The Psalms of David
Day 4. Morning Prayer
Psalm 19.
Caeli enarrant
The heavens declare
the glory of God : and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
2 One day
telleth another : and one night certifieth another.
3 There is
neither speech nor language : but their voices are heard among
them.
4 Their sound
is gone out into all lands : and their words into the ends of the
world.
5 In them
hath he set a tabernacle for the sun : which cometh forth as a
bridegroom out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a giant to run his
course.
6 It goeth
forth from the uttermost part of the heaven, and runneth about unto
the end of it again : and there is nothing hid from the heat
thereof.
7 The law of
the Lord is an undefiled law, converting the soul : the testimony
of the Lord is sure, and giveth wisdom unto the simple.
8 The
statutes of the Lord are right, and rejoice the heart : the
commandment of the Lord is pure, and giveth light unto the
eyes.
9 The fear of
the Lord is clean, and endureth for ever : the judgements of the
Lord are true, and righteous altogether.
10 More to be
desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold : sweeter also
than honey, and the honey-comb.
11 Moreover,
by them is thy servant taught : and in keeping of them there is
great reward.
12 Who can
tell how oft he offendeth : O cleanse thou me from my secret
faults.
13 Keep thy
servant also from presumptuous sins, lest they get the dominion
over me : so shall I be undefiled, and innocent from the great
offence.
14 Let the
words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart : be alway
acceptable in thy sight,
15 O Lord :
my strength, and my redeemer.
Psalm 20.
Exaudiat te Dominus
The Lord hear thee
in the day of trouble : the Name of the God of Jacob defend
thee;
2 Send thee help from the sanctuary : and
strengthen thee out of Sion;
3 Remember all thy offerings : and accept thy
burnt-sacrifice;
4 Grant thee thy heart's desire : and fulfil all
thy mind.
5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and triumph
in the Name of the Lord our God : the Lord perform all thy
petitions.
6 Now know I that the Lord helpeth his Anointed,
and will hear him from his holy heaven : even with the wholesome
strength of his right hand.
7 Some put their trust in chariots, and some in
horses : but we will remember the Name of the Lord our God.
8 They are brought down, and fallen : but we are
risen, and stand upright.
9 Save, Lord, and hear us, O King of heaven :
when we call upon thee.
Psalm 21.
Domine, in virtute tua
The King shall
rejoice in thy strength, O Lord : exceeding glad shall he be of thy
salvation.
2 Thou hast
given him his heart's desire : and hast not denied him the request
of his lips.
3 For thou
shalt prevent him with the blessings of goodness : and shalt set a
crown of pure gold upon his head.
4 He asked
life of thee, and thou gavest him a long life : even for ever and
ever.
5 His honour
is great in thy salvation : glory and great worship shalt thou lay
upon him.
6 For thou
shalt give him everlasting felicity : and make him glad with the
joy of thy countenance.
7 And why?
because the King putteth his trust in the Lord : and in the mercy
of the most Highest he shall not miscarry.
8 All thine
enemies shall feel thine hand : thy right hand shall find out them
that hate thee.
9 Thou shalt
make them like a fiery oven in time of thy wrath : the Lord shall
destroy them in his displeasure, and the fire shall consume
them.
10 Their
fruit shalt thou root out of the earth : and their seed from among
the children of men.
11 For they
intended mischief against thee : and imagined such a device as they
are not able to perform.
12 Therefore
shalt thou put them to flight : and the strings of thy bow shalt
thou make ready against the face of them.
13 Be thou
exalted, Lord, in thine own strength : so will we sing, and praise
thy power.
Text from The Book of Common Prayer, the
rights in which are vested in the Crown,
is reproduced by permission of the Crown's Patentee, Cambridge
University Press.