Part 299 (2/2)

If I say, Surely the darkness shall overwhelm me, And the light about me shall be night; Even the darkness hideth not from thee, But the night s.h.i.+neth as the day: The darkness and the light are both alike to thee. {165} How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O G.o.d!

How great is the sum of them!

If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: When I awake, I am still with thee.

Search me, O G.o.d, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any way of wickedness in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.

--_Psalm 139:1-12, 17, 18, 23, 24_.

{166}

HAPPY IS THE PEOPLE WHOSE G.o.d IS THE LORD

Blessed be the Lord my rock, Who teacheth my hands to war, And my fingers to fight: My lovingkindness, and my fortress, My high tower, and my deliverer; My s.h.i.+eld, and he in whom I trust; Who subdueth my people under me.

Lord, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him?

Or the son of man, that thou makest account of him?

Man is like to vanity: His days are as a shadow that pa.s.seth away.

Bow thy heavens, O Lord, and come down: Touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.

Cast forth lightning, and scatter them; Send out thine arrows, and discomfit them.

Stretch forth thy hand from above; Rescue me, and deliver me out of great waters, Out of the hand of aliens; Whose mouth speaketh deceit, And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood,

I will sing a new song unto thee, O G.o.d: Upon a psaltery of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee. {167} Thou art he that giveth salvation unto kings; Who rescueth David his servant from the hurtful sword.

Rescue me, and deliver me out of the hand of aliens, Whose mouth speaketh deceit, And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

When our sons shall be as plants grown up in their youth, And our daughters as corner stones hewn after the fas.h.i.+on of a palace; When our garners are full, affording all manner of store, And our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields; When our oxen are well laden; When there is no breaking in, and no going forth, And no outcry in our streets: Happy is the people that is in such a case; Yea, happy is the people whose G.o.d is the Lord.

--_Psalm 144_

{168}

SLOW TO ANGER AND PLENTEOUS IN MERCY

I will extol thee, my G.o.d, O King; And I will bless thy name for ever and ever.

Every day will I bless thee; And I will praise thy name for ever and ever.

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; And his greatness is unsearchable.

One generation shall laud thy works to another, And shall declare thy mighty acts.

Of the glorious majesty of thine honour, And of thy wondrous works, will I meditate.

And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts; And I will declare thy greatness.

They shall utter the memory of thy great goodness, And shall sing of thy righteousness

The Lord is gracious, and full of compa.s.sion; Slow to anger, and of great mercy.

The Lord is good to all; And his tender mercies are over all his works.

All thy works shall give thanks unto thee, O Lord; And thy saints shall bless thee.

They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, And talk of thy power; To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, And the glory of the majesty of his kingdom. {169} Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.

The Lord upholdeth all that fall, And raiseth up all those that be bowed down.

The eyes of all wait upon thee; And thou givest them their food in due season.

Thou openest thine hand, And satisfiest the desire of every living thing.

The Lord is righteous in all his ways, And gracious in all his works.

The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, To all that call upon him in truth.

He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him; He also will hear their cry, and will save them.

The Lord preserveth all them that love him; But all the wicked will he destroy.

My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord; And let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.

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