Psalm 12
Plea for Help in Evil Times
To the leader: according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David.
1 Help, O Lord, for there is no longer anyone who is godly;
the faithful have disappeared from humankind.
2 They utter lies to each other;
with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.
3 May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,
the tongue that makes great boasts,
4 those who say, “With our tongues we will prevail;
our lips are our own—who is our master?”
5 “Because the poor are despoiled, because the needy groan,
I will now rise up,” says the Lord;
“I will place them in the safety for which they long.”
6 The promises of the Lord are promises that are pure,
silver refined in a furnace on the ground,
purified seven times.
7 You, O Lord, will protect us;
you will guard us from this generation forever.
8 On every side the wicked prowl,
as vileness is exalted among humankind.
Prayer:
Eternal God, we rejoice this morning in the gift of life, which we have received by your grace, and the new life you give in Jesus Christ. Especially we thank you for
the love of our families…
the affection of our friends….
strength and abilities to serve your purpose today…
this community in which.we live…
opportunities to give as we have received..
(other prayers of thanksgiving…)
God of grace, we offer our prayers for the needs of others and commit ourselves to serve them even as we have been served in Jesus Christ.
Especially we pray for
those closest to us, families, friends, neighbors…
refugees and homeless men, women, and children…
the outcast and the persecuted…
those from whom we are estranged…
the church in Africa…
(other prayers of intercession…). Amen