Day 4 of the 30-day Psalter: Morning and Evening

The heavens declare the glory of God, *

and the firmament shows his handiwork.

One day tells its tale to another, *

and one night imparts knowledge to another.

Although they have no words or language, *

and their voices are not heard,

Their sound has gone out into all lands, *

and their message to the ends of the world.

In the deep has he set a pavilion for the sun; *

it comes forth like a bridegroom out of his chamber;

it rejoices like a champion to run its course.

It goes forth from the uttermost edge of the heavens

and runs about to the end of it again; *

nothing is hidden from its burning heat.

The law of the LORD is perfect and revives the soul; *

the testimony of the LORD is sure and gives wisdom to the innocent.

The statutes of the LORD are just and rejoice the heart; *

the commandment of the LORD is clear and gives light to the eyes.

The fear of the LORD is clean and endures for ever; *

the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold, more than much fine gold, *

sweeter far than honey, than honey in the comb.

By them also is your servant enlightened, *

and in keeping them there is great reward.

Who can tell how often he offends? *

cleanse me from my secret faults.

Above all, keep your servant from presumptuous sins;

let them not get dominion over me; *

then shall I be whole and sound,

and innocent of a great offense.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, *

O LORD, my strength and my redeemer.

May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble, *

the Name of the God of Jacob defend you;

Send you help from his holy place *

and strengthen you out of Zion;

Remember all your offerings *

and accept your burnt sacrifice;

Grant you your heart's desire *

and prosper all your plans.

We will shout for joy at your victory

and triumph in the Name of our God; *

may the LORD grant all your requests.

Now I know that the LORD gives victory to his anointed; *

he will answer him out of his holy heaven,

with the victorious strength of his right hand.

Some put their trust in chariots and some in horses, *

but we will call upon the Name of the LORD our God.

They collapse and fall down, *

but we will arise and stand upright.

O LORD, give victory to the king *

and answer us when we call.

The king rejoices in your strength, O LORD; *

how greatly he exults in your victory!

You have given him his heart's desire; *

you have not denied him the request of his lips.

For you meet him with blessings of prosperity, *

and set a crown of fine gold upon his head.

He asked you for life, and you gave it to him: *

length of days, for ever and ever.

His honor is great, because of your victory; *

splendor and majesty have you bestowed upon him.

For you will give him everlasting felicity *

and will make him glad with the joy of your presence.

For the king puts his trust in the LORD; *

because of the loving-kindness of the Most High, he will not fall.

Your hand will lay hold upon all your enemies; *

your right hand will seize all those who hate you.

You will make them like a fiery furnace *

at the time of your appearing, O LORD;

You will swallow them up in your wrath, *

and fire shall consume them.

You will destroy their offspring from the land *

and their descendants from among the peoples of the earth.

Though they intend evil against you

and devise wicked schemes, *

yet they shall not prevail.

For you will put them to flight *

and aim your arrows at them.

Be exalted, O LORD, in your might; *

we will sing and praise your power.

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? *

and are so far from my cry

and from the words of my distress?

O my God, I cry in the daytime, but you do not answer; *

by night as well, but I find no rest.

Yet you are the Holy One, *

enthroned upon the praises of Israel.

Our forefathers put their trust in you; *

they trusted, and you delivered them.

They cried out to you and were delivered; *

they trusted in you and were not put to shame.

But as for me, I am a worm and no man, *

scorned by all and despised by the people.

All who see me laugh me to scorn; *

they curl their lips and wag their heads, saying,

"He trusted in the LORD; let him deliver him; *

let him rescue him, if he delights in him."

Yet you are he who took me out of the womb, *

and kept me safe upon my mother's breast.

I have been entrusted to you ever since I was born; *

you were my God when I was still in my mother's womb.

Be not far from me, for trouble is near, *

and there is none to help.

Many young bulls encircle me; *

strong bulls of Bashan surround me.

They open wide their jaws at me, *

like a ravening and a roaring lion.

I am poured out like water;

all my bones are out of joint; *

my heart within my breast is melting wax.

My mouth is dried out like a pot-sherd;

my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; *

and you have laid me in the dust of the grave.

Packs of dogs close me in,

and gangs of evildoers circle around me; *

they pierce my hands and my feet;

I can count all my bones.

They stare and gloat over me; *

they divide my garments among them;

they cast lots for my clothing.

Be not far away, O LORD; *

you are my strength; hasten to help me.

Save me from the sword, *

my life from the power of the dog.

Save me from the lion's mouth, *

my wretched body from the horns of wild bulls.

I will declare your Name to my brethren; *

in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.

Praise the LORD, you that fear him; *

stand in awe of him, O offspring of Israel;

all you of Jacob's line, give glory.

For he does not despise nor abhor the poor in their poverty;

neither does he hide his face from them; *

but when they cry to him he hears them.

My praise is of him in the great assembly; *

I will perform my vows in the presence of those who worship him.

The poor shall eat and be satisfied,

and those who seek the LORD shall praise him: *

"May your heart live for ever!"

All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, *

and all the families of the nations bow before him.

For kingship belongs to the LORD; *

he rules over the nations.

To him alone all who sleep in the earth bow down in worship; *

all who go down to the dust fall before him.

My soul shall live for him;

my descendants shall serve him; *

they shall be known as the LORD'S for ever.

They shall come and make known to a people yet unborn *

the saving deeds that he has done.

The LORD is my shepherd; *

I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures *

and leads me beside still waters.

He revives my soul *

and guides me along right pathways for his Name's sake.

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I shall fear no evil; *

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; *

you have anointed my head with oil,

and my cup is running over.

Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, *

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.