Selected Psalms

Preparation For Holy Communion

Psalm 5 Verba mea auribus.

PONDER my words, O LORD, * consider my meditation.

2O hearken thou unto the voice of my calling, my King and my God: * for unto thee will I make my prayer.

3My voice shalt thou hear betimes, O LORD; * early in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

4For thou art the God that hast no pleasure in wickedness; * neither shall any evil dwell with thee.

5Such as be foolish shall not stand in thy sight; * for thou hatest all them that work iniquity.

6Thou shalt destroy them that speak lies: * the LORD will abhor both the blood-thirsty and deceitful man.

7But as for me, in the multitude of thy mercy I will come into thine house; * and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

8Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness, because of mine enemies; * make thy way plain before my face.

9For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; * their inward parts are very wickedness.

10Their throat is an open sepulchre; * they flatter with their tongue.

11Destroy thou them, O God; let them perish through their own imaginations; * cast them out in the multitude of their ungodliness; for they have rebelled against thee.

12And let all them that put their trust in thee rejoice: * they shall ever be giving of thanks, because thou defendest them; they that love thy Name shall be joyful in thee;

13For thou, LORD, wilt give thy blessing unto the righteous, * and with thy favourable kindness wilt thou defend him as with a shield.

Psalm 23 Dominus regit me.

THE LORD is my shepherd; * therefore can I lack nothing.

2He shall feed me in a green pasture, * and lead me forth beside the waters of comfort.

3He shall convert my soul, * and bring me forth in the paths of righteousness for his Name’s sake.

4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; * for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff comfort me.

5Thou shalt prepare a table before me in the presence of them that trouble me; * thou hast anointed my head with oil, and my cup shall be full.

6Surely thy loving-kindness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; * and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

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 26 Judica me, Domine.

BE thou my Judge, O LORD, for I have walked innocently: * my trust hath been also in the LORD, therefore shall I not fall.

2Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; * try out my reins and my heart.

3For thy loving-kindness is ever before mine eyes; * and I will walk in thy truth.

4I have not dwelt with vain persons; * neither will I have fellowship with the deceitful.

5I have hated the congregation of the wicked; * and will not sit among the ungodly.

6I will wash my hands in innocency, O LORD; * and so will I go to thine altar;

7That I may show the voice of thanksgiving, * and tell of all thy wondrous works.

8LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, * and the place where thine honour dwelleth.

9O shut not up my soul with the sinners, * nor my life with the blood-thirsty;

10In whose hands is wickedness, * and their right hand is full of gifts.

11But as for me, I will walk innocently: * O deliver me, and be merciful unto me.

12My foot standeth right: * I will praise the LORD in the congregations.

Psalm 36 Dixit injustus.

MY heart showeth me the wickedness of the ungodly, * that there is no fear of God before his eyes.

2For he flattereth himself in his own sight, * until his abominable sin be found out.

3The words of his mouth are unrighteous and full of deceit: * he hath left off to behave himself wisely, and to do good.

4He imagineth mischief upon his bed, and hath set himself in no good way; * neither doth he abhor any thing that is evil.

5Thy mercy, O LORD, reacheth unto the heavens, * and thy faithfulness unto the clouds.

6Thy righteousness standeth like the strong mountains: * thy judgments are like the great deep.

7Thou, LORD, shalt save both man and beast: how excellent is thy mercy, O God! * and the children of men shall put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

8They shall be satisfied with the plenteousness of thy house; * and thou shalt give them drink of thy pleasures, as out of the river.

9For with thee is the well of life; * and in thy light shall we see light.

10O continue forth thy loving-kindness unto them that know thee, * and thy righteousness unto them that are true of heart.

11O let not the foot of pride come against me; * and let not the hand of the ungodly cast me down.

12There are they fallen, all that work wickedness; * they are cast down, and shall not be able to stand.

Psalm 41 Beatus qui intelligit.

BLESSED is he that considereth the poor and needy; * the LORD shall deliver him in the time of trouble.

2The LORD preserve him, and keep him alive, that he may be blessed upon earth; * and deliver not thou him into the will of his enemies.

3The LORD comfort him when he lieth sick upon his bed; * make thou all his bed in his sickness.

4I said, LORD, be merciful unto me; * heal my soul, for I have sinned against thee.

5Mine enemies speak evil of me, * When shall he die, and his name perish?

6And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity, * and his heart conceiveth falsehood within himself; and when he cometh forth, he telleth it.

7All mine enemies whisper together against me; * even against me do they imagine this evil.

8An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him; * and now that he lieth, he shall rise up no more.

9Yea, even mine own familiar friend whom I trusted, * who did also eat of my bread, hath laid great wait for me.

10But be thou merciful unto me, O LORD; * raise thou me up again, and I shall reward them.

11By this I know thou favourest me, * that mine enemy doth not triumph against me.

12And in my innocency thou upholdest me, * and shalt set me before thy face for ever.

13Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, * world without end. Amen.

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 63 Deus, Deus meus.

O God, thou art my God; * early will I seek thee.

2My soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh also longeth after thee, * in a barren and dry land where no water is.

3Thus have I looked for thee in the sanctuary, * that I might behold thy power and glory.

4For thy loving-kindness is better than the life itself: * my lips shall praise thee.

5As long as I live will I magnify thee in this manner, * and lift up my hands in thy Name.

6My soul shall be satisfied, even as it were with marrow and fatness, * when my mouth praiseth thee with joyful lips.

7Have I not remembered thee in my bed, * and thought upon thee when I was waking?

8Because thou hast been my helper; * therefore under the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

9My soul hangeth upon thee; * thy right hand hath upholden me.

10These also that seek the hurt of my soul, * they shall go under the earth.

11Let them fall upon the edge of the sword, * that they may be a portion for foxes.

12But the King shall rejoice in God; all they also that swear by him shall be commended; * for the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.

Psalm 84 Quam dilecta!

O how amiable are thy dwellings, * thou LORD of hosts!

2My soul hath a desire and longing to enter into the courts of the LORD; * my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God.

3Yea, the sparrow hath found her an house, and the swallow a nest, where she may lay her young; * even thy altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God.

4Blessed are they that dwell in thy house; * they will be alway praising thee.

5Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; * in whose heart are thy ways.

6Who going through the vale of misery use it for a well; * and the pools are filled with water.

7They will go from strength to strength, * and unto the God of gods appeareth every one of them in Sion.

8O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; * hearken, O God of Jacob.

9Behold, O God our defender, * and look upon the face of thine anointed.

10For one day in thy courts * is better than a thousand.

11I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God, * than to dwell in the tents of ungodliness.

12For the LORD God is a light and defence; * the LORD will give grace and worship; and no good thing shall he withhold from them that live a godly life.

13O LORD God of hosts, * blessed is the man that putteth his trust in thee.

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 86 Inclina, Domine.

BOW down thine ear, O LORD, and hear me; * for I am poor, and in misery.

2Preserve thou my soul, for I am holy: * my God, save thy servant that putteth his trust in thee.

3Be merciful unto me, O Lord; * for I will call daily upon thee.

4Comfort the soul of thy servant; * for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

5For thou, Lord, art good and gracious, * and of great mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

6Give ear, LORD, unto my prayer, * and ponder the voice of my humble desires.

7In the time of my trouble I will call upon thee; * for thou hearest me.

8Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; * there is not one that can do as thou doest.

9All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship thee, O Lord; * and shall glorify thy Name.

10For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: * thou art God alone.

11Teach me thy way, O LORD, and I will walk in thy truth: * O knit my heart unto thee, that I may fear thy Name.

12I will thank thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart; * and will praise thy Name for evermore.

13For great is thy mercy toward me; * and thou hast delivered my soul from the nethermost hell.

14O God, the proud are risen against me; * and the congregations of violent men have sought after my soul, and have not set thee before their eyes.

15But thou, O Lord God, art full of compassion and mercy, * long-suffering, plenteous in goodness and truth.

16O turn thee then unto me, and have mercy upon me; * give thy strength unto thy servant, and help the son of thine handmaid.

17Show some token upon me for good; that they who hate me may see it, and be ashamed, * because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me.

Psalm 122 Lætatus sum

I was glad when they said unto me, * We will go into the house of the LORD.

2Our feet shall stand in thy gates, * O Jerusalem.

3Jerusalem is built as a city * that is at unity in itself.

4For thither the tribes go up, even the tribes of the LORD, * to testify unto Israel, to give thanks unto the Name of the LORD.

5For there is the seat of judgment, * even the seat of the house of David.

6O pray for the peace of Jerusalem; * they shall prosper that love thee.

7Peace be within thy walls, * and plenteousness within thy palaces.

8For my brethren and companions' sakes, * I will wish thee prosperity.

9Yea, because of the house of the LORD our God, * I will seek to do thee good.

Psalm 130 De profundis

OUT of the deep have I called unto thee, O LORD; * Lord, hear my voice.

2O let thine ears consider well * the voice of my complaint.

3If thou, LORD, wilt be extreme to mark what is done amiss, * O Lord, who may abide it?

4For there is mercy with thee; * therefore shalt thou be feared.

5I look for the LORD; my soul doth wait for him; * in his word is my trust.

6My soul fleeth unto the Lord before the morning watch; * I say, before the morning watch.

7O Israel, trust in the LORD; for with the LORD there is mercy, * and with him is plenteous redemption.

8And he shall redeem Israel * from all his sins.

Psalm 133 Ecce, quam bonum!

BEHOLD, how good and joyful a thing it is, * for brethren to dwell together in unity!

2It is like the precious oil upon the head, that ran down unto the beard, * even unto Aaron's beard, and went down to the skirts of his clothing.

3Like as the dew of Hermon, * which fell upon the hill of Sion.

4For there the LORD promised his blessing, * and life for evermore.

Psalm 139 Domine, probasti.

O LORD, thou hast searched me out, and known me. * Thou knowest my down-sitting, and mine uprising; thou understandest my thoughts long before.

2Thou art about my path, and about my bed; * and art acquainted with all my ways.

3For lo, there is not a word in my tongue, * but thou, O LORD, knowest it altogether.

4Thou hast beset me behind and before, * and laid thine hand upon me.

5Such knowledge is too wonderful and excellent for me; * I cannot attain unto it.

6Whither shall I go then from thy Spirit? * or whither shall I go then from thy presence?

7If I climb up into heaven, thou art there; * if I go down to hell, thou art there also.

8If I take the wings of the morning, * and remain in the uttermost parts of the sea;

9Even there also shall thy hand lead me, * and thy right hand shall hold me.

10If I say, Peradventure the darkness shall cover me; * then shall my night be turned to day.

11Yea, the darkness is no darkness with thee, but the night is as clear as the day; * the darkness and light to thee are both alike.

12For my reins are thine; * thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.

13I will give thanks unto thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: * marvellous are thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well.

14My bones are not hid from thee, * though I be made secretly, and fashioned beneath in the earth.

15Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being imperfect; * and in thy book were all my members written;

16Which day by day were fashioned, * when as yet there was none of them.

17How dear are thy counsels unto me, O God; * O how great is the sum of them!

18If I tell them, they are more in number than the sand: * when I wake up, I am present with thee.

19Wilt thou not slay the wicked, O God? * Depart from me, ye blood-thirsty men.

20For they speak unrighteously against thee; * and thine enemies take thy Name in vain.

21Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? * and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

22Yea, I hate them right sore; * even as though they were mine enemies.

23Try me, O God, and seek the ground of my heart; * prove me, and examine my thoughts.

24Look well if there be any way of wickedness in me; * and lead me in the way everlasting.