Day 22 of the 30-day Psalter: Morning and Evening

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, *

and his mercy endures for ever.

Let all those whom the LORD has redeemed proclaim *

that he redeemed them from the hand of the foe.

He gathered them out of the lands; *

from the east and from the west,

from the north and from the south.

Some wandered in desert wastes; *

they found no way to a city where they might dwell.

They were hungry and thirsty; *

their spirits languished within them.

Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, *

and he delivered them from their distress.

He put their feet on a straight path *

to go to a city where they might dwell.

Let them give thanks to the LORD for his mercy *

and the wonders he does for his children.

For he satisfies the thirsty *

and fills the hungry with good things.

Some sat in darkness and deep gloom, *

bound fast in misery and iron;

Because they rebelled against the words of God *

and despised the counsel of the Most High.

So he humbled their spirits with hard labor; *

they stumbled, and there was none to help.

Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, *

and he delivered them from their distress.

He led them out of darkness and deep gloom *

and broke their bonds asunder.

Let them give thanks to the LORD for his mercy *

and the wonders he does for his children.

For he shatters the doors of bronze *

and breaks in two the iron bars.

Some were fools and took to rebellious ways; *

they were afflicted because of their sins.

They abhorred all manner of food *

and drew near to death's door.

Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, *

and he delivered them from their distress.

He sent forth his word and healed them *

and saved them from the grave.

Let them give thanks to the LORD for his mercy *

and the wonders he does for his children.

Let them offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving *

and tell of his acts with shouts of joy.

Some went down to the sea in ships *

and plied their trade in deep waters;

They beheld the works of the LORD *

and his wonders in the deep.

Then he spoke, and a stormy wind arose, *

which tossed high the waves of the sea.

They mounted up to the heavens and fell back to the depths; *

their hearts melted because of their peril.

They reeled and staggered like drunkards *

and were at their wits' end.

Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, *

and he delivered them from their distress.

He stilled the storm to a whisper *

and quieted the waves of the sea.

Then were they glad because of the calm, *

and he brought them to the harbor they were bound for.

Let them give thanks to the LORD for his mercy *

and the wonders he does for his children.

Let them exalt him in the congregation of the people *

and praise him in the council of the elders.

The LORD changed rivers into deserts, *

and water-springs into thirsty ground,

A fruitful land into salt flats, *

because of the wickedness of those who dwell there.

He changed deserts into pools of water *

and dry land into water-springs.

He settled the hungry there, *

and they founded a city to dwell in.

They sowed fields, and planted vineyards, *

and brought in a fruitful harvest.

He blessed them, so that they increased greatly; *

he did not let their herds decrease.

Yet when they were diminished and brought low, *

through stress of adversity and sorrow,

(He pours contempt on princes *

and makes them wander in trackless wastes)

He lifted up the poor out of misery *

and multiplied their families like flocks of sheep.

The upright will see this and rejoice, *

but all wickedness will shut its mouth.

Whoever is wise will ponder these things, *

and consider well the mercies of the LORD.

My heart is firmly fixed, O God, my heart is fixed; *

I will sing and make melody.

Wake up, my spirit;

awake, lute and harp; *

I myself will waken the dawn.

I will confess you among the peoples, O LORD; *

I will sing praises to you among the nations.

For your loving-kindness is greater than the heavens, *

and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

Exalt yourself above the heavens, O God, *

and your glory over all the earth.

So that those who are dear to you may be delivered, *

save with your right hand and answer me.

God spoke from his holy place and said, *

"I will exult and parcel out Shechem;

I will divide the valley of Succoth.

Gilead is mine and Manasseh is mine; *

Ephraim is my helmet and Judah my scepter.

Moab is my washbasin,

on Edom I throw down my sandal to claim it, *

and over Philistia will I shout in triumph."

Who will lead me into the strong city? *

who will bring me into Edom?

Have you not cast us off, O God? *

you no longer go out, O God, with our armies.

Grant us your help against the enemy, *

for vain is the help of man.

With God we will do valiant deeds, *

and he shall tread our enemies under foot.

Hold not your tongue, O God of my praise; *

for the mouth of the wicked,

the mouth of the deceitful, is opened against me.

They speak to me with a lying tongue; *

they encompass me with hateful words

and fight against me without a cause.

Despite my love, they accuse me; *

but as for me, I pray for them.

They repay evil for good, *

and hatred for my love.

Set a wicked man against him, *

and let an accuser stand at his right hand.

When he is judged, let him be found guilty, *

and let his appeal be in vain.

Let his days be few, *

and let another take his office.

Let his children be fatherless, *

and his wife become a widow.

Let his children be waifs and beggars; *

let them be driven from the ruins of their homes.

Let the creditor seize everything he has; *

let strangers plunder his gains.

Let there be no one to show him kindness, *

and none to pity his fatherless children.

Let his descendants be destroyed, *

and his name be blotted out in the next generation.

Let the wickedness of his fathers be remembered before the LORD, *

and his mother's sin not be blotted out;

Let their sin be always before the LORD; *

but let him root out their names from the earth;

Because he did not remember to show mercy, *

but persecuted the poor and needy

and sought to kill the brokenhearted.

He loved cursing,

let it come upon him; *

he took no delight in blessing,

let it depart from him.

He put on cursing like a garment, *

let it soak into his body like water

and into his bones like oil;

Let it be to him like the cloak which he wraps around himself, *

and like the belt that he wears continually.

Let this be the recompense from the LORD to my accusers, *

and to those who speak evil against me.

But you, O Lord my God,

oh, deal with me according to your Name; *

for your tender mercy's sake, deliver me.

For I am poor and needy, *

and my heart is wounded within me.

I have faded away like a shadow when it lengthens; *

I am shaken off like a locust.

My knees are weak through fasting, *

and my flesh is wasted and gaunt.

I have become a reproach to them; *

they see and shake their heads.

Help me, O LORD my God; *

save me for your mercy's sake.

Let them know that this is your hand, *

that you, O LORD, have done it.

They may curse, but you will bless; *

let those who rise up against me be put to shame,

and your servant will rejoice.

Let my accusers be clothed with disgrace *

and wrap themselves in their shame as in a cloak.

I will give great thanks to the LORD with my mouth; *

in the midst of the multitude will I praise him;

Because he stands at the right hand of the needy, *

to save his life from those who would condemn him.