Morning Watch

¹Listen, Yahweh , to my passionate prayer![#5:1 Or “My words—give them a hearing, Lord!”]

Can’t you hear my groaning?

²Don’t you hear how I’m crying out to you?

My King and my God, consider my every word,

for I am calling out to you.

³At each and every sunrise you will hear my voice

as I prepare my sacrifice of prayer to you.

Every morning I lay out the pieces of my life on the altar

and wait for your fire to fall upon my heart .

Making It Right

⁴I know that you, God, are never pleased with lawlessness,

and evil ones will never be invited into your house.

⁵Boasters collapse, unable to survive your scrutiny,

for your hatred of evildoers is clear.

⁶You will make an end of all those who lie.

How you hate their hypocrisy and despise all who love violence!

Multitude of Mercy

⁷But I know that you will welcome me into your house,

for I am covered by your covenant of mercy and love.

So I come to your sanctuary with deepest awe

to bow in worship and adore you.

⁸Yahweh , lead me in the pathways of your pleasure

just like you promised me you would,

or else my enemies will conquer me.

Smooth out your road in front of me,

straight and level, so that I will know where to walk.

Multitude of Sins

⁹Their words are unreliable.

Destruction is in their hearts,

drawing people into their darkness with their speeches.

They are smooth-tongued deceivers, flattering with their words.

¹⁰Declare them guilty, O God!

Let their own schemes be their downfall!

Let the guilt of their sins collapse on top of them,

for they rebel against you.

Multitude of Blessings

¹¹But let them all be glad,

those who turn aside to hide themselves in you.

May they keep shouting for joy forever!

Overshadow them in your presence as they sing and rejoice.

Then every lover of your name will burst forth with endless joy.

¹²Lord, how wonderfully you bless the righteous.

Your favor wraps around each one and covers them

under your canopy of kindness and joy.