Sext (Midday Prayer)
INTRODUCTION
O God, come to our aid.
O Lord, make haste to help us.
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.
Hymn
Lord God and Maker of all things,
Creation is upheld by you.
While all must change and know decay,
You are unchanging, always new.
You are man’s solace and his shield,
His Rock secure on which to build.
You are the spirit’s tranquil home,
In you alone is hope fulfilled.
To God the Father and the Son
And Holy Spirit render praise:
Blest Trinity, from age to age
The strength of all our living days.
Stanbrook Abbey Hymnal
The psalms of the day are shown here. If you are reciting more than one daytime hour (Terce, Sext, None) today, use the psalms of the day at one hour and the complementary psalms at the others.
SPECIAL FOR TODAY: If you are celebrating Terce today, you must use the psalms of the day at Terce, and use the complementary psalms now.
PSALMS OF THE DAY
Psalm 118(119): 129-136
Let my footsteps be guided by your promise, O Lord.
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.
Let my footsteps be guided by your promise, O Lord.
Psalm 81 (82)
Against unjust judges
There is but one judge and one ruler: who, then, are you to 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 but one judge and one ruler: who, then, are you to judge your neighbour?
Psalm 119 (120)
Longing for peace
I called and the Lord 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 called and the Lord answered me.
OR:
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 122 (123)
The Lord guards his people
You, Lord, who dwell in the heavens, have mercy on us.
To you I lift up my eyes,
to you who dwell in the heavens.
Like the eyes of a servant watching his master,
like the eyes of a maid on her mistress’s hands,
so we keep our eyes on the Lord our God,
as we wait for his kindness.
Take pity on us, Lord, take pity:
we have had our fill of contempt.
Our souls have had their fill
of the laughter of the rich,
of the contempt of the proud.
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.
You, Lord, who dwell in the heavens, have mercy on us.
Psalm 123 (124)
Our help is in the name of the Lord
Our help is in the name of the Lord.
If the Lord had not been with us
(so let Israel sing),
If the Lord had not been with us
when men rose up against us,
they might have skinned us alive,
such was their anger.
The waters could have drowned us,
the torrent poured over us,
the foaming waters poured over us.
Blessed be the Lord, who saved us
from being torn to pieces by their teeth.
We have escaped, like a bird
from the snare of the fowler.
The snare was broken,
and we escaped.
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
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.
Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Psalm 124 (125)
The Lord guards his people
The Lord surrounds his people both now and for ever.
Those who trust in the Lord are like the mountain of Zion:
it cannot be shaken, it will stand firm for ever.
Jerusalem – the mountains stand guard over it,
and the Lord stands guard over his people,
both now and for ever.
The sceptre of the wicked shall not rest
upon the inheritance of the just;
lest the just themselves stretch out their hands
and turn to wickedness.
Be good, O Lord, to the good
and the upright of heart.
As for those who turn away to crooked paths,
the Lord shall treat them like the doers of evil.
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.
The Lord surrounds his people both now and for ever.
CONCLUSION
Short Reading
Wisdom 15:1,3
©
You, our God, are kind, loyal and slow to anger, and you govern all things with mercy. To acknowledge you is indeed the perfect virtue, to know your power is the root of immortality.
℣. You, Lord, are a God of love and mercy.
℟. You are patient, full of loving kindness and truth.
Let us pray.
God, Lord and master of the vineyard and harvest,
you allot us our tasks and determine the just rewards of our labours.
Help us to bear the burden of the day
and accept your will in all things without complaint.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Let us praise the Lord.
– Thanks be to God.
