Evening Prayer: Thursday 10 April 2025

1. Bless the Lord, O my soul; *
O Lord my God, how excellent is your greatness! You are clothed with majesty and splendour.

2. You wrap yourself with light as with a cloak *
and spread out the heavens like a curtain.

3. You lay the beams of your chambers in the waters above; *
you make the clouds your chariot; you ride on the wings of the wind.

4. You make the winds your messengers *
and flames of fire your servants.

5. You have set the earth upon its foundations, *
so that it never shall move at any time.

6. You covered it with the deep as with a mantle; *
the waters stood higher than the mountains.

7. At your rebuke they fled; *
at the voice of your thunder they hastened away.

8. They went up into the hills and down to the valleys beneath, *
to the places you had appointed for them.

9. You set the limits that they should not pass; *
they shall not again cover the earth.

10. You send the springs into the valleys; *
they flow between the mountains.

11. All the beasts of the field drink their fill from them, *
and the wild asses quench their thirst.

12. Beside them the birds of the air make their nests *
and sing among the branches.

13. You water the mountains from your dwelling on high; *
the earth is fully satisfied by the fruit of your works.

14. You make grass grow for flocks and herds *
and plants to serve human beings that they may bring forth food from the earth, *

15. wine to gladden our hearts, oil to make a cheerful countenance, *
and bread to strengthen the heart.

16. The trees of the Lord are full of sap, *
the cedars of Lebanon which you planted,

17. in which the birds build their nests, *
and in whose tops the stork makes its dwelling.

18. The high hills are a refuge for the mountain goats, *
and the stony cliffs for the rock badgers.

19. You appointed the moon to mark the seasons, *
and the sun knows the time of its setting.

20. You make darkness that it may be night, *
in which all the beasts of the forest prowl.

21. The lions roar after their prey *
and seek their food from God.

22. The sun rises, and they slip away *
and lay themselves down in their dens.

23. Mortals goes forth to their work *
and to their labour until the evening.

24. O Lord, how manifold are your works! *
In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.

25. Yonder is the great and wide sea with its living things too many to number, *
creatures both small and great.

26. There move the ships, and there is that Leviathan, *
which you have made for the sport of it.

27. All of them look to you *
to give them their food in due season.

28. You give it to them; they gather it; *
you open your hand, and they are filled with good things.

29. You hide your face, and they are terrified; *
you take away their breath, and they die and return to their dust.

30. You send forth your Spirit, and they are created; *
and so you renew the face of the earth.

31. May your glory, O Lord, endure for ever; *
may you rejoice in all your works;

32. you look at the earth and it trembles; *
you touch the mountains and they smoke.

33. I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; *
I will praise my God while I have my being.

34. May these words of mine please you; *
I will rejoice in the Lord.

35. Let sinners be consumed out of the earth, and the wicked be no more. *
Bless the Lord, O my soul. Hallelujah!