None (Afternoon 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
Eternal Father, loving God,
Who made us from the dust of earth,
Transform us by the Spirit’s grace,
Give value to our little worth.
Prepare us for that day of days
When Christ from heaven will come with might
To call us out of dust again,
Our bodies glorified in light.
O Godhead, here untouched, unseen,
All things created bear your trace;
The seed of glory sown in man
Will flower when we see your face.
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.
PSALMS OF THE DAY
Psalm 118(119): 65-72
I have appointed you to be a light to all peoples, to be my saving power to the very ends of the earth.
You have been good to your servant, O Lord:
you are true to your word.
Teach me goodness and wisdom and knowledge,
for I trust your commands.
Before I suffered I used to stray;
but now I shall hold to your promises.
You are good and your actions are good,
so teach me your judgements.
The proud make lying plans against me,
but I shall still obey your commands
with all my heart.
Their hearts are as gross as solid fat,
but I delight in your law.
My suffering has done me good:
it has taught me your judgements.
The law that you proclaim does me good,
more than treasure of silver and gold.
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.
Psalm 55 (56)
Trusting in the word of the Lord
Take pity on me, O God,
for men have trampled me down.
My attackers press me all day long.
All day my enemies trample me:
so many fight against me, O Most High!
Whenever I fear,
I shall put my hope in you –
in God, whose sayings I praise:
in God I put my trust.
I am frightened no longer:
what harm can mere flesh do to me?
All day they attacked my interests,
their thoughts were directed against me.
They picked quarrels, they lay in ambush,
they followed at my very heels.
You have kept track of my wanderings –
so collect my tears in your wineskin,
and keep count of every one!
Then my enemies will be turned back
on the very day I call on you.
Then I shall know that you are my God.
In God I hope, whose sayings I praise;
in the Lord, whose sayings I praise.
In God I put my hope.
I do not fear: what harm can mere men do to me?
The vows I have made you hang over me:
I shall fulfil them and give you praise.
You have rescued my soul from death
and my feet from stumbling.
I shall walk in the presence of God
in the light that shines on the living.
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.
Psalm 56 (57)
Morning prayer in time of affliction
Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.
My soul flies to you for refuge.
I will hide in the shelter of your wings
until the time of ambush is past.
I will cry to God the Most High,
to the God who cares for me.
He will send help from heaven to set me free.
He will disgrace those who trample me underfoot.
He will send forth his mercy and faithfulness.
My soul lies among lion-cubs
that would devour the children of men.
Their teeth are spears and arrows,
their tongues are pointed swords.
May you be exalted above the heavens, O God;
let your glory cover the whole earth.
They prepared a trap for my feet;
my soul was bent double under its burden;
they dug a pit in front of me
– but they fell into it themselves.
My heart is ready, God.
My heart is ready.
I will offer you music and song.
Awake, my glory,
awake, lyre and harp.
I will awaken the dawn.
I will proclaim you among the peoples, Lord,
and make music for you among the nations,
for your mercy reaches as high as the heavens,
your faithfulness to the clouds.
May you be exalted above the heavens, O God;
let your glory cover the 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.
I have appointed you to be a light to all peoples, to be my saving power to the very ends of the earth.
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 125 (126)
Gladness and hope in the Lord
I have appointed you to be a light to all peoples, to be my saving power to the very ends of the earth.
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.
Psalm 126 (127)
Without the Lord, we labour in vain
If the Lord does not build the house,
its builders labour in vain.
If the Lord does not watch over a city,
its watchmen 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.
Psalm 127 (128)
Peaceful life in 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.
I have appointed you to be a light to all peoples, to be my saving power to the very ends of the earth.
CONCLUSION
Short Reading
Isaiah 60:4-5
©
O Jerusalem, your sons are coming from far away and your daughters are being tenderly carried. At this sight you will grow radiant, your heart throbbing and full; since the riches of the sea will flow to you, the wealth of the nations come to you.
℣. All peoples, bless our God.
℟. Cry out in praise of him.
Let us pray.
Through your Son, Lord God,
you shed eternal light on all mankind.
Give us grace to acknowledge the full splendour of our Redeemer,
so that, going from glory to glory,
we may come at length to your everlasting light.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Let us praise the Lord.
– Thanks be to God.
