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PSALM 17. Exaudi, Domine.

EAR the right, O LORD, consider my complaint : and hearken unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.

2 Let my sentence come forth from thy presence: and let thine eyes look upon the thing that is equal.

3 Thou hast proved and visited mine heart in the night season; thou hast tried me, and shalt find no wickedness in me: for I am utterly purposed that my mouth shall not offend.

4 Because of men's works that are done against the words of thy lips : I have kept me from the ways of the destroyer.

5 O hold thou up my goings in thy paths : that my footsteps slip not.

6 I have called upon thee, O God, for thou shalt hear me: incline thine ear to me, and hearken unto my words.

7 Show thy marvellous loving-kindness, thou that art the Saviour of them which put their trust in thee: from such as resist thy right hand.

8 Keep me as the apple of an eye: hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

9 From the ungodly, that trouble me: mine enemies compass me round about, to take away my soul.

10 They are inclosed in their own fat: and their mouth speaketh proud things.

11 They lie waiting in our way on every side : turning their eyes down to the ground;

12 Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey: and as it were a lion's whelp lurking in secret places.

13 Up, LORD, disappoint him, and cast him down : deliver my soul from the ungodly, which is a sword of thine;

14 From the men of thy hand, O LORD, from the men, I say, and from the evil world: which have their portion in this life, whose bellies thou fillest with thy hid treasure.

15 They have children at their desire: and leave the rest of their substance for their babes.

16 But as for me, I will behold thy presence in righteousness: and when I awake up after thy likeness, I shall be satisfied with it.

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Evening Prayer.

PSALM 18. Diligam te, Domine.

WILL love thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my stony rock, and my defence: my Saviour, my God, and my might, in whom I will trust; my buckler, the horn also of my salvation, and my refuge.

2 I will call upon the LORD, which is worthy to be praised: so shall I be safe from mine enemies.

3 The sorrows of death compassed me : and the overflowings of ungodliness made me afraid.

4 The pains of hell came about me: the snares of death overtook me.

5 In my trouble I will call upon the LORD : and complain unto my God:

6 So shall he hear my voice out of his holy temple: and my complaint shall come before him; it shall enter even into his ears.

7 The earth trembled and quaked : the very foundations also of the hills shook, and were removed, because he was wroth.

8 There went a smoke out in his presence: and a consuming fire out of his mouth, so that coals were kindled at it.

9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down : and it was dark under his feet.

10 He rode upon the Cherubim, and did fly: he came flying upon the wings of the wind.

11 He made darkness his secret place: his pavilion round about him with dark water, and thick clouds to cover him.

12 At the brightness of his presence his clouds removed: hailstones and coals of fire.

13 The LORD also thundered out of heaven, and the Highest gave his thunder: hailstones and coals of fire.

14 He sent out his arrows, and scattered them: he cast forth lightnings, and destroyed them.

15 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.

16 He shall send down from on high to fetch me : and shall take me out of many waters.

17 He shall deliver me from my strongest enemy, and from them which hate me: for they are too mighty for me.

18 They prevented me in the day of my trouble : but the LORD was my upholder.

19 He brought me forth also into a place of liberty: he brought me forth, even because he had a favour unto me.

20 The LORD shall reward me after my righteous dealing: according to the cleanness of my hands shall he recompense me.

21 Because I have kept the ways of the LORD : and have not forsaken my God, as the wicked doth. 22 For I have an eye unto all his laws: and will not cast out his commandments from me.

23 I was also uncorrupt before him: and eschewed mine own wickedness.

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24 Therefore shall the LORD reward me after my righteous dealing: and according unto the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.

25 With the holy thou shalt be holy : and with a perfect man thou shalt be perfect.

26 With the clean thou shalt be clean : and with the froward thou shalt learn frowardness.

27 For thou shalt save the people that are in adversity: and shalt bring down the high looks of the proud.

28 Thou also shalt light my candle: the LORD my God shall make my darkness to be light.

29 For in thee I shall discomfit an host of men : and with the help of my God I shall leap over the wall.

30 The way of God is an undefiled way: the word of the LORD also is tried in the fire; he is the defender of all them that put their trust in him.

31 For who is God, but the LORD : or who hath any strength, except our God?

32 It is God that girdeth me with strength of war: and maketh my way perfect.

33 He maketh my feet like harts' feet : and setteth me up on high.

34 He teacheth mine hands to fight : and mine arms shall break even a bow of steel.

35 Thou hast given me the defence of thy salvation: thy right hand also shall hold me up, and thy loving correction shall make me great.

36 Thou shalt make room enough under me for to go : that my footsteps shall not slide.

37 I will follow upon mine enemies, and overtake them: neither will I turn again till I have destroyed them.

38 I will smite them, that they shall not be able to stand: but fall under my feet.

39 Thou hast girded me with strength untothe battle: thou shalt throw down mine enemies under me.

40 Thou hast made mine enemies also to turn their backs upon me: and I shall destroy them that hate me.

41 They shall cry, but there shall be none to help them: yea, even unto the LORD shall they cry, but he shall not hear them.

42 I will beat them as small as the dust before the wind : I will cast them out as the clay in the streets.

43 Thou shalt deliver me from the strivings of the people: and thou shalt make me the head of the heathen.

44 A people whom I have not known: shall serve

me.

45 As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: but the strange children shall dissemble with

me.

46 The strange children shall fail: and be afraid out of their prisons.

47 The LORD liveth; and blessed be my strong helper: and praised be the God of my salvation :

48 Even the God that seeth that I be avenged : and subdueth the people unto me.

49 It is he that delivereth me from my cruel enemies, and setteth me up above mine adversaries : thou shalt rid me from the wicked man.

50 For this cause will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the Gentiles: and sing praises unto thy Name.

51 Great prosperity giveth he unto his King : and showeth loving-kindness unto David his anointed, and unto his seed for evermore.