The Lord hears the cry of the poor ~ Psalm 34:2-3, 6-7, 17-18, 19, 23

R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

I will bless the LORD at all times;

his praise shall be ever in my mouth.

Let my soul glory in the LORD;

the lowly will hear me and be glad.

R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,

and your faces may not blush with shame.

When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,

and from all his distress he saved him.

R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

The LORD confronts the evildoers,

to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.

When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,

and from all their distress he rescues them.

R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;

and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.

The LORD redeems the lives of his servants;

no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.

R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

Prayer for all Poor, Homeless, and Neglected People

O GOD, Almighty and merciful, 

who heals those that are broken in heart, 

and turns the sadness of the sorrowful to joy; 

Let your fatherly goodness 

be upon all 

that you have made. 

Remember in pity those who are this day 

destitute, homeless, or forgotten 

by their fellow men. 

Bless the congregation of your poor. 

Uplift those who are cast down. 

For those who suffer innocently, 

I pray that you will sanctify their endurance 

of the wrongs worked on them, 

keeping their hearts free of bitterness. 

Cheer with hope all 

discouraged and unhappy people, 

and help those who are tempted 

into sin by their poverty; 

though they be troubled on every side, 

suffer them not to be distressed; 

though they be perplexed, 

save them from despair. 

Grant this, O Lord, 

for the love of him, 

who for our sakes endured poverty 

and blameless suffering, 

your Son, our Jesus Christ.

Amen.