Society of the Precious Blood - Compline Psalms 

Week 1 - Monday

Psalm 84

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.

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.

Blessed are they who dwell in your house:  they will always be praising you.

Blessed are those whose strength is in you,  in whose heart are the highways to Zion,

Who going through the barren valley find there a spring,  and the early rains will clothe it with blessing.

They will go from strength to strength  and appear before God in Zion.

O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;  listen, O God of Jacob.

Behold our defender, O God,  and look upon the face of your anointed. 

For one day in your courts  is better than a thousand. 

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God  than dwell in the tents of ungodliness. 

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. 

O Lord God of hosts,  blessed are those who put their trust in you.

Psalm 17. 1-9, 14

Hear my just cause, O Lord; consider my complaint; listen to my prayer, which comes not from lying lips.  

Let my vindication come forth from your presence; let your eyes behold what is right.  

Weigh my heart, examine me by night, refine me, and you will find no impurity in me.  

My mouth does not trespass for earthly rewards; I have heeded the words of your lips.  

My footsteps hold fast in the ways of your commandments; my feet have not stumbled in your paths.  

I call upon you, O God, for you will answer me; incline your ear to me, and listen to my words.  

Show me your marvellous loving-kindness, O Saviour of those who take refuge at your right hand from those who rise up against them. 

Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me under the shadow of your wings,  

From the wicked who assault me, from my enemies who surround me to take away my life.

Deliver me, O Lord, by your hand from those whose portion in life is unending.

Psalm 16

Preserve me, O God, for in you have I taken refuge; I have said to the Lord, 'You are my lord, all my good depends on you.' 

All my delight is upon the godly that are in the land, upon those who are noble in heart. 

Though the idols are legion that many run after,  their drink offerings of blood I will not offer, neither make mention of their names upon my lips. 

The Lord himself is my portion and my cup; in your hands alone is my fortune. 

My share has fallen in a fair land; indeed, I have a goodly heritage. 

I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel and in the night watches he instructs my heart. 

I have set the Lord always before me; he is at my right hand; I shall not fall. 

Wherefore my heart is glad and my spirit rejoices; my flesh also shall rest secure. 

For you will not abandon my soul to Death, nor suffer your faithful one to see the Pit.  

You will show me the path of life; in your presence is the fullness of joy and in your right hand are pleasures for evermore.

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