+ DAILY PRAYER +
The Brevity of Human Life For the music director. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David. 1 I said, “I will guard my ways ?that I may not sin? with my tongue. I will keep a muzzle over my mouth as long as the wicked are before me.” 2 I was mute with silence. I was silent even from saying good things, and my pain was stirred up. 3 My heart grew hot inside me;…
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my pleas for mercy!
In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!
Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan,
and he hears my voice.
Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you;
He will never permit the righteous to be moved.
Psalm 72:1, 4, 10-15, 18-19
Psa 72:1 Of Solomon. Give the king your justice, O God,
and your righteousness to the royal son!
Psa 72:4 May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,
give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor!
Psa 72:10 May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands
render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts!
Psa 72:11 May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him!
Psa 72:12 For he delivers the needy when he calls,
the poor and him who has no helper.
Psa 72:13 He has pity on the weak and the needy,
and saves the lives of the needy.
Psa 72:14 From oppression and violence he redeems their life,
and precious is their blood in his sight.
Psa 72:15 Long may he live; may gold of Sheba be given to him!
May prayer be made for him continually,
and blessings invoked for him all the day!
Psa 72:18 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous things.
Psa 72:19 Blessed be his glorious name forever;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen!
Reading for Friday December 27th Psalm 39
The Brevity of Human Life
39 For the music director. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.
1 I said, “I will guard my ways
?that I may not sin? with my tongue.
I will keep a muzzle over my mouth
as long as the wicked are before me.”
2 I was mute with silence. I was silent even from saying good things,
and my pain was stirred up.
3 My heart grew hot inside me;
in my sighing a fire burned.
Then I spoke with my tongue,
4 “Let me know, O Yahweh, my end,
and what is the measure of my days.
Let me know how transient I am.”
5 Look, you have made my days mere handbreadths,
and my lifespan as nothing next to you.
Surely every person standing firm is complete vanity. Selah
6 Surely a man walks about as a mere ?shadow?;
surely in vain they bustle about.
He heaps up possessions but does not know who will gather them in.
7 And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?
My hope is for you.
8 From all my transgressions deliver me;
do not make me the taunt of the fool.
9 I am mute. I do not open my mouth,
for you, yourself, have done it.
10 Remove from me your affliction.
By the opposition of your hand I perish.
11 When with rebukes you chastise a man for sin,
you ?consume? like a moth his delightful things.
Surely everyone is a mere vapor. Selah
12 Hear my prayer, O Yahweh, and listen to my cry for help;
do not be deaf to my tears.
For I am an alien with you,
a sojourner like all my ancestors.
13 Look away from me that I may be cheerful,
before I depart and I am no more.
Lord’s Prayer
Daily Prayer
Merciful Lord, cast the bright beams of Your light upon Your Church that we, being instructed in the doctrine of Your blessed apostle and evangelist, John, may come to the light of everlasting life; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Concluding Prayer
Heavenly Father, send Your Holy Spirit into our hearts to direct and rule us to do Your will, to comfort us in all our afflictions, to defend us from all error, and to lead us into all truth; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
