Prayer from St. Augustine’s Prayer Book
O Lord support us all the day long, until the shadows lengthen and the evening come, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then, in thy mercy, grant us a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last. Amen.
Psalm 118
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; *
his mercy endures for ever.
Let Israel now proclaim, *
“His mercy endures for ever.”
Let the house of Aaron now proclaim, *
“His mercy endures for ever.”
Let those who fear the Lord now proclaim, *
“His mercy endures for ever.”
I called to the Lord in my distress; *
the Lord answered by setting me free.
The Lord is at my side, therefore I will not fear; *
what can anyone do to me?
The Lord is at my side to help me; *
I will triumph over those who hate me.
It is better to rely on the Lord *
than to put any trust in flesh.
It is better to rely on the Lord *
than to put any trust in rulers.
All the ungodly encompass me; *
in the Name of the Lord I will repel them.
They hem me in, they hem me in on every side; *
in the name of the Lord I will repel them.
They swarm about me like bees;
they blaze like a fire of thorns; *
they blaze like a fire of thorns; *
in the name of the Lord I will repel them.
I was pressed so hard that I almost fell, *
but the Lord came to my help.
The Lord is my strength and my song, *
and he has become my salvation.
There is a sound of exultation and victory *
in the tents of the righteous:
“The right hand of the Lord has triumphed! *
the right hand of the Lord is exalted!
the right hand of the Lord has triumphed!”
the right hand of the Lord has triumphed!”
I shall not die, but live, *
and declare the works of the Lord.
The Lord has punished me sorely, *
but he did not hand me over to death.
Open for me the gates of righteousness; *
I will enter them;
I will offer thanks to the Lord.
I will offer thanks to the Lord.
“This is the gate of the Lord; *
he who is righteous may enter.”
I will give thanks to you, for you answered me *
and have become my salvation.
The same stone which the builders rejected *
has become the chief cornerstone.
This is the Lord’s doing, *
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
On this day the Lord has acted; *
we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Hosanna, Lord, hosanna! *
Lord, send us now success.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; *
we bless you from the house of the Lord.
God is the Lord; he has shined upon us; *
form a procession with branches up to the horns of the altar.
“You are my God, and I will thank you; *
you are my God, and I will exalt you.”
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; *
his mercy endures for ever.
Image: “Candle in a candle holder with a cross burning in the evening at a graveyard” by Ivan Radic is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
