9. as: S3 PRINCETON, N. J. *fy M 2121 .142 1899 Bible. Responsive services v r — * - w <*\ * S E P 25 1899 : Si edpoadwe etviced NEW YORK THE CENTURY CO. 1899 Copyright, 1899, by The Century Co. The DeVinne Press, New York. aRjedporidwe (3^ ezviced INDEX PSALM SELECTION 1 30 2 20 3 47 4 40 5 40 6 37 8 1 10 35 12 35 13 37 14 35 15 30 16 43 17 43 18 45 19 33 20 19 21 20 22 38 23 24 24 4 25 42 26 30 27 24 28 37 29 4 30 47 31 38 32 42 3». 26 34 10 36 46 37 31 39 48 40 44 PSALM SELECTION 42 3 43 3 46 11 47 11 48 11 49 ...48 60 32 51 36 57 40 61 39 62 39 63 39 65 5 66 14 67 5 68 13 71 46 72 19. 73 29 80 18 81 32 84 3 85 22 86 22 87 2 90 49 91 49 92 28 93 1 95 7 96 7 97 6 99 6 100 5 iv PSALM SELECTION 102 41 103 23 104 16 107 27 108 26 110 20 111 1 112 9 113 9 115 21 116 21 117 15 118 15 119 33, 34 121 24 122 2 123 28 124 47 125 2 126 2 130 36 132 18 134 10 135 9 136 10 138 14 139 25 142 28 143 44 145 12 146 12 147 8 148 8 149 7 150 4 IResponsive Services SELECTION 1 Psalms vili, xcm, cxi OLORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth ! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands ; Thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field ; the fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever pass- eth through the paths of the seas. 0 Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth ! The Lord reigneth, he is clothed with majesty ; The Lord is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself; The world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved. Thy throne is established of old : thou art from everlasting. The floods have lifted up, 0 Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice ; the floods lift up their waves. The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea. Thy testimonies are very sure : Holiness becometh thine house, 0 Lord, for ever. Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation. The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have plea- sure therein. His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever. He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered : the Lord is gracious and full of compassion. He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant. He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen. The works of his hands are verity and judgment ; 2 RESPONSIVE SERVICES All his commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness. He sent redemption unto his people : He hath commanded his covenant for ever : holy and reverend is his name. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom : a good understanding have all they that do his commandments : His praise.endureth for ever. SELECTION 2 Psalms lxxxvii, cxxv, cxxvi, cxxil HIS foundation is in the holy moun- tains. The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of thee, 0 city of God. I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: be- hold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there. And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the Highest himself shall establish her. The Lord shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. As well the singers as the players on in- struments shall be there : all my springs are in thee. They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be re- moved, but abideth for ever. As the mountains are round about Je- rusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even for ever. For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upou the lot of the righteous ; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity. Do good, 0 Lord, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts. As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity : But peace shall be upon Israel. When the Lord turned again the cap- tivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laugh- ter, and our tongue with singing : Then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them. The Lord hath done great things for us ; whereof we are glad. Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the south. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bear- ing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. I was glad when they said unto me. Let us go into the house of the Lord. Our feet shall stand within thy gates, 0 Jerusalem. Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together: whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord. For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem : they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosper- ity within thy palaces. For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee. Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good. RESPONSIVE SERVICES 3 SELECTION 3 Psalms xlii, xliii, lxxxiv A S the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God ? My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God ? When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me : for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holy- day. Why art thou cast down, O my soul ? and why art thou disquieted in me ? Hope thou in God : for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. 0 my God, my soul is cast down within me : Therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar. Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts : All thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. Yet the Lord will command his loving- kindness in the daytime, And in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. 1 will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy % As with a sword in my bones, mine ene- mies reproach me ; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God? Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me ? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my counte- nance, and my God. Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation : O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man. For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy ? O send out thy light and thy truth : let them lead me ; Let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy : Yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, 0 God my God. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me ? Hope in God : for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts ! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. Yea, the sparrow hath found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, Even thine altars, 0 Lord of hosts, my King, and my God. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house : they will be still praising thee. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee ; in whose heart are the ways of them. Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well ; the rain also fill- eth the pools. They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God. 4 RESPONSIVE SERVICES O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Behold, 0 God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed. For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield : the Lord will give grace and glory : no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. 0 Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee. SELECTION 4 Psalms xxix, xxiv, CL GIVE unto the Lord, O ye mighty, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. The voice of the Lord is upon the waters : the God of glory thundereth : the Lord is upon many waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful ; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars; yea, the Lord breaketh the cedars of Lebanon. He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young uni- corn. The voice of the Lord divideth the flames of fire. The voice of the Lord shaketh the wil- derness ; the Lord shaketh the wilder- ness of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the for- ests : and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory. The Lord sitteth upon the flood ; yea, the Lord sitteth King for ever. The Lord will give strength unto his people ; The Lord will bless his people with peace. The earth is the Lord's, and the ful- ness thereof ; the world, and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord ? or who shall stand in his holy place ? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart ; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, 0 Jacob. Lift up your heads, O ye gates ; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors ; And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory ? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates ; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors ; And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory ? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary : Praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts : praise him according to his excellent great- ness. Praise him with the sound of the trum- pet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. RESPONSIVE SERVICES 5 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: By terrible things in righteousness praise him with stringed instruments wilt thou answer us, O God of our and organs. salvation ; Praise him upon the loud cymbals : Who art the confidence of all the ends praise him upon the high sounding cym- 0 f the earth, and of them that are afar bals. off upon the sea : Let every thing that hath breath praise Which by his strength setteth fast the the Lord. mountains; being girded with power: Praise ye the Lord. Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of SELECTION 5 the people. They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens : M Psalms c, lxv, lxvii AKE a joyful noise unto the Thou makest the outgoings of the morn- Lord, all ye lands. ing and evening to rejoice Serve the Lord with gladness: come be- fore his presence with singing. Thou visitest the earth, and waterest . it: thou greatly enrichest it with the Know ye that the Lord he is God: it riyer of God; which ig fuU of water . Thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it. is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves ; We are his people, and the sheep of his , pasture. Thou waterest the ridges thereof abun- w , . , , , • dantly: thou settlest the furrows Enter into his gates with thanksgiv- „ J „ , , ing, and into his courts with praise: tb ; ereof: th ™ ™* est J Soft Wlth be thankful unto him, and bless his shower / : thou blessest the *P™&*g thereof. name. „ T ... Thou crownest the year with thy good- For the Lord is good; his mercy is ever- . . _. th . J dro _ lasting ; and his truth endureth to all ness ' and thy paths drop fatneS3, generations. They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness : and the little hills rejoice Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in on every side. Zion : The pastures are clothed with flocks; And unto thee shall the vow be per- the valleys also are covered over with formed. corn; they shout for joy, they also sing. O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come. God be merciful unto us, and bless us; _ . .„ ., . . „ and cause his face to shine upon us; Iniquities prevail against me : as for our • , , , , , , , transgressions, thou shalt purge them that th ^ wa ^ ma ? be known u P on away> earth, thy saving health among all Blessed is the man whom thou choos- na 10nS ' est, and causest to approach unto thee, Let the P e °P le P raise thee > 0 God ; let a11 that he may dweU in thy courts : the people praise thee ' We shall be satisfied with the goodness 0 let tne nations be glad and sing for of thy house, even of thy holy temple. joy: for thou shalt judge the people 6 RESPONSIVE SERVICES righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Let the people praise thee, 0 God; let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth yield her in- crease; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us ; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him. SELECTION 6 Psalms xcvn, xcvm, xcix THE Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice ; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof. Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne. A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about. His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled. The hills melted like wax at the pres- ence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory. Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols : Worship him, all ye gods. Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O Lord. For thou, Lord, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods. Ye that love the Lord, hate evil : he preserveth the souls of his saints ; He delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked. Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. O sing unto the Lord a new song ; for he hath done marvellous things : His right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory. The Lord hath made known his salva- tion : His righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel : All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth : Make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. Sing unto the Lord with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King. Let the sea roar, and the fulness there- of ; the world, and they that dwell therein. Let the floods clap their hands : let the hills be joyful together before the Lord ; For he cometh to judge the earth: With righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity. The Lord reigneth; let the people tremble : He sitteth between the cherubim ; let the earth be moved. The Lord is great in Zion ; and he is high above all the people. Let them praise thy great and terrible name ; for it is holy. The king's strength also loveth judg- ment ; thou dost establish equity, thou RESPONSIVE SERVICES 7 executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob. Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship at his footstool ; for he is holy. Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name ; they called upon the Lord, and he answered them. He spake unto them in the cloudy pil- lar : they kept his testimonies, and the ordinance that he gave them. Thou answeredst them, O Lord our God : thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions. Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy hill ; for the Lord our God is holy. SELECTION 7 Psalms xcv, xcvi, cxux OCOME, let us sing unto the Lord : Let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come befo're his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the deep places of the earth : the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it : and his hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down : let us kneel before the Lord our maker. For he is our God ; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness : When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest. O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth. Sing unto the Lord, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people. For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols : but the Lord made the heavens. Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanc- tuary. Give unto the Lord, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name : bring an offering, and come into his courts. O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness : fear before him, all the earth. Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth : the world also shall be estab- lished that it shall not be moved : he shall judge the people righteously. Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad ; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof. Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein : then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the Lord : 8 RESPONSIVE SERVICES For he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth : He shall judge the world with right- eousness, and the people with his truth. Praise ye the Lord. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints. Let Israel rejoice in him that made him : Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise his name in the dance : Let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people : He will beautify the meek with salva- tion. Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth. Praise ye the Lord. SELECTION 8 Psalms cxlvii, cxlviii PRAISE ye the Lord : for it is good to sing praises unto our God ; For it is pleasant; and praise is comely. The Lord doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He telleth the number of the stars ; he calleth them all by their names. Great is our Lord, and of great power : his understanding is infinite. The Lord lifteth up the meek : He casteth the wicked down to the ground. Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; Sing praise upon the harp unto our God: Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the moun- tains. He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry. He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy. Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem ; praise thy God, O Zion. For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee. He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat. He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly. He giveth snow like wool : he scatter- eth the hoar frost like ashes. He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold? He sendeth out his word, and melteth them : He causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow. He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the \Lord. Praise ye the Lord from the heavens : praise him in the heights. Praise ye him, all his angels : praise ye him, all his hosts. RESPONSIVE SERVICES Praise ye him, sun and moon : praise him, all ye stars of light. Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the Lord : for he commanded, and they • were created. He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass. Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps : Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word : Mountains, and all hills ; fruitful trees, and all cedars : Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl : Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth: Both young men, and maidens; old men and children : Let them praise the name of the Lord : for his name alone is excellent ; His glory is above the earth and heaven. He also exalteth the horn of his peo- ple, the praise of all his saints ; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the Lord. SELECTION 9 Psalms cxii, cxiii, cxxxv PRAISE ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his com- mandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth : the generation of the upright shall be blessed. Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endur- eth for ever. Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness : he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. A good man sheweth favour, and lend- eth : he will guide his affairs with discretion. Surely he shall not be moved for ever : the righteous shall be in everlasting re- membrance. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings : His heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord. Praise ye the Lord. Praise, O ye servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord's name is to be praised. The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens. "Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high, Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth ! Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the name of the Lord ; Praise him, 0 ye servants of the Lord. Ye that stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God, praise the Lord ; For the Lord is good : sing praises unto his name ; for it is pleasant. For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure. For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places. 10 RESPONSIVE SERVICES He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth ; he maketh light- nings for the rain ; he hringeth the wind out of his treasuries. Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast. Who sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, 0 Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants. Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings ; Sihon king of the Am- orites, and Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan : And gave their land for a heritage, a heritage unto Israel his people. Thy name, O Lord, endureth for ever; and thy memorial, O Lord, throughout all generations. For the Lord will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants. The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they speak not ; eyes have they, but they see not ; They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths. They that make them are like unto them : so is every one that trusteth in them. Bless the Lord, O house of Israel: bless the Lord, 0 house of Aaron : Bless the Lord, 0 house of Levi : ye that fear the Lord, bless the Lord. Blessed be the Lord out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the Lord. SELECTION 10 Psalms cnxvi, xxxiv. cxxxiv OGIVE thanks unto the Lord; for he is good : For his mercy endureth for ever. 0 give thanks unto the God of gods : for his mercy endureth for ever. 0 give thanks to the Lord of lords : for his mercy endureth for ever. To him who alone doeth great won- ders r for his mercy endureth for ever. To him that by wisdom made the hea- vens : for his mercy endureth for ever. To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy en- dureth for ever : To him that made great lights : for his mercy endureth for ever : The sun to rule by day : for his mercy endureth for ever : The moon and stars to rule by night : for his mercy endureth for ever. Who remembered us in our low estate : for his mercy endureth for ever : And hath redeemed us from our enemies : for his mercy endureth for ever. Who giveth food to all flesh : for his mercy endureth for ever. 0 give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever. 1 will bless the Lord at all times : His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. 0 magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked unto him, and were light- ened : and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. RESPONSIVE SERVICES 1 1 O taste and see that the Lord is good : blessed is the man that trusteth in him. 0 fear the Lord, ye his saints : for there is no want to them that fear him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger : But they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. Come, ye children, hearken unto me : 1 will teach you the fear of the Lord. What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good ? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile : depart from evil, and do good ; seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cry, and the Lord hear- eth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the right- eous: but the Lord delivereth him 3ut of them all. He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken. Evil shall slay the wicked: and they ohat hate the righteous shall be deso- late. The Lord redeemeth the soul of his ser- vants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate. Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye ser- vants of the Lord, Which by night stand in the house of the Lord. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord. The Lord that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion. SELECTION 11 Psalms xlvi, xlvii, xlviii GOD is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea ; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High. God is in the midst of her ; she shall not be moved : God shall help her, and that right early. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved : he uttered his voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us ; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth ; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder ; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God : I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us ; the God of Jacob is our refuge. 12 KESPONSIV O clap your hands, 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. He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet. He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. 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. For God is the King of all the earth : sing ye praises with understanding. 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. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, In the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. God is known in her palaces for a refuge. For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together. They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away. Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail. Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind. As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. E SERVICES We have thought of thy lovingkind ness, 0 God, in the midst of thy temple According to thy name, 0 God, so is thj praise unto the ends of the earth : thj right hand is full of righteousness. Let mount Zion rejoice, Let the daughters of Judah be glad because of thy judgments. Walk about Zion, and go round aboul her : tell the towers thereof. Mark ye well her bulwarks, considei her palaces ; that ye may tell it to th< generation following. For this God is our God for ever anc ever : He will be our guide even unto death. SELECTION 12 Psalms cxlv, cxlvi I WILL extol thee, my God, O King and I will bless thy name for evei and ever. Every day will I bless thee ; and I wil praise thy name for ever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to b( praised ; and his greatness is unsearch able. One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mights acts. I will speak of the glorious honour oi thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works. And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness. They shall abundantly utter the mem- ory of thy great goodness, And shall sing of thy righteousness. The Lord is gracious, and full of com- passion ; slow to anger, and of great mercy. RESPONSIVE SERVICES 18 The Lord is good to all : and his tender mercies are over all his works. M\ thy works shall praise 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 lis mighty acts, and the glorious maj- esty of his kingdom. 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 ;hou givest them their meat in due jeason. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all his ways, md holy in all his works. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. 3e will fulfil the desire of them that 'ear him : he also will hear their cry, ind will save them. The Lord preserveth all them that love him : but all the wicked will he destroy. [Vly mouth shall speak the praise of he Lord : And let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever. r'raise ye the Lord. Praise the Lord, ) my soul. While I live will I praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being. ?ut not your trust in princes, nor in ;he son of man, in whom there is no lelp. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth ; in that very day his thoughts perish. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in the Lord his God: Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever : Which executeth judgment for the op- pressed : which giveth food to the hun- gry. The Lord looseth the prisoners: the Lord openeth the eyes of the blind : The Lord raiseth them that are bowed down: the Lord loveth the righteous : The Lord preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow : But the way of the wicked he turneth upside down. The Lord shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the Lord. SELECTION 13 Psalm lxviii SING unto God, sing praises to his name : Extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JEHOVAH, and rejoice before him. A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. God setteth the solitary in families : he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land. O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; the earth 14 RESPONSIVE SERVICES shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: Even Sinai itself was moved at the pres- ence of God, the God of Israel. Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary. Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, 0 God, hast prepared of thy good- ness for the poor. The Lord gave the word : great was the company of those that published it. Kings of armies did flee apace : and she that tarried at home divided the spoil. 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. When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon. The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan ; A high hill as the hill of Bashan. Why leap ye, ye high hills ? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in ; Yea, the Lord will dwell in it for ever. The chariots of God are twenty thou- sand, even thousands of angels : The Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place. Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive : thou hast re- ceived gifts for men ; Tea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them. Blessed be the Lord, who daily load- eth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. He that is our God is the God of salva- tion ; and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death. Thy God hath commanded thy strength : strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us. Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee. Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver : Scatter thou the people that delight in war. Princes shall come out of Egypt ; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God. SinguntoGod, ye kingdomsof theearth; 0 sing praises unto the Lord ; To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old ; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice. Ascribe ye strength unto God: his ex- cellency 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. SELECTION 14 Psalms lxvi, cxxxviii MAKE a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands : Sing forth the honour of his name : make his praise glorious. Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works ! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee. All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee ; they shall sing to thy name. RESPONSIVE SERVICES 15 Come and see the works of God : he is terrible in his doing toward the chil- dren of men. He turned the sea into dry land : they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in him. He ruleth by his power for ever ; his eyes behold the nations: Let not the rebellious exalt themselves. 0 bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard : Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved. For thou, O God, hast proved us : thou hast tried us, as silver is tried. Thou broughtest us into the net ; thou laidst affliction upon our loins. Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads ; we went through fire and through water : But thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place. 1 will go into thy house with burnt of- ferings : I will pay thee my vows, which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble. I will offer unto thee burnt sacrifices of fatlings, with the incense of rams: I will offer bullocks with goats. / Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul. I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me : but verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me. I will praise thee with my whole heart : Before the gods will I sing praise unto thee. I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy loving- kindness and for thy truth : for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, 0 Lord, when they hear the words of thy mouth. Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord : for great is the glory of the Lord. Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly : But the proud he knoweth afar off. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me : Thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me. The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me : Thy mercy, 0 Lord, endureth for ever : forsake not the works of thine own hands. SELECTION 15 Psalms cxvii, cxvm PRAISE the Lord, all ye nations : Praise him, all ye people. For his merciful kindness is great to- ward us: and the truth of the Lord • endureth for ever. Praise ye the Lord. 0 give thanks unto the Lord ; for he is good : because his mercy endureth for ever. Let Israel now say, that his mercy en- dureth for ever. 16 RESPONSIVE SERVICES Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever. Let them now that fear the Lord say, that his mercy endureth for ever. I called upon the Lord in distress : The Lord answered me, and set me in a large place. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear : what can man do unto me ? The Lord taketh my part with them that help me : therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes. The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation. The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous : The right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly. The right hand of the Lord is exalted: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly. I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. The Lord hath chastened me sore : but he hath not given me over unto death. Open to me the gates of righteousness : I will go into them, and I will praise the Lord : This gate of the Lord, into which the righteous shall enter. I will praise thee : for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation. The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the Lord's doing ; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord hath made ; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Save now, I beseech thee, 0 Lord: O Lord, I beseech thee, send now pros- perity. Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord : we have blessed you out of the house of the Lord. God is the Lord, which hath shewed us light : bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar. Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee. 0 give thanks unto the Lord ; for he is good : for his mercy endureth for ever. SELECTION 16 Psalm civ BLESS the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very great ; Thou art clothed with honour and majesty : Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: Who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain : Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters : Who maketh the clouds his chariot : who walketh upon the wings of the wind : Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire : Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever. Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains. At thy rebuke they fled ; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away. They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them. RESPONSIVE SERVICES 17 Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over ; that they turn not again to cover the earth. He sendeth the springs into the val- leys, which run among the hills. They give drink to every beast of the field : the wild asses quench their thirst. By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches. He watereth the hills from his cham- bers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works. He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man : that he may bring forth food out of the earth; And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengthened man's heart. The trees of the Lord are full of sap ; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted ; Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house. The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats ; And the rocks for the conies. He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down. Thou makest darkness, and it is night : wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth : the young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God. The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens. Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening. 0 Lord, how manifold are thy works ! in wisdom hast thou made them all: The earth is full of thy riches. So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts. There go the ships: there is that le- viathan, whom thou hast made to play therein. These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season. That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good. Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled : thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created : and thou renewest the face of the earth. The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever : the Lord shall rejoice in his works. He looketh on the earth, and it trem- bleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke. I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live : I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. My meditation of him shall be sweet : I will be glad in the Lord. SELECTION 17 Psalm lxxxix I WILL sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever : With my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever : Thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens. 18 RESPONSIVE SERVICES I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant, Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. And the heavens shall praise thy won- ders, 0 Lord : thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints. For who in the heaven can be compared unto the Lord ? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord? God is greatly to be feared in the as- sembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him. 0 Lord God of hosts, who is a strong Lord like unto thee ? or to thy faithful- ness round about thee? Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them. Thou hast broken Bahab in pieces, as one that is slain ; thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm. The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine : as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them. The north and the south thou hast created them : Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name. Thou hast a mighty arm : strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand. Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne : mercy and truth shall go before thy face. Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound : they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day : and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. For thou art the glory of their strength : and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted. For the Lord is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our King. Then thou spakest in vision to thy Holy One, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty ; I have exalted one chosen out of the people. I have found David my servant ; with my holy oil have I anointed him : With whom my hand shall be estab- lished : mine arm also shall strengthen him. The enemy shall not exact upon him ; nor the son of wickedness afflict him . And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him. But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him : and in my name shall his horn be exalted. I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers. He shall cry unto me, Thou art my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation. Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. My mercy will I keep for him for ever- more, and my covenant shall stand fast with him. His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven. If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments; if they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. RESPONSIVE SERVICES 19 Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not he unto David. His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me. It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Blessed be the Lord for evermore. Amen, and Amen. SELECTION 18 Psalms cxxxii, lxxx IORD, remember David, and all his ^ afflictions : how he sware unto the Lord, and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob ; Surely I will not come into the taber- nacle of my house, nor go up into my bed; I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids, Until I find out a place for the Lord, a habitation for the mighty God of Jacob. Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood. We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool. Arise, O Lord, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength. Let thy priests be clothed with righteous- ness ; and let thy saints shout for joy. For thy servant David's sake turn not away the face of thine anointed. The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne. If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore. For the Lord hath chosen Zion ; he hath desired it for his habitation. This is my rest for ever : here will I dwell; for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision : I will satisfy her poor with bread. I will also clothe her priests with salvation : And her saints shall shout aloud for joy. There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed. His enemies will I clothe with shame : but upon himself shall his crown flourish. Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; Thou that dwellest between the cheru- bim, shine forth. Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up thy strength, and come and save us. Turn us again, 0 God, and cause thy face to shine ; and we shall be saved. O Lord God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people? Thou feedest them with the bread of tears ; and givest them tears to drink in great measure. Thou makest us a strife unto our neigh- bours : and our enemies laugh among themselves. Turn us again, 0 God of hosts, and cause thy face to shine ; and we shall be saved. Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt : thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it. 20 RESPONSIVI Thou preparedst room before it, and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land. The hills were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedars. She sent out her boughs unto the sea, and her branches unto the river. Why hast thou then broken down her hedges, so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her ? The boar out of the wood doth waste it, and the wild beast of the field doth devour it. Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine ; And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the branch that thou madest strong for thyself. It is burned with fire, it is cut down : They perish at the rebuke of thy coun- tenance. Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, Upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself. So will not we go back from thee : quicken us, and we will call upon thy name. Turn us again, 0 Lord God of hosts, cause thy face to shine ; and we shall be saved. SELECTION 19 Psalms XX, lxxii THE Lord hear thee in the day of trouble ; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee ; Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion ; Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice ; : SERVICES Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel. We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners : The Lord fulfil all thy petitions. Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed ; He will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses : But we will remember the name of the Lord our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright. Save, Lord : let the king hear us when we call. Give the king thy judgments,0 God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son. He shall judge thy people with right- eousness, and thy poor with judgment. The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by right- eousness. He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor. They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all gen- erations. He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass : as showers that water the earth. In his days shall the righteous flourish ; And abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth. He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. RESPONSIVE SERVICES 2] They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him ; and his enemies shall lick the dust. The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him. For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper. He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy. He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence : And precious shall their blood be in his sight. And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba : Prayer also shall be made for him con- tinually ; and daily shall he be praised. There shall be a handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains ; The fruit thereof shall shake like Leba- non ; and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth. His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: And men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed. Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name for ever : and let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen, and Amen. SELECTION 20 Psalms n, cx, xxi WHY do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing ? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his Anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh : the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore dis- pleasure. Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree : the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son ; this day have I begottep. thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron ; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Be wise now therefore, O ye kings : be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion : rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holi- ness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. The Lord hath sworn, and will not re- pent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. 2-2 RESPONSIVE SERVICES The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath. He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies ; He shall wound the heads over many countries. He shall drink of the brook in the way : therefore shall he lift up the head. The king shall joy in thy strength, 0 Lord ; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice ! Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. For thou preventest him with the bless- ings of goodness : thou settes-t a crown of pure gold on his head. He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever. His glory is great in thy salvation : Honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him. For thou hast made him most blessed for ever : thou hast made him exceed- ing glad with thy countenance. For the king trusteth in the Lord, and through the mercy of the Most High he shall not be moved. Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies : Thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee. Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the Lord shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them. Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men. For they intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform. Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back, when thou shalt make ready thine arrows upon thy strings against the face of them. Be thou exalted, Lord, in thine own strength : So will we sing and praise thy power. SELECTION 21 Psalms cxv, cxvi NOT unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, For thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake. Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God ? But our God is in the heavens : he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they speak not : eyes have they, but they see not : They have ears, but they hear not : noses have they, but they smell not : They have hands, but they handle not : feet have they, but they walk not : nei- ther speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them ; So is every one that trusteth in them. O Israel, trust thou in the Lord : he is their help and their shield. 0 house of Aaron, trust in the Lord : he is their help and their shield. Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: He is their help and their shield. The Lord hath been mindful of us : he will bless us ; RESPONSIVE SERVICES 23 He will bless the house of Israel ; he What shall I render unto the Lord will bless the house of Aaron. for ^ his benefits toward me ? He will bless them that fear the Lord, t win take the cup of salvation, and call both small and great. upon the name of the Lord : I will pay _ . „ . , my vows unto the Lord now in the The Lord shall increase you more and / esence of aU Ms le more, you and your children. Ye are blessed of the Lord which made heaven and earth. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. 0 Lord, truly I am thy servant ; I am The heaven, even the heavens, are the tby servant| and the son of thine hand- Lord-s : but the earth hath he given to maid . thou hast loosed my bonds the children of men. mi j 3 • , ,i t .,, I will offer to thee the sacrifice of The dead praise not the Lord, neither , . . .., , • . -i thanksgiving, and will call upon the anv that go down into silence. ° , ° T r name of the Lord. But we will bless the Lord from this _ .,, _ _ time forth and for evermore. Praise the 1 ™ u P ay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people, in the courts of the Lord's house, in the midst of thee, 0 Jerusalem. Praise ye the I love the Lord, because he hath heard Lord. my voice and mv supplications. « t i. 1 • v ^ « SELECTION 22 Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as Psalms lxxxvi, lxxsv BOW down thine ear, O Lord, hear me: for I am poor and needy. and the pains of hell gat hold upon me : t f~ } v,u „„a ,, ™ Preserve my soul ; for I am holy : 0 1 round trouble and sorrow. „ - ' . .. . thou my God, save thy servant that Then called I upon the name of the trusteth in thee. Lord; 0 Lord, I beseech thee, deliver B e merciful unto me, O Lord : for I cry my soul. ' unto thee daily. Gracious is the Lord, and righteous : vea. our God is merciful. * ejoic ,5 ° T f ^ servant : ^ or ^ thee, 0 Lord, do I lift up my soul. The Lord preserveth the simple : I was For th Lord art d d read to brought low, and he helped me. . . forgive ; Return unto thv rest, O mv soul: for ... . . „ the Lord hath 'dealt bountifully with ^^Z^ 7 tnat call upon tnee. thee. Give ear, O Lord, unto mv praver ; and For thou hast delivered my soul from • attend to the yoice of Applications, death, mine eyes from tears, and my J rr feet from falling. In the day of my trouble I will call upon t •l-i n , „ , , T , , i j thee : for thou wilt answer me. I will walk before the Lord m the land of the living. Among the gods there is none like tvv J4.vr i. t i_ t unto thee, O Lord: I believed, therefore have I spoken: I ' ' was greatly afflicted : I said in my haste, Neither are there any works like unto All men are liars. thy works. 24 RESPONSES All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, 0 Lord; and shall glorify thy name. For thou art great, and doest wondrous things : thou art God alone. Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth : Unite my heart to fear thy name. I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart : and I will glorify thy name for evermore. For great is thy mercy toward me : and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell. O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul ; and have not set thee before them. But thou, 0 Lord, art a God full of com- passion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me ; Give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid. Shew me a token for good ; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed : Because thou, Lord, hast holpen me, and comforted me. Lord, thou hast been favourable unto thy laud : thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob. Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people ; thou hast covered all their sin. Thou hast taken away all thy wrath : Thou hast turned thyself from the fierce- ness of thine anger. Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease. G SERVICES Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations ? Wilt thou not revive us again : that thy people may rejoice in thee ? Shew us thy mercy, 0 Lord, and grant us thy salvation. I will hear what God the Lord will speak : for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints : but let them not turn again to folly. Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him ; that glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth ; and righteousness shall look down from heaven. Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase. Righteousness shall go before him ; and shall set us in the way of his steps. SELECTION 23 Psalm cm JgLESS the Lord, O my soul ; And all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, 0 my soul, and forget not all his benefits : Who forgiveth all thine iniquities ; who healeth all thy diseases ; Who redeemeth thy life from destruc- tion ; who crowneth thee with loving- kindness and tender mercies ; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. RESPONSIVE SERVICES 25 The Lord executeth righteousness and Bless the Lord, all his works in all judgment for all that are oppressed. places of his dominion : He made known his ways unto Moses, Bless the Lord, 0 my soul, his acts unto the children of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide ; neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; Nor rewarded us according to our ini- quities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame ; he remem- bereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass : as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone ; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his command- ments to do them. The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens ; And his kingdom ruleth over all. Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that ex- cel in strength, that do his command- ments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts ; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. SELECTION 24 Psalms cxxi, xxvn, xxiii I WILL lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved : he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall nei- ther slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper : the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. The Lord is my light and my salva- tion ; whom shall I fear ? The Lord is the strength of my life ; of whom shall I be afraid ? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear : though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after ; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple. 26 RESPONSIVE SERVICES For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion : In the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me ; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy ; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord. Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice : have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When thou saidst, Seek ye my face ; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek. Hide not thy face far from me ; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help ; leave me not, nei- ther forsake me, O God of my salvation. When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up. Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies : for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord : be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. The Lord is my shepherd ; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures : he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul : he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil : For thou art with me ; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies : Thou anointest my head with oil ; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall fol- low me all the days of my life : And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. SELECTION 25 Psalm cxxxix OLORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising; thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, 0 Lord, thou knowest it alto- gether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me : it is high, I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy pres- ence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there : if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. RESPONSIVE SERVICES 27 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me ; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee ; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. For thou hast possessed my reins : thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made : marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curi- ously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect ; and in thy book all my members were written, which in con- tinuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, 0 God ! 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. Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men. For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain. Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee ? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee ? I hate them with perfect hatred : I count them mine enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart : try me, and know my thoughts : And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. SELECTION 26 Psalms xxxiii, cvm REJOICE in the Lord, O ye right- ' eous: for praise is comely for the upright. Praise the Lord with harp : sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song ; play skil- fully with a loud noise. For the word of the Lord is right ; and all his works are done in truth. Helovethrighteousness and judgment : The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. By the word of the Lord were the heavens made ; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. He gathereth the waters of the sea to- gether as a heap : he layeth up the depth in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord : let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done ; he com- manded, and it stood fast. The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought : he maketh the de- vices of the people of none effect. The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; And the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. The Lord looketh from heaven ; he beholdeth all the sons of men : from the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth. He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works. 28 RESPONSIVE SERVICES There is no king saved by the multi- tude of a host : a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. A horse is a vain thing for safety : nei- ther shall he deliver any by his great strength. Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy ; to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waitethforthe Lord : he is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in him, be- cause we have trusted in his holy name. Let thy mercy, 0 Lord, be upon us, ac- cording as we hope in thee. 0 God, my heart is fixed ; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory. Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early. 1 will praise thee, 0 Lord, among the people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations. For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds. Be thou exalted, 0 God, above the heavens : And thy glory above all the earth. SELECTION 27 Psalm cvn OGIVE thanks unto the Lord, for he is good : For his mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy ; And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south. They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses. And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habi- tation. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonder- ful works to the children of men ! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in afflic- tion and iron ; because they rebelled against the words of God, and con- temned the counsel of the Most High : Therefore he brought down their heart with labour ; they fell down, and there was none to help. Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonder- ful works to the children of men ! For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder. Fools, because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. RESPONSIVE SERVICES 2 9 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men ! And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing. They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters ; these see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths : their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet ; so he bring- eth them unto their desired haven. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men ! Let them exalt him also in the congre- gation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders. He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground ; A fruitful land into barrenness, for the • wickedness of them that dwell therein. He turneth the wilderness into a stand- ing water, and dry ground into water- springs. And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation ; and sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase. He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease. Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow. He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wil- derness, where there is no way. Yet setteth he the poor on high from afflic- tion, and maketh him families like a flock. The righteous shall see it, and rejoice : and all iniquity shall stop her mouth. Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord. SELECTION 28 Psalms xcn, cxxiii, cxlii TT is a good thing to give thanks unto -I the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High : To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night, Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery ; upon the harp with a solemn sound. For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy work : I will triumph in the works of thy hands. O Lord, how great are thy works ! and thy thoughts are very deep. A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this. When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do nourish; it is that they shall be de- stroyed for ever : But thou, Lord, art most high for ever- more. 30 RESPONSIVE SERVICES For, lo, thine enemies, 0 Lord, for, lo, thine enemies shall perish ; All the workers of iniquity shall he scattered. But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of a unicorn : I shall be anointed with fresh oil. Mine eye also shall see my desire on mine enemies, and mine ears shall hear my desire of the wicked that rise up against me. The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree : he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flour- ishing; To shew that the Lord is upright : he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him. Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, 0 thou that dwellest in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress ; so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until that he have mercy upon us. Have mercy upon us, 0 Lord, have mercy upon us : for we are exceedingly filled with contempt. Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud. I cried unto the Lord with my voice ; with my voice unto the Lord did I make my supplication. I poured out my complaint before him ; I shewed before him my trouble. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me. I looked on my right hand, and be- held, but there was no man that would know me : Refuge failed me ; no man cared for my soul. I cried unto thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living. Attend unto my cry ; for I am brought very low : deliver me from my persecu- tors ; for they are stronger than I. Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name : The righteous shall compass me about ; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me. SELECTION 29 Psalm lxxiii IRULY God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. But as for me, my feet were almost gone ; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no bands in their death : but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men ; neither are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain ; violence covereth them as a garment. Their eyes stand out with fatness : they have more than heart could wish. They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. RESPONSIVE SERVICES 31 They set their mouth against the hea- vens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. Therefore his people return hither : and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. And they say, How doth God know ? and is there knowledge in the Most High? Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world ; they increase in riches. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in inno- cency. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. If I say, I will speak thus ; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me ; Until I went into the sanctuary of God ; then understood I their end. Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment ! they are utterly con- sumed with terrors. As a dream when one awaketh ; so, 0 Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image. Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. So foolish was I, and ignorant : I was as a beast before thee. Nevertheless I am continually with thee : thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee ? and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee. My flesh and my heart faileth : but God is the strength of my heart, and my por- tion for ever. SELECTION 30 Psalms i, xv, xxvi BLESSED is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord ; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season ; His leaf also shall not wither ; and what- soever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so : but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the con- gregation of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous : But the way of the ungodly shall perish. Lord, who shall abide in thy taberna- cle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neigh- bour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. In whose eyes a vile person is con- temned; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. 32 RESPONSIVE SERVICES He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh re- ward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved. Judge me, O Lord ; for I have walked in mine integrity : I have trusted also in the Lord ; there- fore I shall not slide. Examine me, O Lord, and prove me ; try my reins and my heart. For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes : and I have walked in thy truth. I have not sat with vain persons, nei- ther will I go in with dissemblers. I have hated the congregation of evil doers ; and will not sit with the wicked. I will wash mine hands in innoceney : so will I compass thine altar, O Lord : That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy won- drous works. Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth. Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men : In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes. But as for me, I will walk in mine integ- rity : redeem me, and be merciful unto me. My foot standeth in an even place : In the congregations will I bless the Lord. SELECTION 31 Psalm xxxvn FRET not thyself because of evil doers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord ; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteous- ness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him : Fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath : fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evil doers shall be cut off : but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall in- herit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be : yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. The Lord shall laugh at him : for he seeth that his day is coming. The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation. Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken. A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. RESPONSIVE SERVICES 3 8 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the Lord upholdeth the righteous. The Lord knoweth the days of the upright : and their inheritance shall be for ever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time : and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs: They shall consume ; into smoke shall they consume away. The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again : but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth. For such as be blessed of him shall in- herit the earth ; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord : and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down : for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. I have been young, and now am old ; yet have I not seen the righteous for- saken, nor his seed begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lendeth ; and his seed is blessed. Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore. For the Lord loveth judgment, and for- saketh not his saints ; They are preserved for ever : but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever. The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. The law of his God is in his heart ; none of his steps shall slide. The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him. The Lord will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged. Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: When the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it. I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not : yea, I sought him, but he could not be found. Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright : for the end of that man is peace. But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off. But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble. And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him. SELECTION 32 Psalms lxxxi, L SING- aloud unto God our strength : make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob. • Take a psalm, and bring hither the tim- brel, the pleasant harp with the psal- tery. Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day. For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob. 34 RESPONSIVE SERVICES This he ordained in Joseph for a testi- mony, when he went out through the land of Egypt : where I heard a lan- guage that I understood not. I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots. Thou calledst in trouble, and I deliv- ered thee ; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder : I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee : 0 Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me ; there shall no strange god be in thee ; neither shalt thou worship any strange god. I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt : Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. But my people would not hearken to my voice ; and Israel would none of me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels. Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways ! 1 should soon have subdued their ene- mies, and turned my hand against their adversaries. The haters of the Lord should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever. He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat : and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee. The mighty God, even the Lord, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined. Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence : a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people. Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice. And the heavens shall declare his right- eousness : for God is judge himself. Hear, O my people, and I will speak ; 0 Israel, and I will testify against thee : I am God, even thy God. 1 will not reprove thee for thy sacri- fices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me. I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds : For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains : and the wild beasts of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee : for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof. Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats ? Offer unto God thanksgiving ; and pay thy vows unto the Most High: and call upon me in the day of trouble : I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glo- rify me. SELECTION 33 Psalms xix, cxix THE heavens declare the glory of God ; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. RESPONSIV] Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and re- joiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it : and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. The law of the Lord is perfect, con- verting the soul : The testimony of the Lord is sure, mak- ing wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, re- joicing the heart : The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, endur- ing for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous alto- gether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold : sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned : And in keeping of them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors ? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from pre- sumptuous sins ; let them not have do- minion over me : Then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in 3 SERVICES 35 thy sight, 0 Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations : thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy ser- vants. Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine afflic- tion. I will never forget thy precepts : for with them thou hast quickened me. I am thine, save me ; for I have sought thy precepts. The wicked have waited for me to destroy me : but I will consider thy testimonies. I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judg- ments. I am afflicted very much : quicken me, O Lord, according unto thy word. Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill of- ferings of my mouth, 0 Lord, and teach me thy judgments. My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law. The wicked have laid a snare for me : yet I erred not from thy precepts. Thy testimonies have I taken as a heri- tage for ever : for they are the rejoic- ing of my heart. I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes always, even unto the end. 86 RESPONSIVE SERVICES SELECTION 34 Psalm cxix BLESSED are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are they that keep his testi- monies, and that seek him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity : they walk in his ways. Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. 0 that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes ! Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy command- ments. 1 will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments. I will keep thy statutes : 0 forsake me not utterly. Where withal shall a young man cleanse his way ? by taking heed thereto ac- cording to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee : 0 let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, 0 Lord : teach me thy statutes. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testi- monies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes : I will not forget thy word. Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy stat- utes ; and I shall keep it unto the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me to go in the path of thy com- mandments ; for therein do I delight. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way. Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear. Turn away my reproach which I fear : for thy judgments are good. Behold, I have longed after thy pre- cepts : quicken me in thy righteousness. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, even thy salvation, according to thy word. So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me : for I trust in thy word. And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth ; for I have hoped in thy judgments. So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever. And I will walk at liberty : for I seek thy precepts. I will speak of thy testimonies also be- fore kings, and will not be ashamed. And I will delight myself in thy com- mandments, which I have loved. My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes. SELECTION 35 Psalms xii, x. xrv HELP, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth ; for the faithful fail from among the children of men. RESPONSIVE SERVICES 37 They speak vanity every one with his neighbour : with nattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things : Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail ; our lips are our own : who is lord over us ? For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him. The words of the Lord are pure words : as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this gener- ation for ever. The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted. Why standest thou afar off, O Lord ? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble ? The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor : let them be taken in the de- vices that they have imagined. For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth. The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight : as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them. He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved : for I shall never be in adversity. His motith is full of cursing and de- ceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity. He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent : his eyes are privily set against the poor. He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den : he lieth in wait to catch the poor : he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net. He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones. He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten : he hideth his face ; he will never see it. Arise, 0 Lord; 0 God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble. Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God ? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it. Thou hast seen it ; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand : the poor committeth himself unto thee ; thou art the helper of the fatherless. Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble ; thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear : To judge the fatherless and the op- pressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy : there is none that" doeth good, no, not one. Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge ? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the Lord. 38 RESPONSIVE SERVICES There were they in great fear : for God is in the generation of the righteous. Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the Lord is his refuge. Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion ! When the Lord bringeth back the cap- tivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad. SELECTION 36 Psalms li, cxxx HAVE mercy upon me, O God, ac- cording to thy lovingkindness : According unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgres- sions. Wash me thoroughly from mine ini- quity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight : That thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity ; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the in- ward parts : and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean : Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness ; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salva- tion; and uphold me with thy free Spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation : And my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. 0 Lord, open thou my lips ; And my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it : thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit : a broken and a contrite heart, 0 God, thou wilt not despise. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion : build thou the walls of Jeru- salem. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering : then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar. Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, 0 Lord. Lord, hear my voice : let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplica- tions. If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniqui- ties, O Lord, who shall stand ? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. 1 wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning : I say, RESPONSIVE SERVICES ■69 more than they that watch for the morning. Let Israel hope in the Lord : for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities. SELECTION 37 Psalms xiii, vi, xxviii HOW long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me ? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily ? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death ; Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him ; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved. But I have trusted in thy mercy ; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me. O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. Have mercy upon me, 0 Lord ; for I am weak : 0 Lord, heal me ; for my bones are vexed. My soul is also sore vexed : but thou, 0 Lord, how long ? Return, 0 Lord, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake. For in death there is no remembrance of thee : In the grave who shall give thee thanks ? 1 am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim ; I water my couch with my tears. Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine ene- mies. Depart from me, all ye workers of ini- quity; for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping. The Lord hath heard my supplication ; the Lord will receive my prayer. Unto thee will I cry, O Lord my rock ; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit. Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle. Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts. Because they regard not the works of the Lord, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up. Blessed be the Lord, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications. The Lord is my strength and my shield ; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped : Therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth ; and with my song will I praise him. The Lord is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed. Save thy people, and bless thine in- heritance : Feed them also, and lift them up for ever. SELECTION 38 Psalms xxii, xxxi MY God, my Cod, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring ? 40 RESPONSIVE SERVICES 0 my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. But thou art holy, 0 thou that inhab- itest the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. They cried unto thee, and were deliv- ered : They trusted in thee, and were not con- founded. But I am a worm, and no man ; a re- proach 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 on the Lord that he would deliver him : let him de- liver him, seeing he delighted in him. Many bulls have compassed me : strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax ; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd ; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. For dogs have compassed me : the as- sembly of the wicked have inclosed me : they pierced my hands and my feet. 1 may tell all my bones : they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. But be not thou far from me, 0 Lord : 0 my strength, haste thee to help me. In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed : deliver me in thy righteousness. Bow down thine ear to me ; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for a house of defence to save me. For thou art my rock and my fortress ; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me. Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me : for thou art my strength. Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth. I have hated them that regard lying vanities : but I trust in the Lord. I was a reproach among all mine ene- mies, but especially among my neigh- bours, and a fear to mine acquain- tance: they that did see me without fled from me. I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind : I am like a broken vessel. For I have heard the slander of many : fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life. But I trusted in thee, 0 Lord : I said, Thou art my God. My times are in thy hand : deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. Make thy face to shine upon thy ser- vant : save me for thy mercies' sake. Let me not be ashamed, O Lord ; for I have called upon thee : let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave. Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the right- eous. Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee ; RESPONSIVE SERVICES 41 Which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee hefore the sons of men ! Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man : Thou shalt keep them secretly in a pa- vilion from the strife of tongues. Blessed be the Lord : for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city. For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee. O love the Lord, all ye his saints : for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord. SELECTION 39 Psalms LXI, lxii, lxiii HEAR my cry, 0 God ; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever : I will trust in the covert of thy wings. For thou, O God, hast heard my vows : thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name. Thou wilt prolong the king's life : and his years as many generations. He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him. So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows. Truly my soul waiteth upon God : from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation ; he is my defence ; I shall not be greatly moved. How long will ye imagine mischief against a man ? ye shall be slain all of you : as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence. They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. My soul, wait thou only upon God ; for my expectation is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation : he is my defence ; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory : the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him : God is a refuge for us. Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie : To be laid in the balance, they are alto- gether lighter than vanity. Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery : If riches increase, set not your heart upon them. God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this ; that power belongeth unto God. Also unto thee, 0 Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work. O God, thou art my God ; early will I seek thee : my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is ; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. 4 2 RESPONSIVE SERVICES Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live : I will lift up my hands in thy name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness ; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips : When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. Because thou hast been my help, there- fore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. My soul followeth hard after thee : thy right hand upholdeth me. But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth. They shall fall by the sword : they shall be a portion for foxes. But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory : But the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped. SELECTION 40 Psalms IV, v, lvii HEAR me when I call, O God of my righteousness : thou hast en- larged me when I was in distress ; Have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame ? How long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing ? But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself : The Lord will hear when I call unto him. Stand in awe, and sin not : commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord. There be many that say, "Who will shew us any good ? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy coun- tenance upon us. Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep : for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety. Give ear to my words, O Lord ; con- sider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God : for unto thee will I pray. My voice shalt thou hear in the morn- ing, O Lord ; In the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. For thou art not a God that hath plea- sure in wickedness : neither shall evil dwell with thee. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight : thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing : The Lord will abhor the bloody and de- ceitful man. But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy : And in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple. Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteous- ness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face. For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous ; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield. RESPONSIVE SERVICES 43 Be merciful unto me, O God : for man unto me : in the day when I call answer would swallow me up ; he fighting me speedily. daily oppresseth me. For my days are consumed like smoke, Mine enemies would daily swallow me And my bones are burned as a hearth. £ ^o^sr*' Ssht a8atost M y h - rt is smitt -> withered Mke grass : so that I forget to eat my bread. What time I am afraid, I will trust m j.jj ee By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin. In God I will praise his word, in God I _ ... „ , . .. n T have put my trust ; I will not fear what 1 am llke a P ehcan of tne wilderness : I flesh can do unto me. am like an owl of the desert. Every day they wrest my words : I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the housetop. All their thoughts are against me for evil. Mine enemies reproach me all the day ; They gather themselves together, they And they that are mad against me are hide themselves, they mark my steps, sworn against me. when they wait for my soul. For I have eaten ashes like bread, and Shall they escape by iniquity ? in thine mingled my drink with weeping, anger cast down the people, 0 God. Because of thine indignation and thy Thou tellest my wanderings : put thou wrath: thou hast lifted me up ' and , . , r. , , , , . cast me down, my tears into thy bottle : are they not in thy book ? My days are like a shadow that de- „ clineth ; and I am withered like grass. When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back : this I know ; for But thou, 0 Lord, shalt endure for ever ; God is for me. and thy remembrance unto all genera- In God will I .praise his word: in 'the tions ' Lord will I praise his word. Thou shalt arise > and have mer °y u P on In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me. Zion : for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come. Thy vows are upon me, O God : I will For thy s fJ ants ^^T™ ™ her stones, and favour the dust thereof. render praises unto thee. So the heathen shall fear the name of For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet tne lj0RD ' from falling, that I may walk before And all the kings of the earth thy glory. God in the light of the living? _ When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory. He will regard the prayer of the desti- Psaim en tute, and not despise their prayer. HEAR my prayer, O Lord, and let This shall be written for the generation my cry come unto thee. to come : Hide not thy face from me in the day And the people which shall be created when I am in trouble ; incline thine ear shall praise the Lord. SELECTION 41 RESPONSIVE SERVICES For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary ; from heaven did the Lord behold the earth ; To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death ; To declare the name of the Lord in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem ; When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the Lord. He weakened my strength in the way ; he shortened my days. I said, 0 my God, take me not away in the midst of my days : thy years are throughout all generations. Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth : And the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt en- dure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment ; As a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed : But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end. The children of thy servants shall con- tinue, and their seed shall be established before thee. SELECTION 42 Psalms xxv, xxxn NTO thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. 0 my God, I trust in thee : Let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me. Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause. Shew me thy ways, O Lord ; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation ; on thee do I wait all the day. Remember, O Lord, thy tender mer- cies and thy lovingkindnesses ; for they have been ever of old. Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy good- ness' sake, 0 Lord. Good and upright is the Lord : there- fore will he teach sinners in the way. The meek will he guide in judgment : and the meek will he teach his way. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his cove- nant and his testimonies. For thy name's sake, 0 Lord, pardon mine iniquity ; for it is great. What man is he that feareth the Lord ? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. His soul shall dwell at ease ; and his seed shall inherit the earth. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him ; and he will shew them his covenant. Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord ; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net. Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged : O bring thou me out of my distresses. Look upon mine affliction and my pain ; and forgive all my sins. Consider mine enemies; for they are many ; and they hate me with cruel hatred. 0 keep my soul, and deliver me : let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee. RESPONSIVE SERVICES 4 0 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me ; for I wait on thee. Redeem Israel, 0 God, out of all his troubles. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity," and in whose spirit there is no guile. When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me : my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord ; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found : Surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. Thou art my hiding place ; thou shalt preserve me from tixmble ; Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go : I will guide thee with mine eye. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding : Whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked : but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous : and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart. SELECTION 43 Psalms xvi, xvn PRESERVE me, O God : for in thee do I put my trust. O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord : My goodness extendeth not to thee; but to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight. Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god : Their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips. The Lord is the portion of mine in- heritance and of my cup : thou main- tainest my lot. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places ; yea, I have a goodly heritage. I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel : my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. I have set the Lord always before me : because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth : my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell ; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life : in thy presence is fulness of joy ; At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Hear the right, O Lord, attend unto my cry ; give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips. Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal. 46 RESPONSIVE SERVICES Thou hast proved mine heart ; thou hast visited me in the night ; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing : I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer. Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not. I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, 0 God : incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech. Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, 0 thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them. Keep me as the apple of the eye ; hide me under the shadow of thy wings, from the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about. They are inclosed in their own fat : with their mouth they speak proudly. They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bow- ing down to the earth ; like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places. Arise, 0 Lord, disappoint him, cast him down : deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword : From men which are thy hand, O Lord, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure : they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes. As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. SELECTION 44 Psalms XL, CXLIII I WAITED patiently for the Lord ; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our Cod: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Many, O Lord my God, are thy won- derful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward : They cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee : if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire ; mine ears hast thou opened : Burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come : in the volume of the book it is written of me : I delight to do thy will, 0 my God : yea, thy law is within my heart. I have preached righteousness in the great congregation : Lo, I have not refrained my lips, 0 Lord, thou knowest. I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart ; I have declared thy faithful- ness and thy salvation : I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congrega- tion. Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord : RESPONSIVE SERVICES 47 Let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me. For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up ; they are more than the hairs of mine head : therefore my heart fail- eth me. Be pleased, 0 Lord, to deliver me: 0 Lord, make haste to help me. Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to de- stroy it ; Let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil. Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha. Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified. But I am poor and needy ; yet the Lord thinketh upon me : Thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, 0 my God. Hear my prayer, 0 Lord, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness. And enter not into judgment with thy servant : for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. For the enemy hath persecuted my soul ; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead. Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate. I remember the days of old ; I meditate on all thy works ; I muse on the work of thy hands. I stretch forth my hands unto thee : my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Hear me speedily, O Lord ; my spirit faileth : Hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk ; for I lift up my soul unto thee. Deliver me, O Lord, from mine ene- mies : I flee unto thee to hide me. Teach me to do thy will ; for thou art my God: thy Spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. Quicken me, O Lord, for thy name's sake : For thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble. SELECTION 45 Psalm xviii I WILL love thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer ; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust ; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised : So shall I be saved from mine enemies. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. The sorrows of hell compassed me about : the snares of death prevented me. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God : He heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears. 48 RESPONSIVE SERVICES He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me : for they were too strong for me. They prevented me in the day of my calamity : but the Lord was my stay. He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me. The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness ; according to the clean- ness of my hands hath he recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me. I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity. Therefore hath the Lord recompensed me according to my righteousness, ac- cording to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight. With the merciful thou wilt shew thy- self merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright; With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure ; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward. For thou wilt save the afflicted people ; But wilt bring down high looks. For thou wilt light my candle : The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness. For by thee I have run through a troop ; And by my God have I leaped over a wall. As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried : He is a buckler to all those that trust in him. For who is God save the Lord? or who is a rock save our God ? It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places. He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation : and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great. The Lord liveth; and blessed be my Rock ; and let the God of my salvation be exalted. It is God that avengeth me, and sub- dueth the people under me. He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me : thou hast delivered me from the violent man. Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name. Great deliverance giveth he to his king ; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore. SELECTION 46 Psalms xxxvi. lxxi . rriHE transgression of the wicked JL saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful. The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit : he hath left off to be wise, and to do good. He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil. RESPONSIVE SERVICES 49 Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens ; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep : 0 Lord, thou preservest man and beast. How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; And thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. For with thee is the fountain of life : in thy light shall we see light. 0 continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy right- eousness to the upright in heart. In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion. Deliver me in my righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me. Be thou my strong habitation, where- unto I may continually resort : Thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my for- tress. Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, Out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. For thou art my hope, O Lord Gqd : thou art my trust from my youth. Cast me not off in the time of old age ; forsake me not when my strength fail- eth. For mine enemies speak against me ; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together, saying, God hath forsaken him : persecute and take him ; for there is none to deliver him. 0 God, be not far from me : 0 my God, make haste for my help. Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt. But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more. My mouth shall shew forth thy right- eousness and thy salvation all the day ; for I know not the numbers thereof. 1 will go in the strength of the Lord God : I will make mention of thy right- eousness, even of thine only. O God, thou hast taught me from my youth : and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. Now also when I am old and gray- headed, 0 God, forsake me not ; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come. Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things : O God, who is like unto thee ! Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth. Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side. I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, 0 my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, 0 thou Holy One of Israel. SELECTION 47 Psalms in, xxx, cxxiv IORD, how are they increased that A trouble me ! many are they that rise up against me. ZZSPOXSIVZ SZZTi.jZS I'luuy there be whiuh 5aj ::' uit ;;ul. Wha Bat thoa. O Lord, art a shield for me; bv sriorv. and tine lifter up of mine Hear. I cried ate the Loss with mj voice. Thou hast turned for me my mourning and he heard me oat of his holy hill, into dancing : I laid me down and slept; I awaked; Thoa hast pat off my sackcloth, and r ; : :"_t L: sustcvu:^:- rur. girded me wiuh gladness : I will Ms he afrai d ::' ten thousands of To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. 0 Loso my God. I will give th^y^ unto Arise. O Lord; save me. O my God : thee for ever, for thou hast smittpn all mine enemies upon the eheek bone: thou hast broken If it had not been the Lord who was r'-r :-. : ±~ uugv-lLy. on our side, now may Israel say ; if it Salvation beloageth unto the Lord: thy ^ not ***** **** who on onr blessing is upon thy people. side, when men rose up against us: Then they had swalitwed us up unick. I wffl extol thee, O Lord; for thou wkai **** wrath kindled against hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me. Then the waters had overwhelmed us. _ _ _ . w . . . .. _ the stream had gone over our soul : 0 Lord my God, I ened onto thee, and ~ rue- the z::zi -iters had stne ever Hessed be the Lord, who hath not L: ?.r . Zast :r:u^h: ur ru- from the grave: thou hast kep aHve. that ! should not go down to the given us as a prey to their teeth. Our pit. 5;.w uutc the Z.:?,z n soul is escaped as a bird out of the ire of the fowlers : a: the reruern brauc* :: The snare is :r:keu and we are escaped. Our heir :s the name ::' the L : ho who unade heaven and earth. SELECTION 48 And in my prosperity I said, I never be moved. H ear, all ye inhabitants of the Lear. ":j thy :a-r:ur th:u hast made ruv world: both low an d high, rich and poor, hide thy face, and I was troubled. My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and I cried to thee, O Lord; and onto the the meditation of my heart shall be of Lord I made supplication. understanding. RESPONSIVE SERVICES 51 I will incline mine ear to a parable : I will open my dark saying upon the harp. Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, When the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about ? They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches ; none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him : I For the redemption of their soul is pre- cious, and it ceaseth for ever : That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption. For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others. Their inward thought is. that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwellingplaces to all generations : They call their lands after their own names. Nevertheless man being in honour abid- eth not : he is like the beasts that perish. This their way is their folly : yet their posterity approve their sayings. Like sheep they are laid in the grave : death shall feed on them ; and the up- right shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall con- sume iu the grave from their dwelling. But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave : for he shall receive me. Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; for when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him. Though while he lived he blessed his soul, and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself. He shall go to the generation of his fathers ; they shall never see light. Man that is in honour, and underatand- eth not, is like the beasts that perish. I said. I will take heed to my way-, that I sin not with my tongue : I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred. My heart was hot within me : while I was musing the fire burned : Then spake I with my tongue, Lord. make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is ; that I may know how frail I am. Behold, thou hast made my days as ■ handbreadth ; and mine age is as no- thing before thee : Verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Surely every man walketh in a vain shew : surely they are disquieted in vain : He heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them. And now. Lord, what wait I for ! my hope is in thee. Deliver me from all my transgressions : make me not the reproach of the foolish. I was dumb. I opened not my mouth j because thou didst it. Eemove thy stroke away from me : I am consumed by the blow of thine hand. When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: Surely every man is vanity. Hear my prayer. O Lord, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at 52 RESPONSIVE SERVICES my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were. 0 spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more. SELECTION 49 Psalms xc, xci IORD. thou hast been our dwelling- 1 place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from ever- lasting to everlasting, thou art God. Thou turnest man to destruction ; and sayest, Return, ye children of men. For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. Thou carriest them away as with a flood ; they are as a sleep : in the morn- ing they are like grass which groweth up. In the morning it flourisheth, and grow- eth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth. For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled. Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy coun- tenance. For all our days are passed away in thy wrath : we spend our years as a tale that is told. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow ; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Who knoweth the power of thine an- ger ? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Return, 0 Lord, how long ? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants. 0 satisfy us early with thy mercy ; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil. Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children. And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us ; Yea, the work of our hands establish thou it. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 1 will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress : my God ; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noi- some pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buck- ler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night ; nor for the arrow that flieth by day ; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness ; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand ; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation; there shall no RESPONSIVE SERVICES 0 8 evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and ad- der: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him : I will set him on high, hecause he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will an- swer him : I will be with him in trou- ble ; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation. SELECTION 50 THE BIRTH OF CHRIST Isaiah AND there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots : And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord ; And shall make him of quick under- standing in the fear of the Lord : And he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears : But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth : And he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the hreath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, And faithfulness the girdle of his reins. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf aud the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed ; their young ones shall lie down to- gether : and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain : For the earth shall he full of the know- ledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. The voice of him that crieth in the wil- derness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low : And the crooked shall he made straight, and the rough places plain : And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together : For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. O Zion, that bi'ingest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain ; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength ; 54 RESPONSIVE SERVICES Lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God ! Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him : Behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd : He shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light : They that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given : and the government shall be upon his shoulder : And his name shall be called Wonder- ful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his king- dom, to order it. and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will per- form this. The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them ; And the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and re- joice even with joy and singing : the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sha- ron ; They shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God. Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not : Behold, your God will come with ven- geance, even God with a recompense ; he will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened ; and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing : For in the wilderness shall waters break out. and streams in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it ; but it shall be for those : The wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, nor any raven- ous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there ; But the redeemed shall walk there : And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads : They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. SELECTION 51 THE DEATH OF CHRIST Isaiah liii XYTHO hath believed our report! And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed ? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground : RESPONSIVE SERVICES 55 He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men ; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: And we hid as it were our faces from him ; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows : Yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgres- sions, he was bruised for our iniquities : The chastisement of our peace was upon him ; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; And the Lord hath laid on him the ini- quity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth : He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation ? For he was cut off out of the land of the living : for the transgression of my peo- ple was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death ; Because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him ; he hath put him to grief : When thou shalt make his soul an offer- ing for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul. and shall be satisfied : By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many ; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, And he shall divide the spoil with the strong ; Because he hath poured out his soul unto death : and he was numbered with the transgressors ; And he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. SELECTION 52 THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST Psalms OINGr aloud unto God our strength: Make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob. Take a psalm, and bring hither the tim- brel,the pleasant harp wi£h the psaltery. Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day. I will extol thee, O Lord; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me. 0 Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me. 0 Lord, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave : Thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. Sing unto the Lord, 0 ye saints of his, And give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life : Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. 56 RESPONSIVE SERVICES Lord, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled. I cried to thee, 0 Lord ; and unto the Lord I made supplication. Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing : Thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness ; To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. 0 Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever. I have set the Lord always before me : because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life : in thy presence *is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for ever- more. Open to me the gates of righteousness: 1 will go into them, and I will praise the Lord: This gate of the Lord, into which the righteous shall enter. I will praise thee : for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation. The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the Lord's doing ; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord hath made ; We will rejoice and be glad in it. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors ; And the king of glory shall come in. Who is this king of glory ? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, 0 ye gates ; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors ; And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory ? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. Yea, all kings shall fall down before him : all nations shall serve him. For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper. He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy. He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence : And precious shall their blood be in his sight. And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba : Prayer also shall be made for him con- tinually; and daily shall he be praised. There shall be a handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains ; The fruit thereof shall shake like Leb- anon : and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth. His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun : And men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed. Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name for ever : and let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen, and Amen.