Evening Prayer.
Psalm 18. Diligam te, Domine.
I WILL love thee, O LORD, my
strength. * The LORD is my stony rock, and my defence; 2 My Saviour,
my God, and my might, in whom I will trust; * my buckler, the horn also
of my salvation, and my refuge. 3 I will call upon the LORD, which is
worthy to be praised; * so shall I be safe from mine enemies. 4 The
sorrows of death compassed me, * and the over-flowings of ungodliness
made me afraid. 5 The pains of hell came about me; * the snares of
death overtook me. 6 In my trouble I called upon the LORD, * and
complained unto my God: 7 So he heard my voice out of his holy
temple, * and my complaint came before him; it entered even into his
ears. 8 The earth trembled and quaked, * the very foundations also of
the hills shook, and were removed, because he was wroth. 9 There went
a smoke out in his presence, * and a consuming fire out of his mouth, so
that coals were kindled at it. 10 He bowed the heavens also, and came
down, * and it was dark under his feet. 11 He rode upon the Cherubim,
and did fly; * he came flying upon the wings of the wind. 12 He made
darkness his secret place, * his pavilion round about him with dark
water, and thick clouds to cover him. 13 At the brightness of his
presence his clouds removed; * hailstones and coals of fire. 14 The
LORD also thundered out of heaven, and the Highest gave his thunder; *
hailstones and coals of fire. 15 He sent out his arrows, and
scattered them; * he cast forth lightnings, and destroyed them. 16
The springs of waters were seen, and the foundations of the round world
were discovered, * at thy chiding, O LORD, at the blasting of the breath
of thy displeasure. 17 He sent down from on high to fetch me, * and
took me out of many waters. 18 He delivered me from my strongest
enemy, and from them which hate me; * for they were too mighty for
me. 19 They came upon me in the day of my trouble; * but the LORD was
my upholder. 20 He brought me forth also into a place of liberty; *
he brought me forth, even because he had a favour unto me.
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Psalm 133. Ecce, quam bonum!
BEHOLD, how good and joyful a
thing it is, * for brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like
the precious oil upon the head, that ran down unto the beard, * even
unto Aaron's beard, and went down to the skirts of his clothing. 3
Like as the dew of Hermon, * which fell upon the hill of Sion. 4 For
there the LORD promised his blessing, * and life for evermore.
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Psalm 134. Ecce nunc.
BEHOLD now, praise the LORD, * all
ye servants of the LORD; 2 Ye that by night stand in the house of the
LORD, * even in the courts of the house of our God. 3 Lift up your
hands in the sanctuary, * and praise the LORD. 4 The LORD that made
heaven and earth * give thee blessing out of Sion.
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Psalm 138. Confitebor tibi.
I WILL give thanks unto thee, O
Lord, with my whole heart; * even before the gods will I sing praise
unto thee. 2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy
Name, because of thy loving-kindness and truth; * for thou hast
magnified thy Name, and thy word, above all things. 3 When I called
upon thee, thou heardest me; * and endueth my soul with much
strength. 4 All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD; *
for they have heard the words of thy mouth. 5 Yea, they shall sing of
the ways of the LORD, * that great is the glory of the LORD. 6 For
though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly; * as for
the proud, he beholdeth them afar off. 7 Though I walk in the midst
of trouble, yet shalt thou refresh me; * thou shalt stretch forth thy
hand upon the furiousness of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save
me. 8 The LORD shall make good his loving-kindness toward me; * yea,
thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever; despise not then the works of
thine own hands.
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Psalm 40. Expectans expectavi.
I WAITED patiently for the LORD, *
and he inclined unto me, and heard my calling. 2 He brought me also
out of the horrible pit, out of the mire and clay, * and set my feet
upon the rock, and ordered my goings. 3 And he hath put a new song in
my mouth, * even a thanksgiving unto our God. 4 Many shall see it,
and fear, * and shall put their trust in the LORD. 5 Blessed is the
man that hath set his hope in the LORD, * and turned not unto the proud,
and to such as go about with lies. 6 O LORD my God, great are the
wondrous works which thou hast done, like as be also thy thoughts, which
are to usward; * and yet there is no man that ordereth them unto
thee. 7 If I should declare them, and speak of them, * they should be
more than I am able to express. 8 Sacrifice and offering thou
wouldest not, * but mine ears hast thou opened. 9 Burnt-offering and
sacrifice for sin hast thou not required: * then said I, LO, I
come; 10 In the volume of the book it is written of me, that I should
fulfil thy will, O my God: * I am content to do it; yea, thy law is
within my heart. 11 I have declared thy righteousness in the great
congregation: * lo, I will not refrain my lips, O LORD, and that thou
knowest. 12 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; * my
talk hath been of thy truth, and of thy salvation. 13 I have not kept
back thy loving mercy and truth * from the great congregation. 14
Withdraw not thou thy mercy from me, O LORD; * let thy loving-kindness
and thy truth alway preserve me. 15 For innumerable troubles are come
about me; my sins have taken such hold upon me, that I am not able to
look up; * yea, they are more in number than the hairs of my head, and
my heart hath failed me. 16 O LORD, let it be thy pleasure to deliver
me; * make haste, O LORD, to help me.
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The Fifteenth Day. Morning Prayer.
Psalm 75. Confitebimur tibi.
UNTO thee, O God, do we give
thanks; * yea, unto thee do we give thanks. 2 Thy Name also is so
nigh; * and that do thy wondrous works declare. 3 In the appointed
time, saith God, * I shall judge according unto right. 4 The earth is
weak, and all the inhabiters thereof: * I bear up the pillars of
it. 5 I said unto the fools, Deal not so madly; * and to the ungodly,
Set not up your horn. 6 Set not up your horn on high, * and speak not
with a stiff neck. 7 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor
from the west, * nor yet from the south. 8 And why? God is the Judge;
* he putteth down one, and setteth up another. 9 For in the hand of
the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; * it is full mixt, and he
poureth out of the same. 10 As for the dregs thereof, * all the
ungodly of the earth shall drink them, and suck them out. 11 But I
will talk of the God of Jacob, * and praise him for ever. 12 All the
horns of the ungodly also will I break, * and the horns of the righteous
shall be exalted.
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Psalm 76. Notus in Judaea.
IN Judah is God known; * his Name
is great in Israel. 2 At Salem is his tabernacle, * and his dwelling
in Sion. 3 There brake he the arrows of the bow, * the shield, the
sword, and the battle. 4 Thou art glorious in might, * when thou
comest from the hills of the robbers. 5 The proud are robbed, they
have slept their sleep; * and all the men whose hands were mighty have
found nothing. 6 At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, * both the chariot
and horse are fallen. 7 Thou, even thou art to be feared; * and who
may stand in thy sight when thou art angry? 8 Thou didst cause thy
judgment to be heard from heaven; * the earth trembled, and was
still, 9 When God arose to judgment, * and to help all the meek upon
earth. 10 The fierceness of man shall turn to thy praise; * and the
fierceness of them shalt thou refrain. 11 Promise unto the LORD your
God, and keep it, all ye that are round about him; * bring presents unto
him that ought to be feared. 12 He shall refrain the spirit of
princes, * and is wonderful among the kings of the earth.
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Psalm 77. Voce mea ad Dominum.
I WILL cry unto God with my voice;
* even unto God will I cry with my voice, and he shall hearken unto
me. 2 In the time of my trouble I sought the Lord: * I stretched
forth my hands unto him, and ceased not in the night season; my soul
refused comfort. 3 When I am in heaviness, I will think upon God; *
when my heart is vexed, I will complain. 4 Thou holdest mine eyes
waking: * I am so feeble that I cannot speak. 5 I have considered the
days of old, * and the years that are past. 6 I call to remembrance
my song, * and in the night I commune with mine own heart, and search
out my spirit. 7 Will the Lord absent himself for ever? * and will he
be no more intreated? 8 Is his mercy clean gone for ever? * and is
his promise come utterly to an end for evermore? 9 Hath God forgotten
to be gracious? * and will he shut up his loving-kindness in
displeasure? 10 And I said, It is mine own infirmity; * but I will
remember the years of the right hand of the Most Highest. 11 I will
remember the works of the LORD, * and call to mind thy wonders of old
time. 12 I will think also of all thy works, * and my talking shall
be of thy doings. 13 Thy way, O God, is holy: * who is so great a God
as our God? 14 Thou art the God that doest wonders, * and hast
declared thy power among the peoples. 15 Thou hast mightily delivered
thy people, * even the sons of Jacob and Joseph. 16 The waters saw
thee, O God, the waters saw thee, and were afraid; * the depths also
were troubled. 17 The clouds poured out water, the air thundered, *
and thine arrows went abroad. 18 The voice of thy thunder was heard
round about: * the lightnings shone upon the ground; the earth was
moved, and shook withal. 19 Thy way is in the sea, and thy paths in
the great waters, * and thy footsteps are not known. 20 Thou leddest
thy people like sheep, * by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
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Psalm 80. Qui regis Israel.
HEAR, O thou Shepherd of Israel,
thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; * show thyself also, thou that
sittest upon the Cherubim. 2 Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh,
* stir up thy strength, and come and help us. 3 Turn us again, O God;
* show the light of thy countenance, and we shall be whole. 4 O LORD
God of hosts, * how long wilt thou be angry with thy people that
prayeth? 5 Thou feedest them with the bread of tears, * and givest
them plenteousness of tears to drink. 6 Thou hast made us a very
strife unto our neighbours, * and our enemies laugh us to scorn. 7
Turn us again, thou God of hosts; * show the light of thy countenance,
and we shall be whole. 8 Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt; *
thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it. 9 Thou madest room
for it; * and when it had taken root, it filled the land. 10 The
hills were covered with the shadow of it, * and the boughs thereof were
like the goodly cedar-trees. 11 She stretched out her branches unto
the sea, * and her boughs unto the River. 12 Why hast thou then
broken down her hedge, * that all they that go by pluck off her
grapes? 13 The wild boar out of the wood doth root it up, * and the
wild beasts of the field devour it. 14 Turn thee again, thou God of
hosts, look down from heaven, * behold, and visit this vine; 15 And
the place of the vineyard that thy right hand hath planted, * and the
branch that thou madest so strong for thyself. 16 It is burnt with
fire, and cut down; * and they shall perish at the rebuke of thy
countenance. 17 Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, * and
upon the son of man, whom thou madest so strong for thine own
self. 18 And so will not we go back from thee: * O let us live, and
we shall call upon thy Name. 19 Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts; *
show the light of thy countenance, and we shall be whole.
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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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The Seventeenth Day. Morning Prayer.
Psalm 86. Inclina, Domine.
BOW down thine ear, O LORD, and
hear me; * for I am poor, and in misery. 2 Preserve thou my soul, for
I am holy: * my God, save thy servant that putteth his trust in
thee. 3 Be merciful unto me, O Lord; * for I will call daily upon
thee. 4 Comfort the soul of thy servant; * for unto thee, O Lord, do
I lift up my soul. 5 For thou, Lord, art good and gracious, * and of
great mercy unto all them that call upon thee. 6 Give ear, LORD, unto
my prayer, * and ponder the voice of my humble desires. 7 In the time
of my trouble I will call upon thee; * for thou hearest me. 8 Among
the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; * there is not one that
can do as thou doest. 9 All nations whom thou hast made shall come
and worship thee, O Lord; * and shall glorify thy Name. 10 For thou
art great, and doest wondrous things: * thou art God alone. 11 Teach
me thy way, O LORD, and I will walk in thy truth: * O knit my heart unto
thee, that I may fear thy Name. 12 I will thank thee, O Lord my God,
with all my heart; * and will praise thy Name for evermore. 13 For
great is thy mercy toward me; * and thou hast delivered my soul from the
nethermost hell. 14 O God, the proud are risen against me; * and
the congregations of violent men have sought after my soul, and have
not set thee before their eyes. 15 But thou, O Lord God, art full of
compassion and mercy, * long-suffering, plenteous in goodness and
truth. 16 O turn thee then unto me, and have mercy upon me; * give
thy strength unto thy servant, and help the son of thine handmaid. 17
Show some token upon me for good; that they who hate me may see it, and
be ashamed, * because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me.
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BOOK IV. The Eighteenth Day. Morning Prayer.
Psalm 90. Domine, refugium.
LORD, thou hast been our refuge, *
from one generation to another. 2 Before the mountains were brought
forth, or ever the earth and the world were made, * thou art God from
everlasting, and world without end. 3 Thou turnest man to
destruction; * again thou sayest, Come again, ye children of men. 4
For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past,
* and as a watch in the night. 5 As soon as thou scatterest them they
are even as a sleep; * and fade away suddenly like the grass. 6 In
the morning it is green, and groweth up; * but in the evening it is cut
down, dried up, and withered. 7 For we consume away in thy
displeasure, * and are afraid at thy wrathful indignation. 8 Thou
hast set our misdeeds before thee; * and our secret sins in the light of
thy countenance. 9 For when thou art angry all our days are gone: *
we bring our years to an end, as it were a tale that is told. 10 The
days of our age are threescore years and ten; and though men be so
strong that they come to fourscore years, * yet is their strength then
but labour and sorrow; so soon passeth it away, and we are gone. 11
But who regardeth the power of thy wrath? * or feareth aright thy
indignation? 12 So teach us to number our days, * that we may apply
our hearts unto wisdom. 13 Turn thee again, O LORD, at the last, *
and be gracious unto thy servants. 14 O satisfy us with thy mercy,
and that soon: * so shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our
life. 15 Comfort us again now after the time that thou hast plagued
us; * and for the years wherein we have suffered adversity. 16 Show
thy servants thy work, * and their children thy glory. 17 And the
glorious majesty of the LORD our God be upon us: * prosper thou the work
of our hands upon us; O prosper thou our handy-work.
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The Tenth Day. Morning Prayer.
Psalm 50. Deus deorum.
THE LORD, even the Most Mighty
God, hath spoken, * and called the world, from the rising up of the
sun unto the going down thereof. 2 Out of Sion hath God appeared * in
perfect beauty. 3 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence; *
there shall go before him a consuming fire, and a mighty tempest shall
be stirred up round about him. 4 He shall call the heaven from above,
* and the earth, that he may judge his people. 5 Gather my saints
together unto me; * those that have made a covenant with me with
sacrifice. 6 And the heavens shall declare his righteousness; * for
God is Judge himself. 7 Hear, O my people, and I will speak; * I
myself will testify against thee, O Israel; for I am God, even thy
God. 8 I will not reprove thee because of thy sacrifices; * as for
thy burnt-offerings, they are alway before me. 9 I will take no
bullock out of thine house, * nor he-goats out of thy folds. 10 For
all the beasts of the forest are mine, * and so are the cattle upon a
thousand hills. 11 I know all the fowls upon the mountains, * and the
wild beasts of the field are in my sight. 12 If I be hungry, I will
not tell thee; * for the whole world is mine, and all that is
therein. 13 Thinkest thou that I will eat bulls' flesh, * and drink
the blood of goats? 14 Offer unto God thanksgiving, * and pay thy
vows unto the Most Highest. 15 And call upon me in the time of
trouble; * so will I hear thee, and thou shalt praise me. 16 But unto
the ungodly saith God, * Why dost thou preach my laws, and takest my
covenant in thy mouth; 17 Whereas thou hatest to be reformed, * and
hast cast my words behind thee? 18 When thou sawest a thief, thou
consentedst unto him; * and hast been partaker with the
adulterers. 19 Thou hast let thy mouth speak wickedness, * and with
thy tongue thou hast set forth deceit. 20 Thou sattest and spakest
against thy brother; * yea, and hast slandered thine own mother's
son. 21 These things hast thou done, and I held my tongue, and thou
thoughtest wickedly, that I am even such a one as thyself; * but I will
reprove thee, and set before thee the things that thou hast done. 22
O consider this, ye that forget God, * lest I pluck you away, and there
be none to deliver you. 23 Whoso offereth me thanks and praise, he
honoureth me; * and to him that ordereth his way aright, will I show the
salvation of God.
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The Twenty-fourth Day. Morning Prayer.
Psalm 116. Dilexi, quoniam.
MY delight is in the LORD; *
because he hath heard the voice of my prayer; 2 Because he hath
inclined his ear unto me; * therefore will I call upon him as long as I
live. 3 The snares of death compassed me round about, * and the pains
of hell gat hold upon me. 4 I found trouble and heaviness; then
called I upon the Name of the LORD; * O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my
soul. 5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; * yea, our God is
merciful. 6 The LORD preserveth the simple: * I was in misery, and he
helped me. 7 Turn again then unto thy rest, O my soul; * for the LORD
hath rewarded thee. 8 And why? thou hast delivered my soul from
death, * mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. 9 I will
walk before the LORD * in the land of the living. 10 I believed, and
therefore will I speak; but I was sore troubled: * I said in my haste,
All men are liars. 11 What reward shall I give unto the LORD * for
all the benefits that he hath done unto me? 12 I will receive the cup
of salvation, * and call upon the Name of the LORD. 13 I will pay my
vows now in the presence of all his people: * right dear in the sight of
the LORD is the death of his saints. 14 Behold, O LORD, how that I am
thy servant; * I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid; thou
hast broken my bonds in sunder. 15 I will offer to thee the sacrifice
of thanksgiving, * and will call upon the Name of the LORD. 16 I will
pay my vows unto the LORD, in the sight of all his people, * in the
courts of the LORD'S house; even in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem.
Praise the LORD.
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The Fifth Day. Morning Prayer.
Psalm 24. Domini est terra.
THE earth is the LORD'S, and all
that therein is; * the compass of the world, and they that dwell
therein. 2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, * and stablished it
upon the floods. 3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? * or
who shall rise up in his holy place? 4 Even he that hath clean hands,
and a pure heart; * and that hath not lift up his mind unto vanity, nor
sworn to deceive his neighbour. 5 He shall receive the blessing from
the LORD, * and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 This
is the generation of them that seek him; * even of them that seek thy
face, O God of Jacob. 7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye
lift up, ye everlasting doors; * and the King of glory shall come
in. 8 Who is this King of glory? * It is the LORD strong and mighty,
even the LORD mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and
be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; * and the King of glory shall come
in. 10 Who is this King of glory? * Even the LORD of hosts, he is the
King of glory.
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Psalm 29. Afferte Domino.
ASCRIBE unto the LORD, O ye
mighty, * ascribe unto the LORD worship and strength. 2 Ascribe unto
the LORD the honour due unto his Name; * worship the LORD with holy
worship. 3 The voice of the LORD is upon the waters; * it is the
glorious God that maketh the thunder. 4 It is the LORD that ruleth
the sea; the voice of the LORD is mighty in operation; * the voice of
the LORD is a glorious voice. 5 The voice of the LORD breaketh the
cedar-trees; * yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He
maketh them also to skip like a calf; * Lebanon also, and Sirion, like a
young unicorn. 7 The voice of the LORD divideth the flames of fire;
the voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness; * yea, the LORD shaketh
the wilderness of Kadesh. 8 The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to
bring forth young, and strippeth bare the forests: * in his temple doth
every thing speak of his honour. 9 The LORD sitteth above the
water-flood, * and the LORD remaineth a King for ever. 10 The LORD
shall give strength unto his people; * the LORD shall give his people
the blessing of peace.
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BOOK III. Evening Prayer.
Psalm 73. Quam bonus Israel!
TRULY God is loving unto Israel: *
even unto such as are of a clean heart. 2 Nevertheless, my feet were
almost gone, * my treadings had well-nigh slipt. 3 And why? I was
grieved at the wicked: * I do also see the ungodly in such
prosperity. 4 For they are in no peril of death; * but are lusty and
strong. 5 They come in no misfortune like other folk; * neither are
they plagued like other men. 6 And this is the cause that they are so
holden with pride, * and cruelty covereth them as a garment. 7 Their
eyes swell with fatness, * and they do even what they lust. 8 They
corrupt other, and speak of wicked blasphemy; * their talking is against
the Most High. 9 For they stretch forth their mouth unto the heaven,
* and their tongue goeth through the world. 10 Therefore fall the
people unto them, * and there-out suck they no small advantage. 11
Tush, say they, how should God perceive it? * is there knowledge in the
Most High? 12 Lo, these are the ungodly, * these prosper in the
world, and these have riches in possession: 13 And I said, Then have
I cleansed my heart in vain, * and washed my hands in innocency. 14
All the day long have I been punished, * and chastened every
morning. 15 Yea, and I had almost said even as they; * but lo, then I
should have condemned the generation of thy children. 16 Then thought
I to understand this; * but it was too hard for me, 17 Until I went
into the sanctuary of God: * then understood I the end of these
men; 18 Namely, how thou dost set them in slippery places, * and
castest them down, and destroyest them. 19 O how suddenly do they
consume, * perish, and come to a fearful end! 20 Yea, even like as a
dream when one awaketh; * so shalt thou make their image to vanish out
of the city. 21 Thus my heart was grieved, * and it went even through
my reins. 22 So foolish was I, and ignorant, * even as it were a
beast before thee. 23 Nevertheless, I am alway by thee; * for thou
hast holden me by my right hand. 24 Thou shalt guide me with thy
counsel, * and after that receive me with glory. 25 Whom have I in
heaven but thee? * and there is none upon earth that I desire in
comparison of thee. 26 My flesh and my heart faileth; * but God is
the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. 27 For lo, they
that forsake thee shall perish; * thou hast destroyed all them that are
unfaithful unto thee. 28 But it is good for me to hold me fast by
God, to put my trust in the Lord GOD, * and to speak of all thy works in
the gates of the daughter of Sion.
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Psalm 74. Ut quid, Deus?
O GOD, wherefore art thou absent
from us so long? * why is thy wrath so hot against the sheep of thy
pasture? 2 O think upon thy congregation, * whom thou hast purchased,
and redeemed of old. 3 Think upon the tribe of thine inheritance, *
and Mount Sion, wherein thou hast dwelt. 4 Lift up thy feet, that
thou mayest utterly destroy every enemy, * which hath done evil in thy
sanctuary. 5 Thine adversaries roar in the midst of thy
congregations, * and set up their banners for tokens. 6 He that hewed
timber afore out of the thick trees, * was known to bring it to an
excellent work. 7 But now they break down all the carved work thereof
* with axes and hammers. 8 They have set fire upon thy holy places, *
and have defiled the dwelling-place of thy Name, even unto the
ground. 9 Yea, they said in their hearts, Let us make havoc of them
altogether: * thus have they burnt up all the houses of God in the
land. 10 We see not our tokens; there is not one prophet more; * no,
not one is there among us, that understandeth any more. 11 O God, how
long shall the adversary do this dishonour? * shall the enemy blaspheme
thy Name for ever? 12 Why withdrawest thou thy hand? * why pluckest
thou not thy right hand out of thy bosom to consume the enemy? 13 For
God is my King of old; * the help that is done upon earth, he doeth it
himself. 14 Thou didst divide the sea through thy power; * thou
brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters. 15 Thou smotest the
heads of leviathan in pieces, * and gavest him to be meat for the people
of the wilderness. 16 Thou broughtest out fountains and waters out of
the hard rocks; * thou driedst up mighty waters. 17 The day is thine,
and the night is thine; * thou hast prepared the light and the
sun. 18 Thou hast set all the borders of the earth; * thou hast made
summer and winter. 19 Remember this, O LORD, how the enemy hath
rebuked; * and how the foolish people hath blasphemed thy Name. 20 O
deliver not the soul of thy turtle-dove unto the multitude of the
enemies; * and forget not the congregation of the poor for ever. 21
Look upon the covenant; * for all the earth is full of darkness and
cruel habitations. 22 O let not the simple go away ashamed; * but let
the poor and needy give praise unto thy Name. 23 Arise, O God,
maintain thine own cause; * remember how the foolish man blasphemeth
thee daily. 24 Forget not the voice of thine enemies: * the
presumption of them that hate thee increaseth ever more and more.
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Psalm 81. Exultate Deo.
SING we merrily unto God our
strength; * make a cheerful noise unto the God of Jacob. 2 Take the
Psalm, bring hither the tabret, * the merry harp with the lute. 3
Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, * even in the time appointed, and
upon our solemn feast-day. 4 For this was made a statute for Israel,
* and a law of the God of Jacob. 5 This he ordained in Joseph for a
testimony, * when he came out of the land of Egypt, and had heard a
strange language. 6 I eased his shoulder from the burden, * and his
hands were delivered from making the pots. 7 Thou calledst upon me in
troubles, and I delivered thee; * and heard thee what time as the storm
fell upon thee. 8 I proved thee also * at the waters of strife. 9
Hear, O my people; and I will assure thee, O Israel, * if thou wilt
hearken unto me, 10 There shall no strange god be in thee, * neither
shalt thou worship any other god. 11 I am the LORD thy God, who
brought thee out of the land of Egypt: * open thy mouth wide, and I
shall fill it. 12 But my people would not hear my voice; * and Israel
would not obey me; 13 So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lusts,
* and let them follow their own imaginations. 14 O that my people
would have hearkened unto me! * for if Israel had walked in my
ways, 15 I should soon have put down their enemies, * and turned my
hand against their adversaries. 16 The haters of the LORD should have
submitted themselves unto him; * but their time should have endured for
ever. 17 I would have fed them also with the finest wheat-flour; *
and with honey out of the stony rock would I have satisfied thee.
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Evening Prayer.
Psalm 89. Misericordias Domini.
MY song shall be alway of the
loving-kindness of the LORD; * with my mouth will I ever be showing
thy truth from one generation to another. 2 For I have said, Mercy
shall be set up for ever; * thy truth shalt thou stablish in the
heavens. 3 I have made a covenant with my chosen; * I have sworn unto
David my servant: 4 Thy seed will I stablish for ever, * and set up
thy throne from one generation to another. 5 O LORD, the very heavens
shall praise thy wondrous works; * and thy truth in the congregation of
the saints. 6 For who is he among the clouds, * that shall be
compared unto the LORD? 7 And what is he among the gods, * that shall
be like unto the LORD? 8 God is very greatly to be feared in the
council of the saints, * and to be had in reverence of all them that are
round about him. 9 O Lord God of hosts, who is like unto thee? * thy
truth, most mighty LORD, is on every side.
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Psalm 91. Qui habitat.
WHOSO dwelleth under the defence
of the Most High, * shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I
will say unto the LORD, Thou art my hope, and my stronghold; * my God,
in him will I trust. 3 For he shall deliver thee from the snare of
the hunter, * and from the noisome pestilence. 4 He shall defend thee
under his wings, and thou shalt be safe under his feathers; * his
faithfulness and truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 5 Thou shalt
not be afraid for any terror by night, * nor for the arrow that flieth
by day; 6 For the pestilence that walketh in darkness, * nor for the
sickness that destroyeth in the noonday. 7 A thousand shall fall
beside thee, and ten thousand at thy right hand; * but it shall not come
nigh thee. 8 Yea, with thine eyes shalt thou behold, * and see the
reward of the ungodly. 9 For thou, LORD, art my hope; * thou hast set
thine house of defence very high. 10 There shall no evil happen unto
thee, * neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 11 For he
shall give his angels charge over thee, * to keep thee in all thy
ways. 12 They shall bear thee in their hands, * that thou hurt not
thy foot against a stone. 13 Thou shalt go upon the lion and adder: *
the young lion and the dragon shalt thou tread under thy feet. 14
Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him; * I
will set him up, because he hath known my Name. 15 He shall call upon
me, and I will hear him; * yea, I am with him in trouble; I will deliver
him, and bring him to honour. 16 With long life will I satisfy him, *
and show him my salvation.
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Psalm 96. Cantate Domino.
O SING unto the LORD a new song; *
sing unto the LORD, all the whole earth. 2 Sing unto the LORD, and
praise his Name; * be telling of his salvation from day to day. 3
Declare his honour unto the heathen, * and his wonders unto all
peoples. 4 For the LORD is great, and cannot worthily be praised;* he
is more to be feared than all gods. 5 As for all the gods of the
heathen, they are but idols; * but it is the LORD that made the
heavens. 6 Glory and worship are before him; * power and honour are
in his sanctuary. 7 Ascribe unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the
peoples, * ascribe unto the LORD worship and power. 8 Ascribe unto
the LORD the honour due unto his Name; * bring presents, and come into
his courts. 9 O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness; * let the
whole earth stand in awe of him. 10 Tell it out among the heathen,
that the LORD is King, and that it is he who hath made the round world
so fast that it cannot be moved; * and how that he shall judge the
peoples righteously. 11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be
glad; * let the sea make a noise, and all that therein is. 12 Let the
field be joyful, and all that is in it; * then shall all the trees of
the wood rejoice before the LORD. 13 For he cometh, for he cometh to
judge the earth; * and with righteousness to judge the world, and the
peoples with his truth.
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Evening Prayer.
Psalm 98. Cantate Domino.
O SING unto the LORD a new song; *
for he hath done marvellous things. 2 With his own right hand, and
with his holy arm, * hath he gotten himself the victory. 3 The LORD
declared his salvation; * his righteousness hath he openly showed in the
sight of the heathen. 4 He hath remembered his mercy and truth toward
the house of Israel; * and all the ends of the world have seen the
salvation of our God. 5 Show yourselves joyful unto the LORD, all ye
lands; * sing, rejoice, and give thanks. 6 Praise the LORD upon the
harp; * sing to the harp with a Psalm of thanksgiving. 7 With
trumpets also and shawms, * O show yourselves joyful before the LORD,
the King. 8 Let the sea make a noise, and all that therein is; * the
round world, and they that dwell therein. 9 Let the floods clap their
hands, and let the hills be joyful together before the LORD; * for he is
come to judge the earth. 10 With righteousness shall he judge the
world, * and the peoples with equity.
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