the LORD; with my mouth will I ever be showing thy truth from one generation to another.

For I have said, Mercy shall be set up for ever; thy truth shalt thou establish in the heavens.

The LORD is our defence; the Holy One of Israel is our King.

Thou spakest some time in visions unto thy saints, and saidst, I have laid help upon One that is mighty, I have exalted One chosen out of the people.

I will set his dominion in the sea, and his right hand in the floods.

And I will make him my First-born, higher than the kings of the earth.

The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

The LORD shall send the rod of thy power out of Sion: be thou ruler, even in the midst among thine enemies.

In the day of thy power shall the people offer thee free-will offerings with an holy worship: the dew of thy birth is of the womb of the morning.

The LORD sware, and will not repent, Thou art a Priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedech.

BLE

Ash-Wednesday.

From Psalms xxxii. xxxviii. cxxx.

LESSED is he whose unrighteousness is forgiven, and whose sin is covered.

Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth no sin, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

Put me not to rebuke, O LORD, in thine anger; neither chasten me in thy heavy displeasure:

For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.

My wickednesses are gone over my head, and are like a sore burden, too heavy for me to bear.

I will confess my wickedness, and be sorry for my sin. Haste thee to help me, O Lord God of my salvation. Out of the deep have I called unto thee, O LORD; Lord, hear my voice.

Let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.

If thou, LORD, shouldest be extreme to mark what is done amiss, O Lord, who shall stand?

But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.

M

Good-Friday.

From Psalms xxii. lxix. xl.

God! my God! look upon me; why hast thou forsaken me? and art so far from my health, and from the words of my complaint?

But thou art holy, O Thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,

He trusted in GoD, that he would deliver him; let him deliver him, if he will have him.

The counsel of the wicked layeth siege against me; they pierced my hands and my feet.

They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.

Thy rebuke hath broken my heart; I am full of heaviness: I looked for some to have pity on me, but there was no man, neither found I any to comfort me.

They gave me gall to eat; and when I was thirsty they gave me vinegar to drink.

Sacrifice and meat-offering thou wouldest not, but mine ears hast thou opened.

Burnt-offerings and sacrifice for sin hast thou not required: then said I, Lo, I come;

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.

Ascension-Day.

From Psalms xxiv. xlvii.

LIFT up your heads, O ye gates; and be

lift ye up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall

come in.

Who is the King of glory? the LORD strong and mighty; even the LORD mighty in battle.

Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is the King of glory? Even the LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory.

O clap your hands together, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.

For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.

God is gone up with a shout; the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.

Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.

God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.

The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham; for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted.

Whit-Sunday.

From Psalms ii. lxviii.

WILL declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto

me, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. Desire of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession.

Be wise now, therefore, O ye kings; be instructed, ye judges of the earth.

Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

Sing unto God, sing praises to his Name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.

Thou, O God, sentest a gracious rain upon thine inheritance, and refreshedst it when it was weary.

The Lord gave the word; great was the company of those that published it.

Though ye have lain among the pots; yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.

Thou hast ascended on high; thou hast led captivity captive; thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them. Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits; even the God of our salvation.

Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth: O sing praises unto the Lord;

To him that rideth upon the heaven of heavens, which were of old: lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice.

Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.

O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places; the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.

329

XLII.

THE PSALTER,

OR

PSALMS OF DAVID.

THE FIRST DAY.

Morning Prayer.

Psalm i. Beatus vir, qui non abiit.

BLESSED

LESSED is the man that hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way of sinners, and hath not sat in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his 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 judgment, 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.

Psalm ii. Quare fremuerunt gentes?

HY do the heathen so furiously rage together?

WHY

and why do the people imagine a vain thing?

2 The kings of the earth stand up, and the rulers take counsel together against the LORD, and against his Anointed: