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    Psalm 81  
     
1
  Sing merrily to God our strength, 
    shout for joy to the God of Jacob.
     
2
  Take up the song and sound the timbrel, 
    the tuneful lyre with the harp.
     
3
  Blow the trumpet at the new moon, 
    as at the full moon, upon our solemn feast day.
     
4
  For this is a statute for Israel, 
    a law of the God of Jacob,
     
5
  The charge he laid on the people of Joseph, 
    when they came out of the land of Egypt.
     
     
6
  I heard a voice I did not know, that said: 
    'I eased their shoulder from the burden;
    their hands were set free from bearing the load.
     
7
  'You called upon me in trouble and I delivered you; 
    I answered you from the secret place of thunder
    and proved you at the waters of Meribah.
     
8
  'Hear, O my people, and I will admonish you: 
    O Israel, if you would but listen to me!
     
9
  'There shall be no strange god among you; 
    you shall not worship a foreign god.
     
10
  'I am the Lord your God,
    who brought you up from the land of Egypt; 
    open your mouth wide and I shall fill it.'
     
     
11
  But my people would not hear my voice 
    and Israel would not obey me.
     
12
  So I sent them away in the stubbornness of their hearts, 
    and let them walk after their own counsels.
     
13
  O that my people would listen to me, 
    that Israel would walk in my ways!
     
14
  Then I should soon put down their enemies 
    and turn my hand against their adversaries.
     
15
  Those who hate the Lord would be humbled before him, 
    and their punishment would last for ever.
     
16
  But Israel would I feed with the finest wheat 
    and with honey from the rock would I satisfy them.
     
    Psalm 82  
     
1
  God has taken his stand in the council of heaven; 
    in the midst of the gods he gives judgement:
     
2
  'How long will you judge unjustly 
    and show such favour to the wicked?
     
3
  'You were to judge the weak and the orphan; 
    defend the right of the humble and needy;
     
4
  'Rescue the weak and the poor; 
    deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
     
5
  'They have no knowledge or wisdom;
    they walk on still in darkness: 
    all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
     
6
  'Therefore I say that though you are gods 
    and all of you children of the Most High,
     
7
  'Nevertheless, you shall die like mortals 
    and fall like one of their princes.'
     
8
  Arise, O God and judge the earth, 
    for it is you that shall take all nations for your possession.
     
    Psalm 83  
     
1
  Hold not your peace, O God, do not keep silent; 
    be not unmoved, O God;
     
2
  For your enemies are in tumult 
    and those who hate you lift up their heads.
     
3
  They take secret counsel against your people 
    and plot against those whom you treasure.
     
4
  They say, 'Come, let us destroy them as a nation, 
    that the name of Israel be remembered no more.'
     
5
  They have conspired together with one mind; 
    they are in league against you:
     
6
  The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, 
    Moab and the Hagarenes,
     
7
  Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, 
    the Philistines and those who dwell in Tyre.
     
8
  Ashur also has joined them 
    and has lent a strong arm to the children of Lot.
     
9
  Do to them as you did to Midian, 
    to Sisera and to Jabin at the river of Kishon,
     
10
  Who perished at Endor 
    and became as dung for the earth.
     
11
  Make their commanders like Oreb and Zeëb, 
    and all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
     
12
  Who said, 'Let us take for ourselves 
    the pastures of God as our possession.'
     
13
  O my God, make them like thistledown, 
    like chaff before the wind.
     
14
  Like fire that consumes a forest, 
    like the flame that sets mountains ablaze,
     
15
  So drive them with your tempest 
    and dismay them with your storm.
     
16
  Cover their faces with shame, O Lord, 
    that they may seek your name.
     
17
  Let them be disgraced and dismayed for ever; 
    let them be put to confusion and perish;
     
18
  And they shall know that you, whose name is the Lord, 
    are alone the Most High over all the earth.
     
    Psalm 84  
     
1
  How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! 
    My soul has a desire and longing to enter the courts of the Lord;
    my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God.
     
2
  The sparrow has found her a house
    and the swallow a nest where she may lay her young: 
    at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.
     
3
  Blessed are they who dwell in your house: 
    they will always be praising you.
     
4
  Blessed are those whose strength is in you, 
    in whose heart are the highways to Zion,
     
5
  Who going through the barren valley find there a spring, 
    and the early rains will clothe it with blessing.
     
6
  They will go from strength to strength 
    and appear before God in Zion.
     
     
7
  O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; 
    listen, O God of Jacob.
     
8
  Behold our defender, O God, 
    and look upon the face of your anointed.
     
9
  For one day in your courts 
    is better than a thousand.
     
10
  I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God 
    than dwell in the tents of ungodliness.
     
11
  For the Lord God is both sun and shield;
    he will give grace and glory; 
    no good thing shall the Lord withhold
    from those who walk with integrity.
     
12
  O Lord God of hosts, 
    blessed are those who put their trust in you.
     
    Psalm 85  
     
1
  Lord, you were gracious to your land; 
    you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
     
2
  You forgave the offence of your people 
    and covered all their sins.
     
3
  You laid aside all your fury 
    and turned from your wrathful indignation.
     
     
4
  Restore us again, O God our Saviour, 
    and let your anger cease from us.
     
5
  Will you be displeased with us for ever? 
    Will you stretch out your wrath from one generation to another?
     
6
  Will you not give us life again, 
    that your people may rejoice in you?
     
7
  Show us your mercy, O Lord, 
    and grant us your salvation.
     
     
8
  I will listen to what the Lord God will say, 
    for he shall speak peace to his people and to the faithful,
    that they turn not again to folly.
     
9
  Truly, his salvation is near to those who fear him, 
    that his glory may dwell in our land.
     
10
  Mercy and truth are met together, 
    righteousness and peace have kissed each other;
     
11
  Truth shall spring up from the earth 
    and righteousness look down from heaven.
     
12
  The Lord will indeed give all that is good, 
    and our land will yield its increase.
     
13
  Righteousness shall go before him 
    and direct his steps in the way.
     
© The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2000-2004
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