Psalm 144
1 Blessed be the Lord my rock! *
who trains my hands to fight and my fingers to battle;
2 My help and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, *
my shield in whom I trust,
who subdues the peoples under me.
3 O Lord, what are we that you should care for us? *
mere mortals that you should think of us?
4 We are like a puff of wind; *
our days are like a passing shadow.
5 Bow your heavens, O Lord, and come down; *
touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.
6 Hurl the lightning and scatter them; *
shoot out your arrows and rout them.
7 Stretch out your hand from on high; *
rescue me and deliver me from the great waters,
from the hand of foreign peoples,
8 Whose mouths speak deceitfully *
and whose right hand is raised in falsehood.
9 O God, I will sing to you a new song; *
I will play to you on a ten-stringed lyre.
10 You give victory to kings *
and have rescued David your servant.
11 Rescue me from the hurtful sword *
and deliver me from the hand of foreign peoples,
12 Whose mouths speak deceitfully *
and whose right hand is raised in falsehood.
13 May our sons be like plants well nurtured from their youth, *
and our daughters like sculptured corners of a palace.
14 May our barns be filled to overflowing with all manner of crops; *
may the flocks in our pastures increase by thousands and tens of thousands;
may our cattle be fat and sleek.
15 May there be no breaching of the walls, no going into exile, *
no wailing in the public squares.
16 Happy are the people of whom this is so! *
happy are the people whose God is the Lord!
A Prayer for All Sorts and Conditions
O God, the creator and preserver of all mankind, we humbly beseech thee for all sorts and conditions of men; that thou wouldest be pleased to make thy ways known unto them, thy saving health unto all nations. More especially we pray for thy holy Church universal; that it may be so guided and governed by thy good Spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. Finally, we commend to thy fatherly goodness all those who are in any ways afflicted or distressed, in mind, body, or estate; [especially those for whom our prayers are desired]; that it may please thee to comfort and relieve them according to their several necessities, giving them patience under their sufferings, and a happy issue out of all their afflictions. And this we beg for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.
