Roman Breviary

O strength and stay upholding all creation,

Who ever dost thyself unmoved abide,

Yet day by day the light in due gradation

From hour to hour through all its changes guide:

Grant to life’s day a calm unclouded ending,

An eve untouched by shadows of decay,

The brightness of a holy death-bed blending

With dawning glories of th’ eternal day.

Hear us, O Father, gracious and forgiving,

And thou, O Christ, the co-eternal Word,

Who, with the Holy Ghost, by all things living

Now and to endless ages art adored.

Amen.

31:1 Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven * and whose sins are covered.

31:2 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord hath not imputed sin, * and in whose spirit there is no guile.

31:3 Because I was silent my bones grew old; * whilst I cried out all the day long.

31:4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: * I am turned in my anguish, whilst the thorn is fastened.

31:5 I have acknowledged my sin to thee, * and my injustice I have not concealed.

31:5 I said I will confess against myself my injustice to the Lord: * and thou hast forgiven the wickedness of my sin.

31:6 For this shall every one that is holy pray to thee * in a seasonable time.

31:6 And yet in a flood of many waters, * they shall not come nigh unto him.

31:7 Thou art my refuge from the trouble which hath encompassed me: * my joy, deliver me from them that surround me.

31:8 I will give thee understanding, and I will instruct thee in this way, in which thou shalt go: * I will fix my eyes upon thee.

31:9 Do not become like the horse and the mule, * who have no understanding.

31:9 With bit and bridle bind fast their jaws, * who come not near unto thee.

31:10 Many are the scourges of the sinner, * but mercy shall encompass him that hopeth in the Lord.

31:11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye just, * and glory, all ye right of heart.

32:1 Rejoice in the Lord, O ye just: * praise becometh the upright.

32:2 Give praise to the Lord on the harp; * sing to him with the psaltery, the instrument of ten strings.

32:3 Sing to him a new canticle, * sing well unto him with a loud noise.

32:4 For the word of the Lord is right, * and all his works are done with faithfulness.

32:5 He loveth mercy and judgment; * the earth is full of the mercy of the Lord.

32:6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were established; * and all the power of them by the spirit of his mouth:

32:7 Gathering together the waters of the sea, as in a vessel; * laying up the depths in storehouses.

32:8 Let all the earth fear the Lord, * and let all the inhabitants of the world be in awe of him.

32:9 For he spoke and they were made: * he commanded and they were created.

32:10 The Lord bringeth to nought the counsels of nations; * and he rejecteth the devices of people, and casteth away the counsels of princes.

32:11 But the counsel of the Lord standeth for ever: * the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

32:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord: * the people whom he hath chosen for his inheritance.

32:13 The Lord hath looked from heaven: * he hath beheld all the sons of men.

32:14 From his habitation which he hath prepared, * he hath looked upon all that dwell on the earth.

32:15 He who hath made the hearts of every one of them: * who understandeth all their works.

32:16 The king is not saved by a great army: * nor shall the giant be saved by his own great strength.

32:17 Vain is the horse for safety: * neither shall he be saved by the abundance of his strength.

32:18 Behold the eyes of the Lord are on them that fear him: * and on them that hope in his mercy.

32:19 To deliver their souls from death; * and feed them in famine.

32:20 Our soul waiteth for the Lord: * for he is our helper and protector.

32:21 For in him our heart shall rejoice: * and in his holy name we have trusted.

32:22 Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, * as we have hoped in thee.