2nd Saturday before Lent

1  In Judah God is known; •
   his name is great in Israel.
2  At Salem is his tabernacle, •
   and his dwelling place in Zion.
3  There broke he the flashing arrows of the bow, •
   the shield, the sword and the weapons of war.
4  In the light of splendour you appeared, •
   glorious from the eternal mountains.
5  The boastful were plundered; they have slept their sleep; •
   none of the warriors can lift their hand.
6  At your rebuke, O God of Jacob, •
   both horse and chariot fell stunned.
7  Terrible are you in majesty: •
   who can stand before your face when you are angry?
8  You caused your judgement to be heard from heaven; •
   the earth trembled and was still,
9  When God arose to judgement, •
   to save all the meek upon earth.
10  You crushed the wrath of the peoples •
   and bridled the wrathful remnant.
11  Make a vow to the Lord your God and keep it; •
   let all who are round about him bring gifts
      to him that is worthy to be feared.
12  He breaks down the spirit of princes •
   and strikes terror in the kings of the earth.

1  O God, the heathen have come into your heritage; •
   your holy temple have they defiled
      and made Jerusalem a heap of stones.
2  The dead bodies of your servants they have given
      to be food for the birds of the air, •
   and the flesh of your faithful to the beasts of the field.
3  Their blood have they shed like water
      on every side of Jerusalem, •
   and there was no one to bury them.
4  We have become the taunt of our neighbours, •
   the scorn and derision of those that are round about us.
5  Lord, how long will you be angry, for ever? •
   How long will your jealous fury blaze like fire?
6  Pour out your wrath upon the nations that have not known you, •
   and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon your name.
7  For they have devoured Jacob •
   and laid waste his dwelling place.
8  Remember not against us our former sins; •
   let your compassion make haste to meet us,
      for we are brought very low.
9  Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; •
   deliver us, and wipe away our sins for your name’s sake.
10  Why should the heathen say, •
   ‘Where is now their God?’
11  Let vengeance for your servants’ blood that is shed •
   be known among the nations in our sight.
12  Let the sorrowful sighing of the prisoners come before you, •
   and by your mighty arm
      preserve those who are condemned to die.
13  May the taunts with which our neighbours taunted you, Lord, •
   return sevenfold into their bosom.
14  But we that are your people and the sheep of your pasture
      will give you thanks for ever, •
   and tell of your praise from generation to generation.

1  Sing merrily to God our strength, •
   shout for joy to the God of Jacob.
2  Take up the song and sound the timbrel, •
   the tuneful lyre with the harp.
3  Blow the trumpet at the new moon, •
   as at the full moon, upon our solemn feast day.
4  For this is a statute for Israel, •
   a law of the God of Jacob,
5  The charge he laid on the people of Joseph, •
   when they came out of the land of Egypt.
6  I heard a voice I did not know, that said: •
   ‘I eased their shoulder from the burden;
      their hands were set free from bearing the load.
7  ‘You called upon me in trouble and I delivered you; •
   I answered you from the secret place of thunder
      and proved you at the waters of Meribah.
8  ‘Hear, O my people, and I will admonish you: •
   O Israel, if you would but listen to me!
9  ‘There shall be no strange god among you; •
   you shall not worship a foreign god.
10  ‘I am the Lord your God,
      who brought you up from the land of Egypt; •
   open your mouth wide and I shall fill it.’
11  But my people would not hear my voice •
   and Israel would not obey me.
12  So I sent them away in the stubbornness of their hearts, •
   and let them walk after their own counsels.
13  O that my people would listen to me, •
   that Israel would walk in my ways!
14  Then I should soon put down their enemies •
   and turn my hand against their adversaries.
15  Those who hate the Lord would be humbled before him, •
   and their punishment would last for ever.
16  But Israel would I feed with the finest wheat •
   and with honey from the rock would I satisfy them.

1  How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! •
   My soul has a desire and longing to enter the courts of the Lord;
      my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God.
2  The sparrow has found her a house
      and the swallow a nest where she may lay her young: •
   at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.
3  Blessed are they who dwell in your house: •
   they will always be praising you.
4  Blessed are those whose strength is in you, •
   in whose heart are the highways to Zion,
5  Who going through the barren valley find there a spring, •
   and the early rains will clothe it with blessing.
6  They will go from strength to strength •
   and appear before God in Zion.
7  O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; •
   listen, O God of Jacob.
8  Behold our defender, O God, •
   and look upon the face of your anointed.
9  For one day in your courts •
   is better than a thousand.
10  I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God •
   than dwell in the tents of ungodliness.
11  For the Lord God is both sun and shield;
      he will give grace and glory; •
   no good thing shall the Lord withhold
      from those who walk with integrity.
12  O Lord God of hosts, •
   blessed are those who put their trust in you.