The many faces of St. Francis from the Basilica

Psalm 31

In te, Domine, speravi
  1. In you, O LORD, have I taken refuge;
    let me never be put to shame; *
    deliver me in your righteousness.
  2. Incline your ear to me; *
    make haste to deliver me.
  3. Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe,
    for you are my crag and my stronghold; *
    for the sake of your Name, lead me and guide me.
  4. Take me out of the net that they have secretly set for me, *
    for you are my tower of strength.
  5. Into your hands I commend my spirit, *
    for you have redeemed me,
    O LORD, O God of truth.
  6. I hate those who cling to worthless idols, *
    and I put my trust in the LORD.
  7. I will rejoice and be glad because of your mercy; *
    for you have seen my affliction;
    you know my distress.
  8. You have not shut me up in the power of the enemy; *
    you have set my feet in an open place.
  9. Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am in trouble; *
    my eye is consumed with sorrow,
    and also my throat and my belly.
  10. For my life is wasted with grief,
    and my years with sighing; *
    my strength fails me because of affliction,
    and my bones are consumed.
  11. I have become a reproach to all my enemies and
    even to my neighbors,
    a dismay to those of my acquaintance; *
    when they see me in the street they avoid me.
  12. I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; *
    I am as useless as a broken pot.
  13. For I have heard the whispering of the crowd;
    fear is all around; *
    they put their heads together against me;
    they plot to take my life.
  14. But as for me, I have trusted in you, O LORD. *
    I have said, "You are my God.
  15. My times are in your hand; *
    rescue me from the hand of my enemies,
    and from those who persecute me.
  16. Make your face to shine upon your servant, *
    and in your loving-kindness save me."
  17. LORD, let me not be ashamed for having called upon you; *
    rather, let the wicked be put to shame;
    let them be silent in the grave.
  18. Let the lying lips be silenced which speak against
    the righteous, *
    haughtily, disdainfully, and with contempt.
  19. How great is your goodness, O LORD!
    which you have laid up for those who fear you; *
    which you have done in the sight of all
    for those who put their trust in you.
  20. You hide them in the covert of your presence from those
    who slander them; *
    you keep them in your shelter from the strife of tongues.
  21. Blessed be the LORD! *
    for he has shown me the wonders of his love in a
    besieged city.
  22. Yet I said in my alarm,
    "I have been cut off from the sight of your eyes." *
    Nevertheless, you heard the sound of my entreaty
    when I cried out to you.
  23. Love the LORD, all you who worship him; *
    the LORD protects the faithful,
    but repays to the full those who act haughtily.
  24. Be strong and let your heart take courage, *
    all you who wait for the LORD.

Psalm 34

Benedicam Dominum


  1. I will bless the LORD at all times; *
    his praise shall ever be in my mouth.
  2. I will glory in the LORD; *
    let the humble hear and rejoice.
  3. Proclaim with me the greatness of the LORD; *
    let us exalt his Name together.
  4. I sought the LORD, and he answered me *
    and delivered me out of all my terror.
  5. Look upon him and be radiant, *
    and let not your faces be ashamed.
  6. I called in my affliction and the LORD heard me *
    and saved me from all my troubles.
  7. The angel of the LORD encompasses those who fear him, *
    and he will deliver them.
  8. Taste and see that the LORD is good; *
    happy are they who trust in him!
  9. Fear the LORD, you that are his saints, *
    for those who fear him lack nothing.
  10. The young lions lack and suffer hunger, *
    but those who seek the LORD lack nothing that is good.
  11. Come, children, and listen to me; *
    I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
  12. Who among you loves life *
    and desires long life to enjoy prosperity?
  13. Keep your tongue from evil-speaking *
    and your lips from lying words.
  14. Turn from evil and do good; *
    seek peace and pursue it.
  15. The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, *
    and his ears are open to their cry.
  16. The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, *
    to root out the remembrance of them from the earth.
  17. The righteous cry, and the LORD hears them *
    and delivers them from all their troubles.
  18. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted *
    and will save those whose spirits are crushed.
  19. Many are the troubles of the righteous, *
    but the LORD will deliver him out of them all.
  20. He will keep safe all his bones; *
    not one of them shall be broken.
  21. Evil shall slay the wicked, *
    and those who hate the righteous will be punished.
  22. The LORD ransoms the life of his servants, *
    and none will be punished who trust in him.


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© 2006 The Franciscan Order of the Divine Compassion. All rights reserved.