None (Afternoon Prayer)
O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
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.
At one of today's daytime hours (Terce, Sext, None), use the psalms of the day. At the others, use the complementary psalms, which are shown further down the page.
PSALMS OF THE DAY
In my exile I obeyed your commandments.
Remember how you gave your word to your servant,
for thus you gave me hope.
It was this that consoled me in my distress,
for your promise gave me life.
The proud laughed themselves sick over me,
but I did not turn away from your law.
I remembered your eternal decrees, O Lord,
and they brought me consolation.
I was seized with indignation
at the sinners who abandon your law.
I made your statutes into songs
to sing in my exile.
At night I remembered your name, O Lord,
and I will keep your law.
This will be to my credit:
that I followed your precepts.
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.
In my exile I obeyed your commandments.
Psalm 52 (53)
The folly of the lawless |
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The Lord will deliver his people from captivity and we shall rejoice.
The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God’.
They are corrupt and they do vile things:
not one of them does good.
From heaven the Lord looks down on the sons of men
to see if any understand, and seek God.
All have fallen away, each as corrupt as the other.
Not one of them does good, not even one.
They must know what they are doing, those who do evil,
who eat up my people like so much bread.
They did not call on the Lord,
so they tremble with fear
when there is no reason to be afraid.
Since God has scattered the bones
of those who besieged you,
they are disgraced because God has rejected them.
Who will bring Israel salvation from Zion?
When the Lord delivers his people from captivity,
Jacob will exult and Israel will rejoice.
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.
The Lord will deliver his people from captivity and we shall rejoice.
Psalm 53 (54)
A plea for help |
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God brings me help, and the Lord raises up my soul.
God, by your name, save me.
In your power, God, judge me.
God, listen to my prayer
and turn your ear to the words of my mouth.
The proud have risen up against me,
the strong seek to take my life.
They do not keep God in their hearts.
But God helps me,
and the Lord lifts up my soul.
Willingly I will sacrifice to you
and proclaim your name, O God,
proclaim your good name.
It has rescued me from all my troubles,
and my eyes look down on my enemies.
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.
God brings me help, and the Lord raises up my soul.
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 |
|---|
The Lord’s deeds showed his greatness and filled us with rejoicing.
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.
The Lord’s deeds showed his greatness and filled us with rejoicing.
Psalm 126 (127)
Without the Lord, we labour in vain |
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The Lord will build a house for us and watch over the city.
If the Lord does not build the house,
its builders labour in vain.
If the Lord does not watch over a city,
its workmen 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.
The Lord will build a house for us and watch over the city.
Psalm 127 (128)
Peaceful life in the Lord |
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Blessed are all who fear 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.
Blessed are all who fear the Lord.
CONCLUSION
| Short reading | 1 Corinthians 12:24,25-26 © |
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God has arranged the body and that there may not be disagreements inside the body, but that each part may be equally concerned for all the others. If one part is hurt, all parts are hurt with it. If one part is given special honour, all parts enjoy it.
O Lord, our God, gather us from among the nations
– so that we may proclaim your holy name.
O God, you sent your angel to Cornelius the centurion to show him the way of salvation.
Give us the gift of working more eagerly for the salvation of all,
so that with them and in the Church we may come at last to you.
Through Christ our Lord,
A M E N
