HYMN

Psalms of the Day

Reading
Wisdom 11:23-24a

You have mercy on all, because you can do all things;
   and you overlook the sins of men that they may repent.
For you love all things that are
   and loathe nothing that you have made.

Create in me a clean heart, O God.
 - Renew in me a steadfast spirit.

Antiphon: As I live, says the Lord, I do not wish the sinner to die, but to turn back to me and live.

Psalms of the Day

Reading
Ezekiel 18:23

Do I indeed derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked? says the Lord God. Do I not rather rejoice when he turns from his evil way that he may live?

Turn away your face from my sins.
 - Blot out all my guilt.

Antiphon: Armed with God's justice and power, let us prove ourselves through patient endurance.

Psalms of the Day

Reading
Isaiah 58:7

Share your bread with the hungry,
  shelter the oppressed and the homeless;
Cloth the naked when you see them,
  and do not turn your back on your own.

My sacrifice to God is a contrite spirit.
 - A humble contrite heart, O God, you will not spurn.

PSALMODY

The law of the Lord is perfect,
it revives the soul.
The rule of the Lord is to be trusted,
it gives wisdom to the simple.

The precepts of the Lord are right,
they gladden the heart.
The command of the Lord is clear,
it gives light to the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is holy,
abiding for ever.
The decrees of the Lord are truth
and all of them just.

They are more to be desired than gold,
than the purest of gold
and sweeter are they than honey,
than honey from the comb.

So in them your servant finds instruction;
great reward is in their keeping.
But who can detect all his errors?
From hidden faults acquit me.

From presumption restrain your servant
and let it not rule me.
Then shall I be blameless,
clean from grave sin.

May the spoken words of my mouth,
the thoughts of my heart,
win favor in your sight, O Lord,
my rescuer, my rock! Glory...

Psalm Prayer: May our words in praise of your commandments find favor with you, Lord. May our faith prove we are not slaves, but sons, not so much subjected to your law as sharing your power.

Lord God, if my hands have done wrong,
if I have paid back evil for good,
I who saved my unjust oppressor:
then let my foe pursue me and seize me,
let him trample my life to the ground
and lay my soul in the dust.

Lord, rise up in your anger,
rise against the fury of my foes;
my God, awake! You will give judgment.
Let the company of nations gather round you,
taking your seat above them on high.
(The Lord is judge of the peoples.)

Give judgment for me, Lord; I am just
and innocent of heart.
Put an end to the evil of the wicked!
Make the just stand firm,
you who test mind and heart,
O just God!

Psalm Prayer: Father, you weigh what is in our hearts. Free us from oppressors, and , as we wait for your day of judgement, set a firm guard on our thoughts, so that while we return good for evil, we may still praise your kind of justice.

               II
God is the shield that protects me,
who saves the upright of heart.
God is a just judge
slow to anger;
but he threatens the wicked every day,
men who will not repent.

God will sharpen his sword;
he has braced his bow and taken aim.
For them he has prepared deadly weapons;
he barbs his arrows with fire.
Here is one who is pregnant with malice,
who conceives evil and brings forth lies.

He digs a pitfall, digs it deep;
and in the trap he has made he will fall.
His malice will recoil on himself;
on his own head his violence will fall.

I will thank the Lord for his justice:
I will sing to the Lord, the Most High. Glory...

Psalm Prayer: You know our hearts, Lord, but you are slow to anger and merciful in judging. Come, examine your Church, wash her clean of sin and great crowds will surround you with songs of praise.