The Readings

1Hallelujah! Praise the Lord, O my soul! *I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

2Put not your trust in rulers, nor in any child of earth, *for there is no help in them.

3When they breathe their last, they return to earth, *and in that day their thoughts perish.

4Happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help! *whose hope is in the Lord their God;

5Who made heaven and earth, the seas, and all that is in them; *who keeps his promise for ever;

6Who gives justice to those who are oppressed, *and food to those who hunger.

7The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind; *the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;

8The Lord loves the righteous; the Lord cares for the stranger; *he sustains the orphan and widow, but frustrates the way of the wicked.

9The Lord shall reign for ever, *your God, O Zion, throughout all generations. Hallelujah!

1Hallelujah! How good it is to sing praises to our God! *how pleasant it is to honor him with praise!

2The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem; *he gathers the exiles of Israel.

3He heals the brokenhearted *and binds up their wounds.

4He counts the number of the stars *and calls them all by their names.

5Great is our Lord and mighty in power; *there is no limit to his wisdom.

6The Lord lifts up the lowly, *but casts the wicked to the ground.

7Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; *make music to our God upon the harp.

8He covers the heavens with clouds *and prepares rain for the earth;

9He makes grass to grow upon the mountains *and green plants to serve mankind.

10He provides food for flocks and herds *and for the young ravens when they cry.

11He is not impressed by the might of a horse; *he has no pleasure in the strength of a man;

12But the Lord has pleasure in those who fear him, *in those who await his gracious favor.

13Worship the Lord, O Jerusalem; *praise your God, O Zion;

14For he has strengthened the bars of your gates; *he has blessed your children within you.

15He has established peace on your borders; *he satisfies you with the finest wheat.

16He sends out his command to the earth, *and his word runs very swiftly.

17He gives snow like wool; *he scatters hoarfrost like ashes.

18He scatters his hail like bread crumbs; *who can stand against his cold?

19He sends forth his word and melts them; *he blows with his wind, and the waters flow.

20He declares his word to Jacob, *his statutes and his judgments to Israel.

21He has not done so to any other nation; *to them he has not revealed his judgments. Hallelujah!

1Hallelujah! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, *in the assembly of the upright, in the congregation.

2Great are the deeds of the Lord! *they are studied by all who delight in them.

3His work is full of majesty and splendor, *and his righteousness endures for ever.

4He makes his marvelous works to be remembered; *the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.

5He gives food to those who fear him; *he is ever mindful of his covenant.

6He has shown his people the power of his works *in giving them the lands of the nations.

7The works of his hands are faithfulness and justice; *all his commandments are sure.

8They stand fast for ever and ever, *because they are done in truth and equity.

9He sent redemption to his people; he commanded his covenant for ever; *holy and awesome is his Name.

10The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; *those who act accordingly have a good understanding; his praise endures for ever.

1Hallelujah! Happy are they who fear the Lord *and have great delight in his commandments!

2Their descendants will be mighty in the land; *the generation of the upright will be blessed.

3Wealth and riches will be in their house, *and their righteousness will last for ever.

4Light shines in the darkness for the upright; *the righteous are merciful and full of compassion.

5It is good for them to be generous in lending *and to manage their affairs with justice.

6For they will never be shaken; *the righteous will be kept in everlasting remembrance.

7They will not be afraid of any evil rumors; *their heart is right; they put their trust in the Lord.

8Their heart is established and will not shrink, *until they see their desire upon their enemies.

9They have given freely to the poor, *and their righteousness stands fast for ever; they will hold up their head with honor.

10The wicked will see it and be angry; they will gnash their teeth and pine away; *the desires of the wicked will perish.

1Hallelujah! Give praise, you servants of the Lord; *praise the Name of the Lord.

2Let the Name of the Lord be blessed, *from this time forth for evermore.

3From the rising of the sun to its going down *let the Name of the Lord be praised.

4The Lord is high above all nations, *and his glory above the heavens.

5Who is like the Lord our God, who sits enthroned on high *but stoops to behold the heavens and the earth?

6He takes up the weak out of the dust *and lifts up the poor from the ashes.

7He sets them with the princes, *with the princes of his people.

8He makes the woman of a childless house *to be a joyful mother of children.