I will tell of thy fame to my people,
And praise thee in the midst of the assembly.
You who revere the Lord, praise him,
All descendants of Jacob, honor him,
All you Israelites stand in awe of him;
For he has not turned in horror

From the affliction of him who is afflicted,
Nor has he hidden his face from him,
But he has listened to his cry for help.

In the great congregation I praise thee,

I will pay my vows before those who revere him.
The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied;

The followers of the Lord shall praise him,

Their hearts shall be quickened forever.

All peoples of earth shall remember and turn to the Lord,

And all the families of the nations bow down before him, For dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules the nations!

Surely him alone all the prosperous of earth shall worship,

Before him all those about to go down to the dust shall bow.

Posterity shall serve him and tell of him to future generations,

And proclaim his righteous deeds to a people yet unborn.

291. THE PRAYER OF FAITH

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the protector of my life; whom shall I dread? When evil-doers come to attack me and devour my flesh, Those who are my adversaries and foes stumble and fall. Though a host should encamp against me, my heart will not fear,

Though war should be declared against me, even then will I trust.

One thing I ask from the Lord, for that will I seek:
To dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
To see the glory of the Lord and inquire in his temple,
For he hides me in his covert in the day of trouble;
He conceals me in the shelter of his tent, he lifts me up
on a rock.

Now he will lift me above the enemies about me.
I will offer sacrifices in his tent with loud rejoicing,
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

292. THE PETITION OF A FAITHFUL SERVANT OF GOD

With thee, O Lord, I seek refuge,
Let me never be put to shame.
Because of thy righteousness rescue me,
Hearken to my plea,

Deliver me quickly, O Lord,

Be to me a rock of refuge,

A house of defense to save me;

For thou art my rock and my fortress,

For thy name's sake lead and guide me.

Bring me out of the snare they have laid for me,
For thou thyself art my refuge.

In thy keeping I place my life;

Thou hast ransomed me, O Lord, thou faithful God!

I hate those who worship false idols,

But in thee, O Lord, I trust.

I will exult and rejoice in thy love,
Because thou hast seen my affliction,
Thou hast known my soul's distress,
Thou hast not surrendered me to my foe,
But hast set my feet in a broad place.

In thee, O Lord, do I trust, "Thou art my God,' I say; My fate is in thy keeping,.

Save me from my foes and pursuers,
Let thy face shine upon thy servant,
Save me because of thy love.

O Lord, how great is the goodness

Thou hast in store for those who revere thee,
Which thou showest to all mankind,

To those who trust in thee!

Thou dost shelter them under thy wings,

Away from the plottings of men;

Thou keepest them safe in a shelter,

Away from the strife of tongues.

Blessed is the Lord,

For the wonderful love he has shown me.
For in my alarm I said:

'I have been cut off from thy presence.'
But thou heardest my loud supplication,
When to thee I cried for help.

Love the Lord, all you his faithful ones,
For the Lord preserves the faithful,
But punishes the arrogant to the uttermost.
Let your hearts be strong and courageous,
All you who wait for the Lord.

293. A PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

I extol thee, O Lord, for thou hast delivered me, For thou hast not let my foes rejoice over me. My God, I cried to thee for help,

And thou, O Lord, hast healed my ills,

From the dead, O Lord, thou hast raised me,
From among the dying restored me to life.

Sing praise to the Lord, you who love him,
And give thanks to his holy name,
For his anger lasts only a moment,

But his favor endures for a lifetime.
Weeping may tarry at night,

But the morning brings shouts of joy.

When all went well, I said

That I should never be moved.
O Lord, by thy favor I stood
As firm as the stalwart mountains;
But when thou didst hide thy face,
I was filled with utter dismay.

Then to thee, O God, I called,
To the Lord I prayed this prayer:
'What profit is there in my blood
If I go down to the grave?

Can the dust give praise to thee?
Can it make known thy faithfulness?
Hear, O Lord, and be gracious,
And come to my help, O Lord.'

Thou hast turned my mourning to dancing,
And thou hast stripped off my sackcloth,
Thou hast clothed me instead with joy,
That my heart may sing praise to thee,
That it may not be silent, O Lord, my God,
That forever I may give thanks to thee.

294. THE PRAYER OF AN EXILE

Hear my cry, O God,

Give heed unto my prayer.

From the ends of the earth I call

To thee, when my heart is faint.

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I,
For thou hast been my place of refuge,
A tower of strength against the enemy.

I would be a guest in thy tent forever,
Finding refuge under thy wings.

For thou, O God, hearest my vows,

Granting the desires of those who revere thee.

Prolong the life of the ruler,

May he live throughout all generations,
May he remain before the Lord forever,
May love and fidelity keep him!
Then will I praise thee forever,
Paying my vows each day.

295. A MISSIONARY PRAYER

O God, be gracious and bless us,
Let the light of thy face shine upon us,
That thy way may be known upon earth,
Thy saving power among the nations.

May the peoples praise thee, O God,
May all peoples give thee thanks,

Let the nations rejoice and shout joyfully,
For thou governest the peoples with justice,
And guidest the nations on earth.

May the peoples praise thee, O God,

May all peoples give thee thanks.

The earth has yielded her increase,

For the Lord, our God, has blessed us;

May all mankind revere him.

296. A PETITION FOR AN UPRIGHT RULER

Give the ruler thy judgment, O God,
And the ruler's son thy sense of right,

That he may judge thy people righteously,

And thine afflicted ones with justice;

That the heights may bear welfare to the people,
That the hills may yield the fruits of justice;
That he may guard the rights of the downtrodden,