Psalm 18
1I love you, O LORD my strength, *
O LORD my stronghold, my crag, and my haven.
2My God, my rock in whom I put my trust, *
my shield, the horn of my salvation, and my refuge;
you are worthy of praise.
3I will call upon the LORD, *
and so shall I be saved from my enemies.
4The breakers of death rolled over me, *
and the torrents of oblivion made me afraid.
5The cords of hell entangled me, *
and the snares of death were set for me.
6I called upon the LORD in my distress *
and cried out to my God for help.
7He heard my voice from his heavenly dwelling; *
my cry of anguish came to his ears.
8The earth reeled and rocked; *
the roots of the mountains shook;
they reeled because of his anger.
9Smoke rose from his nostrils
and a consuming fire out of his mouth; *
hot burning coals blazed forth from him.
10He parted the heavens and came down *
with a storm cloud under his feet.
11He mounted on cherubim and flew; *
he swooped on the wings of the wind.
12He wrapped darkness about him; *
he made dark waters and thick clouds his pavilion.
13From the brightness of his presence, through the clouds, *
burst hailstones and coals of fire.
14The LORD thundered out of heaven; *
the Most High uttered his voice.
15He loosed his arrows and scattered them; *
he hurled thunderbolts and routed them.
16The beds of the seas were uncovered,
and the foundations of the world laid bare, *
at your battle cry, O LORD,
at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.
17He reached down from on high and grasped me; *
he drew me out of great waters.
18He delivered me from my strong enemies
and from those who hated me; *
for they were too mighty for me.
19They confronted me in the day of my disaster; *
but the LORD was my support.
20He brought me out into an open place; *
he rescued me because he delighted in me.
A Prayer Attributed to St. Francis
Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
