The Psalms of David
Day 20. Morning Prayer
Psalm 102.
Domine, exaudi
Hear my prayer, O Lord : and let my crying come unto thee.
2 Hide not thy face from me in the time of my trouble : incline thine ear unto me when I call; O hear me, and that right soon.
3 For my days are consumed away like smoke : and my bones are burnt up as it were a fire-brand.
4 My heart is smitten down, and withered like grass : so that I forget to eat my bread.
5 For the voice of my groaning : my bones will scarce cleave to my flesh.
6 I am become like a pelican in the wilderness : and like an owl that is in the desert.
7 I have watched, and am even as it were a sparrow : that sitteth alone upon the house-top.
8 Mine enemies revile me all the day long : and they that are mad upon me are sworn together against me.
9 For I have eaten ashes as it were bread : and mingled my drink with weeping;
10 And that because of thine indignation and wrath : for thou hast taken me up, and cast me down.
11 My days are gone like a shadow : and I am withered like grass.
12 But thou, O Lord, shalt endure for ever : and thy remembrance throughout all generations.
13 Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Sion : for it is time that thou have mercy upon her, yea, the time is come.
14 And why? thy servants think upon her stones: and it pitieth them to see her in the dust.
15 The heathen shall fear thy Name, O Lord : and all the kings of the earth thy majesty;
16 When the Lord shall build up Sion : and when his glory shall appear;
17 When he turneth him unto the prayer of the poor destitute : and despiseth not their desire.
18 This shall be written for those that come after: and the people which shall be born shall praise the Lord.
19 For he hath looked down from his sanctuary : out of the heaven did the Lord behold the earth;
20 That he might hear the mournings of such as are in captivity : and deliver the children appointed unto death;
21 That they may declare the Name of the Lord in Sion : and his worship at Jerusalem;
22 When the people are gathered together : and the kingdoms also, to serve the Lord.
23 He brought down my strength in my journey: and shortened my days.
24 But I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of mine age : as for thy years, they endure throughout all generations.
25 Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth : and the heavens are the work of thy hands.
26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure : they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
27 And as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed : but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
28 The children of thy servants shall continue : and their seed shall stand fast in thy sight.
Psalm 103.
Benedic, anima mea
Praise the Lord, O my soul : and all that is within me praise his holy Name.
2 Praise the Lord, O my soul : and forget not all his benefits;
3 Who forgiveth all thy sin : and healeth all thine infirmities;
4 Who saveth thy life from destruction : and crowneth thee with mercy and loving-kindness;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things : making thee young and lusty as an eagle.
6 The Lord executeth righteousness and judgement : for all them that are oppressed with wrong.
7 He shewed his ways unto Moses : his works unto the children of Israel.
8 The Lord is full of compassion and mercy : long-suffering, and of great goodness.
9 He will not alway be chiding : neither keepeth he his anger for ever.
10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins : nor rewarded us according to our wickednesses.
11 For look how high the heaven is in comparison of the earth : so great is his mercy also toward them that fear him.
12 Look how wide also the east is from the west : so far hath he set our sins from us.
13 Yea, like as a father pitieth his own children : even so is the Lord merciful unto them that fear him.
14 For he knoweth whereof we are made : he remembereth that we are but dust.
15 The days of man are but as grass : for he flourisheth as a flower of the field.
16 For as soon as the wind goeth over it, it is gone: and the place thereof shall know it no more.
17 But the merciful goodness of the Lord endureth for ever and ever upon them that fear him: and his righteousness upon children's children;
18 Even upon such as keep his covenant : and think upon his commandments to do them.
19 The Lord hath prepared his seat in heaven : and his kingdom ruleth over all.
20 O praise the Lord, ye angels of his, ye that excel in strength : ye that fulfil his commandment, and hearken unto the voice of his words.
21 O praise the Lord, all ye his hosts : ye servants of his that do his pleasure.
22 O speak good of the Lord, all ye works of his, in all places of his dominion : praise thou the Lord, O my soul.
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.
