Psalm 85. Benedixisti, Domine.
LORD, thou art become gracious
unto thy land; * thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob. 2
Thou hast forgiven the offence of thy people, * and covered all their
sins. 3 Thou hast taken away all thy displeasure, * and turned
thyself from thy wrathful indignation. 4 Turn us then, O God our
Saviour, * and let thine anger cease from us. 5 Wilt thou be
displeased at us for ever? * and wilt thou stretch out thy wrath from
one generation to another? 6 Wilt thou not turn again, and quicken
us, * that thy people may rejoice in thee? 7 Show us thy mercy, O
LORD, * and grant us thy salvation. 8 I will hearken what the LORD
God will say; * for he shall speak peace unto his people, and to his
saints, that they turn not again unto foolishness. 9 For his
salvation is nigh them that fear him; * that glory may dwell in our
land. 10 Mercy and truth are met together: * righteousness and
peace have kissed each other. 11 Truth shall flourish out of the
earth, * and righteousness hath looked down from heaven. 12 Yea,
the LORD shall show loving-kindness; * and our land shall give her
increase. 13 Righteousness shall go before him, * and shall direct
his going in the way.
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Psalm 16. Conserva me, Domine.
PRESERVE me, O God; * for in
thee have I put my trust. 2 O my soul, thou hast said unto the
LORD, * Thou art my God; I have no good like unto thee. 3 All my
delight is upon the saints that are in the earth, * and upon such as
excel in virtue. 4 But they that run after another god * shall have
great trouble. 5 Their drinkofferings of blood will I not offer, *
neither make mention of their names within my lips. 6 The LORD
himself is the portion of mine inheritance, and of my cup; * thou
shalt maintain my lot. 7 The lot is fallen unto me in a fair
ground; * yea, I have a goodly heritage. 8 I will thank the LORD
for giving me warning; * my reins also chasten me in the night
season. 9 I have set the LORD alway before me; * for he is on my
right hand, therefore I shall not fall. 10 Wherefore my heart is
glad, and my glory rejoiceth: * my flesh also shall rest in
hope. 11 For why? thou shalt not leave my soul in hell; * neither
shalt thou suffer thy Holy One to see corruption. 12 Thou shalt
show me the path of life: in thy presence is the fulness of joy, * and
at thy right hand there is pleasure for evermore.
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Psalm 111. Confitebor tibi.
I WILL give thanks unto the LORD
with my whole heart, * secretly among the faithful, and in the
congregation. 2 The works of the LORD are great, * sought out of
all them that have pleasure therein. 3 His work is worthy to be
praised and had in honour, * and his righteousness endureth for
ever. 4 The merciful and gracious LORD hath so done his marvellous
works, * that they ought to be had in remembrance. 5 He hath given
meat unto them that fear him; * he shall ever be mindful of his
covenant. 6 He hath showed his people the power of his works, *
that he may give them the heritage of the heathen. 7 The works of
his hands are verity and judgment; * all his commandments are
true. 8 They stand fast for ever and ever, * and are done in truth
and equity. 9 He sent redemption unto his people; * he hath
commanded his covenant for ever; holy and reverend is his Name. 10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; * a good
understanding have all they that do thereafter; his praise endureth
for ever.
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The Fourteenth Day. Morning Prayer.
Psalm 71. In te, Domine, speravi.
IN thee, O LORD, have I put my
trust; let me never be put to confusion, * but rid me and deliver
me in thy righteousness; incline thine ear unto me, and save me. 2
Be thou my stronghold, whereunto I may alway resort: * thou hast
promised to help me, for thou art my house of defence, and my
castle. 3 Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the ungodly, *
out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. 4 For thou, O
Lord GOD, art the thing that I long for: * thou art my hope, even from
my youth. 5 Through thee have I been holden up ever since I was
born: * thou art he that took me out of my mother's womb: my praise
shall be alway of thee. 6 I am become as it were a monster unto
many, * but my sure trust is in thee. 7 O let my mouth be filled
with thy praise, * that I may sing of thy glory and honour all the day
long. 8 Cast me not away in the time of age; * forsake me not when
my strength faileth me. 9 For mine enemies speak against me; * and
they that lay wait for my soul take their counsel together,
saying, 10 God hath forsaken him; * persecute him, and take him,
for there is none to deliver him. 11 Go not far from me, O God; *
my God, haste thee to help me. 12 Let them be confounded and perish
that are against my soul; * let them be covered with shame and
dishonour that seek to do me evil. 13 As for me, I will patiently
abide alway, * and will praise thee more and more. 14 My mouth
shall daily speak of thy righteousness and salvation; * for I know no
end thereof. 15 I will go forth in the strength of the Lord GOD, *
and will make mention of thy righteousness only. 16 Thou, O God,
hast taught me from my youth up until now; * therefore will I tell of
thy wondrous works. 17 Forsake me not, O God, in mine old age, when
I am gray-headed, * until I have showed thy strength unto this
generation, and thy power to all them that are yet for to come. 18
Thy righteousness, O God, is very high, * and great things are they
that thou hast done: O God, who is like unto thee! 19 O what great
troubles and adversities hast thou showed me ! and yet didst thou turn
and refresh me; * yea, and broughtest me from the deep of the earth
again. 20 Thou hast brought me to great honour, * and comforted me
on every side: 21 Therefore will I praise thee, and thy
faithfulness, O God, playing upon an instrument of music: * unto thee
will I sing upon the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel. 22 My lips
will be glad when I sing unto thee; * and so will my soul whom thou
hast delivered. 23 My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness
all the day long; * for they are confounded and brought unto shame
that seek to do me evil.
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Psalm 39. Dixi, Custodiam.
I SAID, I will take heed to my
ways, * that I offend not in my tongue 2 I will keep my mouth as it
were with a bridle, * while the ungodly is in my sight. 3 I held my
tongue, and spake nothing: * I kept silence, yea, even from good
words; but it was pain and grief to me. 4 My heart was hot within
me: and while I was thus musing the fire kindled, * and at the last I
spake with my tongue: 5 LORD, let me know mine end, and the number
of my days; * that I may be certified how long I have to live. 6
Behold, thou hast made my days as it were a span long, and mine age is
even as nothing in respect of thee; * and verily every man living is
altogether vanity. 7 For man walketh in a vain shadow, and
disquieteth himself in vain; * he heapeth up riches, and cannot tell
who shall gather them. 8 And now, Lord, what is my hope? * truly my
hope is even in thee. 9 Deliver me from all mine offences; * and
make me not a rebuke unto the foolish. 10 I became dumb, and opened
not my mouth; * for it was thy doing. 11 Take thy plague away from
me: * I am even consumed by the means of thy heavy hand. 12 When
thou with rebukes dost chasten man for sin, thou makest his beauty to
consume away, like as it were a moth fretting a garment: * every man
therefore is but vanity. 13 Hear my prayer, O LORD, and with thine
ears consider my calling; * hold not thy peace at my tears; 14 For
I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, * as all my fathers
were. 15 O spare me a little, that I may recover my strength, *
before I go hence, and be no more seen.
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Psalm 45. Eructavit cor meum.
MY heart overfloweth with a good
matter; I speak the things which I have made concerning the King.
* My tongue is the pen of a ready writer. 2 Thou art fairer
than the children of men; * full of grace are thy lips, because God
hath blessed thee for ever. 3 Gird thee with thy sword upon thy
thigh, O thou Most Mighty, * according to thy worship and renown. 4
Good luck have thou with thine honour: * ride on, because of the word
of truth, of meekness, and righteousness; and thy right hand shall
teach thee terrible things. 5 Thy arrows are very sharp in the
heart of the King's enemies, * and the people shall be subdued unto
thee. 6 Thy seat, O God, endureth for ever; * the sceptre of thy
kingdom is a right sceptre. 7 Thou hast loved righteousness, and
hated iniquity; * wherefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with
the oil of gladness above thy fellows. 8 All thy garments smell of
myrrh, aloes, and cassia; * out of the ivory palaces, whereby they
have made thee glad. 9 Kings' daughters are among thy honourable
women; * upon thy right hand doth stand the queen in a vesture of
gold, wrought about with divers colours. 10 Hearken, O daughter,
and consider; incline thine ear; * forget also thine own people, and
thy father's house. 11 So shall the King have pleasure in thy
beauty; * for he is thy Lord, and worship thou him. 12 And the
daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; * like as the rich also
among the people shall make their supplication before thee. 13 The
King's daughter is all glorious within; * her clothing is of wrought
gold. 14 She shall be brought unto the King in raiment of
needlework: * the virgins that be her fellows shall bear her company,
and shall be brought unto thee. 15 With joy and gladness shall they
be brought, * and shall enter into the King's palace. 16 Instead of
thy fathers, thou shalt have children, * whom thou mayest make princes
in all lands. 17 I will make thy Name to be remembered from one
generation to another; * therefore shall the people give thanks unto
thee, world without end.
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The Eleventh Day. Morning Prayer.
Psalm 56. Miserere mei, Deus.
BE merciful unto me, O God, for
man goeth about to devour me; * he is daily fighting, and troubling
me. 2 Mine enemies are daily at hand to swallow me up; * for they
be many that fight against me, O thou Most Highest. 3 Nevertheless,
though I am sometime afraid, * yet put I my trust in thee. 4 I will
praise God, because of his word: * I have put my trust in God, and
will not fear what flesh can do unto me. 5 They daily mistake my
words; * all that they imagine is to do me evil. 6 They hold all
together, and keep themselves close, * and mark my steps, when they
lay wait for my soul. 7 Shall they escape for their wickedness? *
thou, O God, in thy displeasure shalt cast them down. 8 Thou
tellest my wanderings; put my tears into thy bottle: * are not these
things noted in thy book? 9 Whensoever I call upon thee, then shall
mine enemies be put to flight: * this I know; for God is on my
side. 10 In God's word will I rejoice; * in the LORD'S word will I
comfort me. 11 Yea, in God have I put my trust; * I will not be
afraid what man can do unto me. 12 Unto thee, O God, will I pay my
vows; * unto thee will I give thanks. 13 For thou hast delivered my
soul from death, and my feet from falling, * that I may walk before
God in the light of the living.
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Evening Prayer.
Psalm 65. Te decet hymnus.
THOU, O God, art praised in
Sion; * and unto thee shall the vow be performed in Jerusalem. 2
Thou that hearest the prayer, * unto thee shall all flesh come. 3
My misdeeds prevail against me: * O be thou merciful unto our
sins. 4 Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and receivest unto
thee: * he shall dwell in thy court, and shall be satisfied with the
pleasures of thy house, even of thy holy temple. 5 Thou shalt show
us wonderful things in thy righteousness, O God of our salvation; *
thou that art the hope of all the ends of the earth, and of them that
remain in the broad sea. 6 Who in his strength setteth fast the
mountains, * and is girded about with power. 7 Who stilleth the
raging of the sea, * and the noise of his waves, and the madness of
the peoples. 8 They also that dwell in the uttermost parts of the
earth shall be afraid at thy tokens, * thou that makest the out-goings
of the morning and evening to praise thee. 9 Thou visitest the
earth, and blessest it; * thou makest it very plenteous. 10 The
river of God is full of water: * thou preparest their corn, for so
thou providest for the earth. 11 Thou waterest her furrows; thou
sendest rain into the little valleys thereof; * thou makest it soft
with the drops of rain, and blessest the increase of it. 12 Thou
crownest the year with thy goodness; * and thy clouds drop
fatness. 13 They shall drop upon the dwellings of the wilderness; *
and the little hills shall rejoice on every side. 14 The folds
shall be full of sheep; * the valleys also shall stand so thick with
corn, that they shall laugh and sing.
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Evening Prayer.
Psalm 69:1-22, 30-37. Salvum me fac.
SAVE me, O God; * for the waters
are come in, even unto my soul. 2 I stick fast in the deep mire,
where no ground is; * I am come into deep waters, so that the floods
run over me. 3 I am weary of crying; my throat is dry; * my sight
faileth me for waiting so long upon my God. 4 They that hate me
without a cause are more than the hairs of my head; * they that are
mine enemies, and would destroy me guiltless, are mighty. 5 I paid
them the things that I never took: * God, thou Lowest my simpleness,
and my faults are not hid from thee. 6 Let not them that trust in
thee, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed for my cause; * let not those
that seek thee be confounded through me, O Lord God of Israel. 7
And why? for thy sake have I suffered reproof; * shame hath covered my
face. 8 I am become a stranger unto my brethren, * even an alien
unto my mother's children. 9 For the zeal of thine house hath even
eaten me; * and the rebukes of them that rebuked thee are fallen upon
me. 10 I wept, and chastened myself with fasting, * and that was
turned to my reproof. 11 I put on sackcloth also, * and they jested
upon me. 12 They that sit in the gate speak against me, * and the
drunkards make songs upon me. 13 But, LORD, I make my prayer unto
thee * in an acceptable time. 14 Hear me, O God, in the multitude
of thy mercy, * even in the truth of thy salvation. 15 Take me out
of the mire, that I sink not; * O let me be delivered from them that
hate me, and out of the deep waters. 16 Let not the water-flood
drown me, neither let the deep swallow me up; * and let not the pit
shut her mouth upon me. 17 Hear me, O LORD, for thy loving-kindness
is comfortable; * turn thee unto me according to the multitude of thy
mercies. 18 And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in
trouble: * O haste thee, and hear me. 19 Draw nigh unto my soul,
and save it; * O deliver me, because of mine enemies. 20 Thou hast
known my reproach, my shame, and my dishonour: * mine adversaries are
all in thy sight. 21 Reproach hath broken my heart; I am full of
heaviness: * I looked for some to have pity on me, but there was no
man, neither found I any to comfort me. 22 They gave me gall to
eat; * and when I was thirsty they gave me vinegar to drink.
30
As for me, when I am poor and in heaviness, * thy help, O God, shall
lift me up. 31 I will praise the Name of God with a song, * and
magnify it with thanksgiving. 32 This also shall please the LORD *
better than a bullock that hath horns and hoofs. 33 The humble
shall consider this, and be glad: * seek ye after God, and your soul
shall live. 34 For the LORD heareth the poor, * and despiseth not
his prisoners. 35 Let heaven and earth praise him: * the sea, and
all that moveth therein. 36 For God will save Sion, and build the
cities of Judah, * that men may dwell there, and have it in
possession. 37 The posterity also of his servants shall inherit it;
* and they that love his Name shall dwell therein.
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Psalm 72. Deus, judicium.
GIVE the King thy judgments, O
God, * and thy righteousness unto the King's son. 2 Then shall he
judge thy people according unto right, * and defend the poor. 3 The
mountains also shall bring peace, * and the little hills righteousness
unto the people. 4 He shall keep the simple folk by their right, *
defend the children of the poor, and punish the wrong doer. 5 They
shall fear thee, as long as the sun and moon endureth, * from one
generation to another. 6 He shall come down like the rain upon the
mown grass, * even as the drops that water the earth. 7 In his time
shall the righteous flourish; * yea, and abundance of peace, so long
as the moon endureth. 8 His dominion shall be also from the one sea
to the other, * and from the River unto the world's end. 9 They
that dwell in the wilderness shall kneel before him; * his enemies
shall lick the dust. 10 The kings of Tarshish and of the isles
shall give presents; * the kings of Arabia and Saba shall bring
gifts. 11 All kings shall fall down before him; * all nations shall
do him service. 12 For he shall deliver the poor when he crieth; *
the needy also, and him that hath no helper. 13 He shall be
favourable to the simple and needy, * and shall preserve the souls of
the poor. 14 He shall deliver their souls from falsehood and wrong;
* and dear shall their blood be in his sight. 15 He shall live, and
unto him shall be given of the gold of Arabia; * prayer shall be made
ever unto him, and daily shall he be praised. 16 There shall be an
heap of corn in the earth, high upon the hills ; the fruit thereof
shall shake like Lebanon: * and they of the city shall flourish like
grass upon the earth. 17 His Name shall endure for ever; his Name
shall remain under the sun among the posterities, which shall be
blessed in him; * and all the nations shall praise him. 18 Blessed
be the LORD God, even the God of Israel, * which only doeth wondrous
things; 19 And blessed be the Name of his majesty for ever: * and
all the earth shall be filled with his majesty. Amen, Amen.
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Psalm 57. Miserere mei, Deus.
BE merciful unto me, O God, be
merciful unto me; for my soul trusteth in thee; * and under the
shadow of thy wings shall be my refuge, until this tyranny be
overpast. 2 I will call unto the Most High God, * even unto the God
that shall perform the cause which I have in hand. 3 He shall send
from heaven, * and save me from the reproof of him that would eat me
up. 4 God shall send forth his mercy and truth: * my soul is among
lions; 5 And I lie even among the children of men, that are set on
fire, * whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp
sword. 6 Set up thyself, O God, above the heavens; * and thy glory
above all the earth. 7 They have laid a net for my feet, and
pressed down my soul; * they have digged a pit before me, and are
fallen into the midst of it themselves. 8 My heart is fixed, O God,
my heart is fixed; * I will sing and give praise. 9 Awake up, my
glory; awake, lute and harp: * I myself will awake right early. 10
I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the peoples; * and I will
sing unto thee among the nations. 11 For the greatness of thy mercy
reacheth unto the heavens, * and thy truth unto the clouds. 12 Set
up thyself, O God, above the heavens; * and thy glory above all the
earth.
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Psalm 130. De profundis.
OUT of the deep have I called
unto thee, O LORD; * Lord, hear my voice. 2 O let thine ears
consider well * the voice of my complaint. 3 If thou, LORD, wilt be
extreme to mark what is done amiss, * O Lord, who may abide it? 4
For there is mercy with thee; * therefore shalt thou be feared. 5 I
look for the LORD; my soul doth wait for him; * in his word is my
trust. 6 My soul fleeth unto the Lord before the morning watch; * I
say, before the morning watch. 7 O Israel, trust in the LORD; for
with the LORD there is mercy, * and with him is plenteous
redemption. 8 And he shall redeem Israel * from all his sins.
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Psalm 94: 1-22. Deus ultionum.
O LORD God, to whom vengeance
belongeth, * thou God, to whom vengeance belongeth, show thyself. 2
Arise, thou Judge of the world, * and reward the proud after their
deserving. 3 LORD, how long shall the ungodly, * how long shall the
ungodly triumph? 4 How long shall all wicked doers speak so
disdainfully, * and make such proud boasting? 5 They smite down thy
people, O LORD, * and trouble thine heritage. 6 They murder the
widow and the stranger, * and put the fatherless to death. 7 And
yet they say, Tush, the LORD shall not see, * neither shall the God of
Jacob regard it. 8 Take heed, ye unwise among the people: * O ye
fools, when will ye understand? 9 He that planted the ear, shall he
not hear? * or he that made the eye, shall he not see? 10 Or he
that instructeth the heathen, * it is he that teacheth man knowledge;
shall not he punish? 11 The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, *
that they are but vain. 12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest,
O LORD, * and teachest him in thy law; 13 That thou mayest give him
patience in time of adversity, * until the pit be digged up for the
ungodly. 14 For the LORD will not fail his people; * neither will
he forsake his inheritance; 15 Until righteousness turn again unto
judgment: * all such as are true in heart shall follow it. 16 Who
will rise up with me against the wicked? * or who will take my part
against the evil doers? 17 If the LORD had not helped me, * it had
not failed, but my soul had been put to silence. 18 But when I
said, My foot hath slipt; * thy mercy, O LORD, held me up. 19 In
the multitude of the sorrows that I had in my heart, * thy comforts
have refreshed my soul. 20 Wilt thou have any thing to do with the
throne of wickedness, * which imagineth mischief as a law? 21 They
gather them together against the soul of the righteous, * and condemn
the innocent blood. 22 But the LORD is my refuge, * and my God is
the strength of my confidence.
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Evening Prayer.
Psalm 104. Benedic, anima mea.
PRAISE the LORD, O my soul:
* O LORD my God, thou art become exceeding glorious; thou art
clothed with majesty and honour. 2 Thou deckest thyself with light
as it were with a garment, * and spreadest out the heavens like a
curtain. 3 Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters, *
and maketh the clouds his chariot, and walketh upon the wings of the
wind. 4 He maketh his angels winds, * and his ministers a flaming
fire. 5 He laid the foundations of the earth, * that it never
should move at any time. 6 Thou coveredst it with the deep like as
with a garment; * the waters stand above the hills. 7 At thy rebuke
they flee; * at the voice of thy thunder they haste away. 8 They go
up as high as the hills, and down to the valleys beneath; * even unto
the place which thou hast appointed for them. 9 Thou hast set them
their bounds, which they shall not pass, * neither turn again to cover
the earth. 10 He sendeth the springs into the rivers, * which run
among the hills. 11 All beasts of the field drink thereof, * and
the wild asses quench their thirst. 12 Beside them shall the fowls
of the air have their habitation, * and sing among the branches. 13
He watereth the hills from above; * the earth is filled with the fruit
of thy works. 14 He bringeth forth grass for the cattle, * and
green herb for the service of men; 15 That he may bring food out of
the earth, and wine that maketh glad the heart of man; * and oil to
make him a cheerful countenance, and bread to strengthen man's
heart. 16 The trees of the LORD also are full of sap; * even the
cedars of Lebanon which he hath planted; 17 Wherein the birds make
their nests; * and the fir-trees are a dwelling for the stork. 18
The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; * and so are the stony
rocks for the conies. 19 He appointed the moon for certain seasons,
* and the sun knoweth his going down. 20 Thou makest darkness that
it may be night; * wherein all the beasts of the forest do move. 21
The lions, roaring after their prey, * do seek their meat from
God. 22 The sun ariseth, and they get them away together, * and lay
them down in their dens. 23 Man goeth forth to his work, and to his
labour, * until the evening. 24 O LORD, how manifold are thy works!
* in wisdom hast thou made them all; the earth is full of thy
riches. 25 So is the great and wide sea also; * wherein are things
creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts. 26 There go the
ships, and there is that leviathan, * whom thou hast made to take his
pastime therein. 27 These wait all upon thee, * that thou mayest
give them meat in due season. 28 When thou givest it them, they
gather it; * and when thou openest thy hand, they are filled with
good. 29 When thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: * when thou
takest away their breath, they die, and are turned again to their
dust. 30 When thou lettest thy breath go forth, they shall be made;
* and thou shalt renew the face of the earth. 31 The glorious
majesty of the LORD shall endure for ever; * the LORD shall rejoice in
his works. 32 The earth shall tremble at the look of him; * if he
do but touch the hills, they shall smoke. 33 I will sing unto the
LORD as long as I live; * I will praise my God while I have my
being. 34 And so shall my words please him: * my joy shall be in
the LORD. 35 As for sinners, they shall be consumed out of the
earth, * and the ungodly shall come to an end. 36 Praise thou the
LORD, O my soul. * Praise the LORD.
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BOOK II.
Psalm 42. Quemadmodum.
LIKE as the hart desireth the
water-brooks, * so longeth my soul after thee, O God. 2 My soul is
athirst for God, yea, even for the living God: * when shall I come
to appear before the presence of God? 3 My tears have been my meat
day and night, * while they daily say unto me, Where is now thy
God? 4 Now when I think thereupon, I pour out my heart by myself; *
for I went with the multitude, and brought them forth into the house
of God; 5 In the voice of praise and thanksgiving, * among such as
keep holy-day. 6 Why art thou so full of heaviness, O my soul? *
and why art thou so disquieted within me? 7 O put thy trust in God;
* for I will yet thank him, which is the help of my countenance, and
my God. 8 My soul is vexed within me; * therefore will I remember
thee from the land of Jordan, from Hermon and the little hill. 9
One deep calleth another, because of the noise of thy water-floods; *
all thy waves and storms are gone over me. 10 The LORD will grant
his loving-kindness in the day-time; * and in the night season will I
sing of him, and make my prayer unto the God of my life. 11 I will
say unto the God of my strength, Why hast thou forgotten me? * why go
I thus heavily, while the enemy oppresseth me? 12 My bones are
smitten asunder as with a sword, * while mine enemies that trouble me
cast me in the teeth; 13 Namely, while they say daily unto me, *
Where is now thy God? 14 Why art thou so vexed, O my soul? * and
why art thou so disquieted within me? 15 O put thy trust in God; *
for I will yet thank him, which is the help of my countenance, and my
God.
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Psalm 43. Judica me, Deus.
GIVE sentence with me, O God,
and defend my cause against the ungodly people; * O deliver me
from the deceitful and wicked man. 2 For thou art the God of my
strength; why hast thou put me from thee? * and why go I so heavily,
while the enemy oppresseth me? 3 O send out thy light and thy
truth, that they may lead me, * and bring me unto thy holy hill, and
to thy dwelling; 4 And that I may go unto the altar of God, even
unto the God of my joy and gladness; * and upon the harp will I give
thanks unto thee, O God, my God. 5 Why art thou so heavy, O my
soul? * and why art thou so disquieted within me? 6 O put thy trust
in God; * for I will yet give him thanks, which is the help of my
countenance, and my God.
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Psalm 49. Audite haec, omnes.
O HEAR ye this, all ye people; *
ponder it with your ears, all ye that dwell in the world; 2 High
and low, rich and poor, * one with another. 3 My mouth shall speak
of wisdom, * and my heart shall muse of understanding. 4 I will
incline mine ear to the parable, * and show my dark speech upon the
harp. 5 Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, * when
wickedness at my heels compasseth me round about? 6 There be some
that put their trust in their goods, * and boast themselves in the
multitude of their riches. 7 But no man may deliver his brother, *
nor give a ransom unto God for him, 8 (For it cost more to redeem
their souls, * so that he must let that alone for ever;) 9 That he
shall live alway, * and not see the grave. 10 For he seeth that
wise men also die and perish together, * as well as the ignorant and
foolish, and leave their riches for other. 11 And yet they think
that their houses shall continue for ever, and that their
dwelling-places shall endure from one generation to another; * and
call the lands after their own names. 12 Nevertheless, man being in
honour abideth not, * seeing he may be compared unto the beasts that
perish; 13 This their way is very foolishness; * yet their
posterity praise their saying. 14 They lie in the grave like sheep;
death is their shepherd; and the righteous shall have dominion over
them in the morning: * their beauty shall consume in the sepulchre,
and have no abiding. 15 But God hath delivered my soul from the
power of the grave; * for he shall receive me. 16 Be not thou
afraid, though one be made rich, * or if the glory of his house be
increased; 17 For he shall carry nothing away with him when he
dieth, * neither shall his pomp follow him. 18 For while he lived,
he counted himself an happy man; * and so long as thou doest well unto
thyself, men will speak good of thee. 19 He shall follow the
generation of his fathers, * and shall never see light. 20 Man that
is in honour but hath no understanding * is compared unto the beasts
that perish.
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The Twelfth Day. Morning Prayer.
Psalm 62. Nonne Deo?
MY soul truly waiteth still upon
God; * for of him cometh my salvation. 2 He verily is my strength
and my salvation; * he is my defence, so that I shall not greatly
fall. 3 How long will ye imagine mischief against every man? *
Ye shall be slain all the sort of you; yea, as a tottering wall shall
ye be, and like a broken hedge. 4 Their device is only how to put
him out whom God will exalt; * their delight is in lies; they give
good words with their mouth, but curse with their heart. 5
Nevertheless, my soul, wait thou still upon God; * for my hope is in
him. 6 He truly is my strength and my salvation; * he is my
defence, so that I shall not fall. 7 In God is my health and my
glory; * the rock of my might; and in God is my trust. 8 O put your
trust in him alway, ye people; * pour out your hearts before him, for
God is our hope. 9 As for the children of men, they are but vanity;
the children of men are deceitful; * upon the weights they are
altogether lighter than vanity itself. 10 O trust not in wrong and
robbery; give not yourselves unto vanity: * if riches increase, set
not your heart upon them. 11 God spake once, and twice I have also
heard the same, * that power belongeth unto God; 12 And that thou,
Lord, art merciful; * for thou rewardest every man according to his
work.
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Psalm 63. Deus, Deus meus.
O GOD, thou art my God; * early
will I seek thee. 2 My soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh also
longeth after thee, * in a barren and dry land where no water is. 3
Thus have I looked for thee in the sanctuary, * that I might behold
thy power and glory. 4 For thy loving-kindness is better than the
life itself: * my lips shall praise thee. 5 As long as I live will
I magnify thee in this manner, * and lift up my hands in thy
Name. 6 My soul shall be satisfied, even as it were with marrow and
fatness, * when my mouth praiseth thee with joyful lips. 7 Have I
not remembered thee in my bed, * and thought upon thee when I was
waking? 8 Because thou hast been my helper; * therefore under the
shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. 9 My soul hangeth upon thee; *
thy right hand hath upholden me. 10 These also that seek the hurt
of my soul, * they shall go under the earth. 11 Let them fall upon
the edge of the sword, * that they may be a portion for foxes. 12
But the King shall rejoice in God; all they also that swear by him
shall be commended; * for the mouth of them that speak lies shall be
stopped.
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Psalm 66. Jubilate Deo.
O BE joyful in God, all ye
lands; * sing praises unto the honour of his Name; make his praise to
be glorious. 2 Say unto God, O how wonderful art thou in thy works!
* through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies bow down unto
thee. 3 For all the world shall worship thee, * sing of thee, and
praise thy Name. 4 O come hither, and behold the works of God; *
how wonderful he is in his doing toward the children of men. 5 He
turned the sea into dry land, * so that they went through the water on
foot; there did we rejoice thereof. 6 He ruleth with his power for
ever; his eyes behold the nations: * and such as will not believe
shall not be able to exalt themselves. 7 O praise our God, ye
peoples, * and make the voice of his praise to be heard; 8 Who
holdeth our soul in life; * and suffereth not our feet to slip. 9
For thou, O God, hast proved us; * thou also hast tried us, like as
silver is tried. 10 Thou broughtest us into the snare; * and
laidest trouble upon our loins. 11 Thou sufferedst men to ride over
our heads; * we went through fire and water, and thou broughtest us
out into a wealthy place. 12 I will go into thine house with
burnt-offerings, and will pay thee my vows, * which I promised with my
lips, and spake with my mouth, when I was in trouble. 13 I will
offer unto thee fat burnt-sacrifices, with the incense of rams; * I
will offer bullocks and goats. 14 O come hither, and hearken, all
ye that fear God; * and I will tell you what he hath done for my
soul. 15 I called unto him with my mouth, * and gave him praises
with my tongue. 16 If I incline unto wickedness with mine heart, *
the Lord will not hear me. 17 But God hath heard me; * and
considered the voice of my prayer. 18 Praised be God, who hath not
cast out my prayer, * nor turned his mercy from me.
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Psalm 71. In te, Domine, speravi.
IN thee, O LORD, have I put my
trust; let me never be put to confusion, * but rid me and deliver
me in thy righteousness; incline thine ear unto me, and save me. 2
Be thou my stronghold, whereunto I may alway resort: * thou hast
promised to help me, for thou art my house of defence, and my
castle. 3 Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the ungodly, *
out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. 4 For thou, O
Lord GOD, art the thing that I long for: * thou art my hope, even from
my youth. 5 Through thee have I been holden up ever since I was
born: * thou art he that took me out of my mother's womb: my praise
shall be alway of thee. 6 I am become as it were a monster unto
many, * but my sure trust is in thee. 7 O let my mouth be filled
with thy praise, * that I may sing of thy glory and honour all the day
long. 8 Cast me not away in the time of age; * forsake me not when
my strength faileth me. 9 For mine enemies speak against me; * and
they that lay wait for my soul take their counsel together,
saying, 10 God hath forsaken him; * persecute him, and take him,
for there is none to deliver him. 11 Go not far from me, O God; *
my God, haste thee to help me. 12 Let them be confounded and perish
that are against my soul; * let them be covered with shame and
dishonour that seek to do me evil. 13 As for me, I will patiently
abide alway, * and will praise thee more and more. 14 My mouth
shall daily speak of thy righteousness and salvation; * for I know no
end thereof. 15 I will go forth in the strength of the Lord GOD, *
and will make mention of thy righteousness only. 16 Thou, O God,
hast taught me from my youth up until now; * therefore will I tell of
thy wondrous works. 17 Forsake me not, O God, in mine old age, when
I am gray-headed, * until I have showed thy strength unto this
generation, and thy power to all them that are yet for to come. 18
Thy righteousness, O God, is very high, * and great things are they
that thou hast done: O God, who is like unto thee! 19 O what great
troubles and adversities hast thou showed me ! and yet didst thou turn
and refresh me; * yea, and broughtest me from the deep of the earth
again. 20 Thou hast brought me to great honour, * and comforted me
on every side: 21 Therefore will I praise thee, and thy
faithfulness, O God, playing upon an instrument of music: * unto thee
will I sing upon the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel. 22 My lips
will be glad when I sing unto thee; * and so will my soul whom thou
hast delivered. 23 My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness
all the day long; * for they are confounded and brought unto shame
that seek to do me evil.
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Readings
Psalm 15. Domine, quis habitabit?
LORD, who shall dwell in thy
tabernacle? * or who shall rest upon thy holy hill? 2 Even he that
leadeth an uncorrupt life, * and doeth the thing which is right, and
speaketh the truth from his heart. 3 He that hath used no deceit in
his tongue, nor done evil to his neighbour, * and hath not slandered
his neighbour. 4 He that setteth not by himself, but is lowly in
his own eyes, * and maketh much of them that fear the LORD. 5 He
that sweareth unto his neighbour, and disappointeth him not, * though
it were to his own hindrance. 6 He that hath not given his money
upon usury, * nor taken reward against the innocent. 7 Whoso doeth
these things * shall never fall.
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Psalm 46. Deus noster refugium.
GOD is our hope and strength, *
a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore will we not fear,
though the earth be moved, * and though the hills be carried into the
midst of the sea; 3 Though the waters thereof rage and swell, * and
though the mountains shake at the tempest of the same. 4 There is a
river, the streams whereof make glad the city of God; * the holy place
of the tabernacle of the Most Highest. 5 God is in the midst of
her, therefore shall she not be removed; * God shall help her, and
that right early. 6 The nations make much ado, and the kingdoms are
moved; * but God hath showed his voice, and the earth shall melt
away. 7 The LORD of hosts is with us; * the God of Jacob is our
refuge. 8 O come hither, and behold the works of the LORD, * what
destruction he hath brought upon the earth. 9 He maketh wars to
cease in all the world; * he breaketh the bow, and knappeth the spear
in sunder, and burneth the chariots in the fire. 10 Be still then,
and know that I am God: * I will be exalted among the nations, and I
will be exalted in the earth. 11 The LORD of hosts is with us; *
the God of Jacob is our refuge.
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