1 In you, O Lord, do I seek refuge; ♦
let me never be put to shame.
2 In your righteousness, deliver me and set me free; ♦
incline your ear to me and save me.
3 Be for me a stronghold to which I may ever resort; ♦
send out to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.
4 Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, ♦
from the grasp of the evildoer and the oppressor.
5 For you are my hope, O Lord God, ♦
my confidence, even from my youth.
6 Upon you have I leaned from my birth,
when you drew me from my mother’s womb; ♦
my praise shall be always of you.
7 I have become a portent to many, ♦
but you are my refuge and my strength.
8 Let my mouth be full of your praise ♦
and your glory all the day long.
9 Do not cast me away in the time of old age; ♦
forsake me not when my strength fails.
10 For my enemies are talking against me, ♦
and those who lie in wait for my life take counsel together.
11 They say, ‘God has forsaken him;
pursue him and take him, ♦
because there is none to deliver him.’
12 O God, be not far from me; ♦
come quickly to help me, O my God.
13 Let those who are against me
be put to shame and disgrace; ♦
let those who seek to do me evil
be covered with scorn and reproach.
14 But as for me I will hope continually ♦
and will praise you more and more.
15 My mouth shall tell of your righteousness
and salvation all the day long, ♦
for I know no end of the telling.
16 I will begin with the mighty works of the Lord God; ♦
I will recall your righteousness, yours alone.
17 O God, you have taught me since I was young, ♦
and to this day I tell of your wonderful works.
18 Forsake me not, O God,
when I am old and grey-headed, ♦
till I make known your deeds to the next generation
and your power to all that are to come.
19 Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the heavens; ♦
in the great things you have done, who is like you, O God?
20 What troubles and adversities you have shown me, ♦
and yet you will turn and refresh me
and bring me from the deep of the earth again.
21 Increase my honour; ♦
turn again and comfort me.
22 Therefore will I praise you upon the harp
for your faithfulness, O my God; ♦
I will sing to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips will sing out as I play to you, ♦
and so will my soul, which you have redeemed.
24 My tongue also will tell of your righteousness all the day long, ♦
for they shall be shamed and disgraced
who sought to do me evil.
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.