Part 366 (2/2)

Maheleth... A musical instrument, or chorus of musicians, to answer one another.-Ibid. Understanding... Or a psalm of instruction, composed by Eman the Ezrahite, or by David, in his name.

87:2. O Lord, the G.o.d of my salvation: I have cried in the day, and in the night before thee.

87:3. Let my prayer come in before thee: incline thy ear to my pet.i.tion.

87:4. For my soul is filled with evils: and my life hath drawn nigh to h.e.l.l.

87:5. I am counted among them that go down to the pit: I am become as a man without help,

87:6. Free among the dead. Like the slain sleeping in the sepulchres, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand.

87:7. They have laid me in the lower pit: in the dark places, and in the shadow of death.

87:8. Thy wrath is strong over me: and all thy waves thou hast brought in upon me.

87:9. Thou hast put away my acquaintance far from me: they have set me an abomination to themselves. I was delivered up, and came not forth:

87:10. My eyes languished through poverty. All the day I cried to thee, O Lord: I stretched out my hands to thee.

87:11. Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? or shall physicians raise to life, and give praise to thee?

87:12. Shall any one in the sepulchre declare thy mercy: and thy truth in destruction?

87:13. Shall thy wonders be known in the dark; and thy justice in the land of forgetfulness?

87:14. But I, O Lord, have cried to thee: and in the morning my prayer shall prevent thee.

87:15. Lord, why castest thou off my prayer: why turnest thou away thy face from me?

87:16. I am poor, and in labours from my youth: and being exalted have been humbled and troubled.

87:17. Thy wrath hath come upon me: and thy terrors have troubled me.

87:18. They have come round about me like water all the day: they have compa.s.sed me about together.

87:19. Friend and neighbour thou hast put far from me: and my acquaintance, because of misery.

Psalms Chapter 88

Misericordias Domini.

The perpetuity of the church of Christ, in consequence of the promise of G.o.d: which, notwithstanding, G.o.d permits her to suffer sometimes most grievous afflictions.

88:1. Of understanding, for Ethan the Ezrahite.

88:2. The mercies of the Lord I will sing for ever. I will shew forth thy truth with my mouth to generation and generation.

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