31  In te, Domine, speravi
   
1 In you, O LORD, have I taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame; *
    deliver me in your righteousness.
   
2 Incline your ear to me; *
    make haste to deliver me.
   
3 Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe,
for you are my crag and my stronghold; *
    for the sake of your Name, lead me and guide me.
   
4 Take me out of the net that they have secretly set for me, *
    for you are my tower of strength.
   
5 Into your hands I commend my spirit, *
    for you have redeemed me,
    O LORD, O God of truth.
   
   
6 I hate those who cling to worthless idols, *
    and I put my trust in the LORD.
   
7 I will rejoice and be glad because of your mercy; *
    for you have seen my affliction;
    you know my distress.

 

 

622    Psalm 31

 
8 You have not shut me up in the power of the enemy; *
    you have set my feet in an open place.
   
9 Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am in trouble; *
    my eye is consumed with sorrow,
    and also my throat and my belly.
   
10 For my life is wasted with grief,
and my years with sighing; *
    my strength fails me because of affliction,
    and my bones are consumed.
   
11 I have become a reproach to all my enemies and
                              even to my neighbors,
a dismay to those of my acquaintance; *
    when they see me in the street they avoid me.
   
12 I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; *
    I am as useless as a broken pot.
   
13 For I have heard the whispering of the crowd;
fear is all around; *
    they put their heads together against me;
    they plot to take my life.
   
14 But as for me, I have trusted in you, O LORD. *
    I have said, "You are my God.
   
15 My times are in your hand; *
    rescue me from the hand of my enemies,
    and from those who persecute me.
   
16 Make your face to shine upon your servant, *
    and in your loving-kindness save me."
   
17 LORD, let me not be ashamed for having called upon you; *
    rather, let the wicked be put to shame;
    let them be silent in the grave.

 

 

Psalm 31     623

 

18 Let the lying lips be silenced which speak against
                              the righteous, *
    haughtily, disdainfully, and with contempt.
   
19 How great is your goodness, O LORD!
which you have laid up for those who fear you; *
    which you have done in the sight of all
    for those who put their trust in you.
   
20 You hide them in the covert of your presence from those
                               who slander them; *
    you keep them in your shelter from the strife of tongues.
   
21 Blessed be the LORD! *
    for he has shown me the wonders of his love in a
                               besieged city.
   
22 Yet I said in my alarm,
"I have been cut off from the sight of your eyes." *
    Nevertheless, you heard the sound of my entreaty
    when I cried out to you.
   
23 Love the LORD, all you who worship him; *
    the LORD protects the faithful,
    but repays to the full those who act haughtily.
   
24 Be strong and let your heart take courage, *
    all you who wait for the LORD.
   
  Sixth Day: Evening Prayer
   
  32  Beati quorum
   
1 Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven, *
    and whose sin is put away!

 

 

624    Psalm 32

 
2 Happy are they to whom the LORD imputes no guilt, *
    and in whose spirit there is no guile!
   
3 While I held my tongue, my bones withered away, *
    because of my groaning all day long.
   
4 For your hand was heavy upon me day and night; *
    my moisture was dried up as in the heat of summer.
   
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you, *
    and did not conceal my guilt.
   
6 I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD." *
    Then you forgave me the guilt of my sin.
   
7 Therefore all the faithful will make their prayers to you in
                               time of trouble; *
    when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach them.
   
8 You are my hiding-place;
you preserve me from trouble; *
    you surround me with shouts of deliverance.
   
9 "I will instruct you and teach you in the way that you
                              should go; *
    I will guide you with my eye.
   
10 Do not be like horse or mule, which have no understanding; *
    who must be fitted with bit and bridle,
    or else they will not stay near you."
   
11 Great are the tribulations of the wicked; *
    but mercy embraces those who trust in the LORD.
   
12 Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in the LORD; *
    shout for joy, all who are true of heart.

 

 

Psalm 32     625

 

  33  Exultate, justi
   
1 Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous; *
    it is good for the just to sing praises.
   
2 Praise the LORD with the harp; *
    play to him upon the psaltery and lyre.
   
3 Sing for him a new song; *
    sound a fanfare with all your skill upon the trumpet.
   
4 For the word of the LORD is right, *
    and all his works are sure.
   
5 He loves righteousness and justice; *
    the loving-kindness of the LORD fills the whole earth.
   
6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, *
    by the breath of his mouth all the heavenly hosts.
   
7 He gathers up the waters of the ocean as in a water-skin *
    and stores up the depths of the sea.
   
8 Let all the earth fear the LORD; *
    let all who dwell in the world stand in awe of him.
   
9 For he spoke, and it came to pass; *
    he commanded, and it stood fast.
   
10 The LORD brings the will of the nations to naught; *
    he thwarts the designs of the peoples.
   
11 But the LORD'S will stands fast for ever, *
    and the designs of his heart from age to age.
   
   
12 Happy is the nation whose God is the LORD! *
    happy the people he has chosen to be his own!

 

 

626    Psalm 33

 
13 The LORD looks down from heaven, *
    and beholds all the people in the world.
   
14 From where he sits enthroned he turns his gaze *
    on all who dwell on the earth.
   
15 He fashions all the hearts of them *
    and understands all their works.
   
16 There is no king that can be saved by a mighty army; *
    a strong man is not delivered by his great strength.
   
17 The horse is a vain hope for deliverance; *
    for all its strength it cannot save.
   
18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon those who fear him, *
    on those who wait upon his love,
   
19 To pluck their lives from death, *
    and to feed them in time of famine.
   
20 Our soul waits for the LORD; *
    he is our help and our shield.
   
21 Indeed, our heart rejoices in him, *
    for in his holy Name we put our trust.
   
22 Let your loving-kindness, O LORD, be upon us, *
    as we have put our trust in you.
   
  34  Benedicam Dominum
   
1 I will bless the LORD at all times; *
    his praise shall ever be in my mouth.
   
2 I will glory in the LORD; *
    let the humble hear and rejoice.
   
3 Proclaim with me the greatness of the LORD; *
    let us exalt his Name together.

 

 

Psalm 34     627

 

4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me *
    and delivered me out of all my terror.
   
5 Look upon him and be radiant, *
    and let not your faces be ashamed.
   
6 I called in my affliction and the LORD heard me *
    and saved me from all my troubles.
   
7 The angel of the LORD encompasses those who fear him, *
    and he will deliver them.
   
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good; *
    happy are they who trust in him!
   
   
9 Fear the LORD, you that are his saints, *
    for those who fear him lack nothing.
   
10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger, *
    but those who seek the LORD lack nothing that is good.
   
11 Come, children, and listen to me; *
    I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
   
12 Who among you loves life *
    and desires long life to enjoy prosperity?
   
13 Keep your tongue from evil-speaking *
    and your lips from lying words.
   
14 Turn from evil and do good; *
    seek peace and pursue it.
   
   
15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, *
    and his ears are open to their cry.
   
16 The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, *
    to root out the remembrance of them from the earth.

 

 

628    Psalm 34

 
17 The righteous cry, and the LORD hears them *
    and delivers them from all their troubles.
   
18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted *
    and will save those whose spirits are crushed.
   
19 Many are the troubles of the righteous, *
    but the LORD will deliver him out of them all.
   
20 He will keep safe all his bones; *
    not one of them shall be broken.
   
21 Evil shall slay the wicked, *
    and those who hate the righteous will be punished.
   
22 The LORD ransoms the life of his servants, *
    and none will be punished who trust in him.
   
  Seventh Day: Morning Prayer
   
  35  Judica, Domine
   
1 Fight those who fight me, O LORD; *
    attack those who are attacking me.
   
2 Take up shield and armor *
    and rise up to help me.
   
3 Draw the sword and bar the way against those
                              who pursue me; *
    say to my soul, "I am your salvation."
   
4 Let those who seek after my life be shamed and humbled; *
    let those who plot my ruin fall back and be dismayed.
   
5 Let them be like chaff before the wind, *
    and let the angel of the LORD drive them away.

 

 

Psalm 35     629

 

6 Let their way be dark and slippery, *
    and let the angel of the LORD pursue them.
   
7 For they have secretly spread a net for me without a cause; *
    without a cause they have dug a pit to take me alive.
   
8 Let ruin come upon them unawares; *
    let them be caught in the net they hid;
    let them fall into the pit they dug.
   
9 Then I will be joyful in the LORD; *
    I will glory in his victory.
   
10 My very bones will say, "LORD, who is like you? *
    You deliver the poor from those who are too strong for them,
    the poor and needy from those who rob them."
   
11 Malicious witnesses rise up against me; *
    they charge me with matters I know nothing about.
   
12 They pay me evil in exchange for good; *
    my soul is full of despair.
   
13 But when they were sick I dressed in sack-cloth *
    and humbled myself by fasting.
   
14 I prayed with my whole heart,
as one would for a friend or a brother; *
    I behaved like one who mourns for his mother,
    bowed down and grieving.
   
15 But when I stumbled, they were glad and gathered together;
they gathered against me; *
    strangers whom I did not know tore me to pieces and
                              would not stop.
   
16 They put me to the test and mocked me; *
    they gnashed at me with their teeth.

 

 

630    Psalm 35

 
17 O Lord, how long will you look on? *
    rescue me from the roaring beasts,
    and my life from the young lions.
   
18 I will give you thanks in the great congregation; *
    I will praise you in the mighty throng.
   
19 Do not let my treacherous foes rejoice over me, *
    nor let those who hate me without a cause
                               wink at each other.
   
20 For they do not plan for peace, *
    but invent deceitful schemes against the
                               quiet in the land.
   
21 They opened their mouths at me and said, *
    "Aha! we saw it with our own eyes."
   
22 You saw it, O LORD; do not be silent; *
    O Lord, be not far from me.
   
23 Awake, arise, to my cause! *
    to my defense, my God and my Lord!
   
24 Give me justice, O LORD my God,
according to your righteousness; *
    do not let them triumph over me.
   
25 Do not let them say in their hearts,
"Aha! just what we want!" *
    Do not let them say, "We have swallowed him up."
   
26 Let all who rejoice at my ruin be ashamed and disgraced; *
    let those who boast against me be clothed with
                               dismay and shame.
   
27 Let those who favor my cause sing out with joy and be glad; *
    let them say always, "Great is the LORD,
    who desires the prosperity of his servant."

 

 

Psalm 35     631

 

28 And my tongue shall be talking of your righteousness *
    and of your praise all the day long.
   
  36  Dixit injustus
   
1 There is a voice of rebellion deep in the heart of the wicked; *
    there is no fear of God before his eyes.
   
2 He flatters himself in his own eyes *
    that his hateful sin will not be found out.
   
3 The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; *
    he has left off acting wisely and doing good.
   
4 He thinks up wickedness upon his bed
and has set himself in no good way; *
    he does not abhor that which is evil.
   
   
5 Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, *
    and your faithfulness to the clouds.
   
6 Your righteousness is like the strong mountains,
your justice like the great deep; *
    you save both man and beast, O LORD.
   
7 How priceless is your love, O God! *
    your people take refuge under the
                      shadow of your wings.
   
8 They feast upon the abundance of your house; *
    you give them drink from the river of your delights.
   
9 For with you is the well of life, *
    and in your light we see light.
   
10 Continue your loving-kindness to those who know you, *
    and your favor to those who are true of heart.

 

 

632    Psalm 36

 
11 Let not the foot of the proud come near me, *
    nor the hand of the wicked push me aside.
   
12 See how they are fallen, those who work wickedness! *
    they are cast down and shall not be able to rise.
   
  Seventh Day: Evening Prayer
   
  37 
   
  Part I    Noli aemulari
   
1 Do not fret yourself because of evildoers; *
    do not be jealous of those who do wrong.
   
2 For they shall soon wither like the grass, *
    and like the green grass fade away.
   
3 Put your trust in the LORD and do good; *
    dwell in the land and feed on its riches.
   
4 Take delight in the LORD, *
    and he shall give you your heart's desire.
   
5 Commit your way to the LORD and put your trust in him, *
    and he will bring it to pass.
   
6 He will make your righteousness as clear as the light *
    and your just dealing as the noonday.
   
7 Be still before the LORD *
    and wait patiently for him.
   
8 Do not fret yourself over the one who prospers, *
    the one who succeeds in evil schemes.
   
9 Refrain from anger, leave rage alone; *
    do not fret yourself; it leads only to evil.

 

 

Psalm 37     633

 

10 For evildoers shall be cut off, *
    but those who wait upon the LORD shall possess the land.
   
11 In a little while the wicked shall be no more; *
    you shall search out their place, but they will not be there.
   
12 But the lowly shall possess the land; *
    they will delight in abundance of peace.
   
13 The wicked plot against the righteous *
    and gnash at them with their teeth.
   
14 The Lord laughs at the wicked, *
    because he sees that their day will come.
   
15 The wicked draw their sword and bend their bow
to strike down the poor and needy, *
    to slaughter those who are upright in their ways.
   
16 Their sword shall go through their own heart, *
    and their bow shall be broken.
   
17 The little that the righteous has *
    is better than great riches of the wicked.
   
18 For the power of the wicked shall be broken, *
    but the LORD upholds the righteous.
   
   
  Psalm 37: Part II    Novit Dominus
   
19 The LORD cares for the lives of the godly, *
   and their inheritance shall last for ever.
   
20 They shall not be ashamed in bad times, *
    and in days of famine they shall have enough.
   
21 As for the wicked, they shall perish, *
    and the enemies of the LORD, like the glory of
                               the meadows, shall vanish;
    they shall vanish like smoke.

 

 

634    Psalm 37

 
22 The wicked borrow and do not repay, *
    but the righteous are generous in giving.
   
23 Those who are blessed by God shall possess the land, *
    but those who are cursed by him shall be destroyed.
   
24 Our steps are directed by the LORD; *
    he strengthens those in whose way he delights.
   
25 If they stumble, they shall not fall headlong, *
    for the LORD holds them by the hand.
   
26 I have been young and now I am old, *
    but never have I seen the righteous forsaken,
    or their children begging bread.
   
27 The righteous are always generous in their lending, *
    and their children shall be a blessing.
   
28 Turn from evil, and do good, *
    and dwell in the land for ever.
   
29 For the LORD loves justice; *
    he does not forsake his faithful ones.
   
30 They shall be kept safe for ever, *
    but the offspring of the wicked shall be destroyed.
   
31 The righteous shall possess the land *
    and dwell in it for ever.
   
32 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, *
    and their tongue speaks what is right.
   
33 The law of their God is in their heart, *
    and their footsteps shall not falter.
   
34 The wicked spy on the righteous *
    and seek occasion to kill them.

 

 

Psalm 37     635

 

35 The LORD will not abandon them to their hand, *
    nor let them be found guilty when brought to trial.
   
36 Wait upon the LORD and keep his way; *
    he will raise you up to possess the land,
    and when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.
   
37 I have seen the wicked in their arrogance, *
    flourishing like a tree in full leaf.
   
38 I went by, and behold, they were not there; *
    I searched for them, but they could not be found.
   
39 Mark those who are honest;
observe the upright; *
    for there is a future for the peaceable.
   
40 Transgressors shall be destroyed, one and all; *
    the future of the wicked is cut off.
   
41 But the deliverance of the righteous comes from the LORD; *
    he is their stronghold in time of trouble.
   
42 The LORD will help them and rescue them; *
    he will rescue them from the wicked and deliver them,
    because they seek refuge in him.
   
  Eighth Day: Morning Prayer
   
  38  Domine, ne in furore
   
1 O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger; *
    do not punish me in your wrath.
   
2 For your arrows have already pierced me, *
    and your hand presses hard upon me.

 

 

636    Psalm 38

 
3 There is no health in my flesh,
because of your indignation; *
    there is no soundness in my body, because of my sin.
   
4 For my iniquities overwhelm me; *
    like a heavy burden they are too much for me to bear.
   
5 My wounds stink and fester *
    by reason of my foolishness.
   
6 I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; *
    I go about in mourning all the day long.
   
7 My loins are filled with searing pain; *
    there is no health in my body.
   
8 I am utterly numb and crushed; *
    I wail, because of the groaning of my heart.
   
9 O Lord, you know all my desires, *
    and my sighing is not hidden from you.
   
10 My heart is pounding, my strength has failed me, *
    and the brightness of my eyes is gone from me.
   
11 My friends and companions draw back from my affliction; *
    my neighbors stand afar off.
   
12 Those who seek after my life lay snares for me; *
    those who strive to hurt me speak of my ruin
    and plot treachery all the day long.
   
13 But I am like the deaf who do not hear, *
    like those who are mute and who do not open their mouth.
   
14 I have become like one who does not hear *
    and from whose mouth comes no defense.
   
15 For in you, O LORD, have I fixed my hope; *
    you will answer me, O Lord my God.

 

 

Psalm 38     637

 

16 For I said, "Do not let them rejoice at my expense, *
    those who gloat over me when my foot slips."
   
17 Truly, I am on the verge of falling, *
    and my pain is always with me.
   
18 I will confess my iniquity *
    and be sorry for my sin.
   
19 Those who are my enemies without cause are mighty, *
    and many in number are those who wrongfully hate me.
   
20 Those who repay evil for good slander me, *
    because I follow the course that is right.
   
21 O LORD, do not forsake me; *
    be not far from me, O my God.
   
22 Make haste to help me, *
    O Lord of my salvation.
   
  39  Dixi, Custodiam
   
1 I said, "I will keep watch upon my ways, *
    so that I do not offend with my tongue.
   
2 I will put a muzzle on my mouth *
    while the wicked are in my presence."
   
3 So I held my tongue and said nothing; *
    I refrained from rash words;
    but my pain became unbearable.
   
4 My heart was hot within me;
while I pondered, the fire burst into flame; *
    I spoke out with my tongue:

 

 

638    Psalm 39

 
5 LORD, let me know my end and the number of my days, *
    so that I may know how short my life is.
   
6 You have given me a mere handful of days,
and my lifetime is as nothing in your sight; *
    truly, even those who stand erect are but a puff of wind.
   
7 We walk about like a shadow,
and in vain we are in turmoil; *
    we heap up riches and cannot tell who will gather them.
   
8 And now, what is my hope? *
    O Lord, my hope is in you.
   
9 Deliver me from all my transgressions *
    and do not make me the taunt of the fool.
   
10 I fell silent and did not open my mouth, *
    for surely it was you that did it.
   
11 Take your affliction from me; *
    I am worn down by the blows of your hand.
   
12 With rebukes for sin you punish us;
like a moth you eat away all that is dear to us; *
    truly, everyone is but a puff of wind.
   
13 Hear my prayer, O LORD,
and give ear to my cry; *
    hold not your peace at my tears.
   
14 For I am but a sojourner with you, *
    a wayfarer, as all my forebears were.
   
15 Turn your gaze from me, that I may be glad again, *
    before I go my way and am no more.

 

 

Psalm 39     639

 

  40  Expectans, expectavi
   
1 I waited patiently upon the LORD; *
    he stooped to me and heard my cry.
   
2 He lifted me out of the desolate pit, out of the mire and clay; *
    he set my feet upon a high cliff and made my footing sure.
   
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God; *
    many shall see, and stand in awe,
    and put their trust in the LORD.
   
4 Happy are they who trust in the LORD! *
    they do not resort to evil spirits or turn to false gods.
   
5 Great things are they that you have done, O LORD my God!
how great your wonders and your plans for us! *
    there is none who can be compared with you.
   
6 Oh, that I could make them known and tell them! *
    but they are more than I can count.
   
7 In sacrifice and offering you take no pleasure *
    (you have given me ears to hear you);
   
8 Burnt-offering and sin-offering you have not required, *
    and so I said, "Behold, I come.
   
9 In the roll of the book it is written concerning me: *
    'I love to do your will, O my God;
    your law is deep in my heart.'"
   
10 I proclaimed righteousness in the great congregation; *
    behold, I did not restrain my lips;
    and that, O LORD, you know.
   
11 Your righteousness have I not hidden in my heart;
I have spoken of your faithfulness and your deliverance; *
    I have not concealed your love and faithfulness from the
                               great congregation.

 

 

640    Psalm 40

 
12 You are the LORD;
do not withhold your compassion from me; *
    let your love and your faithfulness keep me safe for ever,
   
13 For innumerable troubles have crowded upon me;
my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see; *
    they are more in number than the hairs of my head,
    and my heart fails me.
   
14 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; *
    O LORD, make haste to help me.
   
   
15 Let them be ashamed and altogether dismayed
who seek after my life to destroy it; *
    let them draw back and be disgraced
    who take pleasure in my misfortune.
   
16 Let those who say "Aha!" and gloat over me be confounded, *
    because they are ashamed.
   
17 Let all who seek you rejoice in you and be glad; *
    let those who love your salvation continually say,
    "Great is the LORD!"
   
18 Though I am poor and afflicted, *
    the Lord will have regard for me.
   
19 You are my helper and my deliverer; *
    do not tarry, O my God.

 

 

 

 

Psalm 41     641