1 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; ♦
his mercy endures for ever.
2 Let Israel now proclaim, ♦
‘His mercy endures for ever.’
3 Let the house of Aaron now proclaim, ♦
‘His mercy endures for ever.’
4 Let those who fear the Lord proclaim, ♦
‘His mercy endures for ever.’
5 In my constraint I called to the Lord; ♦
the Lord answered and set me free.
6 The Lord is at my side; I will not fear; ♦
what can flesh do to me?
7 With the Lord at my side as my saviour, ♦
I shall see the downfall of my enemies.
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord ♦
than to put any confidence in flesh.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord ♦
than to put any confidence in princes.
10 All the nations encompassed me, ♦
but by the name of the Lord I drove them back.
11 They hemmed me in, they hemmed me in on every side, ♦
but by the name of the Lord I drove them back.
12 They swarmed about me like bees;
they blazed like fire among thorns, ♦
but by the name of the Lord I drove them back.
13 Surely, I was thrust to the brink, ♦
but the Lord came to my help.
14 The Lord is my strength and my song, ♦
and he has become my salvation.
15 Joyful shouts of salvation ♦
sound from the tents of the righteous:
16 ‘The right hand of the Lord does mighty deeds;
the right hand of the Lord raises up; ♦
the right hand of the Lord does mighty deeds.’
17 I shall not die, but live ♦
and declare the works of the Lord.
18 The Lord has punished me sorely, ♦
but he has not given me over to death.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, ♦
that I may enter and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord; ♦
the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me ♦
and have become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders rejected ♦
has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord’s doing, ♦
and it is marvellous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the Lord has made; ♦
we will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Come, O Lord, and save us we pray. ♦
Come, Lord, send us now prosperity.
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; ♦
we bless you from the house of the Lord.
27 The Lord is God; he has given us light; ♦
link the pilgrims with cords
right to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God and I will thank you; ♦
you are my God and I will exalt you.
29 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; ♦
his mercy endures for ever.
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.