SELECTION VIII. FROM PSALM 84. Quam dilecta! O HOW amiable are thy dwellings, thou LORD of hosts! My soul hath a desire and longing to enter into the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living GOD. Yea, the sparrow hath found her a house, and the swallow a nest, where she may lay her young; even thy altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my GOD. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house; they will be alway praising thee. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are thy ways. Who going through the vale of misery, use it for a well; and the pools are filled with water. They will go from strength to strength, and unto the God of gods appeareth every one of them in Sion. O LORD GOD of hosts, hear my prayer; hearken, O GOD of Jacob. For one day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of ungodliness. For the LORD GOD is a light and defence; the LORD will give grace and worship; and no good thing shall he withhold from them that live a godly life. O LORD GOD of hosts, blessed is the man that putteth his trust in thee. PSALM 85. Benedixisti, Domins. LORD, thou art become gracious unto thy land; thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob. Thou hast forgiven the offence of thy people, and covered all their sins. Thou hast taken away all thy displeasure, and turned thyself from thy wrathful indignation. Turn us then, O GOD our Saviour, and let thine anger cease from us. Wilt thou be displeased at us for ever? and wilt thou stretch out thy wrath from one generation to another? Wilt thou not turn again, and quicken us, that thy people may rejoice in thee? Show us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation. I will hearken what the LORD God will say concerning me; for he shall speak peace unto his people and to his saints, that they turn not again. For his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and truth are inet together: righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall flourish out of the earth, and righteousness hath looked down from heaven. Yea, the LORD shall show loving kindness; and our land shall give her increase. Righteousness shall go before him; and he shall direct his going in the way. PSALM 93. Dominus regnavit. THE LORD is king, and hath put on glorious apparel; the LORD hath put on his apparel and girded himself with strength. He hath made the round world so sure, that it cannot be moved. Ever since the world began, hath thy seat been prepared: Thou art from everlasting. The floods are risen, O LORD, the floods have lift up their voice; the floods lift up their waves. The waves of the sea are mighty PSALM 97. Dominus regnavit. THE LORD is king, the earth may be glad thereof; yea, the multitude of the isles may be glad thereof. Clouds and darkness are round about him; righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his seat. There shall go a fire before him, and burn up his enemies on every side. His lightnings gave shine unto the world; the earth saw it, and was afraid. The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD; at the presence of the LORD of the whole earth. The heavens have declared his righteousness, and all the people have seen his glory. Confounded be all they that worship carved images, and that delight in vain gods: worship him, all ye gods. Sion heard of it, and rejoiced; and the daughters of Juda were glad, because of thy judgments, O LORD. For thou, LORD, art higher than all that are in the earth; thou art exalted far above all gods. O ye that love the LORD, see that ye hate the thing which is evil: the LORD preserveth the souls of his saints; he shall deliver them froin the hand of the ungodly. There is sprung up a light for the righteous, and joyful gladness for such as are true-hearted. Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous, and give thanks for a remembrance of his holiness. SELECTION IX. PSALM 8. Domine, Dominus noster. O LORD, our Governor, how excellent is thy name in all the world; thou that hast set thy glory above the heavens! Out of the mouth of very babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength, because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. For I will consider thy heavens, even the works 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? Thou madest him lower than the angels, to crown him with glory and worship. Thou makest him to have dominion of the works of thy hands; and thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet; All sheep and oxen; yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowls of the air, and the fishes of the sea; and whatsoever walketh through the paths of the seas. O LORD, our Governor, how ex. cellent is thy name in all the world! FROM PSALM 33. Exultate, justi. REJOICE in the LORD, O ye righteous; for it becometh well the just to be thankful. Praise the LORD with harp; sing praises unto him with the lute, and instrument of ten strings. Sing unto the LORD a new song; sing praises unto him with a good courage. For the word of the LORD is true, and all his works are faithful. He loveth righteousness and judg. ment; the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD. By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, and all the hosts of them by the breath of his mouth. He gathereth the waters of the sea together, as it were upon a heap; and layeth up the deep, as in a treasure-house. Let all the earth fear the LORD; stand in awe of him, all ye that dwell in the world : For he spake, and it was done; The commanded, and it stood fast. He telleth the number of the stars, and calleth them all by their names. Great is our LORD, and great is his power; yea, and his wisdom is infinite. The LORD setteth up the meek, and bringeth the ungodly down to the ground. O sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praises upon the harp unto our GOD; Who covereth the heaven with clouds, and prepareth rain for the earth; and maketh the grass to grow upon the mountains, and the herb for the use of men; Who giveth fodder unto the cattle, and feedeth the young ravens that call upon him. The LORD's delight is in those who fear him, and put their trust in his mercy. Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy GOD, O Sion. For he hath made fast the bars of thy gates, and hath blessed thy child ren within thee. He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the flour of wheat. He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth, and his word runneth very swiftly. He giveth snow like wool, and scattereth the hoar-frost like ashes. He casteth forth his ice like morsels; who is able to abide his frost? He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he bloweth with his wind, and the waters flow. He showeth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and ordinances unto Israel. My heart is fixed, O GOD, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise. Awake up, my glory; awake, lute and harp: I myself will awake right early. I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the people; and I will sing unto thee among the nations. For the greatness of thy mercy reacheth unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds. Set up thyself, O GOD, above the heavens; and thy glory above all the earth. SELECTION Χ.. FROM PSALM 96. Cantate Domino. O SING unto the LORD a new song; sing unto the LORD, all the whole earth. Sing unto the LORD, and praise his name; be telling of his salvation from day to day. Declare his honor unto the heathen, and his wonders unto all people. For the LORD is great, and cannot worthily be praised; he is more to be feared than all gods. PSALM 148. Laudate Dominum. O PRAISE the LORD of heaven; praise him in the height. Praise him, all ye angels of his; praise him, all his host. Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all ye stars and light. Praise him, all ye heavens, and ye waters that are above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the LORD; for he spake the word, and they were made; he commanded, and they were created. He hath made them fast for ever and ever; he hath given them a law which shall not be broken. Praise the LORD upon earth, ye dragons, and all deeps; Fire and hail, snow and vapors, wind and storm, fulfilling his word; Mountains and all hills; fruitful trees and all cedars; Beasts and all cattle; worms and feathered fowls; Kings of the earth and all people; princes and all judges of the world; Young men and maidens, old men and children, praise the name of the LORD; for his name only is excel lent, and his praise above heaven and earth. He shall exalt the horn of his people: all his saints shall praise him; even the children of Israel, even the people that serveth him. FROM PSALM 149. Cantate OSING unto the LORD a new song; let the congregation of saints praise him. Let Israel rejoice in him that made him; and let the children of Sion be joyful in their King Let them praise his name in the dance; let them sing praises unto him with tabret and harp. For the LORD hath pleasure in his people, and helpeth the meekhearted. PSALM 150. Laudate Dominum. O PRAISE GOD in his holiness; praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him in his noble acts; praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him in the sound of the trumpet; praise him upon the lute and harp. Praise him in the cymbals and dances; praise him upon the strings and pipe. Praise him upon the well-tuned cymbals; praise him upon the loud cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Portions of Psalms, to be sung or said, at Morning Prayer, on certain Feasts and Fasts, instead of the Venite Ezultemus, when any of the foregoing Selections are to follow instead of the Psalms, as in the Table. CHRISTMAS-DAY. FROM PSALMS 45, 89, 110. THY seat, O GOD, endureth for ever; the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; wherefore GOD, even thy GOD, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. My song shall be alway of the loving kindness of the LORD; with my mouth will I ever be showing thy truth, from one generation to another. For I have said, Mercy shall be set up for ever; thy truth shalt thou establish in the heavens. The LORD is our defence; the Holy One of Israel is our king. Thou spakest some time in visions unto thy saints, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty, I have exalted one chosen out of the people. I will set his dominion in the sea, and his right hand in the floods. And I will make him my first born, higher than the kings of the earth. The LORD said unto my LORD, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The LORD shall send the rod of thy power out of Sion; be thou ruler, even in the midst among thine enemies. In the day of thy power shall the people offer thee free-will offerings with an holy worship: the dew of thy birth is of the womb of the morning. The LORD sware, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedec. ASH-WEDNESDAY. FROM PSALMS 32, 38, 130. BLESSED is he whose unrighteousness is forgiven, and whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth no sin, and in whose spirit there is no guile. 1 Put me not to rebuke, O LORD, in when I was thirsty, they gave me thire anger; neither chasten me in vinegar to drink. thy heavy displeasure: For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thine hand presseth me sore. My wickednesses are gone over my head, and are like a sore burden, too heavy for me to bear. I will confess my wickedness, and Out of the deep have I called unto thee, O LORD; LORD, hear my voice. Let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. If thou, LORD, shouldest be ex treme to mark what is done amiss, O LORD, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. GOOD-FRIDAY. FROM PSALMS 22, 69, 40 MY Gon, my God, look upon me: why hast thou forsaken me? and art so far from my health, and from the words of my complaint? But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. All they that see me laugh me to scorn; they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted in God, that he would deliver him; let him deliver him, if he will have him. The counsel of the wicked layeth siege against me; they pierced my hands and my feet. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. But be not thou far from me, LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me. Thy rebuke hath broken my heart; I am full of heaviness: I looked for some to have pity on me, but there was no man; neither found I any to comfort me. They gave me gall to eat; and Sacrifice and meat-offering thou wouldest not; but mine ears hast thou opened. Burnt-offerings and sacrifice for sin hast thou not required: Then said I, Lo, I come; In the volume of the book it is written of me, that I should fulfil thy will, O my GOD: I am content to do it; yea, thy law is within my heart. ASCENSION-DAY. FROM PSALMS 24, 47. LIFT up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in. Who is the King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty; even the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in. Who is the King of glory? Even the LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. O clap your hands together, all ye people; shout unto GOD with the voice of triumph. For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth. GOD is gone up with a shout; the LORD with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to GOD, sing praises; sing praises unto our King, sing praises. God reigneth over the heathen: GOD sitteth upon the throne of his holiness. The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham; for the shields of the earth belong unto God: He is greatly exalted. WHITSUNDAY. FROM PSALMS 2, 68. I WILL declare the decree; the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art |