The Midday Office

Bless our God, you peoples;* make the voice of his praise to be heard; Who holds our souls in life,* and will not allow our feet to slip.

Show us the light of your countenance, O God,* and come to us.

Happy are the people whose strength is in you!* whose hearts are set on the pilgrims' way.

Happy are they who fear the LORD,* and who follow in his ways!

The tradition I handed on to you in the first place, a tradition which I myself received, was that Christ died for our sins, in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried; and that on the third day, he was raised to life, in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas; and later to the Twelve; and next he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still with us, though some have fallen asleep; then he appeared to James, and then to all the apostles. Last of all he appeared to me too, as though I was a child born abnormally.

Happy are they who fear the LORD,* and who follow in his ways!

Hear my voice, O God, when I complain;* protect my life from fear of the enemy. Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked,* from the mob of evildoers. They say, "Who will see us? who will find out our crimes?* we have thought out a perfect plot." The human mind and heart are a mystery;* but God will loose an arrow at them, and suddenly they will be wounded. He will make them trip over their tongues,* and all who see them will shake their heads. Everyone will stand in awe and declare God's deeds;* they will recognize his works. The righteous will rejoice in the LORD and put their trust in him,* and all who are true of heart will glory.

Happy are they who fear the LORD,* and who follow in his ways!

Blessed be the Name of the Lord and blessed be the people who are called by it.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your Name. May your kingdom come, and your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for yours are the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.†

Almighty God, by your Holy Spirit you have made us one with your saints in heaven and on earth: Grant that in my earthly pilgrimage I may always be supported by this fellowship of love and prayer, and know myself to be surrounded by their witness to your power and mercy. I ask this for the sake of Jesus Christ, in whom all my intercessions are acceptable through the Spirit, and who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.† Lord, my God, King of heaven and of earth, for this day please direct and sanctify, set right and govern my heart and my body, my sentiments, my words and my actions in conformity with Your law and Your commandments. Thus I shall be able to attain salvation and deliverance, in time and in eternity, by Your help, O Savior of the world, who lives and reigns forever. Amen.