Psalm 132

1    Lord, remember for David  

all the hardships he endured;

2    How he swore an oath to the Lord  

and vowed a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:

3    ‘I will not come within the shelter of my house,  

nor climb up into my bed;

4    ‘I will not allow my eyes to sleep,  

nor let my eyelids slumber,

5    ‘Until I find a place for the Lord,  

a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.’

6    Now, we heard of the ark in Ephrathah  

and found it in the fields of Ja-ar.

7    Let us enter his dwelling place  

and fall low before his footstool.

8    Arise, O Lord, into your resting place,  

you and the ark of your strength.

9    Let your priests be clothed with righteousness  

and your faithful ones sing with joy.

10  For your servant David’s sake,  

turn not away the face of your anointed.

11  The Lord has sworn an oath to David,  

a promise from which he will not shrink:

12  ‘Of the fruit of your body  

shall I set upon your throne.

13  ‘If your children keep my covenant

    and my testimonies that I shall teach them,  

their children also shall sit upon your throne for evermore.’

14  For the Lord has chosen Zion for himself;  

he has desired her for his habitation:

15  ‘This shall be my resting place for ever;  

here will I dwell, for I have longed for her.

16  ‘I will abundantly bless her provision;  

her poor will I satisfy with bread.

17  ‘I will clothe her priests with salvation,  

and her faithful ones shall rejoice and sing.

18  ‘There will I make a horn to spring up for David;  

I will keep a lantern burning for my anointed.

19  ‘As for his enemies, I will clothe them with shame;  

but on him shall his crown be bright.’

 

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.

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