THE PSALMS OF DAVID. THE FIRST DAY. Morning Prayer. Prayer PSALM I. Beatus vir, qui non abiit &c. WHY PSALM II. Quare fremuerunt gentes? HY do the heathen so furiously rage togethat hath not walked ther : and why do the peoin the counsel of the ungod- ❘ple imagine a vain thing? BLESSEDthin the man ly, nor stood in the way of sinners: and hath not sat in the seat of the scornful. 2 The kings of the earth stand up, and the rulers take counsel together : against the Lord, and against his 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord : and in his | Anointed. law will he exercise himself day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the waterside: that will bring forth his fruit in due season. 4 His leaf also shall not wither: and look, whatsoever he doeth, it shall prosper. 5 As for the ungodly, it is not so with them: but they are like the chaff, which the wind scattereth away from the face of the earth. 6 Therefore the ungodly shall not be able to stand in the judgement: neither the sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 7 But the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous : and the way of the ungodly shall perish. 3 Let us break their bonds asunder : and cast away their cords from us. 4 He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh them to scorn: the Lord shall have them in derision. 5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath : and vex them in his sore displeasure. 6 Yet have I set my King : upon my holy hill of Sion. 7 I will preach the law, whereof the Lord hath said unto me: Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. 8 Desire of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance : and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession. 9 Thou shalt bruise them | cheek-bone; thou hast bro ken the teeth of the ungodly. 8 Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: and thy blessing is upon thy people. PSALM IV. Cum invocarem. H when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast set me at liberty when I was in trouble; have mercy upon me, and hearken unto my prayer. 2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye blaspheme mine honour: and have such pleasure in vanity, and seek after leasing? 3 Know this also, that the Lord hath chosen to himself the man that is godly : when I call upon the Lord, he will hear me. 4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart, and in your chamber, and be still. 5 Offer the sacrifice of righteousness: and put your trust in the Lord. 4 I did call upon the Lord 6 There be many that say : with my voice: and he heard | Who will shew us any good? me out of his holy hill. 5 I laid me down and slept, and rose up again : for the Lord sustained me. 6 I will not be afraid for ten thousands of the people: that have set themselves against me round about. 7 Up, Lord, and help me, O my God: for thou smitest all mine enemies upon the 7 Lord, lift thou up : the light of thy countenance up on us. 8 Thou hast put gladness in my heart: since the time that their corn, and wine, and oil, increased. 9 I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest: for it is thou, Lord, only, that makest me dwell in safety. PSALM V. Verba mea auribus. P ONDER my words, O Lord : consider my meditation. 2 O hearken thou unto the voice of my calling, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I make my prayer. 3 My voice shalt thou hear betimes, O Lord : early in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. 4 For thou art the God that hast no pleasure in wickedness: neither shall any evil dwell with thee. 5 Such as be foolish shall not stand in thy sight : for thou hatest all them that work vanity. 6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the Lord will abhor both the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. 7 But as for me, I will come into thine house, even upon the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple. Evening PSALM VI. Domine, ne in furore. 8 Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness, because of mine enemies: make thy way plain before my face. 9 For there is no faithfulness in his mouth: their inward parts are very wickedness. 10 Their throat is an open sepulchre: they flatter with their tongue. 11 Destroy thou them, O God; let them perish through their own imaginations: cast them out in the multitude of their ungodliness; for they have rebelled against thee. 12 And let all them that put their trust in thee rejoice: they shall ever be giving of thanks, because thou defendest them; they that love thy Name shall be joyful in thee; 13 For thou, Lord, wilt give thy blessing unto the righteous: and with thy favourable kindness wilt thou defend him as with a shield. Prayer. troubled: but, Lord, how long O LORD, rebuke me not wilt thou punish me? in thine indignation : neither chasten me in thy displeasure. 2 Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak: 0 Lord, heal me, for my bones are vexed. 3 My soul also is sore 4 Turn Lord, and deliver my soul : O save me for thy mercy's sake. 5 For in death no man remembereth thee: and who will give thee thanks in the pit? 6 I am weary of my groan ing; every night wash I my | and lay mine honour in the bed: and water my couch with my tears. 7 My beauty is gone for very trouble: and worn away because of all mine enemies. 8 Away from me, all ye that work vanity: for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping. 9 The Lord hath heard my petition: the Lord will receive my prayer. 10 All mine enemies shall be confounded, and sore vexed: they shall be turned back, and put to shame suddenly. 2 Lest he devour my soul, like a lion, and tear it in pieces: while there is none to help. 3 O Lord my God, if I have done any such thing : or if there be any wickedness in my hands; 4 If I have rewarded evil unto him that dealt friendly with me: yea, I have delivered him that without any cause is mine enemy; dust. 6 Stand up, O Lord, in thy wrath, and lift up thyself, because of the indignation of mine enemies : arise up for me in the judgement that thou hast commanded. 7 And so shall the congregation of the people come about thee: for their sakes therefore lift up thyself again. 8 The Lord shall judge the people; give sentence with me, O Lord: according to my righteousness, and according to the innocency that is in me. 9 O let the wickedness of the ungodly come to an end : but guide thou the just. 10 For the righteous God : trieth the very hearts and reins. 11 My help cometh of God: who preserveth them that are true of heart. 12 God is a righteous Judge, strong, and patient : and God is provoked every day. 13 If a man will not turn, he will whet his sword : he hath bent his bow, and made it ready. 14 He hath prepared for him the instruments of 5 Then let mine enemy death: he ordaineth his arpersecute my soul, and take rows against the persecutors. me: yea, let him tread my 15 Behold, he travaileth life down upon the earth, | with mischief: he hath con ceived sorrow, and brought forth ungodliness. 16. He hath graven and digged up a pit: and is fallen himself into the destruction that he made for other. 17 For his travail shall come upon his own head: and his wickedness shall fall on his own pate. 18 I will give thanks unto the Lord, according to his righteousness: and I will praise the Name of the Lord most High. PSALM VIII. Domine, Dominus 3 For I will consider thy heavens, even the works of thy fingers: the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained. 4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him : and the son of man, that thou visitest him? 5 Thou madest him lower than the angels: to crown him with glory and worship. 6 Thou makest him to have dominion of the works of thy hands: and thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet; 7 All sheep and oxen : yea, and the beasts of the field; 8 The fowls of the air, and the fishes of the sea: and whatsoever walketh through the paths of the seas. 9 O Lord our Governour : how excellent is thy Name in all the world! Prayer. 4 For thou hast maintained my right and my cause : thou art set in the throne that judgest right. 5 Thou hast rebuked the heathen, and destroyed the ungodly: thou hast put out their name for ever and ever. 6 O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: even as the cities which thou hast destroyed; |