The Lectio Room

Psalm 107:1-32

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,*
and his mercy endures for ever.

2 Let all those whom the LORD has redeemed proclaim*
that he redeemed them from the hand of the foe.

3 He gathered them out of the lands;*
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.

4 Some wandered in desert wastes;*
they found no way to a city where they might dwell.

5 They were hungry and thirsty;*
their spirits languished within them.

6 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,*
and he delivered them from their distress.

7 He put their feet on a straight path*
to go to a city where they might dwell.

8 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his mercy*
and the wonders he does for his children.

9 For he satisfies the thirsty*
and fills the hungry with good things.

10 Some sat in darkness and deep gloom,*
bound fast in misery and iron;

11 Because they rebelled against the words of God*
and despised the counsel of the Most High.

12 So he humbled their spirits with hard labor;*
they stumbled, and there was none to help.

13 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,*
and he delivered them from their distress.

14 He led them out of darkness and deep gloom*
and broke their bonds asunder.

15 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his mercy*
and the wonders he does for his children.

16 For he shatters the doors of bronze*
and breaks in two the iron bars.

17 Some were fools and took to rebellious ways;*
they were afflicted because of their sins.

18 They abhorred all manner of food*
and drew near to death’s door.

19 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,*
and he delivered them from their distress.

20 He sent forth his word and healed them*
and saved them from the grave.

21 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his mercy*
and the wonders he does for his children.

22 Let them offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving*
and tell of his acts with shouts of joy.

23 Some went down to the sea in ships*
and plied their trade in deep waters;

24 They beheld the works of the LORD*
and his wonders in the deep.

25 Then he spoke, and a stormy wind arose,*
which tossed high the waves of the sea.

26 They mounted up to the heavens and fell back to the depths;*
their hearts melted because of their peril.

27 They reeled and staggered like drunkards*
and were at their wits’ end.

28 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,*
and he delivered them from their distress.

29 He stilled the storm to a whisper*
and quieted the waves of the sea.

30 Then were they glad because of the calm,*
and he brought them to the harbor they were bound for.

31 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his mercy*
and the wonders he does for his children.

32 Let them exalt him in the congregation of the people*
and praise him in the council of the elders.

Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent – Morning Prayer
Psalm 107:33-43

33 The LORD changed rivers into deserts,*
and water-springs into thirsty ground,

34 A fruitful land into salt flats,*
because of the wickedness of those who dwell there.

35 He changed deserts into pools of water*
and dry land into water-springs.

36 He settled the hungry there,*
and they founded a city to dwell in.

37 They sowed fields, and planted vineyards,*
and brought in a fruitful harvest.

38 He blessed them, so that they increased greatly;*
he did not let their herds decrease.

39 Yet when they were diminished and brought low,*
through stress of adversity and sorrow,

40 (He pours contempt on princes*
and makes them wander in trackless wastes)

41 He lifted up the poor out of misery*
and multiplied their families like flocks of sheep.

42 The upright will see this and rejoice,*
but all wickedness will shut its mouth.

43 Whoever is wise will ponder these things,*
and consider well the mercies of the LORD.

Psalm 73

1 Truly, God is good to Israel,*
to those who are pure in heart.

2 But as for me, my feet had nearly slipped;*
I had almost tripped and fallen;

3 Because I envied the proud*
and saw the prosperity of the wicked:

4 For they suffer no pain,*
and their bodies are sleek and sound;

5 In the misfortunes of others they have no share;*
they are not afflicted as others are;

6 Therefore they wear their pride like a necklace*
and wrap their violence about them like a cloak.

7 Their iniquity comes from gross minds,*
and their hearts overflow with wicked thoughts.

8 They scoff and speak maliciously;*
out of their haughtiness they plan oppression.

9 They set their mouths against the heavens,*
and their evil speech runs through the world.

10 And so the people turn to them*
and find in them no fault.

11 They say, “How should God know?*
is there knowledge in the Most High?”

12 So then, these are the wicked;*
always at ease, they increase their wealth.

13 In vain have I kept my heart clean,*
and washed my hands in innocence.

14 I have been afflicted all day long,*
and punished every morning.

15 Had I gone on speaking this way,*
I should have betrayed the generation of your children.

16 When I tried to understand these things,*
it was too hard for me;

17 Until I entered the sanctuary of God*
and discerned the end of the wicked.

18 Surely, you set them in slippery places;*
you cast them down in ruin.

19 Oh, how suddenly do they come to destruction,*
come to an end, and perish from terror!

20 Like a dream when one awakens, O Lord,*
when you arise you will make their image vanish.

21 When my mind became embittered,*
I was sorely wounded in my heart.

22 I was stupid and had no understanding;*
I was like a brute beast in your presence.

23 Yet I am always with you;*
you hold me by my right hand.

24 You will guide me by your counsel,*
and afterwards receive me with glory.

25 Whom have I in heaven but you?*
and having you I desire nothing upon earth.

26 Though my flesh and my heart should waste away,*
God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.

27 Truly, those who forsake you will perish;*
you destroy all who are unfaithful.

28 But it is good for me to be near God;*
I have made the Lord GOD my refuge.

29 I will speak of all your works*
in the gates of the city of Zion.

Psalm 119:121-144

121 I have done what is just and right;*
do not deliver me to my oppressors.

122 Be surety for your servant’s good;*
let not the proud oppress me.

123 My eyes have failed from watching for your salvation*
and for your righteous promise.

124 Deal with your servant according to your loving-kindness*
and teach me your statutes.

125 I am your servant; grant me understanding,*
that I may know your decrees.

126 It is time for you to act, O LORD,*
for they have broken your law.

127 Truly, I love your commandments*
more than gold and precious stones.

128 I hold all your commandments to be right for me;*
all paths of falsehood I abhor.

129 Your decrees are wonderful;*
therefore I obey them with all my heart.

130 When your word goes forth it gives light;*
it gives understanding to the simple.

131 I open my mouth and pant;*
I long for your commandments.

132 Turn to me in mercy,*
as you always do to those who love your Name.

133 Steady my footsteps in your word;*
let no iniquity have dominion over me.

134 Rescue me from those who oppress me,*
and I will keep your commandments.

135 Let your countenance shine upon your servant*
and teach me your statutes.

136 My eyes shed streams of tears,*
because people do not keep your law.

137 You are righteous, O LORD,*
and upright are your judgments.

138 You have issued your decrees*
with justice and in perfect faithfulness.

139 My indignation has consumed me,*
because my enemies forget your words.

140 Your word has been tested to the uttermost,*
and your servant holds it dear.

141 I am small and of little account,*
yet I do not forget your commandments.

142 Your justice is an everlasting justice*
and your law is the truth.

143 Trouble and distress have come upon me,*
yet your commandments are my delight.

144 The righteousness of your decrees is everlasting;*
grant me understanding, that I may live.

 

Psalm 94

1 O LORD God of vengeance,*
O God of vengeance, show yourself.

2 Rise up, O Judge of the world;*
give the arrogant their just deserts.

3 How long shall the wicked, O LORD,*
how long shall the wicked triumph?

4 They bluster in their insolence;*
all evildoers are full of boasting.

5 They crush your people, O LORD,*
and afflict your chosen nation.

6 They murder the widow and the stranger*
and put the orphans to death.

7 Yet they say, “The LORD does not see,*
the God of Jacob takes no notice.”

8 Consider well, you dullards among the people;*
when will you fools understand?

9 He that planted the ear, does he not hear?*
he that formed the eye, does he not see?

10 He who admonishes the nations, will he not punish?*
he who teaches all the world, has he no knowledge?

11 The LORD knows our human thoughts;*
how like a puff of wind they are.

12 Happy are they whom you instruct, O Lord!*
whom you teach out of your law;

13 To give them rest in evil days,*
until a pit is dug for the wicked.

14 For the LORD will not abandon his people,*
nor will he forsake his own.

15 For judgment will again be just,*
and all the true of heart will follow it.

16 Who rose up for me against the wicked?*
who took my part against the evildoers?

17 If the LORD had not come to my help,*
I should soon have dwelt in the land of silence.

18 As often as I said, “My foot has slipped,”*
your love, O LORD, upheld me.

19 When many cares fill my mind,*
your consolations cheer my soul.

20 Can a corrupt tribunal have any part with you,*
one which frames evil into law?

21 They conspire against the life of the just*
and condemn the innocent to death.

22 But the LORD has become my stronghold,*
and my God the rock of my trust.

23 He will turn their wickedness back upon them
and destroy them in their own malice;*
the LORD our God will destroy them.

 

Psalm 89 19-52

19     You spoke once in vision and said to your faithful people: *
“I have set the crown upon a warrior
and have exalted one chosen out of the people.

20     I have found David my servant; *
with my holy oil have I anointed him.

21     My hand will hold him fast *
and my arm will make him strong.

22     No enemy shall deceive him, *
nor any wicked man bring him down.

23     I will crush his foes before him *
and strike down those who hate him.

24     My faithfulness and love shall be with him, *
and he shall be victorious through my Name.

25     I shall make his dominion extend *
from the Great Sea to the River.

26     He will say to me, ‘You are my Father, *
my God, and the rock of my salvation.’

27     I will make him my firstborn *
and higher than the kings of the earth.

28     I will keep my love for him for ever, *
and my covenant will stand firm for him.

29     I will establish his line for ever *
and his throne as the days of heaven.”

30     “If his children forsake my law *
and do not walk according to my judgments;

31     If they break my statutes *
and do not keep my commandments;

32     I will punish their transgressions with a rod *
and their iniquities with the lash;

33     But I will not take my love from him, *
nor let my faithfulness prove false.

34     I will not break my covenant, *
nor change what has gone out of my lips.

35     Once for all I have sworn by my holiness: *
‘I will not lie to David.

36     His line shall endure for ever *
and his throne as the sun before me;

37     It shall stand fast for evermore like the moon, *
the abiding witness in the sky.'”

38     But you have cast off and rejected your anointed; *
you have become enraged at him.

39     You have broken your covenant with your servant, *
defiled his crown, and hurled it to the ground.

40     You have breached all his walls *
and laid his strongholds in ruins.

41     All who pass by despoil him; *
he has become the scorn of his neighbors.

42     You have exalted the right hand of his foes *
and made all his enemies rejoice.

43     You have turned back the edge of his sword *
and have not sustained him in battle.

44     You have put an end to his splendor *
and cast his throne to the ground.

45     You have cut short the days of his youth *
and have covered him with shame.

46     How long will you hide yourself, O LORD?
will you hide yourself for ever? *
how long will your anger burn like fire?

47     Remember, LORD, how short life is, *
how frail you have made all flesh.

48     Who can live and not see death? *
who can save himself from the power of the grave?

49     Where, Lord, are your loving-kindnesses of old, *
which you promised David in your faithfulness?

50     Remember, Lord, how your servant is mocked, *
how I carry in my bosom the taunts of many peoples,

51     The taunts your enemies have hurled, O LORD, *
which they hurled at the heels of your anointed.

52     Blessed be the LORD for evermore! *
Amen, I say, Amen.