Psalm 21

Refrain:    The king puts his trust in the Lord.

1    The king shall rejoice in your strength, O Lord;  

how greatly shall he rejoice in your salvation!

2    You have given him his heart’s desire  

and have not denied the request of his lips.

3    For you come to meet him with blessings of goodness  

and set a crown of pure gold upon his head.

4    He asked of you life and you gave it him,  

length of days, for ever and ever. [R]

5    His honour is great because of your salvation;  

glory and majesty have you laid upon him.

6    You have granted him everlasting felicity  

and will make him glad with joy in your presence.

7    For the king puts his trust in the Lord;  

because of the loving-kindness of the Most High,

he shall not be overthrown. [R]

8    Your hand shall mark down all your enemies;  

your right hand will find out those who hate you.

9    You will make them like a fiery oven

in the time of your wrath;  

the Lord will swallow them up in his anger

and the fire will consume them.

10  Their fruit you will root out of the land  

and their seed from among its inhabitants. [R]

11  Because they intend evil against you  

and devise wicked schemes

which they cannot perform,

12  You will put them to flight  

when you aim your bow at their faces.

13  Be exalted, O Lord, in your own might;  

we will make music and sing of your power.

Refrain:    The king puts his trust in the Lord.

Crown us, O God, but with humility,

and robe us with compassion,

that, as you call us into the kingdom of your Son,

we may strive to overcome all evil

    by the power of good

and so walk gently on the earth

with you, our God, for ever.

 

Common Worship: Daily Prayer, material from which is included here,
is copyright © The Archbishops' Council 2005 and published by Church House Publishing.

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