Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent – Morning Prayer

Psalm 102

1 LORD, hear my prayer, and let my cry come before you;*
hide not your face from me in the day of my trouble.

2 Incline your ear to me;*
when I call, make haste to answer me,

3 For my days drift away like smoke,*
and my bones are hot as burning coals.

4 My heart is smitten like grass and withered,*
so that I forget to eat my bread.

5 Because of the voice of my groaning*
I am but skin and bones.

6 I have become like a vulture in the wilderness,*
like an owl among the ruins.

7 I lie awake and groan;*
I am like a sparrow, lonely on a house-top.

8 My enemies revile me all day long,*
and those who scoff at me have taken an oath against me.

9 For I have eaten ashes for bread*
and mingled my drink with weeping.

10 Because of your indignation and wrath*
you have lifted me up and thrown me away.

11 My days pass away like a shadow,*
and I wither like the grass.

12 But you, O LORD, endure for ever,*
and your Name from age to age.

13 You will arise and have compassion on Zion,
for it is time to have mercy upon her;*
indeed, the appointed time has come.

14 For your servants love her very rubble,*
and are moved to pity even for her dust.

15 The nations shall fear your Name, O LORD,*
and all the kings of the earth your glory.

16 For the LORD will build up Zion,*
and his glory will appear.

17 He will look with favor on the prayer of the homeless;*
he will not despise their plea.

18 Let this be written for a future generation,*
so that a people yet unborn may praise the LORD.

19 For the LORD looked down from his holy place on high;*
from the heavens he beheld the earth;

20 That he might hear the groan of the captive*
and set free those condemned to die;

21 That they may declare in Zion the Name of the LORD,*
and his praise in Jerusalem;

22 When the peoples are gathered together,*
and the kingdoms also, to serve the LORD.

23 He has brought down my strength before my time;*
he has shortened the number of my days;

24 And I said, “O my God,
do not take me away in the midst of my days;*
your years endure throughout all generations.

25 In the beginning, O LORD, you laid the foundations of the earth,*
and the heavens are the work of your hands;

26 They shall perish, but you will endure;
they all shall wear out like a garment;*
as clothing you will change them,
and they shall be changed;

27 But you are always the same,*
and your years will never end.

28 The children of your servants shall continue,*
and their offspring shall stand fast in your sight.”

 


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