Daily Prayer

Image Credit: Scholar’s rock | China | Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Kangxi period (1662–1722) Psalm 621For God alone my soul in silence waits; *from him comes my salvation. 2He alone is my rock and my salvation, *my stronghold, so that I shall not be greatly shaken. 3How long will you assail me to crush me,all of you together, *as if you were a leaning fence, a toppling wall? 4They seek only to bring me down from my place of honor; *lies

Image Credit: Young Woman with Her Hand over Her Mouth | Edgar Degas, French | ca. 1875 Psalm 561 Have mercy on me, O God,for my enemies are hounding me; *all day long they assault and oppress me. 2 They hound me all the day long; *truly there are many who fight against me, O Most High. 3 Whenever I am afraid, *I will put my trust in you. 4 In God, whose word I praise,in God I trust and will not be afraid,

Image Credit: Limestone statuette of a dove | Cypriot | 4th century BCE Psalm 551 Hear my prayer, O God; *do not hide yourself from my petition. 2 Listen to me and answer me; *I have no peace, because of my cares. 3 I am shaken by the noise of the enemy *and by the pressure of the wicked; 4 For they have cast an evil spell upon me *and are set against me in fury. 5 My heart quakes within me, *and the terrors

Image Credit: Illustration of Su Shi’s “Second Rhapsody on Red Cliff” | Zhang Ruitu, Chinese | dated 1628 Psalm 401 I waited patiently upon the Lord; *he stooped to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the desolate pit,out of the mire and clay; *he set my feet upon a high cliffand made my footing sure. 3 He put a new song in my mouth,a song of praise to our God; *many shall see, and stand in awe,and put

Image Credit: Angel | French | ca. 1130 Psalm 341I will bless the Lord at all times; *his praise shall ever be in my mouth. 2I will glory in the Lord; *let the humble hear and rejoice. 3Proclaim with me the greatness of the Lord; *let us exalt his Name together. 4I sought the Lord, and he answered me *and delivered me out of all my terror. 5Look upon him and be radiant, *and let not your faces be ashamed.

Image Credit: A Kitchen | Hendrick Sorgh, Dutch | ca. 1643 Psalm 119:49-7249 Remember your word to your servant, *because you have given me hope. 50 This is my comfort in my trouble, *that your promise gives me life. 51 The proud have derided me cruelly, *but I have not turned from your law. 52 When I remember your judgments of old, *O Lord, I take great comfort. 53 I am filled with a burning rage, *because of the wicked who forsake your law. 54 Your

Image Credit: Two Men at a Cemetery | Agostino Veneziano (Agostino dei Musi), Italian | ca. 1514–36 Psalm 1161 I love the Lord, because he has heard the voice ofmy supplication, *because he has inclined his ear to me wheneverI called upon him. 2 The cords of death entangled me;the grip of the grave took hold of me; *I came to grief and sorrow. 3 Then I called upon the Name of the Lord: *“O Lord, I pray you, save my life.” 4 Gracious

Image Credit: Weeping Woman Kneeling, Seen from Behind | Jacob Backer, Dutch | ca. 1634–38 Psalm 301I will exalt you, O Lord,because you have lifted me up *and have not let my enemies triumph over me. 2O Lord my God, I cried out to you, *and you restored me to health. 3You brought me up, O Lord, from the dead; *you restored my life as I was going down to the grave. 4Sing to the Lord, you servants of his;

Image Credit: The Castle of Unuma | Keisai Eisen, Japanese | 19th century Psalm 311In you, O Lord, have I taken refuge;let me never be put to shame: *deliver me in your righteousness. 2Incline your ear to me; *make haste to deliver me. 3Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe,for you are my crag and my stronghold; *for the sake of your Name, lead me and guide me. 4Take me out of the net that they have