20 Thus they turned their glory: into the similitude of a calf that eateth hay. 21 And they forgat God their Saviour: who had done so great things in Egypt; 22 Wondrous works in the land of Ham : and fearful things by the Red Sea. 23 So he said he would have destroyed them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the gap : to turn away his wrathful indignation, lest he should destroy them. 24 Yea, they thought scorn of that pleasant land : and gave no credence unto his word; 25 But murmured in their tents : and hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD. 26 Then lift he up his hand against them : to overthrow them in the wilderness; 27 To cast out their seed among the nations : and to scatter them in the lands. 28 They joined themselves unto Baal-peor : and ate the offerings of the dead. 29 Thus they provoked him to anger with their own inventions : and the plague was great among them. 30 Then stood up Phinees, and prayed: and so the plague ceased. 31 And that was counted unto him for righteousness: among all posterities for evermore. 32 They angered him also at the waters of strife : so that he punished Moses for their sakes; 33 Because they provoked his spirit: so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips. 34 Neither destroyed they the heathen: as the LORD commanded them; 35 But were mingled among the heathen : and learned their works. 36 Insomuch that they worshipped their idols, which turned to their own decay: yea, they offered their sons and their daughters unto devils ; 37 And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters: whom they offered unto the idols of Canaan; and the land was defiled with blood. 38 Thus were they stained with their own works : and went a whoring with their own inventions. 39 Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people: insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance. 40 And he gave them over into the hand of the heathen: and they that hated them were lords over them. 41 Their enemies oppressed them : and had them in subjection. 42 Many a time did he deliver them: but they rebelled against him with their own inventions, and were brought down in their wickedness. 43 Nevertheless, when he saw their adversity : he heard their complaint. 44 He thought upon his covenant, and pitied them, according unto the multitude of his mercies : yea, he made all those that led them away captive to pity them. 45 Deliver us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the heathen: that we may give thanks unto thy holy Name, and make our boast of thy praise. 46 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, from everlasting, and world without end : And let all the people say, Amen. THE TWENTY-SECOND DAY. Morning Prayer. PSALM 107. Confitemini Domino. GIVE thanks unto the LORD, for he is gracious : and his mercy endureth for ever. 2 Let them give thanks whom the LORD hath redeemed : and delivered from the hand of the enemy; 3 And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west: from the north, and from the south. 4 They went astray in the wilderness out of the way: and found no city to dwell in. 5 Hungry and thirsty : their soul fainted in them. 6 So they cried unto the LORD in their trouble : and he delivered them from their distress. 7 He led them forth by the right way: that they might go to the city where they dwelt. 8 O that men would therefore praise the LORD for his goodness: and declare the wonders that he doeth for the children of men! 9 For he satisfieth the empty soul : and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. 10 Such as sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death: being fast bound in misery and iron; 11 Because they rebelled against the words of the Lord: and lightly regarded the counsel of the Most Highest; 12 He also brought down their heart through heaviness: they fell down, and there was none to help them. 13 So when they cried unto the LORD in their trouble: he delivered them out of their distress. 14 For he brought them out of darkness, and out of the shadow of death : and brake their bonds in sunder. 15 O that men would therefore praise the LORD for his goodness: and declare the wonders that he doeth for the children of men! 16 For he hath broken the gates of brass : and smitten the bars of iron in sunder. 17 Foolish men are plagued for their offence: and because of their wickedness. 18 Their soul abhorred all manner of meat : and they were even hard at death's door. 19 So when they cried unto the LORD in their trouble: he delivered them out of their distress. 20 He sent his word, and healed them: and they were saved from their destruction. 21 O that men would therefore praise the LORD for his goodness: and declare the wonders that he doeth for the children of men! 22 That they would offer unto him the sacrifice of thanksgiving: and tell out his works with gladness! 23 They that go down to the sea in ships : and occupy their business in great waters; 24 These men see the works of the LORD : and his wonders in the deep. 25 For at his word the stormy wind ariseth : which lifteth up the waves thereof. 26 They are carried up to the heaven, and down again to the deep: their soul melteth away because of the trouble. 27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man : and are at their wit's end. 28 So when they cry unto the LORD in their trouble: he delivereth them out of their distress. 29 For he maketh the storm to cease : so that the waves thereof are still. 30 Then are they glad, because they are at rest : and so he bringeth them unto the haven where they would be. 31 O that men would therefore praise the LORD for his goodness : and declare the wonders that he doeth for the children of men! 32 That they would exalt him also in the congregation of the people: and praise him in the seat of the elders! 33 Who turneth the floods into a wilderness : and drieth up the water-springs. 34 A fruitful land maketh he barren : for the wickedness of them that dwell therein. 35 Again, he maketh the wilderness a standing water: and water-springs of a dry ground. 36 And there he setteth the hungry: that they may build them a city to dwell in; 37 That they may sow their land, and plant vineyards: to yield them fruits of increase. 38 He blesseth them, so that they multiply exceedingly: and suffereth not their cattle to decrease. 39 And again, when they are minished and brought low: through oppression, through any plague or trouble; 40 Though he suffer them to be evil entreated through tyrants : and let them wander out of the way in the wilderness; 41 Yet helpeth he the poor out of misery : and maketh him households like a flock of sheep. 42 The righteous will consider this, and rejoice : and the mouth of all wickedness shall be stopped. 43 Whoso is wise, will ponder these things: and they shall understand the loving-kindness of the LORD. Evening Prayer. PSALM 108. Paratum cor meum. God, my heart is ready, my heart is ready: I will sing, and give praise with the best member that I have. 2 Awake, thou lute and harp: I myself will awake right early. 3 I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the people: I will sing praises unto thee among the nations. |