Psalm 18:1-20
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.
12 He 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.
16 The 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 for Mission
Almighty and everlasting God,
by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people
is governed and sanctified:
Receive our supplications and prayers
which we offer before you for
all members of your holy Church,
that in their vocation and ministry
they may truly and devoutly serve you;
through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
