Below you will
find links to the readings from the Psalms assigned to Epiphany
in Year A. These links will allow you to view or download the Psalms
in Microsoft Word format.
It is my hope
to render each of the Psalms in language that is understandable
to people today, useable in worship, and true to the intent of the
psalmists. These re-phrasings are not so much paraphrase as harmony,
with the fixed, known melody as a base. The book is copyrighted,
but you have my permission to use any of the readings posted on
this website in a service of worship, with the printed acknowledgement:
EPIPHANY
PSALM 72: 1-7, 10-14
Endow our ruler with Your justice, O God,
And to all who will govern,
Give Your ability and desire
to provide for the well-being
of the people,
That all Your people may be kept secure,
And Your lowly ones provided with justice.
May the mountains yield prosperity for the people,
And the hills, the reward of justice.
May the cause of the poor be defended,
Deliverance given to the needy,
And oppression crushed,
As long as the sun endures,
While the moon lasts,
Through all generations.
May those who rule be like rain that falls on the mown grass,
Like showers that water the earth.
May well-being flourish and peace abound,
until the moon is no more.
May distant lands and the far islands render tribute, and bring
gifts,
Offering themselves to justice and righteousness,
And placing themselves in the service of justice and peace.
The just ruler rescues the needy when they cry out,
Liberates the poor and those who have no helper.
With compassion, the lives of the weak and the needy are restored,
Their lives delivered from oppression and violence,
Their blood deemed too precious to be shed.
PSALM 72: 1-7, 10-14, Antiphonal
Leader: Endow our ruler with
Your justice, O God,
PEOPLE: And to all who will govern,
Give
Your ability and desire
to
provide for the well-being of the people,
Leader: That all Your people
may be kept secure,
PEOPLE: And Your lowly ones served with justice.
Leader: May the mountains
yield prosperity for the people,
PEOPLE: And the hills, the reward of justice.
Leader: May the cause of the
poor be defended,
PEOPLE: Deliverance given to the needy,
Leader: And oppression crushed.
PEOPLE: As long as the sun endures,
Leader: While the moon lasts,
PEOPLE: Through all generations.
Leader: May those who rule
be like rain that falls on the mown grass,
PEOPLE: Like showers that water the earth.
Leader: May well-being flourish
and peace abound,
PEOPLE: Until the moon is no more.
Leader: May distant lands
and the far islands render tribute, and bring gifts,
PEOPLE: Offering themselves to justice and righteousness,
And
placing themselves in the service of justice and peace.
Leader: The just ruler rescues
the needy when they cry out,
PEOPLE: The poor and those who have no helper.
Leader: With compassion,
The
lives of the weak and the needy are restored,
PEOPLE: Their lives delivered from oppression and
violence,
Leader: Their blood deemed
too precious to be shed.
Psalms
for Epiphany, Year A (Click
here to view or download in Microsoft Word format.)
Click here to return
to Psalms of the Seasons.
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