Psalm 146
1Hallelujah!
Praise the Lord, O my soul! *
I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
2Put not your trust in rulers, nor in any child of earth, *
for there is no help in them.
3When they breathe their last, they return to earth, *
and in that day their thoughts perish.
4Happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help! *
whose hope is in the Lord their God;
5Who made heaven and earth, the seas, and all that is in them; *
who keeps his promise for ever;
6Who gives justice to those who are oppressed, *
and food to those who hunger.
7The Lord sets the prisoners free;
the Lord opens the eyes of the blind; *
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
8The Lord loves the righteous;
the Lord cares for the stranger; *
he sustains the orphan and widow,
but frustrates the way of the wicked.
9The Lord shall reign for ever, *
your God, O Zion, throughout all generations.
Hallelujah!
A Collect for the Renewal of Life
O God, the King eternal, whose light divides the day from the night and turns the shadow of death into the morning: Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep your law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that, having done your will with cheerfulness while it was day, we may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Image Credit: Street vendor, ca. 1750–60, Mennecy
Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Open Access Collection – https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/201718
