Terce (Mid-Morning 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
Those who love you have abounding peace, O Lord.
Princes are hounding me for no reason.
Your words fill me with dread.
I shall rejoice over your sayings
like one who has found a great treasure.
I loathe and detest untruthfulness
but I love the truth of your law.
Seven times a day I praise you
for the righteousness of your judgements.
Those who love you have abounding peace:
there is nothing to trip them up.
I looked forward to your salvation, O Lord,
and followed your commandments.
I keep your precepts in my heart:
I love them intensely.
I have followed your commands and your precepts.
All that I do is in your sight.
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.
Those who love you have abounding peace, O Lord.
Psalm 132 (133) The pleasure of brotherly unity |
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The whole group of believers was united, heart and soul.
How pleasant it is, how good,
when brothers dwell together in unity.
Like precious oil poured upon the head,
flowing down the beard, the beard of Aaron,
flowing onto the collar of his robes.
Like the dew of Hermon,
flowing onto the mountains of Zion.
From there the Lord sends blessing
and life everlasting.
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 whole group of believers was united, heart and soul.
Psalm 139 (140) You are my refuge |
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Protect me from the power of the wicked, O Lord, my strength and salvation.
Tear me, Lord, from men of evil,
keep me safe from men of violence.
They plan evil in their hearts,
make warlike plots all day long.
They sharpen their tongues like serpents:
vipers’ venom is on their lips.
Protect me, Lord, from the power of the wicked,
keep me safe from men of violence
who plan to make me stumble.
In their pride they have laid a trap for me,
stretched out a network of ropes,
set snares in my path.
I have said to the Lord, ‘You are my God.
Lord, listen to my pleading.’
Lord, O Lord, the power that saves me:
you have shielded my head on the day of battle.
Lord, do not grant the wicked their desires:
do not fulfil their plans.
I know that the Lord will do justice to the needy
and give judgement in favour of the poor.
The righteous will proclaim your name
and the upright will dwell in your presence.
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.
Protect me from the power of the wicked, O Lord, my strength and salvation.
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 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.
Psalm 120 (121) The guardian of the people |
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May the Lord guard your coming and your going.
I shall lift my eyes to the hills:
where is my help to come from?
My help will come from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip:
he will not doze, your guardian.
Behold, he will not doze or sleep,
the guardian of Israel.
The Lord is your guardian, the Lord is your shade;
he is at your right hand.
By day the sun will not strike you;
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will guard you from all harm;
the Lord will guard your life.
The Lord will guard your coming and your going
both now and for ever.
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.
May the Lord guard your coming and your going.
Psalm 121 (122) Jerusalem, the holy city |
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What they told me filled me with joy.
They filled me with joy when they said,
“We will go to the house of the Lord.”
Now our feet are standing
within your gates, Jerusalem.
Jerusalem, built as a city,
whole and self-contained:
there the tribes have gone up,
the tribes of the Lord –
the witness of Israel,
to praise the Lord’s name.
For there are the thrones of justice,
the thrones of the house of David.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
“Safety for those who care for you,
peace inside your walls,
security within your ramparts!”
For my brethren and those near to me I will say
“Peace be upon you.”
For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I will call blessings upon you.
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.
What they told me filled me with joy.
CONCLUSION
| Short reading | Romans 12:17,19-20,21 © |
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Never repay evil with evil. As scripture says: Vengeance is mine – I will pay them back, says the Lord. But there is more: If your enemy is hungry, you should give him food, and if he is thirsty, let him drink. Resist evil and conquer it with good.
The Lord’s loving kindness lasts through all ages
– and his justice for those who keep his commandments.
Lord, at this third hour you were led out to suffer the punishment of the Cross,
for the salvation of the world.
In our prayer we beg you –
may we always receive forgiveness for the evil things we have done,
and may we be protected from doing such things in the future.
You live and reign for ever and ever.
A M E N