Day 27 of the 30-day Psalter: Morning and Evening

When I was in trouble, I called to the LORD; *

I called to the LORD, and he answered me.

Deliver me, O LORD, from lying lips *

and from the deceitful tongue.

What shall be done to you, and what more besides, *

O you deceitful tongue?

The sharpened arrows of a warrior, *

along with hot glowing coals.

How hateful it is that I must lodge in Meshech *

and dwell among the tents of Kedar!

Too long have I had to live *

among the enemies of peace.

I am on the side of peace, *

but when I speak of it, they are for war.

I lift up my eyes to the hills; *

from where is my help to come?

My help comes from the LORD, *

the maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved *

and he who watches over you will not fall asleep.

Behold, he who keeps watch over Israel *

shall neither slumber nor sleep;

The LORD himself watches over you; *

the LORD is your shade at your right hand,

So that the sun shall not strike you by day, *

nor the moon by night.

The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; *

it is he who shall keep you safe.

The LORD shall watch over your going out and your coming in, *

from this time forth for evermore.

I was glad when they said to me, *

"Let us go to the house of the LORD."

Now our feet are standing *

within your gates, O Jerusalem.

Jerusalem is built as a city *

that is at unity with itself;

To which the tribes go up,

the tribes of the LORD, *

the assembly of Israel,

to praise the Name of the LORD.

For there are the thrones of judgment, *

the thrones of the house of David.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: *

"May they prosper who love you.

Peace be within your walls *

and quietness within your towers.

For my brethren and companions' sake, *

I pray for your prosperity.

Because of the house of the LORD our God, *

I will seek to do you good."

To you I lift up my eyes, *

to you enthroned in the heavens.

As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, *

and the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,

So our eyes look to the LORD our God, *

until he show us his mercy.

Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy, *

for we have had more than enough of contempt,

Too much of the scorn of the indolent rich, *

and of the derision of the proud.

If the LORD had not been on our side, *

let Israel now say;

If the LORD had not been on our side, *

when enemies rose up against us;

Then would they have swallowed us up alive *

in their fierce anger toward us;

Then would the waters have overwhelmed us *

and the torrent gone over us;

Then would the raging waters *

have gone right over us.

Blessed be the LORD! *

he has not given us over to be a prey for their teeth.

We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowler; *

the snare is broken, and we have escaped.

Our help is in the Name of the LORD, *

the maker of heaven and earth.

Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, *

which cannot be moved, but stands fast for ever.

The hills stand about Jerusalem; *

so does the LORD stand round about his people,

from this time forth for evermore.

The scepter of the wicked shall not hold sway over the land allotted to the just, *

so that the just shall not put their hands to evil.

Show your goodness, O LORD, to those who are good *

and to those who are true of heart.

As for those who turn aside to crooked ways,

the LORD will lead them away with the evildoers; *

but peace be upon Israel.

When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, *

then were we like those who dream.

Then was our mouth filled with laughter, *

and our tongue with shouts of joy.

Then they said among the nations, *

"The LORD has done great things for them."

The LORD has done great things for us, *

and we are glad indeed.

Restore our fortunes, O LORD, *

like the watercourses of the Negev.

Those who sowed with tears *

will reap with songs of joy.

Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, *

will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves.

Unless the LORD builds the house, *

their labor is in vain who build it.

Unless the LORD watches over the city, *

in vain the watchman keeps his vigil.

It is in vain that you rise so early and go to bed so late; *

vain, too, to eat the bread of toil,

for he gives to his beloved sleep.

Children are a heritage from the LORD, *

and the fruit of the womb is a gift.

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior *

are the children of one's youth.

Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them! *

he shall not be put to shame

when he contends with his enemies in the gate.

Happy are they all who fear the LORD, *

and who follow in his ways!

You shall eat the fruit of your labor; *

happiness and prosperity shall be yours.

Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine within your house, *

your children like olive shoots round about your table.

The man who fears the LORD *

shall thus indeed be blessed.

The LORD bless you from Zion, *

and may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life.

May you live to see your children's children; *

may peace be upon Israel.

"Greatly have they oppressed me since my youth," *

let Israel now say;

"Greatly have they oppressed me since my youth, *

but they have not prevailed against me."

The plowmen plowed upon my back *

and made their furrows long.

The LORD, the Righteous One, *

has cut the cords of the wicked.

Let them be put to shame and thrown back, *

all those who are enemies of Zion.

Let them be like grass upon the housetops, *

which withers before it can be plucked;

Which does not fill the hand of the reaper, *

nor the bosom of him who binds the sheaves;

So that those who go by say not so much as,

"The LORD prosper you. *

We wish you well in the Name of the LORD."

Out of the depths have I called to you, O LORD;

LORD, hear my voice; *

let your ears consider well the voice of my supplication.

If you, LORD, were to note what is done amiss, *

O LORD, who could stand?

For there is forgiveness with you; *

therefore you shall be feared.

I wait for the LORD; my soul waits for him; *

in his word is my hope.

My soul waits for the LORD,

more than watchmen for the morning, *

more than watchmen for the morning.

O Israel, wait for the LORD, *

for with the LORD there is mercy;

With him there is plenteous redemption, *

and he shall redeem Israel from all their sins.

O LORD, I am not proud; *

I have no haughty looks.

I do not occupy myself with great matters, *

or with things that are too hard for me.

But I still my soul and make it quiet,

like a child upon its mother's breast; *

my soul is quieted within me.

O Israel, wait upon the LORD, *

from this time forth for evermore.