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Wednesday 4 December 2024    (other days)
Wednesday of the 1st week of Advent

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Afternoon Prayer (None)


INTRODUCTION
O God, come to our aid.
  O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
  and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
  is now, and ever shall be,
  world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.

Hymn
Eternal Father, loving God,
Who made us from the dust of earth,
Transform us by the Spirit’s grace,
Give value to our little worth.
Prepare us for that day of days
When Christ from heaven will come with might
To call us out of dust again,
Our bodies glorified in light.
O Godhead, here untouched, unseen,
All things created bear your trace;
The seed of glory sown in man
Will flower when we see your face.
Stanbrook Abbey Hymnal

Psalms of the day

Complementary psalms

The psalms of the day are shown here. If you are reciting more than one daytime hour (Terce, Sext, None) today, use the psalms of the day at one hour and the complementary psalms at the others.

PSALMS OF THE DAY


Psalm 118(119): 9-16

Mary was greatly troubled at this greeting and wondered what it might mean. She said, ‘I am to give birth to a King without ceasing to be a virgin.’
How will the young retain purity?
  By obeying your word.
Wholeheartedly I have sought you:
  do not let me stray from your commandments.
I have treasured your promise in my heart
  so as not to sin against you.
Blessed are you, O Lord:
  teach me your judgements.
My lips have counted
  all the rulings your mouth has spoken.
I delight in following your decrees,
  uncountable riches.
I shall strive to follow your commands
  and to contemplate your ways.
I shall delight in your judgements:
  I shall not forget your words.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
  and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
  is now, and ever shall be,
  world without end.
Amen.

Psalm 16 (17)
Save me from wrongdoers

Hear the case I bring before you, Lord,
  listen to my plea.
Lend your ears to the voice of my pleading:
  on my lips there is no deceit.
Give judgement yourself in my favour,
  let your eyes see that justice is done.
Search my heart, inspect it by night,
  test me with fire –
  in me you will find no wrong.
My speech is not turned aside towards the works of men:
  and because of your words I keep far from the ways of the violent.
Keep my steps from leaving your paths,
  so that I may never stumble.
I have cried to you, God, because you will listen;
  turn your ear to me and listen to my words.
Pour out your kindness till men are astonished,
  you, who keep safe from attack
  all who trust in your strength.
Guard me as the apple of your eye,
  hide me in the shade of your wings,
  away from the wicked who have done me wrong.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
  and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
  is now, and ever shall be,
  world without end.
Amen.

Psalm 16 (17)

In their rage, my enemies surround me,
  they have sealed up their hearts and their mouths utter threats.
They advance, they surround me,
  they watch for their chance to send me sprawling to the ground.
Their faces are like lions eager for their prey,
  like lion cubs lying and waiting in their den.
Rise up, O Lord, face my enemy and defeat him,
  with your sword rescue my life from the wicked.
By your hand, Lord, rescue me from death;
  from joining the dead, who have life no more.
From your storehouse you fill men’s bellies,
  their children are sated, they leave the rest to their heirs.
And I, being upright, shall see your face,
  the sight of you, when I wake, will be all that I need.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
  and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
  is now, and ever shall be,
  world without end.
Amen.
Mary was greatly troubled at this greeting and wondered what it might mean. She said, ‘I am to give birth to a King without ceasing to be a virgin.’

Continue

OR:

At the daytime hours (Terce, Sext, None) when you don’t choose to use the psalms of the day, use the complementary psalms instead.

COMPLEMENTARY PSALMS


Psalm 125 (126)
Gladness and hope in the Lord

Mary was greatly troubled at this greeting and wondered what it might mean. She said, ‘I am to give birth to a King without ceasing to be a virgin.’
When the Lord gave Zion back her captives, we became like dreamers.
Our mouths were filled with gladness and our voices cried in exultation.
Among the Gentiles they were saying,
  “By his deeds the Lord has shown himself great.”
The Lord’s deeds showed forth his greatness,
  and filled us with rejoicing.
Give us back our captives, O Lord,
  as you renew the dry streams in the desolate South.
Those who sow in tears will rejoice at the harvest.
They wept as they went, went with seed for the sowing;
but with joy they will come, come bearing the sheaves.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
  and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
  is now, and ever shall be,
  world without end.
Amen.

Psalm 126 (127)
Without the Lord, we labour in vain

If the Lord does not build the house,
  its builders labour in vain.
If the Lord does not watch over a city,
  its watchmen guard it in vain.
It is vain for you to rise before the dawn
  and go late to your rest,
  eating the bread of toil –
  to those he loves, the Lord gives sleep.
The Lord bestows sons as an heirloom,
  the fruit of the womb as a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior –
  so are the sons of one’s youth.
Happy the man who fills his quiver thus:
  when he disputes with his enemies at the gate,
  he will not be the loser.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
  and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
  is now, and ever shall be,
  world without end.
Amen.

Psalm 127 (128)
Peaceful life in the Lord

Blessed are all who fear the Lord
  and walk in his ways.
The food you have worked for, you will eat:
  God’s blessing will bring you good things.
Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
  on the side of your house.
Your children will be like olive shoots,
  seated round your table.
See, this is how the man is blessed
  who fears the Lord.
May the Lord bless you from Zion:
  may you see the wealth of Jerusalem
  all the days of your life.
May you see your children’s children.
  Peace be on Israel.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
  and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
  is now, and ever shall be,
  world without end.
Amen.
Mary was greatly troubled at this greeting and wondered what it might mean. She said, ‘I am to give birth to a King without ceasing to be a virgin.’

Continue

CONCLUSION


Scripture ReadingDaniel 9:19
Listen, Lord! Lord, forgive! Hear, Lord, and act! For your own sake, my God, do not delay, because they bear your name, this is your city, this is your people.

℣. Come, Lord, and make no delay.
℟. Release your people from their sin.

Let us pray.
Prepare our hearts, Lord,
  by the power of your grace.
When Christ comes,
  may he find us worthy
  to receive from his hand the bread of heaven
  at the feast of eternal life.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Let us praise the Lord.
– Thanks be to God.

The psalms and canticles here are our own translation from the Latin. The Grail translation of the psalms, which is used liturgically in most of the English-speaking world, cannot be displayed on the Web for copyright reasons. The Universalis apps and programs do contain the Grail translation of the psalms.

You can also view this page in Latin and English.


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