According to Your lovingkindness,
O God, be merciful to me;
In Your great love, blot out transgression,
And wash me from iniquity.
My sin is constantly before me;
I practiced evil in Your sight,
So when You speak, You will be blameless,
And when You judge, You will be right.

In sin my mother has conceived me,
But You desire Your truth within;
With hyssop, cleanse and purify me,
Like snow unstained by any sin.
Relieve the bones that You have broken,
And teach me gladness in Your grace;
Blot out the guilt of my offenses,
And from my failings, hide Your face.

Create a righteous heart within me,
Renew a steadfast mind, I pray;
Do not dismiss me from Your presence
Nor take Your Spirit far away.
Restore the joy of Your salvation;
Sustain my willing spirit too;
Then I will teach Your ways to sinners
And lead transgressors back to You.

Defend me, God of my salvation,
And then my tongue will gladly sing;
You take no joy in sacrifices
And do not love my offering.
But You desire a broken spirit;
Contrition You will not despise;
Then by Your grace, do good to Zion
So gifts that please You may arise.

Suggested tune:  “Poor Wayfaring Stranger”

The Lord assumes His seat as King,
And He is clothed with majesty;
He girds Himself with matchless strength
And puts on might for all to see.

Indeed, the world is firmly fixed,
You hold it fast by Your decree;
Your throne is founded from of old,
And You are from eternity.

The floods have lifted up, O Lord,
The floods have lifted up their voice;
The floods lift up their pounding waves,
And mighty breakers all rejoice.

How mighty is the Lord on high!
Your will enforces each command;
Your holiness befits Your house,
And through the ages it will stand.

Suggested tune:  OLD 100^TH
(“All People That On Earth Do Dwell”)

Hallelujah!  Praise His name!
Praise Him, servants of the Lord!
All who stand within His courts,
Let your praises be outpoured!
Praise the Lord, for He is good;
Glorify His lovely name;
Jacob is His chosen race,
Israel is His own to claim.

For I know that He is great;
High above all gods, He reigns;
As He pleases, so He does,
Ruling all as His domains.
From the distant ends of earth,
Clouds arise as He decrees;
He makes lightning for the rain;
Winds come from His treasuries.

Strong in Egypt, He destroyed
All the firstborn, man and beast;
In her midst, He sent His signs
On the greatest and the least.
Striking nations, killing kings,
To His own He gave the land;
Now recall His timeless deeds,
For His judgment is at hand.

Idols wear a human form,
But they cannot see or speak;
Those who trust the gods they made
Like them will be mute and weak.
All of Israel, bless the Lord,
Dwelling in Jerusalem;
All who fear Him, bless His name;
Hallelujah!  Honor Him!

Suggested tune:  MENDELSSOHN
(“Hark!  The Herald Angels Sing”)

O Lord, according to Your pledge
Have You dealt well with me;
Teach wisdom to my trusting soul;
Instruct by Your decree.

Before distress, I went astray,
But now I serve with awe;
In heart and action, You are good;
O Lord, teach me Your law!

Though men besmear me with their lies,
I keep to what is right;
Despite the hardness of their hearts,
Your law is my delight.

The grief was good that taught my mind
To hear what You have told!
Your spoken word is better far
Than silver joined with gold!

Suggested tune:  BROWN
(“How Sweet, How Heavenly”)

Give ear to my appeals, O Lord,
And listen as I groan.
My King and God, I cry for help
And pray to You alone.

When morning rises, I will speak,
For You will hear my voice;
In faith, I come with eagerness,
That soon I may rejoice.

You take no joy in wickedness;
No evil dwells with You;
They shall not stand before Your eyes,
The boastful and untrue.

You punish those who speak in lies
And all who dare transgress,
But in Your temple I will bow
To praise Your holiness.

Protect me from my enemies
And make my pathway straight;
No truth is present in their words
Of flattery and hate.

So hold them guilty, O my God,
Undone by what they do;
In their transgressions, thrust them out
For disregarding You.

Let everyone who trusts in You
Be jubilant in grace;
May they forever sing for joy,
Your strength, their hiding place.

Let those who love Your name exult
In what You have revealed;
You bless the righteous man, O Lord;
Your favor is his shield.

Suggested tune:  ST. FLAVIAN
("The Army of Our Lord")