³ Do not put your trust in princes,
    in mortals, in whom there is no help.
⁴ When their breath departs, they return to the earth;
    on that very day their plans perish.

⁵ Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in the Lord their God,
⁶ who made heaven and earth,
    the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith forever;
⁷     who executes justice for the oppressed;
    who gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets the prisoners free;
⁸     the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
    the Lord loves the righteous.
⁹ The Lord watches over the strangers;
    he upholds the orphan and the widow,
    but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

¹⁰ The Lord will reign forever,
    your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the Lord!

Prayer

We offer thanks for all the ways we know peace and stability; for our loved ones who support us throughout our lives; for shelter and sustenance; for love and forgiveness.
We lift up our prayers today for those who know no peace; who are oppressed and grieving; who fear and hate; who are in harms way; who are enemies.
May your Spirit lead us to solve the ills of this world which seem to have no end.  Transform our hearts and minds to nurture the love you have for all of humanity. Help us to make true peace in the face of chaos. Help us grow past our own sins as we work to share the gospel. Amen.