Refrain: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
1 The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ ♦
Corrupt are they, and abominable in their wickedness;
there is no one that does good.
2 God has looked down from heaven upon the children of earth, ♦
to see if there is anyone who is wise and seeks after God.
3 They are all gone out of the way;
all alike have become corrupt; ♦
there is no one that does good, no not one. [R]
4 Have they no knowledge, those evildoers, ♦
who eat up my people as if they ate bread,
and do not call upon God?
5 There shall they be in great fear,
such fear as never was; ♦
for God will scatter the bones of the ungodly.
6 They will be put to shame, ♦
because God has rejected them.
7 O that Israel’s salvation would come out of Zion! ♦
When God restores the fortunes of his people
then will Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad.
Refrain: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
Without you, O God, nothing is real,
all things are open to corruption
and we are deadened by deceit;
do not abandon us to our folly,
but give us hearts that seek you
and, at the last, joy in your heavenly city;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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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