Out of the Depths

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord;
O Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.

If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins,
O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness;
therefore you are feared.

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in His word I put my hope.
My soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.

O [man], put your hope in the Lord,
for with the Lord is unfailing love
and with Him is full redemption.
He himself will redeem Israel
from all their sins.

Psalm 130

My Whole Being, Praise the Lord

The prayer of Psalm 146:

My whole being, praise the Lord.
I will praise the Lord all my life;
I will sing praisies to my God as long as I live.

Do not put your trust in princes
or other people, who cannot save you.
When people die, they are buried.
Then all of their plans come to an end.
Happy are those who are helped by the God of Jacob.
Their hope is in the Lord their God.
He made heaven and earth,
the sea and everything in it.
He remains loyal forever.
He does what is fair for those who have been wronged.
He gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets the prisoners free.
The Lord gives sight to the blind.
The Lord lifts up people who are in trouble.
The Lord loves those who do right.
The Lord protects the foreigners.
He defends the orphans and widows,
but he blocks the way of the wicked.

The Lord will be King forever.
Jerusalem, your God is everlasting.

Praise the Lord!

The One Who Hears Prayer

Praise is rightfully Yours, God, in Zion;
vows to You will be fulfilled.
All humanity will come to You,
the One who hears prayer.
Iniquities overwhelm me;
only You can atone for our rebellions.
How happy is the one You choose
and bring near to live in Your courts!
We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house,
the holiness of Your temple.

You answer us in righteousness,
with awe-inspiring works, God of our salvation,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the distant seas;
You establish the mountains by Your power,
robed with strength;
You silence the roar of the seas,
the roar of their waves,
and the tumult of the nations.
Those who live far away are awed by Your signs;
You make the east and west shout for joy.

You visit the earth and water it abundantly,
enriching it greatly.
God's stream is filled with water,
for You prepare the earth in this way,
providing people with grain.
You soften it with showers and bless its growth,
soaking its furrows and leveling its ridges.
You crown the year with Your goodness;
Your ways overflow with plenty.
The wilderness pastures overflow,
and the hills are robed with joy.
The pastures are clothed with flocks,
and the valleys covered with grain.
They shout in triumph; indeed, they sing.

The prayer of Psalm 65 (HCSB)

A Night Prayer

Answer me when I call,
God, who vindicates me.
You freed me from affliction;
be gracious to me and hear my prayer.

How long, exalted men,
will my honor be insulted?
How long will you love
what is worthless
and pursue a lie?
Know that the Lord has set apart
the faithful for Himself;
the Lord will hear when i call to Him.
be angry and do not sin;
on your bed, reflect
in your heart and be still.

Offer sacrifices
in righteousness
and trust in the Lord.

Many are saying
'Who can show us
anything good?"
Look on us with favor, Lord.

You have put more joy
in my heart
than they have when their grain
and new wine abound.
I will both lie down and sleep
in peace,
for You alone, Lord, make me
live in safety.

Psalm 4 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

The Meaning of Worship

To worship is:
To quicken the conscience by the holiness of God.
To feed the mind with the truth of God.
To purge the imagination with the beauty of God.
To open the heart to the love of God.
To devote the will to the purpose of God.

by William Temple