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
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
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.
