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.
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 |
|---|
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 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 |
|---|
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 | Jeremiah 7:2,4-5,7 © |
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Listen to the word of the Lord, all you men of Judah who come in by these gates to worship the Lord. Put no trust in delusive words like these: ‘This is the sanctuary of the Lord, the sanctuary of the Lord, the sanctuary of the Lord!’ Since if you amend your behaviour and your actions, I will permit you to remain in this place and live in it.
Enter the gates of the Lord with thanksgiving.
– Fill his halls with song.
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
