1O Lord our governor,
•
how glorious is your name in all the world!
2Your majesty above the
heavens is praised •
out of the mouths of babes at the breast.
3You have founded a stronghold
against your foes, •
that you might still the enemy and the avenger.
4When I consider your
heavens, the work of your fingers, •
the moon and the stars that you have ordained,
5What are mortals, that
you should be mindful of them; •
mere human beings, that you should seek them out?
6You have made them little
lower than the angels •
and crown them with glory and honour.
7You have given them
dominion over the works of your hands •
and put all things under their feet,
8All sheep and oxen,
•
even the wild beasts of the field,
9The birds of the air,
the fish of the sea •
and whatsoever moves in the paths of the sea.
10O Lord our governor,
•
how glorious is your name in all the world!
Psalm 8
AllGlory to the Father and
to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.
For an alternative version, see page 657.
1I love you, O Lord my
strength. •
The Lord is my crag, my fortress and my deliverer.
2In my distress I called
upon the Lord •
and cried out to my God for help.
3He heard my voice in
his temple •
and my cry came to his ears.
4He parted the heavens
and came down •
and thick darkness was under his feet.
5He rode upon the cherubim
and flew; •
he came flying on the wings of the wind.
6He made darkness his
covering round about him, •
dark waters and thick clouds his pavilion.
7From the brightness
of his presence, through the clouds •
burst hailstones and coals of fire.
8The Lord also thundered
out of heaven; •
the Most High uttered his voice
with hailstones and coals of fire.
9For you will save a
lowly people •
and bring down the high looks of the proud.
10You also shall light
my candle; •
the Lord my God shall make my darkness to be bright.
11As for God, his way
is perfect;
the word of the Lord is tried in the fire; •
he is a shield to all who trust in him.
Psalm 18.1, 6, 7 ,10-14, 28, 29, 31
AllGlory to the Father and
to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.
1The earth is the Lord’s
and all that fills it, •
the compass of the world and all who dwell therein.
2For he has founded it
upon the seas •
and set it firm upon the rivers of the deep.
3‘Who shall ascend
the hill of the Lord, •
or who can rise up in his holy place?’
4‘Those who have
clean hands and a pure heart, •
who have not lifted up their soul to an idol,
nor sworn an oath to a lie;
5‘They shall receive
a blessing from the Lord, •
a just reward from the God of their salvation.’
6Such is the company
of those who seek him, •
of those who seek your face, O God of Jacob.
7Lift up your heads,
O gates;
be lifted up, you everlasting doors; •
and the King of glory shall come in.
8‘Who is the King
of glory?’ •
‘The Lord, strong and mighty,
the Lord who is mighty in battle.’
9Lift up your heads, O
gates;
be lifted up, you everlasting doors; •
and the King of glory shall come in.
10‘Who is this King
of glory?’ •
‘The Lord of hosts,
he is the King of glory.’
Psalm 24
AllGlory to the Father and
to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.
1The Lord is my light
and my salvation;
whom then shall I fear? •
The Lord is the strength of my life;
of whom then shall I be afraid?
2Though a host encamp
against me,
my heart shall not be afraid, •
and though there rise up war against me,
yet will I put my trust in him.
3One thing have I asked
of the Lord
and that alone I seek: •
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
4To behold the fair beauty
of the Lord •
and to seek his will in his temple.
5For in the day of trouble
he shall hide me in his shelter; •
in the secret place of his dwelling shall he hide me
and set me high upon a rock.
6Therefore will I offer
in his dwelling an oblation
with great gladness; •
I will sing and make music to the Lord.
Psalm 27.1, 3-6, 8
AllGlory to the Father and
to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.
1As the deer longs for
the water brooks, •
so longs my soul for you, O God.
2My soul is athirst for
God, even for the living God; •
when shall I come before the presence of God?
3My tears have been my
bread day and night, •
while all day long they say to me, ‘Where is now your God?’
4Now when I think on
these things, I pour out my soul: •
how I went with the multitude
and led the procession to the house of God,
5With the voice of praise
and thanksgiving, •
among those who kept holy day.
6Why are you so full
of heaviness, O my soul, •
and why are you so disquieted within me?
7O put your trust in
God; •
for I will yet give him thanks,
who is the help of my countenance, and my God.
Psalm 42.1-7
AllGlory to the Father and
to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.
1Have mercy on me, O
God, in your great goodness; •
according to the abundance of your compassion
blot out my offences.
2Wash me thoroughly from
my wickedness •
and cleanse me from my sin.
3For I acknowledge my
faults •
and my sin is ever before me.
4Against you only have
I sinned •
and done what is evil in your sight,
5So that you are justified
in your sentence •
and righteous in your judgement.
6Cast me not away from
your presence •
and take not your holy spirit from me.
7Give me again the joy
of your salvation •
and sustain me with your gracious spirit;
8Then shall I teach your
ways to the wicked •
and sinners shall return to you.
9Deliver me from my guilt,
O God,
the God of my salvation, •
and my tongue shall sing of your righteousness.
Psalm 51.1-5, 12-15
AllGlory to the Father and
to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.
1O God, you are my God;
eagerly I seek you; •
my soul is athirst for you.
2My flesh also faints
for you, •
as in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.
3So would I gaze upon
you in your holy place, •
that I might behold your power and your glory.
4Your loving-kindness
is better than life itself •
and so my lips shall praise you.
5I will bless you as
long as I live •
and lift up my hands in your name.
6My soul shall be satisfied,
as with marrow and fatness, •
and my mouth shall praise you with joyful lips,
7When I remember you
upon my bed •
and meditate on you in the watches of the night.
8For you have been my
helper •
and under the shadow of your wings will I rejoice.
9My soul clings to you; •
your right hand shall hold me fast.
Psalm 63.1-9
AllGlory to the Father and
to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.
1God be gracious to us
and bless us •
and make his face to shine upon us,
2That your way may be
known upon earth, •
your saving power among all nations.
3Let the peoples praise
you, O God; •
let all the peoples praise you.
4O let the nations rejoice
and be glad, •
for you will judge the peoples righteously
and govern the nations upon earth.
5Let the peoples praise
you, O God; •
let all the peoples praise you.
6Then shall the earth
bring forth her increase, •
and God, our own God, will bless us.
7God will bless us, •
and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.
Psalm 67
AllGlory to the Father and
to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.
1O God, will you not
give us life again, •
that your people may rejoice in you?
2Show us your mercy,
O Lord, •
and grant us your salvation.
3Truly, his salvation
is near to those who fear him, •
that his glory may dwell in our land.
4Mercy and truth are
met together, •
righteousness and peace have kissed each other;
5Truth shall spring up
from the earth •
and righteousness look down from heaven.
6Righteousness shall
go before him •
and direct his steps in the way.
Psalm 85.6, 7, 9-11, 13
AllGlory to the Father and
to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.
1O come, let us sing
to the Lord; •
let us heartily rejoice in the rock of our salvation.
2Let us come into his
presence with thanksgiving •
and be glad in him with psalms.
3For the Lord is a great
God •
and a great king above all gods.
4In his hand are the
depths of the earth •
and the heights of the mountains are his also.
5The sea is his, for
he made it, •
and his hands have moulded the dry land.
6Come, let us worship
and bow down •
and kneel before the Lord our Maker.
7For he is our God; •
we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand.
The canticle may end here.
8O that today you would
listen to his voice: •
‘Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
on that day at Massah in the wilderness,
9‘When your forebears
tested me, and put me to the proof, •
though they had seen my works.
10‘Forty years
long I detested that generation and said, •
“This people are wayward in their hearts;
they do not know my ways.”
11‘So I swore in
my wrath, •
“They shall not enter into my rest.”’
Psalm 95
AllGlory to the Father and
to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.
1Sing to the Lord a new
song; •
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
2Sing to the Lord and
bless his name; •
tell out his salvation from day to day.
3Declare his glory among
the nations •
and his wonders among all peoples.
4Honour and majesty are
before him; •
power and splendour are in his sanctuary.
5Ascribe to the Lord,
you families of the peoples; •
ascribe to the Lord honour and strength.
6Ascribe to the Lord
the honour due to his name; •
bring offerings and come into his courts.
7O worship the Lord in
the beauty of holiness; •
let the whole earth tremble before him.
8Tell it out among the
nations that the Lord is king. •
with righteousness he will judge the world
and the peoples with his truth.
Psalm 96.1-3, 6-10a, 13b
AllGlory to the Father and
to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.
1O be joyful in the Lord,
all the earth; •
serve the Lord with gladness
and come before his presence with a song.
2Know that the Lord is
God; •
it is he that has made us and we are his;
we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.
3Enter his gates with
thanksgiving
and his courts with praise; •
give thanks to him and bless his name.
4For the Lord is gracious;
his steadfast love is everlasting, •
and his faithfulness endures from generation to generation.
Psalm 100
AllGlory to the Father and
to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.
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.
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 has established
his throne in heaven, •
and his kingdom has dominion over all.
9Bless the Lord, you
angels of his, •
you mighty ones who do his bidding
and hearken to the voice of his word.
10Bless the Lord, all
you his hosts, •
you ministers of his who do his will.
11Bless the Lord, all
you works of his,
in all places of his dominion; •
bless the Lord, O my soul.
Psalm 103.1-7, 19-22
AllGlory to the Father and
to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.
1The Lord is full of
compassion and mercy, •
slow to anger and of great kindness.
2He will not always accuse
us, •
neither will he keep his anger for ever.
3He has not dealt with
us according to our sins, •
nor rewarded us according to our wickedness.
4For as the heavens are
high above the earth, •
so great is his mercy upon those who fear him.
5As far as the east is
from the west, •
so far has he set our sins from us.
6As a father has compassion
on his children, •
so is the Lord merciful towards those who fear him.
7For he knows of what
we are made; •
he remembers that we are but dust.
8Our days are but as
grass; •
we flourish as a flower of the field;
9For as soon as the wind
goes over it, it is gone, •
and its place shall know it no more.
10But 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;
11On those who keep his
covenant •
and remember his commandments to do them.
Psalm 103.8-18
AllGlory to the Father and
to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.
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.
3The sun knows the time
for its setting. •
You make darkness that it may be night.
4O Lord, how manifold
are your works! •
In wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
5When you send forth
your spirit, they are created, •
and you renew the face of the earth.
6May the glory of the
Lord endure for ever; •
may the Lord rejoice in his works;
7I will sing to the Lord
as long as I live; •
I will make music to my God while I have my being.
Psalm 104.1, 2, 21b ,22a, 26, 32, 33, 35
AllGlory to the Father and
to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.
1Come, bless the Lord,
all you servants of the Lord, •
you that by night stand in the house of the Lord.
2Lift up your hands towards
the sanctuary •
and bless the Lord.
3The Lord who made heaven
and earth •
give you blessing out of Zion.
Psalm 134
AllGlory to the Father and
to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.
AllLet my prayer rise before
you as incense, •
the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
O Lord, I call to you; come to me quickly; •
hear my voice when I cry to you.
Set a watch before my mouth, O Lord, •
and guard the door of my lips;
AllLet my prayer rise before
you as incense, •
the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Let not my heart incline to any evil thing; •
let me not be occupied in wickedness with evildoers.
But my eyes are turned to you, Lord God; •
in you I take refuge; do not leave me defenceless.
AllLet my prayer rise before
you as incense, •
the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Psalm 141.1-4b, 8
1Hear my prayer, O Lord,
and in your faithfulness give ear to my supplications; •
answer me in your righteousness.
2Enter not into judgement
with your servant, •
for in your sight shall no one living be justified.
3My spirit faints within
me; •
my heart within me is desolate.
4I stretch out my hands
to you; •
my soul gasps for you like a thirsty land.
5O Lord, make haste to
answer me; my spirit fails me; •
hide not your face from me
lest I be like those who go down to the Pit.
6Let me hear of your
loving-kindness in the morning,
for in you I put my trust; •
show me the way I should walk in,
for I lift up my soul to you.
7Teach me to do what
pleases you, for you are my God; •
let your kindly spirit lead me on a level path.
8Revive me, O Lord, for
your name’s sake; •
for your righteousness’sake, bring me out of trouble.
Psalm 143.1, 2, 4, 6-8, 10, 11
AllGlory to the Father and
to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.