O God, by the passion of your blessed Son you made an instrument of shameful death to be for us the means of life: Grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ, that we may gladly suffer shame and loss for the sake of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Psalm 71:1-14

1 In you, O Lord, have I taken refuge; *

let me never be ashamed.

2 In your righteousness, deliver me and set me free; * incline your ear to me and save me.

3 Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe; *

you are my crag and my stronghold.

4 Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, *

from the clutches of the evildoer and the oppressor.

5 For you are my hope, O Lord God, *

my confidence since I was young.

6 I have been sustained by you ever since I was born;

from my mother’s womb you have been my strength; *

my praise shall be always of you.

7 I have become a portent to many; *

but you are my refuge and my strength.

8 Let my mouth be full of your praise *

and your glory all the day long.

9 Do not cast me off in my old age; *

forsake me not when my strength fails.

10 For my enemies are talking against me, *

and those who lie in wait for my life take counsel together.

11 They say, “God has forsaken him; go after him and seize him; *

because there is none who will save.”

12 O God, be not far from me; *

come quickly to help me, O my God.

13 Let those who set themselves against me be put to shame and be disgraced; *

let those who seek to do me evil be covered with scorn and reproach.

14 But I shall always wait in patience, *

and shall praise you more and more.