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
I shall walk the path of your commandments, for you have set my heart free.
My life is in the dust.
Revive me, as you have promised.
I told you my ways and you heard me:
now teach me the way of your judgements.
Make me understand the way of your commandments,
and I will reflect on your wonders.
My soul is sad and weeps:
rescue me as you have promised.
Turn me from deceptive paths
and give me the gift of the law.
I have chosen the path of truth
with your decrees in front of me.
I hold on to your decrees:
let me not be disappointed.
I shall walk the path of your commandments,
for you have set my heart free.
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 shall walk the path of your commandments, for you have set my heart free.
Psalm 25 (26)
Trustful prayer of an innocent man |
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I shall not be shaken, for I trust in the Lord.
Pass judgement on me, Lord:
I have come to you in my innocence
and I stand upright, trusting in the Lord.
Probe me, Lord, and test me:
test my heart and my innermost being.
Your loving kindness is before my eyes:
I have walked in your truth.
I have not taken my seat with frivolous men;
I have not gone in with those who plot secretly.
I hate the gatherings of evil men;
I do not take my seat with wrongdoers.
I shall wash my hands in innocence
and take my place by your altar, O Lord.
I shall proclaim your promises aloud
and tell the story of all your wonders.
Lord, I love the house where you dwell,
the place where your glory resides.
Do not lump my soul with wrongdoers,
my life with the men of blood,
whose hands are stained with their crimes,
their right hands heavy with bribes.
I have come to you in my innocence:
rescue me and take pity on me.
My feet stand on the right path:
I will bless the Lord in the assembly.
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 shall not be shaken, for I trust in the Lord.
Psalm 27 (28)
Supplication and thanksgiving |
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My heart hoped in the Lord, and I received help.
To you, Lord, I make my cry.
My God, do not refuse to speak to me.
Do not be silent
or I will be like those who go down into the underworld.
Listen to my cry as I plead with you,
as I stretch out my hand to your holy temple.
Do not drag me away like the wicked,
like those who do evil.
They speak peace to their neighbour
but evil is in their hearts.
Blessed be the Lord, for he has heard my plea.
God is my help and my protection.
My heart hoped in him, and I received help.
My heart rejoices, I will sing songs to him.
The Lord is the strength of his people,
a safe refuge for his anointed.
Lord, save your people
and bless your inheritance.
Pasture them and carry them
for all eternity.
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.
My heart hoped in the Lord, and I received help.
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 |
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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 | Colossians 3:12-13 © |
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You are God’s chosen race, his saints; he loves you, and you should be clothed in sincere compassion, in kindness and humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with one another; forgive each other as soon as a quarrel begins. The Lord has forgiven you; now you must do the same.
The Lord is compassion and kindness,
– full of patience, full of mercy.
Lord Jesus Christ, you gave the penitent thief, dying on the gibbet of a cross, the gift of entering your kingdom.
We confess our sins
and trustingly ask you that after our death you will bring us, too, rejoicing through the gates of paradise.
You live and reign for ever and ever.
A M E N
