Oremus for Friday, January 10, 2025

Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/ysz2pzj8

O sing a new song to the Lord;
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
In his presence are majesty and splendor,
strength and honor in his holy place. ^{Psalm 96}

Almighty God,
you have poured upon us
the new light of your incarnate Word:
Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts,
may shine forth in our lives;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Music: https://tinyurl.com/ycn4djk5

O Lord, open my lips.
And my mouth will declare your praise.
Make haste, O God, to deliver me;
make haste to help me, O Lord.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Praise to you, O Christ, Alleluia!

HYMN: John Morrison
Tune: Dundee http://tinyurl.com/m3dnfhav

1 The people that in darkness sat
a glorious light have seen;
the light has shined on them who long
in shades of death have been.

2 To hail thee, Sun of Righteousness,
the gathering nations come;
they joy as when the reapers bear
their harvest treasures home.

3 For thou their burden dost remove,
and break the tyrant’s rod,
as in the day when Midian fell
before the sword of God.

4 For unto us a child is born,
to us a Son is given,
and on his shoulder ever rests
all power in earth and heaven.

5 His name shall be the Prince of Peace,
the everlasting Lord,
the Wonderful, the Counsellor,
the God by all adored.

6 His righteous government and power
shall over all extend;
on judgement and on justice based,
his reign shall have no end.

7 Lord Jesus, reign in us, we pray,
and make us thine alone,
who with the Father ever art
and Holy Spirit One.

PSALMS

Psalm 50 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yaptmvbw)
1  The Lord, even the most mighty God, hath spoken *
 and called the world, from the rising up of the sun,
unto the going down thereof.
2  Out of Sion hath God appeared *
 in perfect beauty.
3  Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence *
 there shall go before him a consuming fire,
and a mighty tempest shall be stirred up round about him.
4  He shall call the heaven from above *
 and the earth, that he may judge his people.
5  Gather my saints together unto me *
 those that have made a covenant with me with sacrifice.
6  And the heaven shall declare his righteousness *
 for God is Judge himself.
7  Hear, O my people, and I will speak *
 I myself will testify against thee, O Israel; for I am God, even thy God.
8  I will not reprove thee because of thy sacrifices,
or for thy burnt-offerings *
 because they were not alway before me.
9  I will take no bullock out of thine house *
 nor he-goat out of thy folds.
10  For all the beasts of the forest are mine *
 and so are the cattle upon a thousand hills.
11  I know all the fowls upon the mountains *
 and the wild beasts of the field are in my sight.
12  If I be hungry, I will not tell thee *
 for the whole world is mine, and all that is therein.
13  Thinkest thou that I will eat bulls’ flesh *
 and drink the blood of goats?
14  Offer unto God thanksgiving *
 and pay thy vows unto the most Highest.
15  And call upon me in the time of trouble *
 so will I hear thee, and thou shalt praise me.
16  But unto the ungodly said God *
 Why dost thou preach my laws, and takest my covenant in thy mouth;
17  Whereas thou hatest to be reformed *
 and hast cast my words behind thee?
18  When thou sawest a thief, thou consentedst unto him *
 and hast been partaker with the adulterers.
19  Thou hast let thy mouth speak wickedness *
 and with thy tongue thou hast set forth deceit.
20  Thou satest, and spakest against thy brother *
 yea, and hast slandered thine own mother’s son.
21  These things hast thou done, and I held my tongue,
and thou thoughtest wickedly, that I am even such a one as thyself *
 but I will reprove thee, and set before thee
the things that thou hast done.
22  O consider this, ye that forget God *
 lest I pluck you away, and there be none to deliver you.
23  Whoso offereth me thanks and praise, he honoureth me *
 and to him that ordereth his conversation right
will I shew the salvation of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
world without end. Amen.

Psalm 51 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yb6rfjqo)
1  Have mercy upon me, O God, after thy great goodness *
 according to the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences.
2  Wash me throughly from my wickedness *
 and cleanse me from my sin.
3  For I acknowledge my faults *
 and my sin is ever before me.
4  Against thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight *
 that thou mightest be justified in thy saying,
and clear when thou art judged.
5  Behold, I was shapen in wickedness *
 and in sin hath my mother conceived me.
6  But lo, thou requirest truth in the inward parts *
 and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly.
7  Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean *
 thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8  Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness *
 that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9  Turn thy face from my sins *
 and put out all my misdeeds.
10  Make me a clean heart, O God *
 and renew a right spirit within me.
11  Cast me not away from thy presence *
 and take not thy holy Spirit from me.
12  O give me the comfort of thy help again *
 and stablish me with thy free Spirit.
13  Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wicked *
 and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14  Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God,
thou that art the God of my health *
 and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousness.
15  Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord *
 and my mouth shall shew thy praise.
16  For thou desirest no sacrifice, else would I give it thee *
 but thou delightest not in burnt-offerings.
17  The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit *
 a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt thou not despise.
18  O be favourable and gracious unto Sion *
 build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
19  Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness,
with the burnt-offerings and oblations *
 then shall they offer young bullocks upon thine altar.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
world without end. Amen.

Psalm 52 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/ycgabjj9)
1  Why boastest thou thyself, thou tyrant *
 that thou canst do mischief;
2  Whereas the goodness of God *
 endureth yet daily?
3  Thy tongue imagineth wickedness *
 and with lies thou cuttest like a sharp razor.
4  Thou hast loved unrighteousness more than goodness *
 and to talk of lies more than righteousness.
5  Thou hast loved to speak all words that may do hurt *
 O thou false tongue.
6  Therefore shall God destroy thee for ever *
 he shall take thee, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling,
and root thee out of the land of the living.
7  The righteous also shall see this, and fear *
 and shall laugh him to scorn;
8  Lo, this is the man that took not God for his strength *
 but trusted unto the multitude of his riches,
and strengthened himself in his wickedness.
9  As for me, I am like a green olive-tree in the house of God *
 my trust is in the tender mercy of God for ever and ever.
10  I will always give thanks unto thee for that thou hast done *
 and I will hope in thy Name, for thy saints like it well.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
world without end. Amen.

(Psalm 50: LSB Tone I http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-50-LSB.mp3)
1 The Mighty One, God the LORD, speaks and summons the earth*
 from the rising of the sun to its setting.
2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,*
God shines forth.
3 Our God comes; he does not keep silence;*
 before him is a devouring fire,
 around him a mighty tempest.
4 He calls to the heavens above*
and to the earth, that he may judge his people:
5 “Gather to me my faithful ones,*
 who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!”
6 The heavens declare his righteousness,*
 for God himself is judge!
7 “Hear, O my people, and I will speak;
O Israel, I will testify against you.*
 I am God, your God.
8 Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you;*
 your burnt offerings are continually before me.
9 I will not accept a bull from your house*
 or goats from your folds.
10 For every beast of the forest is mine,*
 the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know all the birds of the hills,*
 and all that moves in the field is mine.
12 “If I were hungry, I would not tell you,*
 for the world and its fullness are mine.
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls*
 or drink the blood of goats?
14 Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving,*
 and perform your vows to the Most High,
15 and call upon me in the day of trouble;*
 I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”
16 But to the wicked God says:*
 “What right have you to recite my statutes
  or take my covenant on your lips?
17 For you hate discipline,*
 and you cast my words behind you.
18 If you see a thief, you are pleased with him,*
 and you keep company with adulterers.
19 “You give your mouth free rein for evil,*
 and your tongue frames deceit.
20 You sit and speak against your brother;*
 you slander your own mother’s son.
21 These things you have done, and I have been silent;
you thought that I was one like yourself.*
 But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you.
22 “Mark this, then, you who forget God,*
 lest I tear you apart, and there be none to deliver!
23 The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me;*
 to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!”
Glory be to the Father and to the Son*
 and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning,*
 is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Psalm 51 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-51.mp3)
1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your loving-kindness; *
in your great compassion blot out my offenses.
2 Wash me through and through from my wickedness *
and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions, *
and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against you only have I sinned *
and done what is evil in your sight.
5 And so you are justified when you speak *
and upright in your judgment.
6 Indeed, I have been wicked from my birth, *
a sinner from my mother’s womb.
7 For behold, you look for truth deep within me, *
and will make me understand wisdom secretly
8 Purge me from my sin, and I shall be pure; *
wash me, and I shall be clean indeed.
9 Make me hear of joy and gladness, *
that the body you have broken may rejoice.
10 Hide your face from my sins *
and blot out all my iniquities.
11 Create in me a clean heart, O God, *
and renew a right spirit within me.
12 Cast me not away from your presence *
and take not your holy Spirit from me.
13 Give me the joy of your saving help again *
and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit.
14 I shall teach your ways to the wicked, *
and sinners shall return to you.
15 Deliver me from death, O God, *
and my tongue shall sing of your righteousness,
O God of my salvation.
16 Open my lips, O Lord, *
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
17 Had you desired it, I would have offered sacrifice, *
but you take no delight in burnt-offerings.
18 The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit; *
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
19 Be favorable and gracious to Zion, *
and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
20 Then you will be pleased with the appointed sacrifices,
with burnt-offerings and oblations; *
then shall they offer young bullocks upon your altar.

Psalm 52 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-52-MH.mp3)
3 Why do you boast of your wickedness,
you champion of evil,
4 planning ruin all day long,
(your tongue like a sharpened razor),
you master of deceit?
5 You love evil more than good,
lies more than truth.
6 You love the destructive word,
you tongue of deceit.
7 For this God will destroy you
and remove you for ever.
He will snatch you from your tent and uproot you
from the land of the living.
8 The just shall see and fear.
They shall laugh and say:
9 “So this is the man who refused
to take God as a stronghold,
but trusted in the greatness of his wealth
and grew powerful by his crimes.”
10 But I am like a growing olive tree
in the house of God.
I trust in the goodness of God
for ever and ever.
11 I will thank you for evermore;
for this is your doing.
I will proclaim that your name is good,
in the presence of your friends.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
world without end. Amen.

PRAYER

Sovereign God,
you cut down trees that bear no fruit,
and prune fruitful trees that they may bear more.
Make us grow like rich olive trees in your kingdom,
firmly rooted in the power and mercy
of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ^BCW

THE WORD OF GOD

CANTICLE 1 Samuel 2
(Jason Silver: https://tinyurl.com/y3zdb8z9)

My heart exults in the Lord;
and my strength is exalted in God.
I loudly denounce my enemies,
for I am so glad you rescued me.

There is no Holy One like the Lord,
There is no Rock like our God.
Boast no more so very proud,
no arrogance come out of your mouth;
the Lord is our God who knows,
and by him our actions they are weighed.

The bows of the mighty are broken,
the feeble ones strengthened anew.
The well-fed hire themselves for bread,
but those who are hungry are fat with spoil.
The barren has borne seven babes,
but she who has many is forlorn.
The Lord kills and the Lord brings to life;
brings down to the grave, raises up.

The Lord makes poor and he makes rich;
he brings us low, also exalts.
He raises the poor from the dust;
he lifts the needy from the ash heap,
to make them sit down with princes
and to inherit an honorable seat.
The pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,
and on them he set the world.
He watches over his holy ones,
but the wicked shall be cut off in the dark.
For not by might does one prevail;
the Lord’s adversaries shall be shattered.
The Most High will thunder in heaven.
the Lord will judge the ends of the earth.
He will give strength to his king,
and exalt the power of his anointed ones.

PRAYER ^AAPB

Gracious Lord and Father,
you have given us in Christ a merciful Savior
to present to you the world in all its need:

We give thanks
for the presence of Christ in our weakness and in our strength
for the power of Christ to transform our suffering . . .
for all ministries of healing
for all agencies of relief
for everyone who sets men free from fear, pain, distress . . .
for the assurance that your mercy knows no limit
for the privilege of sharing your work of renewal through prayer,
suffering and joy . . .

We pray for all who suffer
the hungry, refugees . . .
prisoners, the persecuted . . .
the workless, the homeless . . .
those who bring sin and suffering to others . . .
all who try to bring relief and care to those in need . . .

In darkness and in light, in trouble and in joy,
help us to trust your love,
to serve your purpose,
and to praise your holy Name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Plainsong Mode 2: https://tinyurl.com/yctqq8cf)^DL

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today the bread of life;
and forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.

God of all people
you sent your Son
into the shrouded world
into the borderlands;
may his dawning light
give hope to the broken,
the persecuted,
the alien and the excluded,
that we might feel the kingdom drawing near
and turn to follow him;
through Jesus Christ, the morning star. Amen. ^PIC

Music: https://tinyurl.com/y9efvwm5
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen. 2 Cor. 13:14

---

^BCW Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., 1993.

^DL © Daniel Lawson; used with permission.

^PIC Prayers for An Inclusive Church, Steven Shakespeare

^AAPB An Australian Prayer Book, © 1978 Anglican Church of Australia

The main scripture readings are © 2011 Common English Bible.

The traditional-language psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1662). The modern versions of Psalm 50 is the version in Lutheran Service Book and from the Next to the Word of God YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkVRYL-MRebncw584Ql2xfg. Psalm 51 is from The Book of Common Prayer (1979) and is sung by Ryland Angel. Psalm 52 is from The Grail Psalter and is from the Manual Hopper YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/manualhopper/featured.

Musical links are usually either to artists’ albums posted on Spotify or to recordings made available at smallchurchmusic.com. Audio stripped from YouTube videos is footnoted accordingly above.

Compilation © 2025 Stephen T. Benner. All links worked at the time they were created, but I cannot accept responsibility for their content or any damage resulting from their use. The linked content is under the control of the respective content creators and is subject to change at any time. Any copyright texts included in this compilation are provided for non-commercial purposes related to study or worship. Please contact the respective copyright holders for permission to use the texts in other contexts.