Day 13 of the 30-day Psalter: Morning and Evening

Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered; *

let those who hate him flee before him.

Let them vanish like smoke when the wind drives it away; *

as the wax melts at the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.

But let the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; *

let them also be merry and joyful.

Sing to God, sing praises to his Name;

exalt him who rides upon the heavens; *

YAHWEH is his Name, rejoice before him!

Father of orphans, defender of widows, *

God in his holy habitation!

God gives the solitary a home and brings forth prisoners into freedom; *

but the rebels shall live in dry places.

O God, when you went forth before your people, *

when you marched through the wilderness,

The earth shook, and the skies poured down rain,

at the presence of God, the God of Sinai, *

at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

You sent a gracious rain, O God, upon your inheritance; *

you refreshed the land when it was weary.

Your people found their home in it; *

in your goodness, O God, you have made provision for the poor.

The Lord gave the word; *

great was the company of women who bore the tidings:

"Kings with their armies are fleeing away; *

the women at home are dividing the spoils."

Though you lingered among the sheepfolds, *

you shall be like a dove whose wings are covered with silver,

whose feathers are like green gold.

When the Almighty scattered kings, *

it was like snow falling in Zalmon.

O mighty mountain, O hill of Bashan! *

O rugged mountain, O hill of Bashan!

Why do you look with envy, O rugged mountain,

at the hill which God chose for his resting place? *

truly, the LORD will dwell there for ever.

The chariots of God are twenty thousand,

even thousands of thousands; *

the Lord comes in holiness from Sinai.

You have gone up on high and led captivity captive;

you have received gifts even from your enemies, *

that the LORD God might dwell among them.

Blessed be the Lord day by day, *

the God of our salvation, who bears our burdens.

He is our God, the God of our salvation; *

God is the LORD, by whom we escape death.

God shall crush the heads of his enemies, *

and the hairy scalp of those who go on still in their wickedness.

The Lord has said, "I will bring them back from Bashan; *

I will bring them back from the depths of the sea;

That your foot may be dipped in blood, *

the tongues of your dogs in the blood of your enemies."

They see your procession, O God, *

your procession into the sanctuary, my God and my King.

The singers go before, musicians follow after, *

in the midst of maidens playing upon the hand-drums.

Bless God in the congregation; *

bless the LORD, you that are of the fountain of Israel.

There is Benjamin, least of the tribes, at the head;

the princes of Judah in a company; *

and the princes of Zebulon and Naphtali.

Send forth your strength, O God; *

establish, O God, what you have wrought for us.

Kings shall bring gifts to you, *

for your temple's sake at Jerusalem.

Rebuke the wild beast of the reeds, *

and the peoples, a herd of wild bulls with its calves.

Trample down those who lust after silver; *

scatter the peoples that delight in war.

Let tribute be brought out of Egypt; *

let Ethiopia stretch out her hands to God.

Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; *

sing praises to the Lord.

He rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens; *

he sends forth his voice, his mighty voice.

Ascribe power to God; *

his majesty is over Israel;

his strength is in the skies.

How wonderful is God in his holy places! *

the God of Israel giving strength and power to his people!

Blessed be God!

Save me, O God, *

for the waters have risen up to my neck.

I am sinking in deep mire, *

and there is no firm ground for my feet.

I have come into deep waters, *

and the torrent washes over me.

I have grown weary with my crying;

my throat is inflamed; *

my eyes have failed from looking for my God.

Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head;

my lying foes who would destroy me are mighty. *

Must I then give back what I never stole?

O God, you know my foolishness, *

and my faults are not hidden from you.

Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, Lord GOD of hosts; *

let not those who seek you be disgraced because of me, O God of Israel.

Surely, for your sake have I suffered reproach, *

and shame has covered my face.

I have become a stranger to my own kindred, *

an alien to my mother's children.

Zeal for your house has eaten me up; *

the scorn of those who scorn you has fallen upon me.

I humbled myself with fasting, *

but that was turned to my reproach.

I put on sack-cloth also, *

and became a byword among them.

Those who sit at the gate murmur against me, *

and the drunkards make songs about me.

But as for me, this is my prayer to you, *

at the time you have set, O LORD:

"In your great mercy, O God, *

answer me with your unfailing help.

Save me from the mire; do not let me sink; *

let me be rescued from those who hate me

and out of the deep waters.

Let not the torrent of waters wash over me,

neither let the deep swallow me up; *

do not let the Pit shut its mouth upon me.

Answer me, O LORD, for your love is kind; *

in your great compassion, turn to me."

"Hide not your face from your servant; *

be swift and answer me, for I am in distress.

Draw near to me and redeem me; *

because of my enemies deliver me.

You know my reproach, my shame, and my dishonor; *

my adversaries are all in your sight."

Reproach has broken my heart, and it cannot be healed; *

I looked for sympathy, but there was none,

for comforters, but I could find no one.

They gave me gall to eat, *

and when I was thirsty, they gave me vinegar to drink.

Let the table before them be a trap *

and their sacred feasts a snare.

Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, *

and give them continual trembling in their loins.

Pour out your indignation upon them, *

and let the fierceness of your anger overtake them.

Let their camp be desolate, *

and let there be none to dwell in their tents.

For they persecute him whom you have stricken *

and add to the pain of those whom you have pierced.

Lay to their charge guilt upon guilt, *

and let them not receive your vindication.

Let them be wiped out of the book of the living *

and not be written among the righteous.

As for me, I am afflicted and in pain; *

your help, O God, will lift me up on high.

I will praise the Name of God in song; *

I will proclaim his greatness with thanksgiving.

This will please the LORD more than an offering of oxen, *

more than bullocks with horns and hoofs.

The afflicted shall see and be glad; *

you who seek God, your heart shall live.

For the LORD listens to the needy, *

and his prisoners he does not despise.

Let the heavens and the earth praise him, *

the seas and all that moves in them;

For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah; *

they shall live there and have it in possession.

The children of his servants will inherit it, *

and those who love his Name will dwell therein.

Be pleased, O God, to deliver me; *

O LORD, make haste to help me.

Let those who seek my life be ashamed

and altogether dismayed; *

let those who take pleasure in my misfortune

draw back and be disgraced.

Let those who say to me "Aha!" and gloat over me turn back, *

because they are ashamed.

Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; *

let those who love your salvation say for ever,

"Great is the LORD!"

But as for me, I am poor and needy; *

come to me speedily, O God.

You are my helper and my deliverer; *

O LORD, do not tarry.