discoveringorthodoxy

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"I loved martyrdom, which so strangely cleanses the soul!" - Saint Luke of Crimea (Saint Luke the Surgeon)

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SAINTS&READING: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2025

june 18_june 5

VENERABLE ABBA DORETHEOS OF PALESTINE (620)

The Holy Abba Dorotheus was a disciple of Saint John the Prophet in the Palestinian monastery of Abba Seridus in the sixth century.

In his youth he had zealously studied secular science. “When I sought worldly knowledge,” wrote the abba, “it was very difficult at first. When I would come to take a book, I was like a man about to touch a wild beast. When I forced myself to study, then God helped me, and diligence became such a habit that I did not know what I ate, what I drank, whether I had slept, nor whether I was warm or not. I was oblivious to all this while reading. I could not be dragged away by my friends for meals, nor would I even talk with them while I was absorbed in reading. When the philosopher let us go, I went home and washed, and ate whatever was prepared for me. After Vespers, I lit a lamp and continued reading until midnight.” — so absorbed was Abba Dorotheus in his studies at that time.

He devoted himself to monastic activity with an even greater zeal. Upon entering the monastery, he says in his tenth Instruction, he decided that his study of virtue ought to be more fervent than his occupation with secular science had been.

One of the first obediences of Abba Dorotheus was to greet and to see to pilgrims arriving at the monastery. It gave him opportunity to converse with people from various different positions in life, bearing all sorts of burdens and tribulations, and contending against manifold temptations. With the means of a certain brother Saint Dorotheus built an infirmary, in which also he served. The holy abba himself described his obedience, “At the time I had only just recovered from a serious illness. Travellers would arrive in the evening, and I spent the evening with them. Then camel drivers would come, and I saw to their needs. It often happened that once I had fallen asleep, other things arose requiring my attention. Then it would be time for Vigil.” Saint Dorotheus asked one of the brethren to wake him up for for Vigil, and another to prevent him from dozing during the service. “Believe me,” said the holy abba, “I revered and honored them as though my salvation depended upon them.”

For ten years Abba Dorotheus was cell-attendant for Saint John the Prophet (Feb. 6). He was happy to serve the Elder in this obedience, even kissing the door to his cell with the same feeling as another might bow down before the holy Cross. Distressed that he was not fulfilling the word of Saint Paul that one must enter the Kingdom of Heaven through many tribulations (Acts 14:22), Abba Dorotheus revealed this thought to the Elder. Saint John replied, “Do not be sad, and do not allow this to distress you. You are in obedience to the Fathers, and this is a fitting delight to the carefree and calm.” Besides the Fathers at the monastery of Abba Seridus, Saint Dorotheus visited and listened to the counsels of other great ascetics of his time, among whom was Abba Zosima.

After the death of Saint John the Prophet, when Abba Barsanuphius took upon himself complete silence, Saint Dorotheus left the monastery of Abba Seridus and founded another monastery, the monks of which he guided until his own death.

Abba Dorotheus wrote 21 Discourses, several Letters, and 87 Questions with written Answers by Saints Barsanuphius the Great and John the Prophet. In manuscript form are 30 Talks on Asceticism, and written counsels of Abba Zosima. The works of Abba Dorotheus are imbued with a deep spiritual wisdom, distinguished by a clear and insightful style, but with a plain and comprehensible expression. The Discourses deal with the inner Christian life, gradually rising up in measure of growth in Christ. The saint resorted often to the advice of the great hierarchs, Saints Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and Gregory of Nyssa. Obedience and humility, the combining of deep love for God with love for neighbor, are virtues without which spiritual life is impossible. This thought pervades all the writings of Abba Dorotheus.

In his writings the personal experience of Abba Dorotheus is felt everywhere. His disciple, Saint Dositheus (February 19), says of him, “Towards the brethren laboring with him he responded with modesty, with humility, and was gracious without arrogance or audacity. He was good-natured and direct, he would engage in a dispute, but always preserved the principle of respect, of good will, and that which is sweeter than honey, oneness of soul, the mother of all virtues.”

The Discourses of Abba Dorotheus are preliminary books for entering upon the path of spiritual action. The simple advice, how to proceed in this or that instance, together with a most subtle analysis of thoughts and stirrings of soul provide guidance for anyone who resolves to read the works of Abba Dorotheus. Monks who begin to read this book, will never part from it throughout their life.

The works of Abba Dorotheus are to be found in every monastery library and are constantly reprinted. In Russia, his soul-profiting Instruction, together with the Replies of the Monks Barsanuphius the Great and John the Prophet, were extensively copied, together with The Ladder of Divine Ascent of Saint John Climacus and the works of Saint Ephraim the Syrian. Saint Cyril of White Lake (June 9), despite his many duties as igumen, with his own hand transcribed the Discourses of Abba Dorotheus, as he did also the Ladder of Divine Ascent.

The Discourses of Abba Dorotheus pertain not only to monks; this book should be read by anyone who aspires to fulfill the commands of Christ.

BLESSED CONSTANTINE , METROPOLITAN OF KIEV (1159)

In 1147 Saint Igor Ol’govich (September 19, June 5) was defeated and captured by Izyaslav Mstislavich, the grandson of Saint Vladimir (July 15). Izyaslav then replaced Saint Igor as Great Prince.

The See of Kiev had been left vacant after the death of Metropolitan Michael in 1145, and Izyaslav chose the learned Schemamonk Clement of Smolensk to succeed him. He wanted the candidate to be consecrated by bishops in Russia, instead of sending him to Constantinople for consecration. Because of the great distance between Kiev and Constantinople Izyaslav called a council of Russian bishops, and ordered them to consecrate Clement as Metropolitan of Kiev.

Not all of the bishops were in agreement with this plan, notably the holy Archbishop Niphon of Novgorod (April 8). Other hierarchs also refused to participate in the consecration without the blessing of the Patriarch of Constantinople. Clement’s consecration took place in spite of the objections that had been raised.

After Izyaslav’s reign, he was succeeded by Yuri (George) Dolgoruky. This Great Prince regarded the consecration as illegal and uncanonical, and so he sent Saint Constantine (Smolyatich) to Constantinople to be consecrated as Metropolitan of Kiev by the Patriarch. Upon his return to Kiev, Saint Constantine, by the authority of the Patriarch, deposed Clement from his rank, and also deposed those who had been ordained by him.

When the Great Prince Yuri completed the course of his life disputes arose over who should succeed him as Great Prince. There was also disagreement about who was the rightful Metropolitan of Kiev, and Izyaslav’s son Mstislav supported Clement. Therefore, the Russian princes decided that both Clement and Constantine should be deposed, and requested the Patriarch of Constantinople to send them a new Metropolitan for Kiev.

Hoping to put an end to the disputes among the princes, the Patriarch sent Theodore to Kiev as the new Metropolitan. Saint Constantine, wishing to avoid further tumult in the Church, stepped down as Metropolitan and went to Chernigov, where he became gravely ill.

Feeling that he was approaching the end of his life, Saint Constantine composed a Testament, which he entrusted to Bishop Anthony of Chernigov. He also made Bishop Anthony promise that he would fulfill all the directives contained in the Testament after Constantine’s death.

When Saint Constantine reposed in 1159, Bishop Anthony took the Testament to Prince Svyatoslav of Chernigov, broke the seal, and read the document aloud. One of the provisions of the Testament was that Saint Constantine’s body should not be buried, but dragged out of the city to be left as food for dogs. This was because he felt responsible for the discord in the Church.

Everyone who heard the reading of the Testament was filled with horror. Prince Svyatoslav told the bishop to do as he saw fit. Since he had given his promise to Saint Constantine to abide by the terms of the Testament, he did not dare to go back on his word. So the saint’s body was taken from the city and left in a field.

On that very day the sky grew dark over Kiev, and strong winds, earthquakes, thunder and lightning broke out. It is said that eight people were hit by lightning at the same time.

Prince Rostislav of Kiev was in Povari at Vyshgorod at the time. He had received news of the death of Metropolitan Constantine, so he sent messages to the Church of the Holy Wisdom and to other churches, asking for all-night vigils to be conducted throughout the city. He believed that the citizens of Kiev were being punished by the Lord for their sins.

While all of these things were taking place in Kiev, the sun shone brightly in Chernigov. However, three pillars of fire appeared at night over the body of Saint Constantine. Seeing this marvel, many were filled with fear. On the third day that the body lay in the field, Prince Svyatoslav ordered that the body of the Metropolitan be buried with all the honor befitting his rank.

The body of the saint was carried into the city and buried in the church of the Savior, where Saint Igor, who was killed by the inhabitants of Kiev, had also been interred. After the burial of Saint Constantine, peace returned to Kiev, and all the people glorified God.

Source: Orthodox Chruch i nAmerica_OCA

Romans 4:13-25

13 For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, 15 because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression. 16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all 17 (as it is written, "I have made you a father of many nations" ) in the presence of Him whom he believed-God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; 18 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, "So shall your descendants be." 19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness." 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, 24 but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.

Matthew 7:21-23

21 Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'

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The Altar in the most ancient Sinai Monastery Chapel of the Burning Bush, built over its roots. Here, in the Chapel, everyone enters with one's feet bare "for the ground is holy". The Bush still grows outside the Chapel.

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+++🙏🏻God Bless🕊️+++

St. Nikita of the Caves, Bishop of Novgorod, recluse

MEMORIAL DAY FEBRUARY 13

Having enjoyed, O Wise One, abstinence and having tamed the desires of the flesh, you have sat on the holy throne, and like a bright star, enlightening the hearts of believers with the radiance of your miracles, our father, Saint Nikita, and now pray to Christ God for the salvation of our souls.

💫International Orthodox Art Corporation Andcross May the blessing of the Lord be upon you!

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Godly affimations:

God’s peace will guard my heart (Philippians 4:7)

God will sustain me (Psalm 55:22)

God delights over you with singing (Zephaniah 3:17)

God will instruct me and teach me the way I should go (Psalm 32:8)

God is my refuge and strength, my help is times of need (Psalm 46:1)

In all things, I am more than a conquerer because God loves me (Romans 8:37)

God will never leave nor forsake me (Deuteronomy 31:6)

God’s perfect love casts out all fear (1 John 4:18)

Nothing can separate me from God ‘s love (Romans 8:38-39)

God is not done with me. God is not done with me. God is not done with me (Philippians 1:6)

God Bless!!

*all pictures belong to respective owners on pinterest

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Thirst for Jesus, that He may make you drunk with His love. Close your eyes to the delights of this life, that God may deem you worthy to have His peace reigning in your heart. Abstain from what your eyes behold, that you may be accounted worthy of spiritual joy. If your works are displeasing to God, seek not from Him glorious things, lest you become a man who tempts God. As your manner of life, so must your prayer be. For it is impossible for someone bound up in earthly matters to seek what is heavenly, and the man who is occupied with worldly affairs cannot ask for what is divine. Each man's desire is revealed by his works, and in whatever matters he shows his zeal, it is for those that he strives in prayer. The man who desires the greatest things does not concern himself with the lesser.

St. Isaac the Syrian

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Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

Albanian: Krishti U Ngjall! Vertet U Ngjall!

Anglo-Saxon: Crist aras! Crist sodhlice aras!

Arabic: El Messieh kahm! Hakken kahm!

Armenian: Kristos haryav ee merelotz! Orhnial eh harootyunuh kristosee!

Bulgarian: Hristos voskrese! Vo istina voskrese!

Chinese: Helistuosi fuhole! Queshi fuhuole!

Coptic: Pchristos aftooun! Alethos aftooun!

Czech: Vstal z mrtvých Kristus! Vpravdě vstal z mrtvých!

Danish: Kristus er opstanden! Ja, sandelig opstanden!

Dutch: Christus is opgestaan! Ja, hij is waarlijk opgestaan!

Ethiopian: Christos t'ensah em' muhtan! Exai' ab-her eokala!

Finnish: Kristus nousi kuolleista! Totisesti nousi!

French: Le Christ est réssuscité! En verite il est réssuscité!

Gaelic: Taw creest ereen! Taw shay ereen guhdyne!

German: Christus ist auferstanden! Wahrlich Er ist auferstanden!

Greek: Christos anesti! Alithos anesti!

Hawaiian: Ua ala hou 'o Kristo! Ua ala 'I 'o no 'oia!

Hebrew: Ha Masheeha houh quam! Be emet quam!

Ibo (Nigeria): Jesu Kristi ebiliwo! Ezia o' biliwo!

Indian (Malayalam): Christu uyirthezhunnettu! Theerchayayum uyirthezhunnettu!

Indonesian: Kristus telah bangkit! Benar dia telah bangkit!

Italian: Cristo e' risorto! Veramente e' risorto!

Japanese: Harisutos Fukkatsu! Jitsu ni Fukkatsu!

Korean: Kristo gesso! Buhar ha sho nay!

Latin: Christus resurrexit! Vere resurrexit!

Norwegian: Christus er oppstanden! Christus er oppstanden!

Polish: Khristus zmartwyckwstal! Zaprawde zmartwyckwstal!

Portuguese: Cristo ressuscitou! Em verdade ressuscitou!

Romanian: Hristos a inviat! Adevărat a înviat!

Russian: Khristos voskrese! Voistinu voskrese!

Serbian: Hristos vaskrse! Vaistunu vaskrse!

Spanish: Cristo ha resucitado! En verdad ha resucitado!

Swedish: Kristus är uppstånden! Han är sannerligen uppstånden!

Syriac: M'shee ho dkom! Ha koo qam!

Tagalog: Si Kristo ay Nabuhay! Tunay na Siya ay Nabuhay na Mag-uli!

Turkish: Hristos diril - di! Hakikaten diril - di!

Ugandan: Kristo ajukkide! Kweli ajukkide!

Ukrainian: Khristos voskres! Voistinu voskres!

Welsh: Atgyfododd Crist! Atgyfododd yn wir!

Zulu: U Kristu uvukile! Ngempela uvukile!

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Life cannot continue without food, and it must be customary food at that. Such food is the Body and Blood of the Lord. He himself said: My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed (Jn. 6:55). One who is beginning a new life should begin with this. It is especially necessary to taste this Food at the outset, at the first, so to say, movements of his new life. They say that the first food an infant eats has an effect on the character of his physical life, and from then on comprises his continual bodily requirements. What should be the character of the life of a penitent? A life in Christ Jesus our Lord. What should be his constant requirement? The need for communing with the Lord. Let him hasten in the first movement of this life to taste the Body and Blood of Christ, so that he might lay the foundation of a Christ-like life and generate a true need for constant communion with Him by means of this partaking. The partaker, after tasting the sweetness of this heavenly Manna, will ever more hunger and thirst to partake again.

-- Saint Theophan the Recluse: Path to Salvation; A Manual of Spiritual Transformation

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Call to him with fervor: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me the sinner.” Do this constantly in church and at home, traveling, working, at table, and in bed: in a word from the time you open your eyes till the time you shut them. This will be exactly like holding an object in the sun, because this is to hold yourself before the face of the Lord, who is the Sun of the spiritual world. —Abba Philemon

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If you ask anyone who knew Archbishop John (Saint John Maximovitch) what it was that drew people to him - and still draws people who never knew him -- the answer is always the same: he was overflowing with love; he sacrificed himself for his fellow men out of absolute love for God and for them. This is why things were revealed to him which could not get through to other people and which he never could have known by natural means. he himself taught that, for all the mysticism' of our Orthodox Church that is found in the Lives of Saints and the writings of the Holy Fathers, the truly Orthodox person always has both feet firmly on the ground, facing whatever situation is right in front of him. It is in accepting given situations, which requires a loving heart, that one encounters god. This loving heart is why anyone comes to a knowledge of the truth, even though God sometimes has to break down and humble a heart to make it receptive -- as in the case of the Apostle Paul, who at one time was breathing fire against and persecuting Christians. but to God, the past, present and future of the human heart are all present, and He sees where He can break through and communicate.

-- God's Revelation to the Human Heart by Father Seraphim Rose

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Happy name day to all Xenias. May St Xenia intercede for all of us!

St. Xenia of St. Petersburg

My joy, Christ is Risen!

Hello my brothers and sisters in Christ! I pray that you all have a blessed Triodion! Today I would like to look into the life of St. Xenia of St. Petersburg.

A few months ago, I had briefly read over this saint when looking at patron saints for dating. However, I ended up forgetting about her story. A few weeks later, I was talking with my boyfriend at the time about my concerns on getting a job after I graduate from college. We were also going through some conflicts in our relationship and I felt like I didn't know what I was going to do. That night, I had a beautiful dream. While I don't remember the exact details of the dream, I do remember one thing. On my kitchen counter sat an icon covered in silver of a saint. And despite not recognizing who this saint was, I was able to call out her name: St. Xenia.

Ever since then, I've felt like St. Xenia has been watching over me and has been interceding for me. So, I want to look more in depth about her story today.

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While not much is known about St. Xenia (Feast Day: January 24th)'s early life, we do know that she lived during the reigns of the Empresses Elizabeth Petrovna (reigned 1741 -1762) and Catherine II (reigned 1762 to 1796). She was also the wife of an imperial chorister, Col. Andrei Theodorovich Petrov, which hints to the fact that she may have been of the lesser nobility (Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg).

After her wedding to Col. Andrei, the two of them lived in Saint Petersburg. However, one night, despite being young and in good health, Andrei suddenly passed while at a drinking party. This caused St. Xenia to become a widow at the age of 26. She was especially distraught because he had died without partaking in the Holy Mysteries of Confession or Holy Communion (Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg). This incident caused her to examine herself and she began to lose interest in all earthly joys. This caused her to begin to follow a difficult path of foolishness for the sake of Christ.

St. Xenia began to wear her husband's clothing, insisting that she be addressed as "Andrei Theodorovich". She would tell people that it was she, not her husband, who had died that night. While she didn't experience a physical death, she had abandoned her former way of life and underwent a spiritual rebirth (Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg).

St. Xenia then began to give away all of her possessions, including her house, money, and personal belongings. After St. Xenia gave her house to her friend Paraskeva Antonova, her relatives had concluded that the saint had gone insane. So, they petitioned to the trustees of her husband's estate so that Xenia would be unable to dispose of her wealth. However, after speaking to her, the trustees decided that Xenia was in a right and sound mind and had the right to dispose of her property. After leaving nothing for herself, the Saint began to walk through the poor section of Petersburg and lived on the streets. She refused any assistance from her relatives and was happy to be free from worldly attachments. Eventually, when her husband's red and green uniform wore out, she wore rags of the same colors (Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg).

After a while, she vanished from St. Petersburg for 8 years. It is believed that during this time, she visited holy Elders and ascetics in Russia to seek instruction in the spiritual life. She may have also visited St. Theodore of Sanaxar (February 19), who was also formerly a military man. St. Theodore's life had changed when a young officer died at a drinking party. This officer could have potentially been St. Xenia's husband (Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg).

Eventually, St. Xenia returned to the poor section of Saint Petersburg, where she was most often found in the vicinity of the parish of St. Matthias. This area is where the poorest people lived in shabby hats (Holy Blessed St. Xenia). Once she returned, she was mocked and insulted because of her behavior. At first, the people thought that this woman was a simple minded beggar and would often persecute and laugh at her. However, the saint remained meek. There was only once where the people of the Petersburg Borough saw her angry. The street boys, after seeing the ragged old woman, began to laugh at and torment her. While she normally took this without so much a murmur, this time was different. This time, the boys not only verbally abused her but physically abused her. They began to throw mud and rocks at her. So, she flew at them, waving her cane in the air at them. The residents in the area were so startled to see this that they took immediate steps to prevent any further offenses toward her (Holy Blessed St. Xenia).

Occasionally, the Saint would receive support from the community. People began to invite her into their homes and offer her warm clothes and money. However, she wouldn't accept the clothes and only took a small amount of money (small copper pennies that were also called "the king on horseback") from people, which she would immediately use to help the poor. One time when she was distributing her coins to the poor, she came across a devout woman on the street. After handing her a 5 kopeck coin, she told her, "Take this five piece, here is the king on horseback; it will be extinguished." After accepting the piece, the woman went back home. As soon as she arrived at her street, she realized that her house was on fire. The woman ran to her home and she arrived as the flames were being quenched (Holy Blessed St. Xenia). The woman then realized that this is what St. Xenia was prophesying.

When a new church was being built in the cemetery, St. Xenia would secretly bring bricks to the site.

Soon, everyone began to notice her great virtue and spiritual gifts. Despite not wanting to, she became known as someone pleasing to God. People would say, "Xenia does not belong to this world, she belongs to God." People thought of it as a blessing when she would come to their home or shops.

45 years after the death of her husband, St. Xenia reposed at the age of 71. She was buried in the Smolensk cemetery. By the 1820s, people would flock to her grave to pray for her, asking her to intercede for them. Because so many people would take earth from her grave, it had to be replaced every year. Eventually, a chapel was build over her.

Today, St. Xenia is known as an intercessor for finding a job, spouse, or home. She is also known as the patron saint of St. Petersburg.

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St. Xenia is a blessed woman and an inspiration. It must have been really hard living the life she did, especially if she came from a nobility background.

I love St. Xenia's story. She had everything and gave it all up for God. She indeed was "dead" but became alive in Christ. If I were to do what she did today, I know it would be a struggle, especially with how modern life is. I would be mocked and scorned for it, but St. Xenia took that mocking wit meekness. It's beautiful. Knowing me, my first response would be to take revenge on the people mocking me by saying something back, but instead I need to learn to follow St. Xenia's example.

I'm blessed that such a saint is looking out for me. Recently, I had been praying for her intercessions in regards to finding a spouse. And while I'm nowhere near getting married (and not yet dating), I know that she is interceding for me.

Until next time and may God bless all of you!

Your sister in Christ,

Joanna

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Works Cited:

“Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg.” Orthodox Church in America, https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2011/01/24/100297-blessed-xenia-of-st-petersburg.

“Holy Blessed St. Xenia.” St Xenia Orthodox Church, https://www.stxenia.org/stxenia.

“Xenia of St. Petersburg, Fool-For-Christ .” Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, https://www.goarch.org/chapel/saints?contentid=402.

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The Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem. Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church, Butte, Montana, USA // OrthoChristian.com

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OrthoChristian.com

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"Our Lord Jesus Christ, became poor and humbled Himself, offering Himself as an example, so that we should humble ourselves in His name." -- Saint Theodosius (died 1074)

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Psalm 31 (NKJV)

In You, O Lord, I put my trust; Let me never be ashamed; Deliver me in Your righteousness. Bow down Your ear to me, Deliver me speedily; Be my rock of refuge, A fortress of defense to save me.

For You are my rock and my fortress; Therefore, for Your name’s sake, Lead me and guide me. Pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, For You are my strength. Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.

I have hated those who regard useless idols; But I trust in the Lord. I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy, For You have considered my trouble; You have known my soul in adversities, And have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet in a wide place.

Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in trouble; My eye wastes away with grief, Yes, my soul and my body! For my life is spent with grief, And my years with sighing; My strength fails because of my iniquity, And my bones waste away. I am a reproach among all my enemies, But especially among my neighbors, And am repulsive to my acquaintances; Those who see me outside flee from me. I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; I am like a broken vessel. For I hear the slander of many; Fear is on every side; While they take counsel together against me, They scheme to take away my life.

But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in Your hand; Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, And from those who persecute me. Make Your face shine upon Your servant; Save me for Your mercies’ sake. Do not let me be ashamed, O Lord, for I have called upon You; Let the wicked be ashamed; Let them be silent in the grave. Let the lying lips be put to silence, Which speak insolent things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.

Oh, how great is Your goodness, Which You have laid up for those who fear You, Which You have prepared for those who trust in You In the presence of the sons of men! You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence From the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion From the strife of tongues.

Blessed be the Lord, For He has shown me His marvelous kindness in a strong city! For I said in my haste, “I am cut off from before Your eyes”; Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications When I cried out to You.

Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints! For the Lord preserves the faithful, And fully repays the proud person. Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the Lord.

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