Selected Psalms

Divine Guidance

Psalm 25 Ad te, Domine, levavi.

UNTO thee, O LORD, will I lift up my soul; my God, I have put my trust in thee: * O let me not be confounded, neither let mine enemies triumph over me.

2For all they that hope in thee shall not be ashamed; * but such as transgress without a cause shall be put to confusion.

3Show me thy ways, O LORD, * and teach me thy paths.

4Lead me forth in thy truth, and learn me: * for thou art the God of my salvation; in thee hath been my hope all the day long.

5Call to remembrance, O LORD, thy tender mercies, * and thy loving-kindnesses, which have been ever of old.

6O remember not the sins and offences of my youth; * but according to thy mercy think thou upon me, O LORD, for thy goodness.

7Gracious and righteous is the LORD; * therefore, will he teach sinners in the way.

8Them that are meek shall he guide in judgment; * and such as are gentle, them shall he learn his way.

9All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth, * unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.

10For thy Name's sake, O LORD, * be merciful unto my sin; for it is great.

11What man is he that feareth the LORD? * him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.

12His soul shall dwell at ease, * and his seed shall inherit the land.

13The secret of the LORD is among them that fear him; * and he will show them his covenant.

14Mine eyes are ever looking unto the LORD; * for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.

15Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; * for I am desolate, and in misery.

16The sorrows of my heart are enlarged: * O bring thou me out of my troubles.

17Look upon my adversity and misery, * and forgive me all my sin.

18Consider mine enemies, how many they are; * and they bear a tyrannous hate against me.

19O keep my soul, and deliver me: * let me not be confounded, for I have put my trust in thee.

20Let perfectness and righteous dealing wait upon me; * for my hope hath been in thee.

21Deliver Israel, O God, * out of all his troubles.

Psalm 43 Judica me, Deus.

GIVE sentence with me, O God, and defend my cause against the ungodly people; * O deliver me from the deceitful and wicked man.

2For thou art the God of my strength; why hast thou put me from thee? * and why go I so heavily, while the enemy oppresseth me?

3O send out thy light and thy truth, that they may lead me, * and bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy dwelling;

4And that I may go unto the altar of God, even unto the God of my joy and gladness; * and upon the harp will I give thanks unto thee, O God, my God.

5Why art thou so heavy, O my soul? * and why art thou so disquieted within me?

6O put thy trust in God; * for I will yet give him thanks, which is the help of my countenance, and my God.

Psalm 80 Qui regis Israel.

HEAR, O thou Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; * show thyself also, thou that sittest upon the Cherubim.

2Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, * stir up thy strength, and come and help us.

3Turn us again, O God; * show the light of thy countenance, and we shall be whole.

4O LORD God of hosts, * how long wilt thou be angry with thy people that prayeth?

5Thou feedest them with the bread of tears, * and givest them plenteousness of tears to drink.

6Thou hast made us a very strife unto our neighbours, * and our enemies laugh us to scorn.

7Turn us again, thou God of hosts; * show the light of thy countenance, and we shall be whole.

8Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt; * thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.

9Thou madest room for it; * and when it had taken root, it filled the land.

10The hills were covered with the shadow of it, * and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedar-trees.

11She stretched out her branches unto the sea, * and her boughs unto the River.

12Why hast thou then broken down her hedge, * that all they that go by pluck off her grapes?

13The wild boar out of the wood doth root it up, * and the wild beasts of the field devour it.

14Turn thee again, thou God of hosts, look down from heaven, * behold, and visit this vine;

15And the place of the vineyard that thy right hand hath planted, * and the branch that thou madest so strong for thyself.

16It is burnt with fire, and cut down; * and they shall perish at the rebuke of thy countenance.

17Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, * and upon the son of man, whom thou madest so strong for thine own self.

18And so will not we go back from thee: * O let us live, and we shall call upon thy Name.

19Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts; * show the light of thy countenance, and we shall be whole.

Psalm 85 Benedixisti, Domine.

LORD, thou art become gracious unto thy land; * thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob.

2Thou hast forgiven the offence of thy people, * and covered all their sins.

3Thou hast taken away all thy displeasure, * and turned thyself from thy wrathful indignation.

4Turn us then, O God our Saviour, * and let thine anger cease from us.

5Wilt thou be displeased at us for ever? * and wilt thou stretch out thy wrath from one generation to another?

6Wilt thou not turn again, and quicken us, * that thy people may rejoice in thee?

7Show us thy mercy, O LORD, * and grant us thy salvation.

8I will hearken what the LORD God will say; * for he shall speak peace unto his people, and to his saints, that they turn not again unto foolishness.

9For his salvation is nigh them that fear him; * that glory may dwell in our land.

10Mercy and truth are met together: * righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

11Truth shall flourish out of the earth, * and righteousness hath looked down from heaven.

12Yea, the LORD shall show loving-kindness; * and our land shall give her increase.

13Righteousness shall go before him, * and shall direct his going in the way.

Psalm 111 Confitebor tibi.

I will give thanks unto the LORD with my whole heart, * secretly among the faithful, and in the congregation.

2The works of the LORD are great, * sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.

3His work is worthy to be praised and had in honour, * and his righteousness endureth for ever.

4The merciful and gracious LORD hath so done his marvellous works, * that they ought to be had in remembrance.

5He hath given meat unto them that fear him; * he shall ever be mindful of his covenant.

6He hath showed his people the power of his works, * that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.

7The works of his hands are verity and judgment; * all his commandments are true.

8They stand fast for ever and ever, * and are done in truth and equity.

9He sent redemption unto his people; * he hath commanded his covenant for ever; holy and reverend is his Name.

10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; * a good understanding have all they that do thereafter; his praise endureth for ever.

Psalm 112 Beatus vir

BLESSED is the man that feareth the LORD; * he hath great delight in his commandments.

2His seed shall be mighty upon earth; * the generation of the faithful shall be blessed.

3Riches and plenteousness shall be in his house; * and his righteousness endureth for ever.

4Unto the godly there ariseth up light in the darkness; * he is merciful, loving, and righteous.

5A good man is merciful, and lendeth; * and will guide his words with discretion.

6For he shall never be moved: * and the righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance.

7He will not be afraid of any evil tidings; * for his heart standeth fast, and believeth in the LORD.

8His heart is stablished, and will not shrink, * until he see his desire upon his enemies.

9He hath dispersed abroad, and given to the poor; * and his righteousness remaineth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.

10The ungodly shall see it, and it shall grieve him; * he shall gnash with his teeth, and consume away; the desire of the ungodly shall perish.