Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent – Morning Prayer

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Psalm 137

1 By the waters of Babylon we sat down and wept,*
when we remembered you, O Zion.

2 As for our harps, we hung them up*
on the trees in the midst of that land.

3 For those who led us away captive asked us for a song,
and our oppressors called for mirth:*
“Sing us one of the songs of Zion.”

4 How shall we sing the LORD’S song*
upon an alien soil?

5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem,*
let my right hand forget its skill.

6 Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth
if I do not remember you,*
if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy.

7 Remember the day of Jerusalem, O LORD,
against the people of Edom,*
who said, “Down with it! down with it!
even to the ground!”

8 O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction,*
happy the one who pays you back
for what you have done to us!

9 Happy shall he be who takes your little ones,*
and dashes them against the rock!

Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent – Evening Prayer

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Psalm 141

1 O LORD, I call to you; come to me quickly;*
hear my voice when I cry to you.

2 Let my prayer be set forth in your sight as incense, *
the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

3 Set a watch before my mouth, O LORD,
and guard the door of my lips;*
let not my heart incline to any evil thing.

4 Let me not be occupied in wickedness with evildoers, *
nor eat of their choice foods.

5 Let the righteous smite me in friendly rebuke;
let not the oil of the unrighteous anoint my head;*
for my prayer is continually against their wicked deeds.

6 Let their rulers be overthrown in stony places,*
that they may know my words are true.

7 As when a plowman turns over the earth in furrows,*
let their bones be scattered at the mouth of the grave.

8 But my eyes are turned to you, Lord GOD;*
in you I take refuge;
do not strip me of my life.

9 Protect me from the snare which they have laid for me *
and from the traps of the evildoers.

10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets,*
while I myself escape.

Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent – Morning Prayer

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Psalm 22

1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?*
and are so far from my cry
and from the words of my distress?

2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but you do not answer; *
by night as well, but I find no rest.

3 Yet you are the Holy One, *
enthroned upon the praises of Israel.

4 Our forefathers put their trust in you; *
they trusted, and you delivered them.

5 They cried out to you and were delivered;*
they trusted in you and were not put to shame.

6 But as for me, I am a worm and no man, *
scorned by all and despised by the people.

7 All who see me laugh me to scorn; *
they curl their lips and wag their heads, saying,

8 “He trusted in the LORD; let him deliver him; *
let him rescue him, if he delights in him.”

9 Yet you are he who took me out of the womb,*
and kept me safe upon my mother’s breast.

10 I have been entrusted to you ever since I was born; *
you were my God when I was still in my mother’s womb.

11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near,*
and there is none to help.

12 Many young bulls encircle me; *
strong bulls of Bashan surround me.

13 They open wide their jaws at me, *
like a ravening and a roaring lion.

14 I am poured out like water;
all my bones are out of joint; *
my heart within my breast is melting wax.

15 My mouth is dried out like a pot-sherd;
my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; *
and you have laid me in the dust of the grave.

16 Packs of dogs close me in,
and gangs of evildoers circle around me; *
they pierce my hands and my feet;
I can count all my bones.

17 They stare and gloat over me; *
they divide my garments among them;
they cast lots for my clothing.

18 Be not far away, O LORD; *
you are my strength; hasten to help me.

19 Save me from the sword, *
my life from the power of the dog.

20 Save me from the lion’s mouth, *
my wretched body from the horns of wild bulls.

21 I will declare your Name to my brethren;*
in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.

22 Praise the LORD, you that fear him; *
stand in awe of him, O offspring of Israel;
all you of Jacob’s line, give glory.

23 For he does not despise nor abhor the poor in their poverty;
neither does he hide his face from them; *
but when they cry to him he hears them.

24 My praise is of him in the great assembly;*
I will perform my vows in the presence of those who worship him.

25 The poor shall eat and be satisfied,
and those who seek the LORD shall praise him: *
“May your heart live for ever!”

26 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, *
and all the families of the nations bow before him.

27 For kingship belongs to the LORD; *
he rules over the nations.

28 To him alone all who sleep in the earth bow down in worship; *
all who go down to the dust fall before him.

29 My soul shall live for him;
my descendants shall serve him; *
they shall be known as the LORD’S for ever.

30 They shall come and make known to a people yet unborn *
the saving deeds that he has done.

Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent – Evening Prayer

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Psalm 140

1 Deliver me, O LORD, from evildoers;*
protect me from the violent,

2 Who devise evil in their hearts*
and stir up strife all day long.

3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent;*
adder’s poison is under their lips.

4 Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked;*
protect me from the violent,
who are determined to trip me up.

5 The proud have hidden a snare for me
and stretched out a net of cords;*
they have set traps for me along the path.

6 I have said to the LORD, “You are my God;*
listen, O LORD, to my supplication.

7 O Lord GOD, the strength of my salvation,*
you have covered my head in the day of battle.

8 Do not grant the desires of the wicked, O LORD,*
nor let their evil plans prosper.

9 Let not those who surround me lift up their heads;*
let the evil of their lips overwhelm them.

10 Let hot burning coals fall upon them;*
let them be cast into the mire, never to rise up again.”

11 A slanderer shall not be established on the earth,*
and evil shall hunt down the lawless.

12 I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the poor *
and render justice to the needy.

13 Surely, the righteous will give thanks to your Name, *
and the upright shall continue in your sight.

Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent – Morning Prayer

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Psalm 131

1 O LORD, I am not proud;*
I have no haughty looks.

2 I do not occupy myself with great matters,*
or with things that are too hard for me.

3 But I still my soul and make it quiet,
like a child upon its mother’s breast;*
my soul is quieted within me.

4 O Israel, wait upon the LORD,*
from this time forth for evermore.

 

Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent – Evening Prayer

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Psalm 128

1 Happy are they all who fear the LORD,*
and who follow in his ways!

2 You shall eat the fruit of your labor;*
happiness and prosperity shall be yours.

3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine within your house,*
your children like olive shoots round about your table.

4 The man who fears the LORD*
shall thus indeed be blessed.

5 The LORD bless you from Zion,*
and may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life.

6 May you live to see your children’s children;*
may peace be upon Israel.

 

Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent – Morning Prayer

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Psalm 119:145-176;

145 I call with my whole heart;*
answer me, O LORD, that I may keep your statutes.

146 I call to you;
oh, that you would save me!*
I will keep your decrees.

147 Early in the morning I cry out to you,*
for in your word is my trust.

148 My eyes are open in the night watches,*
that I may meditate upon your promise.

149 Hear my voice, O LORD, according to your loving-kindness;*
according to your judgments, give me life.

150 They draw near who in malice persecute me;*
they are very far from your law.

151 You, O LORD, are near at hand,*
and all your commandments are true.

152 Long have I known from your decrees*
that you have established them for ever.

153 Behold my affliction and deliver me,*
for I do not forget your law.

154 Plead my cause and redeem me;*
according to your promise, give me life.

155 Deliverance is far from the wicked,*
for they do not study your statutes.

156 Great is your compassion, O LORD;*
preserve my life, according to your judgments.

157 There are many who persecute and oppress me,*
yet I have not swerved from your decrees.

158 I look with loathing at the faithless,*
for they have not kept your word.

159 See how I love your commandments!*
O LORD, in your mercy, preserve me.

160 The heart of your word is truth;*
all your righteous judgments endure for evermore.

161 Rulers have persecuted me without a cause,*
but my heart stands in awe of your word.

162 I am as glad because of your promise*
as one who finds great spoils.

163 As for lies, I hate and abhor them,*
but your law is my love.

164 Seven times a day do I praise you,*
because of your righteous judgments.

165 Great peace have they who love your law;*
for them there is no stumbling block.

166 I have hoped for your salvation, O LORD,*
and have fulfilled your commandments.

167 I have kept your decrees*
and I have loved them deeply.

168 I have kept your commandments and decrees,*
for all my ways are before you.

169 Let my cry come before you, O LORD;*
give me understanding, according to your word.

170 Let my supplication come before you;*
deliver me, according to your promise.

171 My lips shall pour forth your praise,*
when you teach me your statutes.

172 My tongue shall sing of your promise,*
for all your commandments are righteous.

173 Let your hand be ready to help me,*
for I have chosen your commandments.

174 I long for your salvation, O LORD,*
and your law is my delight.

175 Let me live, and I will praise you,*
and let your judgments help me.

176 I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost;*
search for your servant,
for I do not forget your commandments.

 

Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent – Evening Prayer

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Psalm 124

1 If the LORD had not been on our side,*
let Israel now say;

2 If the LORD had not been on our side,*
when enemies rose up against us;

3 Then would they have swallowed us up alive*
in their fierce anger toward us;

4 Then would the waters have overwhelmed us*
and the torrent gone over us;

5 Then would the raging waters*
have gone right over us.

6 Blessed be the LORD!*
he has not given us over to be a prey for their teeth.

7 We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowler;*
the snare is broken, and we have escaped.

8 Our help is in the Name of the LORD,*
the maker of heaven and earth.

 

Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent – Morning Prayer

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Psalm 121

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills;*
from where is my help to come?

2 My help comes from the LORD,*
the maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot be moved*
and he who watches over you will not fall asleep.

4 Behold, he who keeps watch over Israel*
shall neither slumber nor sleep;

5 The LORD himself watches over you;*
the LORD is your shade at your right hand,

6 So that the sun shall not strike you by day,*
nor the moon by night.

7 The LORD shall preserve you from all evil;*
it is he who shall keep you safe.

8 The LORD shall watch over your going out and your coming in,*
from this time forth for evermore.

 

Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent – Evening Prayer

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Psalm 35

1 Fight those who fight me, O LORD; *
attack those who are attacking me.

2 Take up shield and armor *
and rise up to help me.

3 Draw the sword and bar the way against those who pursue me; *
say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”

4 Let those who seek after my life be shamed and humbled; *
let those who plot my ruin fall back and be dismayed.

5 Let them be like chaff before the wind, *
and let the angel of the LORD drive them away.

6 Let their way be dark and slippery, *
and let the angel of the LORD pursue them.

7 For they have secretly spread a net for me without a cause; *
without a cause they have dug a pit to take me alive.

8 Let ruin come upon them unawares; *
let them be caught in the net they hid;
let them fall into the pit they dug.

9 Then I will be joyful in the LORD; *
I will glory in his victory.

10 My very bones will say, “LORD, who is like you? *
You deliver the poor from those who are too strong for them,
the poor and needy from those who rob them.”

11 Malicious witnesses rise up against me; *
they charge me with matters I know nothing about.

12 They pay me evil in exchange for good; *
my soul is full of despair.

13 But when they were sick I dressed in sack-cloth *
and humbled myself by fasting.

14 I prayed with my whole heart,
as one would for a friend or a brother; *
I behaved like one who mourns for his mother,
bowed down and grieving.

15 But when I stumbled, they were glad and gathered together;
they gathered against me; *
strangers whom I did not know tore me to pieces and would not stop.

16 They put me to the test and mocked me; *
they gnashed at me with their teeth.

17 O Lord, how long will you look on? *
rescue me from the roaring beasts,
and my life from the young lions.

18 I will give you thanks in the great congregation; *
I will praise you in the mighty throng.

19 Do not let my treacherous foes rejoice over me, *
nor let those who hate me without a cause wink at each other.

20 For they do not plan for peace, *
but invent deceitful schemes against the quiet in the land.

21 They opened their mouths at me and said, *
“Aha! we saw it with our own eyes.”

22 You saw it, O LORD; do not be silent; *
O Lord, be not far from me.

23 Awake, arise, to my cause! *
to my defense, my God and my Lord!

24 Give me justice, O LORD my God,
according to your righteousness; *
do not let them triumph over me.

25 Do not let them say in their hearts,
“Aha! just what we want!” *
Do not let them say, “We have swallowed him up.”

26 Let all who rejoice at my ruin be ashamed and disgraced; *
let those who boast against me be clothed with dismay and shame.

27 Let those who favor my cause sing out with joy and be glad; *
let them say always, “Great is the LORD,
who desires the prosperity of his servant.”

28 And my tongue shall be talking of your righteousness *
and of your praise all the day long.