As Written in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer
Today is Tuesday, December 10, 2024
The liturgical color of the day is PURPLE
The Psalter for Day 10, Evening
Psalm 53
The Fifty-Third Psalm
Dixit insipiens.
THE foolish body hath said in his heart, * There is no God.
Corrupt are they, and become abominable in their wickedness; * there is none that doeth good.
God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, * to see if there were any that would understand, and seek after God.
But they are all gone out of the way, they are altogether become abominable; * there is also none that doeth good, no not one.
Are not they without understanding that work wickedness, * eating up my people as if they would eat bread? they have not called upon God.
They were afraid where no fear was; * for God hath broken the bones of him that besieged thee; thou hast put them to confusion, because God hath despised them.
O that the salvation were given unto Israel out of Sion! * O that the Lord would deliver his people out of captivity!
Then should Jacob rejoice, * and Israel should be right glad.Psalm 54
The Fifty-Fourth Psalm
Deus, in nomine.
SAVE me, O God, for thy Name's sake, * and avenge me in thy strength.
Hear my prayer, O God, * and hearken unto the words of my mouth.
For strangers are risen up against me; * and tyrants, which have not God before their eyes, seek after my soul.
Behold, God is my helper; * the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.
He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: * destroy thou them in thy truth.
An offering of a free heart will I give thee, and praise thy Name, O LORD; * because it is so comfortable.
For he hath delivered me out of all my trouble; * and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.Psalm 55
The Fifty-Fifth Psalm
Exaudi, Deus.
HEAR my prayer, O God, * and hide not thyself from my petition.
Take heed unto me, and hear me, * how I mourn in my prayer, and am vexed;
The enemy crieth so, and the ungodly cometh on so fast; * for they are minded to do me some mischief, so maliciously are they set against me.
My heart is disquieted within me, * and the fear of death is fallen upon me.
Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, * and an horrible dread hath overwhelmed me.
And I said, O that I had wings like a dove! * for then would I flee away, and be at rest.
Lo, then would I get me away far off, * and remain in the wilderness.
I would make haste to escape, * because of the stormy wind and tempest.
Destroy their tongues, O Lord, and divide them; * for I have spied unrighteousness and strife in the city.
Day and night they go about within the walls thereof: * mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.
Wickedness is therein; * deceit and guile go not out of her streets.
For it is not an open enemy that hath done me this dishonour; * for then I could have borne it;
Neither was it mine adversary that did magnify himself against me; * for then peradventure I would have hid myself from him;
But it was even thou, my companion, * my guide, and mine own familiar friend.
We took sweet counsel together, * and walked in the house of God as friends.
Let death come hastily upon them, and let them go down alive into the pit; * for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.
As for me, I will call upon God, * and the LORD shall save me.
In the evening, and morning, and at noon-day will I pray, and that instantly; * and he shall hear my voice.
It is he that hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me; * for there were many that strove with me.
Yea, even God, that endureth for ever, shall hear me, and bring them down; * for they will not turn, nor fear God.
He laid his hands upon such as be at peace with him, * and he brake his covenant.
The words of his mouth were softer than butter, having war in his heart; * his words were smoother than oil, and yet be they very swords.
O cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall nourish thee, * and shall not suffer the righteous to fall for ever.
And as for them, * thou, O God, shalt bring them into the pit of destruction.
The blood-thirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days: * nevertheless, my trust shall be in thee, O Lord.