Psalms 81

		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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