Day 20 of the 30-day Psalter: Morning and Evening

LORD, hear my prayer, and let my cry come before you; *

hide not your face from me in the day of my trouble.

Incline your ear to me; *

when I call, make haste to answer me,

For my days drift away like smoke, *

and my bones are hot as burning coals.

My heart is smitten like grass and withered, *

so that I forget to eat my bread.

Because of the voice of my groaning *

I am but skin and bones.

I have become like a vulture in the wilderness, *

like an owl among the ruins.

I lie awake and groan; *

I am like a sparrow, lonely on a house-top.

My enemies revile me all day long, *

and those who scoff at me have taken an oath against me.

For I have eaten ashes for bread *

and mingled my drink with weeping.

Because of your indignation and wrath *

you have lifted me up and thrown me away.

My days pass away like a shadow, *

and I wither like the grass.

But you, O LORD, endure for ever, *

and your Name from age to age.

You will arise and have compassion on Zion,

for it is time to have mercy upon her; *

indeed, the appointed time has come.

For your servants love her very rubble, *

and are moved to pity even for her dust.

The nations shall fear your Name, O LORD, *

and all the kings of the earth your glory.

For the LORD will build up Zion, *

and his glory will appear.

He will look with favor on the prayer of the homeless; *

he will not despise their plea.

Let this be written for a future generation, *

so that a people yet unborn may praise the LORD.

For the LORD looked down from his holy place on high; *

from the heavens he beheld the earth;

That he might hear the groan of the captive *

and set free those condemned to die;

That they may declare in Zion the Name of the LORD, *

and his praise in Jerusalem;

When the peoples are gathered together, *

and the kingdoms also, to serve the LORD.

He has brought down my strength before my time; *

he has shortened the number of my days;

And I said, "O my God,

do not take me away in the midst of my days; *

your years endure throughout all generations.

In the beginning, O LORD, you laid the foundations of the earth, *

and the heavens are the work of your hands;

They shall perish, but you will endure;

they all shall wear out like a garment; *

as clothing you will change them,

and they shall be changed;

But you are always the same, *

and your years will never end.

The children of your servants shall continue, *

and their offspring shall stand fast in your sight."

Bless the LORD, O my soul, *

and all that is within me, bless his holy Name.

Bless the LORD, O my soul, *

and forget not all his benefits.

He forgives all your sins *

and heals all your infirmities;

He redeems your life from the grave *

and crowns you with mercy and loving-kindness;

He satisfies you with good things, *

and your youth is renewed like an eagle's.

The LORD executes righteousness *

and judgment for all who are oppressed.

He made his ways known to Moses *

and his works to the children of Israel.

The LORD is full of compassion and mercy, *

slow to anger and of great kindness.

He will not always accuse us, *

nor will he keep his anger for ever.

He has not dealt with us according to our sins, *

nor rewarded us according to our wickedness.

For as the heavens are high above the earth, *

so is his mercy great upon those who fear him.

As far as the east is from the west, *

so far has he removed our sins from us.

As a father cares for his children, *

so does the LORD care for those who fear him.

For he himself knows whereof we are made; *

he remembers that we are but dust.

Our days are like the grass; *

we flourish like a flower of the field;

When the wind goes over it, it is gone, *

and its place shall know it no more.

But the merciful goodness of the LORD endures for ever on those who fear him, *

and his righteousness on children's children;

On those who keep his covenant *

and remember his commandments and do them.

The LORD has set his throne in heaven, *

and his kingship has dominion over all.

Bless the LORD, you angels of his,

you mighty ones who do his bidding, *

and hearken to the voice of his word.

Bless the LORD, all you his hosts, *

you ministers of his who do his will.

Bless the LORD, all you works of his,

in all places of his dominion; *

bless the LORD, O my soul.

Bless the LORD, O my soul; *

O LORD my God, how excellent is your greatness!

you are clothed with majesty and splendor.

You wrap yourself with light as with a cloak *

and spread out the heavens like a curtain.

You lay the beams of your chambers in the waters above; *

you make the clouds your chariot;

you ride on the wings of the wind.

You make the winds your messengers *

and flames of fire your servants.

You have set the earth upon its foundations, *

so that it never shall move at any time.

You covered it with the Deep as with a mantle; *

the waters stood higher than the mountains.

At your rebuke they fled; *

at the voice of your thunder they hastened away.

They went up into the hills and down to the valleys beneath, *

to the places you had appointed for them.

You set the limits that they should not pass; *

they shall not again cover the earth.

You send the springs into the valleys; *

they flow between the mountains.

All the beasts of the field drink their fill from them, *

and the wild asses quench their thirst.

Beside them the birds of the air make their nests *

and sing among the branches.

You water the mountains from your dwelling on high; *

the earth is fully satisfied by the fruit of your works.

You make grass grow for flocks and herds *

and plants to serve mankind;

That they may bring forth food from the earth, *

and wine to gladden our hearts,

Oil to make a cheerful countenance, *

and bread to strengthen the heart.

The trees of the LORD are full of sap, *

the cedars of Lebanon which he planted,

In which the birds build their nests, *

and in whose tops the stork makes his dwelling.

The high hills are a refuge for the mountain goats, *

and the stony cliffs for the rock badgers.

You appointed the moon to mark the seasons, *

and the sun knows the time of its setting.

You make darkness that it may be night, *

in which all the beasts of the forest prowl.

The lions roar after their prey *

and seek their food from God.

The sun rises, and they slip away *

and lay themselves down in their dens.

Man goes forth to his work *

and to his labor until the evening.

O LORD, how manifold are your works! *

in wisdom you have made them all;

the earth is full of your creatures.

Yonder is the great and wide sea

with its living things too many to number, *

creatures both small and great.

There move the ships,

and there is that Leviathan, *

which you have made for the sport of it.

All of them look to you *

to give them their food in due season.

You give it to them; they gather it; *

you open your hand, and they are filled with good things.

You hide your face, and they are terrified; *

you take away their breath,

and they die and return to their dust.

You send forth your Spirit, and they are created; *

and so you renew the face of the earth.

May the glory of the LORD endure for ever; *

may the LORD rejoice in all his works.

He looks at the earth and it trembles; *

he touches the mountains and they smoke.

I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; *

I will praise my God while I have my being.

May these words of mine please him; *

I will rejoice in the LORD.

Let sinners be consumed out of the earth, *

and the wicked be no more.

Bless the LORD, O my soul. *

Hallelujah!