon those who fear him.
     
12
  As far as the east is from the west, 
    so far has he set our sins from us.
     
13
  As a father has compassion on his children, 
    so is the Lord merciful towards those who fear him.
     
14
  For he knows of what we are made; 
    he remembers that we are but dust.
     
15
  Our days are but as grass; 
    we flourish as a flower of the field;
     
16
  For as soon as the wind goes over it, it is gone, 
    and its place shall know it no more.
     
17
  But 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;
     
18
  On those who keep his covenant 
    and remember his commandments to do them.
     
     
19
  The Lord has established his throne in heaven, 
    and his kingdom has dominion over all.
     
20
  Bless the Lord, you angels of his, 
    you mighty ones who do his bidding
    and hearken to the voice of his word.
     
21
  Bless the Lord, all you his hosts, 
    you ministers of his who do his will.
     
22
  Bless the Lord, all you works of his,
    in all places of his dominion; 
    bless the Lord, O my soul.
     
    Psalm 104  
     
1
  Bless the Lord, O my soul. 
    O Lord my God, how excellent is your greatness!
     
2
  You are clothed with majesty and honour, 
    wrapped in light as in a garment.
     
3
  You spread out the heavens like a curtain 
    and lay the beams of your dwelling place in the waters above.
     
4
  You make the clouds your chariot 
    and ride on the wings of the wind.
     
5
  You make the winds your messengers 
    and flames of fire your servants.
     
6
  You laid the foundations of the earth, 
    that it never should move at any time.
     
7
  You covered it with the deep like a garment; 
    the waters stood high above the hills.
     
8
  At your rebuke they fled; 
    at the voice of your thunder they hastened away.
     
9
  They rose up to the hills and flowed down to the valleys beneath, 
    to the place which you had appointed for them.
     
10
  You have set them their bounds that they should not pass, 
    nor turn again to cover the earth.
     
11
  You send the springs into the brooks, 
    which run among the hills.
     
12
  They give drink to every beast of the field, 
    and the wild asses quench their thirst.
     
13
  Beside them the birds of the air make their nests 
    and sing among the branches.
     
14
  You water the hills from your dwelling on high; 
    the earth is filled with the fruit of your works.
     
15
  You make grass to grow for the cattle 
    and plants to meet our needs,
     
16
  Bringing forth food from the earth 
    and wine to gladden our hearts,
     
17
  Oil to give us a cheerful countenance 
    and bread to strengthen our hearts.
     
18
  The trees of the Lord are full of sap, 
    the cedars of Lebanon which he planted,
     
19
  In which the birds build their nests, 
    while the fir trees are a dwelling for the stork.
     
20
  The mountains are a refuge for the wild goats 
    and the stony cliffs for the conies.
     
21
  You appointed the moon to mark the seasons, 
    and the sun knows the time for its setting.
     
22
  You make darkness that it may be night, 
    in which all the beasts of the forest creep forth.
     
23
  The lions roar for their prey 
    and seek their food from God.
     
24
  The sun rises and they are gone 
    to lay themselves down in their dens.
     
25
  People go forth to their work 
    and to their labour until the evening.
     
     
26
  O Lord, how manifold are your works! 
    In wisdom you have made them all;
    the earth is full of your creatures.
     
27
  There is the sea, spread far and wide, 
    and there move creatures beyond number, both small and great.
     
28
  There go the ships, and there is that Leviathan 
    which you have made to play in the deep.
     
29
  All of these look to you 
    to give them their food in due season.
     
30
  When you give it them, they gather it; 
    you open your hand and they are filled with good.
     
31
  When you hide your face they are troubled; 
    when you take away their breath,
    they die and return again to the dust.
     
32
  When you send forth your spirit, they are created, 
    and you renew the face of the earth.
     
     
33
  May the glory of the Lord endure for ever; 
    may the Lord rejoice in his works;
     
34
  He looks on the earth and it trembles; 
    he touches the mountains and they smoke.
     
35
  I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; 
    I will make music to my God while I have my being.
     
36
  So shall my song please him 
    while I rejoice in the Lord.
     
37
  Let sinners be consumed out of the earth
    and the wicked be no more. 
    Bless the Lord, O my soul.
    Alleluia.
     
    Psalm 105  
     
1
  O give thanks to the Lord and call upon his name; 
    make known his deeds among the peoples.
     
2
  Sing to him, sing praises, 
    and tell of all his marvellous works.
     
3
  Rejoice in the praise of his holy name; 
    let the hearts of them rejoice who seek the Lord.
     
4
  Seek the Lord and his strength; 
    seek his face continually.
     
5
  Remember the marvels he has done, 
    his wonders and the judgements of his mouth,
     
6
  O seed of Abraham his servant, 
    O children of Jacob his chosen.
     
7
  He is the Lord our God; 
    his judgements are in all the earth.
     
8
  He has always been mindful of his covenant, 
    the promise that he made for a thousand generations:
     
9
  The covenant he made with Abraham, 
    the oath that he swore to Isaac,
     
10
  Which he established as a statute for Jacob, 
    an everlasting covenant for Israel,
     
11
  Saying, 'To you will I give the land of Canaan 
    to be the portion of your inheritance.'
     
12
  When they were but few in number, 
    of little account, and sojourners in the land,
     
13
  Wandering from nation to nation, 
    from one kingdom to another people,
     
14
  He suffered no one to do them wrong 
    and rebuked even kings for their sake,
     
15
  Saying, 'Touch not my anointed 
    and do my prophets no harm.'
     
     
16
  Then he called down famine over the land 
    and broke every staff of bread.
     
17
  But he had sent a man before them, 
    Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
     
18
  They shackled his feet with fetters; 
    his neck was ringed with iron.
     
19
  Until all he foretold came to pass, 
    the word of the Lord tested him.
     
20
  The king sent and released him; 
    the ruler of peoples set him free.
     
21
  He appointed him lord of his household 
    and ruler of all he possessed,
     
22
  To instruct his princes as he willed 
    and to teach his counsellors wisdom.
     
     
23
  Then Israel came into Egypt; 
    Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.
     
24
  And the Lord made his people exceedingly fruitful; 
    he made them too many for their adversaries,
     
25
  Whose heart he turned, so that they hated his people 
    and dealt craftily with his servants.
     
26
  Then sent he Moses his servant 
    and Aaron whom he had chosen.
     
27
  He showed his signs through their word 
    and his wonders in the land of Ham.
     
28
  He sent darkness and it grew dark; 
    yet they did not heed his words.
     
29
  He turned their waters into blood 
    and slew all their fish.
     
30
  Their land swarmed with frogs, 
    even in their kings' chambers.
     
31
  He spoke the word, and there came clouds of flies, 
    swarms of gnats within all their borders.
     
32
  He gave them hailstones for rain 
    and flames of lightning in their land.
     
33
  He blasted their vines and their fig trees 
    and shattered trees across their country.
     
34
  He spoke the word, and the grasshoppers came 
    and young locusts without number;
     
35
  They ate every plant in their land 
    and devoured the fruit of their soil.
     
36
  He smote all the firstborn in their land, 
    the first fruits of all their strength.
     
     
37
  Then he brought them out with silver and gold; 
    there was not one among their tribes that stumbled.
     
38
  Egypt was glad at their departing, 
    for a dread of them had fallen upon them.
     
39
  He spread out a cloud for a covering 
    and a fire to light up the night.
     
40
  They asked and he brought them quails; 
    he satisfied them with the bread of heaven.
     
41
  He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out 
    and ran in the dry places like a river.
     
42
  For he remembered his holy word 
    and Abraham, his servant.
     
43
  So he brought forth his people with joy, 
    his chosen ones with singing.
     
44
  He gave them the lands of the nations 
    and they took possession of the fruit of their toil,
     
45
  That they might keep his statutes 
    and faithfully observe his laws.
    Alleluia.
     
© The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2000-2004
All of the official Common Worship publications are being published by Church House Publishing.