Psalms for the
Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity
 

 

 


Psalm 48. Magnus Dominus.

GREAT is the LORD, and highly to be praised * in the city of our God, even upon his holy hill.
2 The hill of Sion is a fair place, and the joy of the whole earth; * upon the north side lieth the city of the great King: God is well known in her palaces as a sure refuge.
3 For lo, the kings of the earth * were gathered, and gone by together.
4 They marvelled to see such things; * they were astonished, and suddenly cast down.
5 Fear came there upon them; and sorrow, * as upon a woman in her travail.
6 Thou dost break the ships of the sea * through the eastwind.
7 Like as we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God; * God upholdeth the same for ever.
8 We wait for thy loving-kindness, O God, * in the midst of thy temple.
9 O God, according to thy Name, so is thy praise unto the world's end; * thy right hand is full of righteousness.
10 Let the mount Sion rejoice, and the daughters of Judah be glad, * because of thy judgments.
11 Walk about Sion, and go round about her; * and tell the towers thereof.
12 Mark well her bulwarks, consider her palaces, * that ye may tell them that come after.
13 For this God is our God for ever and ever: * he shall be our guide unto death.

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Psalm 112. Beatus vir.

Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD; * he hath great delight in his commandments.
2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth; * the generation of the faithful shall be blessed.
3 Riches and plenteousness shall be in his house; * and his righteouness endureth for ever.
4 Unto the godly there ariseth up light in the darkness; * he is merciful, loving, and righteous.
5 A good man is merciful, and lendeth; * and will guide his words with discretion.
6 For he shall never be moved: * and the righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance.
7 He will not be afraid of any evil tidings; * for his heart standeth fast, and believeth in the LORD.
8 His heart is stablished, and will not shrink, * until he see his desire upon his enemies.
9 He hath dispersed abroad, and given to the poor, * and his righteousness remaineth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.
10 The ungodly shall see it, and it shall grieve him; * he shall gnash with his teeth, and consume away; the desire of the ungodly shall 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 77. Voce mea ad Dominum.

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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Evening Prayer.

Psalm 114. In exitu Israel.

WHEN Israel came out of Egypt, * and the house of Jacob from among the strange people,
2 Judah was his sanctuary, * and Israel his dominion.
3 The sea saw that, and fled; * Jordan was driven back.
4 The mountains skipped like rams, * and the little hills like young sheep.
5 What aileth thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? * and thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back?
6 Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams? * and ye little hills, like young sheep?
7 Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord: * at the presence of the God of Jacob;
8 Who turned the hard rock into a standing water, `: and the flint-stone into a springing well.

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Evening Prayer.

Psalm 41. Beatus qui intelligit.

BLESSED is he that considereth the poor and needy; * the LORD shall deliver him in the time of trouble.
2 The LORD preserve him, and keep him alive, that he
may be blessed upon earth; * and deliver not thou him into the will of his enemies.
3 The LORD comfort him when he lieth sick upon his bed; * make thou all his bed in his sickness.
4 I said, LORD, be merciful unto me; * heal my soul, for I have sinned against thee.
5 Mine enemies speak evil of me, * When shall he die, and his name perish?
6 And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity, * and his heart conceiveth falsehood within himself; and when he cometh forth, he telleth it.
7 All mine enemies whisper together against me; * even against me do they imagine this evil.
8 An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him; * and now that he lieth, he shall rise up no more.
9 Yea, even mine own familiar friend whom I trusted, * who did also eat of my bread, hath laid great wait for me.
10 But be thou merciful unto me, O LORD; * raise thou me up again, and I shall reward them.
11 By this I know thou favourest me, * that mine enemy doth not triumph against me.
12 And in my innocency thou upholdest me, * and shalt set me before thy face for ever.
13 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, * world without end. Amen.

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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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The Ninth Day.
Morning Prayer.

Psalm 44. Deus, auribus.

WE have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us * what thou hast done in their time of old:
2 How thou hast driven out the heathen with thy hand, and planted our fathers in; * how thou hast destroyed the nations, and made thy people to flourish.
3 For they gat not the land in possession through their own sword, * neither was it their own arm that helped them;
4 But thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance; * because thou hadst a favour unto them.
5 Thou art my King, O God; * send help unto Jacob.
6 Through thee will we overthrow our enemies, * and in thy Name will we tread them under that rise up against us.
7 For I will not trust in my bow, * it is not my sword that shall help me;
8 But it is thou that savest us from our enemies, * and puttest them to confusion that hate us.
9 We make our boast of God all day long, * and will praise thy Name for ever.
10 But now thou art far off, and puttest us to confusion, * and goest not forth with our armies.
11 Thou makest us to turn our backs upon our enemies, * so that they which hate us spoil our goods.
12 Thou lettest us be eaten up like sheep, * and hast scattered us among the heathen.
13 Thou sellest thy people for nought, * and takest no money for them.
14 Thou makest us to be rebuked of our neighbours, * to be laughed to scorn, and had in derision of them that are round about us.
15 Thou makest us to be a by-word among the nations, * and that the peoples shake their heads at us.
16 My confusion is daily before me, * and the shame of my face hath covered me;
17 For the voice of the slanderer and blasphemer, * for the enemy and avenger.
18 And though all this be come upon us, yet do we not forget thee, * nor behave ourselves frowardly in thy covenant.
19 Our heart is not turned back, * neither our steps gone out of thy way;
20 No, not when thou hast smitten us into the place of dragons, * and covered us with the shadow of death.
21 If we have forgotten the Name of our God, and
holden up our hands to any strange god, * shall not God search it out? for he knoweth the very secrets of the heart.
22 For thy sake also are we killed all the day long, * and are counted as sheep appointed to be slain.
23 Up, Lord, why sleepest thou? * awake, and be not absent from us for ever.
24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face, * and forgettest our misery and trouble?
25 For our soul is brought low, even unto the dust; * our belly cleaveth unto the ground.
26 Arise, and help us, * and deliver us, for thy mercy's sake.

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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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Psalm 51. Miserere mei, Deus.

HAVE mercy upon me, O God, after thy great goodness;
* according to the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences.
2 Wash me throughly from my wickedness, * and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my faults, * and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight; * that thou mightest be justified in thy saying, and clear when thou shalt judge.
5 Behold, I was shapen in wickedness, * and in sin hath my mother conceived me.
6 But lo, thou requirest truth in the inward parts, * and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly.
7 Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; * thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness, * that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Turn thy face from my sins, * and put out all my misdeeds.
10 Make me a clean heart, O God, * and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence, * and take not thy holy Spirit from me.
12 O give me the comfort of thy help again, * and stablish me with thy free Spirit.
13 Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wicked, * and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14 Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou that art the God of my health; * and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousness.
15 Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord, * and my mouth shall show thy praise.
16 For thou desirest no sacrifice, else would I give it thee; * but thou delightest not *in burnt-offerings.
17 The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit: * a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt thou not despise.
18 O be favourable and gracious unto Sion; * build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, with the burnt-offerings and oblations; * then shall they offer young bullocks upon thine altar.

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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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Evening Prayer.

Psalm 147. Laudate Dominum

PRAISE the LORD, for it is a good thing to sing praises unto our God;
* yea, a joyful and pleasant thing it is to be thankful.
2 The LORD doth build up Jerusalem, * and gather together the outcasts of Israel.
3 He healeth those that are broken in heart, * and giveth medicine to heal their sickness.
4 He telleth the number of the stars, * and calleth them all by their names.
5 Great is our Lord, and great is his power; * yea, and his wisdom is infinite.
6 The LORD setteth up the meek, * and bringeth the ungodly down to the ground.
7 O sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; * sing praises upon the harp unto our God:
8 Who covereth the heaven with clouds, and prepareth rain for the earth; * and maketh the grass to grow upon the mountains, and herb for the use of men;
9 Who giveth fodder unto the cattle, * and feedeth the young ravens that call upon him.
10 He hath no pleasure in the strength of an horse; * neither delighteth he in any man's legs.
11 But the LORD'S delight is in them that fear him, * and put their trust in his mercy. ~
12 Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; * praise thy God, O Sion.
13 For he hath made fast the bars of thy gates, * and hath blessed thy children within thee.
14 He maketh peace in thy borders, * and filleth thee with the flour of wheat.
15 He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth, * and his word runneth very swiftly.
16 He giveth snow like wool, * and scattereth the hoar-frost like ashes.
17 He casteth forth his ice like morsels: * who is able to abide his frost?
18 He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: * he bloweth with his wind, and the waters flow.
19 He showeth his word unto Jacob, * his statutes and ordinances unto Israel.
20 He hath not dealt so with any nation; * neither have the heathen knowledge of his laws.

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Evening Prayer.

Psalm 119:89-104
XII. In aeternum, Domine.

O LORD, thy word * endureth for ever in heaven. go Thy truth also remaineth from one generation to another;
* thou hast laid the foundation of the earth, and it abideth.
91 They continue this day according to thine ordinance; * for all things serve thee.
92 If my delight had not been in thy law, * I should have perished in my trouble.
93 I will never forget thy commandments; * for with them thou hast quickened me.
94 I am thine: O save me, * for I have sought thy commandments.
95 The ungodly laid wait for me, to destroy me; * but I will consider thy testimonies.
96 I see that all things come to an end; * but thy commandment is exceeding broad.

XIII. Quomodo dilexi!

LORD, what love have I unto thy law! * all the day long
is my study in it.
98 Thou, through thy commandments, hast made me wiser than mine enemies; * for they are ever with me.
99 I have more understanding than my teachers; * for thy testimonies are my study.
100 I am wiser than the aged; * because I keep thy commandments.
101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, * that I may keep thy word.
102 I have not shrunk from thy judgments; * for thou teachest me.
103 O how sweet are thy words unto my throat; * yea, sweeter than honey unto my mouth!
104 Through thy commandments I get understanding: * therefore I hate all evil ways.

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The Twenty-ninth Day.
Morning Prayer.

Psalm 139. Domine, probasti.

O LORD, thou hast searched me out, and known me. *
Thou knowest my down-sitting, and mine uprising; thou understandest my thoughts long before.
2 Thou art about my path, and about my bed; * and art acquainted with all my ways.
3 For lo, there is not a word in my tongue, * but thou, O LORD, knowest it altogether.
4 Thou hast beset me behind and before, * and laid thine hand upon me.
5 Such knowledge is too wonderful and excellent for me; * I cannot attain unto it.
6 Whither shall I go then from thy Spirit? * or whither shall I go then from thy presence?
7 If I climb up into heaven, thou art there; * if I go down to hell, thou art there also.
8 If I take the wings of the morning, * and remain in the uttermost parts of the sea;
9 Even there also shall thy hand lead me, * and thy right hand shall hold me.
10 If I say, Peradventure the darkness shall cover me; * then shall my night be turned to day.
11 Yea, the darkness is no darkness with thee, but the night is as clear as the day; * the darkness and light to thee are both alike.
12 For my reins are thine; * thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
13 I will give thanks unto thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: * marvellous are thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well.
14 My bones are not hid from thee, * though I be made secretly, and fashioned beneath in the earth.
15 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being imperfect; * and in thy book were all my members written;
16 Which day by day were fashioned, * when as yet there was none of them.
17 How dear are thy counsels unto me, O God; * O how great is the sum of them!
18 If I tell them, they are more in number than the sand: * when I wake up, I am present with thee.
19 Wilt thou not slay the wicked, O God? * Depart from me, ye blood-thirsty men.
20 For they speak unrighteously against thee; * and thine enemies take thy Name in vain.
21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? * and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
22 Yea, I hate them right sore; * even as though they were mine enemies.
23 Try me, O God, and seek the ground of my heart; * prove me, and examine my thoughts.
24 Look well if there be any way of wickedness in me; * and lead me in the way everlasting.

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Psalm 33. Exultate, justi.

REJOICE in the LORD, O ye righteous; * for it becometh well the just to be thankful.
2 Praise the LORD with harp; * sing praises unto him with the lute, and instrument of ten strings.
3 Sing unto the Lord a new song; * sing praises lustily unto him with a good courage.
4 For the word of the LORD is true; * and all his works are faithful.
5 He loveth righteousness and judgment; * the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.
6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; * and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathereth the waters of the sea together, as it were upon an heap; * and layeth up the deep, as in a treasure-house.
8 Let all the earth fear the LORD: * stand in awe of him, all ye that dwell in the world.
9 For he spake, and it was done; * he commanded, and it stood fast.
10 The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought, * and maketh the devices of the people to be of none effect, and casteth out the counsels of princes.
11 The counsel of the LORD shall endure for ever, * and the thoughts of his heart from generation to generation.
12 Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord JEHOVAH; * and blessed are the folk that he hath chosen to him, to be his inheritance.
13 The LORD looketh down from heaven, and beholdeth all the children of men; * from the habitation of his dwelling, he considereth all them that dwell on the earth.
14 He fashioneth all the hearts of them, * and understandeth all their works.
15 There is no king that can be saved by the multitude of an host; * neither is any mighty man delivered by much strength.
16 A horse is counted but a vain thing to save a man; * neither shall he deliver any man by his great strength.
17 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, * and upon them that put their trust in his mercy;
18 To deliver their soul from death, * and to feed them in the time of dearth.
19 Our soul hath patiently tarried for the LORD; * for he is our help and our shield.
20 For our heart shall rejoice in him; * because we have hoped in his holy Name.
21 Let thy merciful kindness, O LORD, be upon us, * like as we do put our trust in thee.

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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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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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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 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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Psalm 93. Dominus regnavit.

THE LORD is King, and hath put on glorious apparel; *
the LORD hath put on his apparel, and girded himself with strength.
2 He hath made the round world so sure, * that it cannot be moved.
3 Ever since the world began, hath thy seat been prepared: * thou art from everlasting.
4 The floods are risen, O LORD, the floods have lift up their voice; * the floods lift up their waves.
5 The waves of the sea are mighty, and rage horribly; * but yet the LORD, who dwelleth on high, is mightier.
6 Thy testimonies, O LORD, are very sure: * holiness becometh thine house for ever.

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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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