Prayer for the Week

Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve: Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

And one reading from today’s lessons, Psalm 26:

1Give judgment for me, O LORD,
for I have lived with integrity; *
I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered.

2Test me, O LORD, and try me; *

examine my heart and my mind.

3For your love is before my eyes; *

I have walked faithfully with you.

4I have not sat with the worthless, *

nor do I consort with the deceitful.

5I have hated the company of evildoers; *

I will not sit down with the wicked.

6I will wash my hands in innocence, O LORD, *

that I may go in procession round your altar,

7Singing aloud a song of thanksgiving *

and recounting all your wonderful deeds.

8LORD, I love the house in which you dwell *

and the place where your glory abides.

9Do not sweep me away with sinners, *

nor my life with those who thirst for blood,

10Whose hands are full of evil plots, *

and their right hand full of bribes.

11As for me, I will live with integrity; *

redeem me, O LORD, and have pity on me.

12My foot stands on level ground; *
in the full assembly I will bless the LORD.