1    Blessed are those who consider the poor and needy;  ♦

the Lord will deliver them in the time of trouble.

2    The Lord preserves them and restores their life,

    that they may be happy in the land;  ♦

he will not hand them over to the will of their enemies.

3    The Lord sustains them on their sickbed;  ♦

their sickness, Lord, you will remove.

4    And so I said, ‘Lord, be merciful to me;  ♦

heal me, for I have sinned against you.’

5    My enemies speak evil about me,  ♦

asking when I shall die and my name perish.

6  If they come to see me, they utter empty words;  ♦

their heart gathers mischief;

    when they go out, they tell it abroad.

7    All my enemies whisper together against me,  ♦

against me they devise evil,

8    Saying that a deadly thing has laid hold on me,  ♦

and that I will not rise again from where I lie.

9    Even my bosom friend, whom I trusted,

    who ate of my bread,  ♦

has lifted up his heel against me.

10  But you, O Lord, be merciful to me  ♦

and raise me up, that I may reward them.

11  By this I know that you favour me,  ♦

that my enemy does not triumph over me.

12  Because of my integrity you uphold me  ♦

and will set me before your face for ever.

13  Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,  ♦

from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.

 

Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, material from which is included here,
is copyright © The Archbishops' Council 2000 and published by Church House Publishing.