The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom then shall I fear? *
the LORD is the strength of my life;
of whom then shall I be
afraid?
When evildoers came upon me to eat up my flesh, *
it was they,
my foes and my adversaries, who
stumbled and fell.
Though an army should encamp against me, *
yet my heart shall
not be afraid;
And though war should rise up against me, *
yet will I put my
trust in him.
One thing have I asked of the LORD;
one thing I seek; *
that
I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days
of my life;
To behold the fair beauty of the LORD *
and to seek him in his
temple.
For in the day of trouble he shall keep me safe
in his shelter;
*
he shall hide me in the secrecy of his dwelling
and set me
high upon a rock.
Even now he lifts up my head *
above my enemies round about me.
Therefore I will offer in his dwelling an oblation
with sounds
of great gladness; *
I will sing and make music to the LORD.
Hearken to my voice, O LORD, when I call; *
have mercy on me and
answer me.
You speak in my heart and say, "Seek my face." *
Your face,
LORD, will I seek.
Hide not your face from me, *
nor turn away your servant in
displeasure.
You have been my helper;
cast me not away; *
do not forsake
me, O God of my salvation.
Though my father and my mother forsake me, *
the LORD will
sustain me.
Show me your way, O LORD; *
lead me on a level path, because of
my enemies.
Deliver me not into the hand of my adversaries, *
for false
witnesses have risen up against me,
and also those who speak malice.
What if I had not believed
that I should see the goodness of the
LORD *
in the land of the living!
O tarry and await the LORD'S pleasure;
be strong, and he shall
comfort your heart; *
wait patiently for the LORD.
Psalm 39
Dixi, Custodiam
To listen to this psalm, turn on your speakers,
and Click here
I said, "I will keep watch upon my ways, *
so that I do not
offend with my tongue.
I will put a muzzle on my mouth *
while the wicked are in my
presence."
So I held my tongue and said nothing; *
I refrained from rash
words;
but my pain became unbearable.
My heart was hot within me;
while I pondered, the fire burst
into flame; *
I spoke out with my tongue:
LORD, let me know my end and the number of my days, *
so that I
may know how short my life is.
You have given me a mere handful of days,
and my lifetime is as
nothing in your sight; *
truly, even those who stand erect are but a
puff of wind.
We walk about like a shadow,
and in vain we are in turmoil; *
we heap up riches and cannot tell who will gather them.
And now, what is my hope? *
O Lord, my hope is in you.
Deliver me from all my transgressions *
and do not make me the
taunt of the fool.
I fell silent and did not open my mouth, *
for surely it was you
that did it.
Take your affliction from me; *
I am worn down by the blows of
your hand.
With rebukes for sin you punish us;
like a moth you eat away all
that is dear to us; *
truly, everyone is but a puff of wind.
Hear my prayer, O LORD,
and give ear to my cry; *
hold not
your peace at my tears.
For I am but a sojourner with you, *
a wayfarer, as all my
forebears were.
Turn your gaze from me, that I may be glad again, *
before I go
my way and am no more.
Psalm 41
Beatus qui intelligit
To listen to this psalm, turn on your speakers,
and Click here
Happy are they who consider the poor and needy! *
the LORD will
deliver them in the time of trouble.
The LORD preserves them and keeps them alive, so that they may be
happy in the land; *
he does not hand them over to the will of their
enemies.
The LORD sustains them on their sickbed *
and ministers to them
in their illness.
I said, "LORD, be merciful to me; *
heal me, for I have sinned
against you."
My enemies are saying wicked things about me: *
"When will he
die, and his name perish?"
Even if they come to see me, they speak empty words; *
their
heart collects false rumors;
they go outside and spread them.
All my enemies whisper together about me *
and devise evil
against me.
"A deadly thing," they say, "has fastened on him; *
he has taken
to his bed and will never get up again."
Even my best friend, whom I trusted, who broke bread with me, *
has lifted up his heel and turned against me.
But you, O LORD, be merciful to me and raise me up, *
and I
shall repay them.
By this I know you are pleased with me, *
that my enemy does not
triumph over me.
In my integrity you hold me fast, *
and shall set me before your
face for ever.
Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, *
from age to age. Amen.
Amen.
