Psalm 143
Hear my prayer, O Lord
: in your faithfulness consider my petition,
and in your righteousness give me answer.
Bring not your servant into judgement
: for in your sight can no man living be justified.
For the enemy has pursued me,
he has crushed my life to the ground
: he has made me dwell in darkness, like those for ever dead.
Therefore my spirit grows faint
: and my heart is appalled within me.
I remember the days of old, I think on all that you have done
: I consider the works of your hands.
I stretch out my hands toward you
: my soul yearns for you like a thirsty land.
Be swift to hear me, O Lord, for my spirit fails
: hide not your face from me,
lest I be like those who go down to the Pit.
O let me hear of your merciful kindness in the morning,
for my trust is in you
: show me the way that I should go, for you are my hope.
Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord
: for I run to you for shelter.
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God
: let your kindly spirit lead me in an even path.
For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life
: and for the sake of your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.
[In your merciful goodness slay my enemies,
and destroy all those that come against me
: for truly I am your servant.]
Psalm 146
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul
: while I live I will praise the Lord;
While I have any being
: I will sing praises to my God.
Put not your trust in princes
: nor in the sons of men, who cannot save.
For when their breath goes from them,
they return again to the earth
: and on that day all their thoughts perish.
Blessed is the man whose help is the God of Jacob
: whose hope is in the Lord his God,
The God who made heaven and earth
: the sea, and all that is in them,
Who keeps faith for ever
: who deals justice to those that are oppressed.
The Lord gives food to the hungry
: and sets the captives free.
The Lord gives sight to the blind
: the Lord lifts up those that are bowed down.
The Lord loves the righteous
: the Lord cares for the stranger in the land.
He upholds the widow and the fatherless
: as for the way of the wicked, he turns it upside down.
The Lord shall be king for ever
: your God, O Zion, shall reign through all generations.
Praise the Lord.