Sext (Midday 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.
SPECIAL FOR TODAY: If you are celebrating Mid-Morning Prayer (Terce) today, use the psalms of the day then, and the complementary psalms for the other Hours.
PSALMS OF THE DAY
Lord, guide my footsteps as you have promised.
Your rulings fill me with wonder,
and therefore I obey them.
As your word unfolds, it gives light
and understanding to the simple.
I opened my mouth and I sighed
with longing for your commands.
Turn to me and take pity on me
according to your judgement on those who love your name.
Direct my steps according to your promises,
and let no wickedness seduce me.
Rescue me from human opposition
so that I can follow your commands.
Let your face shine on your servant;
and teach me your statutes.
Tears flow from my eyes
when your law is not kept.
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.
Lord, guide my footsteps as you have promised.
Psalm 81 (82)
Against unjust judges |
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There is one lawgiver and one judge: who are you that you should judge your neighbour?
God stands in the divine assembly
among the gods he gives judgement.
‘How long will you be giving unjust judgements
in favour of the wicked?’
Judge for the weak and for orphans,
in favour of the poor and the lowly.
Rescue the weak and the poor
from the power of the wicked.
They did not know, they did not understand;
they walk in the shadows,
the foundations of the world are shaken.
I said, ‘You are gods,
you are all sons of the Most High.’
But you will die just like men;
you will fall just like princes.
Rise up, O God, and judge the earth,
for all nations are your inheritance.
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.
There is one lawgiver and one judge: who are you that you should judge your neighbour?
Psalm 119 (120)
Longing for peace |
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I cried out to the Lord and he answered me.
I was in trouble, and cried to the Lord;
and he answered me.
Lord, free me from the lips of liars,
from deceitful tongues.
What will be given you, what will you receive,
deceitful tongue?
Sharp arrows from the warrior,
hardened in the flames.
Alas, I am an exile in Meshech;
I dwell among the tents of Kedar!
My soul has lived too long
with those who hate peace.
I am for making peace;
but whenever I spoke, they attacked 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.
I cried out to the Lord and he answered me.
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 122 (123)
The Lord guards his people |
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You who dwell in the heavens, take pity on us.
To you I lift up my eyes,
to you who dwell in the heavens.
Like the eyes of a servant watching his master,
like the eyes of a maid on her mistress’s hands,
so we keep our eyes on the Lord our God,
as we wait for his kindness.
Take pity on us, Lord, take pity:
we have had our fill of contempt.
Our souls have had their fill
of the laughter of the rich,
of the contempt of the proud.
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.
You who dwell in the heavens, take pity on us.
Psalm 123 (124)
Our help is in the name of the Lord |
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Our help is in the name of the Lord.
If the Lord had not been with us
(so let Israel sing),
If the Lord had not been with us
when men rose up against us,
they might have skinned us alive,
such was their anger.
The waters could have drowned us,
the torrent poured over us,
the foaming waters poured over us.
Blessed be the Lord, who saved us
from being torn to pieces by their teeth.
We have escaped, like a bird
from the snare of the fowler.
The snare was broken,
and we escaped.
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
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.
Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Psalm 124 (125)
The Lord guards his people |
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The Lord stands guard over his people, both now and for ever.
Those who trust in the Lord are like the mountain of Zion:
it cannot be shaken, it will stand firm for ever.
Jerusalem – the mountains stand guard over it,
and the Lord stands guard over his people,
both now and for ever.
The sceptre of the wicked shall not rest
upon the inheritance of the just;
lest the just themselves stretch out their hands
and turn to wickedness.
Be good, O Lord, to the good
and the upright of heart.
As for those who turn away to crooked paths,
the Lord shall treat them like the doers of evil.
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.
The Lord stands guard over his people, both now and for ever.
CONCLUSION
| Short reading | 2 Corinthians 6:16 © |
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The temple of God has no common ground with idols, and that is what we are – the temple of the living God. We have God’s word for it: I will make my home among them and live with them; I will be their God and they shall be my people.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem,
– and prosperity for those who love you.
O God, you have made us guardians and cultivators of the earth, you have sent the sun to shine on us and help us.
Grant that today we may work for your glory
and for the good of our neighbour.
Through Christ our Lord,
A M E N
