Psalm 84

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! • My soul has a desire and longing to enter the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God.

The sparrow has found her a house and the swallow a nest where she may lay her young: • at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.

Blessed are they who dwell in your house: • they will always be praising you.

Blessed are those whose strength is in you, • in whose heart are the highways to Zion,

Who going through the barren valley find there a spring, • and the early rains will clothe it with blessing.

They will go from strength to strength • and appear before God in Zion.

O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; • listen, O God of Jacob.

Behold our defender, O God, • and look upon the face of your anointed.

For one day in your courts • is better than a thousand.

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God • than dwell in the tents of ungodliness.

For the Lord God is both sun and shield; he will give grace and glory; • no good thing shall the Lord withhold from those who walk with integrity.

O Lord God of hosts, • blessed are those who put their trust in you.

Psalm 17. 1-9, 14

Hear my just cause, O Lord; consider my complaint; • listen to my prayer, which comes not from lying lips.

Let my vindication come forth from your presence; • let your eyes behold what is right.

Weigh my heart, examine me by night, • refine me, and you will find no impurity in me.

My mouth does not trespass for earthly rewards; • I have heeded the words of your lips.

My footsteps hold fast in the ways of your commandments; • my feet have not stumbled in your paths.

I call upon you, O God, for you will answer me; • incline your ear to me, and listen to my words.

Show me your marvellous loving-kindness, • O Saviour of those who take refuge at your right hand from those who rise up against them.

Keep me as the apple of your eye; • hide me under the shadow of your wings,

From the wicked who assault me, • from my enemies who surround me to take away my life.

Deliver me, O Lord, by your hand • from those whose portion in life is unending.

Psalm 16

Preserve me, O God, for in you have I taken refuge; • I have said to the Lord, 'You are my lord, all my good depends on you.'

All my delight is upon the godly that are in the land, • upon those who are noble in heart.

Though the idols are legion that many run after, • their drink offerings of blood I will not offer, neither make mention of their names upon my lips.

The Lord himself is my portion and my cup; • in your hands alone is my fortune.

My share has fallen in a fair land; • indeed, I have a goodly heritage.

I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel • and in the night watches he instructs my heart.

I have set the Lord always before me; • he is at my right hand; I shall not fall.

Wherefore my heart is glad and my spirit rejoices; • my flesh also shall rest secure.

For you will not abandon my soul to Death, • nor suffer your faithful one to see the Pit.

You will show me the path of life; in your presence is the fullness of joy • and in your right hand are pleasures for evermore.