David prays for deliverance: PSALM CXL. PSALMS. His comfort in trouble 13 prayer. 7 Our bones are scattered at the grave's To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth ELIVER me, O LORD, from the evil wood upon the earth. man: preserve me from the violent man; 8 But mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord in thee is my trust; leave not 2 Which imagine mischiefs in their my soul destitute. heart; continually are they gathered together for war. 3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips. Selah. 9 Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity. 10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape. PSALM CXLII. 4 Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent ¶ Maschil of David; A Prayer when he man; who have purposed to overthrow was in the cave. my goings. CRIED unto the LORD with my voice 5 The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the way side; they have set gins for me. Selah. 6 I said unto the LORD, Thou art my God: hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD. 7 O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle. 8 Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah. 9 As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them. 10 Let burning coals fall upon them; let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again. 11 Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him. 12 I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor. 13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence. PSALM CXLI. TA Psalm of David. make my supplication. 2 I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble. 3 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. 4 I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; noman cared for my soul. 5 I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living. 6 Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I. 7 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. HE PSALM CXLIII. TA Psalm of David. EAR my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness. 2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. 3 For the enemy hath persecuted my ORD, I cry unto thee: make haste soul; he hath smitten my life down to the when I cry unto thee. 2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. 3 Set watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. ness, as those that have been long dead. 4 Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate. 5 I remember the days of old, I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands. 4 Incline not my heart to any evil thing, 6 I stretch forth my hands unto thee: to practise wicked works with men that my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty work iniquity: and let me not eat of their land. Selah. dainties. 7 Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spi5 Let the righteous smite me; it shall rit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it be like unto them that go down into the pit. shall be an excellent oil, which shall not 8 Cause me to hear thy loving-kindness break my head: for yet my prayer also in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause shall be in their calamities. me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee. 6 When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet. 9 Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me. David promises to praise God. PSALMS. God favours the righteous. 10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. art my God: thy Spirit is good; lead me 4 One generation shall praise thy works into the land of uprightness. to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. 11 Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name's sake for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble. 12 And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul; for I am thy servant. B PSALM CXLIV. TA Psalm of David. LESSED be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight; 2 My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me. 3 LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him! 4 Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away. 5 Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke. 5 I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works. 6 And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness. 7 They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness. 8 The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. 9 The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. 10 All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee. 11 They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; 12 To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom. 13 Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. 14 The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down. 15 The eyes of all wait upon thee: and 6 Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them. 7 Send thy hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from thou givest them their meat in due season. the hand of strange children; 8 Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood. 9 I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee. 10 It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword. 11 Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is right hand of falsehood: a 16 Thou openest thy hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. 17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. 18 The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth." 19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them. 20 The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy. 21 My mouth shall speak the praise of 12 That our sons may be as plants grown the LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy up in their youth; that our daughters may name for ever and ever. be as corner-stones, polished after the similitude of a palace : + PSALM CXLVI. my soul. 13 That our garners may be full, afford-PRAISE ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, ing all manner of store; that our sheep 2 While I live will I praise the LORD: may bring forth thousands and ten thou-I will sing praises unto my God while I sands in our streets : have any being. 14 That our oxen may be strong to la- 3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in bour; that there be no breaking in, nor go-the son of man, in whom there is no help. ing out; that there be no complaining in 4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. our streets. 15 Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD. PSALM CXLV. David's Psalm of praise. 5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God: 6 Which made heaven, and earth, the I WILL extol thee, my God, O King; and sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth I will bless thy name for ever and ever. truth for ever: 2 Every day will I bless thee; and I 7 Which executeth judgment for the will praise thy name for ever and ever. oppressed: which giveth food to the hun3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be gry. The LORD looseth the prisoners: An exhortation to praise God. PSALMS. God's love to the church. 8 The LORD openeth the eyes of the land ye waters that be above the heavens. blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bow- 5 Let them praise the name of the LORD: ed down the LORD loveth the righteous: 9 The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down. 10 The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD. PRAIS PSALM CXLVII. ORAISE ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely. 2 The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. 3 He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. 4 He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. 5 Great is our LORD, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. 6 The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground. 7 Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God: 8 Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains. 9 He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry. 10 He delighteth not in the strength of the horse he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. 11 The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy. 12 Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion. 13 For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee. 14 He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat. 15 He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly. 16 He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoar-frost like ashes. for he commanded, and they were created. 6 He hath also established them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass. 7 Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons and all deeps: 8 Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour: stormy wind fulfilling his word: 9 Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees and all cedars: 10 Beasts, and all cattle; creep ing things, and flying fowl: 11 Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth: 12 Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children: 13 Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven. 14 He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD. PSALM CXLIX. PRAISE ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints. 2 Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. 3 Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. 4 For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation. 5 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. 6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand; 7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; 8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; 9 To execute upon them the judgment 18 He sendeth out his word, and melt-written: this honour have all his saints eth them: he causeth his wind to blow, Praise ye the LORD. and the waters flow. 17 He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold? PRAISE ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights. PSALM CL. PRAISE ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. 2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. 3 Praise him with the sound of the trun. pet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. 4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instru 2 Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ments and organs. ye him, all his hosts. 3 Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light. 4 Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, 5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high-sounding cymbals. 6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD. I The PROVERBS. 25 But ye have set at nought all my CHAP. I. HE proverbs of Solomon the son of counsel, and would none of my reproof: David, king of Israel; 2 To know wisdom and instruction; I to perceive the words of understanding; 3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; 4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. 5 A wise man will hear, and will in- I crease learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: 6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation: the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. 7 T The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. 8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: 26 I also will laugh at your calamity: will mock when your fear cometh; 27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28 Then shall they call upon me, but will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me; 29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: 30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. 31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. 32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. 9 For they shall be an ornament of grace 33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall unto thy head, and chains about thy neck. dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear 10 My son, if sinners entice thee, of evil. consent thou not. 11 If they say, Come with us, let us Y CHAP. II. lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for My son, if thou wilt receive my words, the innocent without cause: 12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: 13 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: 14 Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse: 15 My son walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: 16 For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood: 17 Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. 18 And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives. 19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof. and hide my commandments with thee; 2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thy heart to understanding; 3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; -5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. 7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. 8 He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. 9 Then shalt thou understand righteous 20 T Wisdom crieth without; she ut-ness, and judgment, and equity; yea, tereth her voice in the streets: every good path. 10 When wisdom entereth into thy heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; 11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: 21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying, 22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? 12 To deliver thee from the way of the 23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I evil man, from the man that speaketh frowill pour out my spirit unto you, I will ward things; make known my words unto you. 13 Who leave the paths of upright 24 Because I have called and ye re-ness, to walk in the ways of darkness; fused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 14 Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked; The riches of wisdom : CHAP. III, IV. Her power and benefits. 15 Whose ways are crooked, and they hold upon her: and happy is every one froward in their paths: that retaineth her. ! 16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words; 17 Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God. 18 For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead. 19 None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life. 20 That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous. 21 For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it. 22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it. CHAP. III. MY son, forget not my law; but let thy heart keep my commandments: 2 Forlength of days, and long life, and peace shall they add to thee. 3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thy heart: 4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. 5 T Trust in the LORD with all thy heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in thine own_eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. 8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. 19 The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. 20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew. 21 My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: 22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. 23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. 24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. 25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. 26 For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken. 27 ¶ Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thy hand to do it. 28 Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to-morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee. 29 Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee. 30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm. 31 Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. 32 For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous. 33 The curse of the LORD is in the 9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, house of the wicked: but he blesseth the and with the first-fruits of all thine in- habitation of the just. crease : 10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. 34 Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly. 35 The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools. CHAP. IV. 11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his HEAR, ye children, the instruction of correction : a father, and attend to know under 12 For whom the LORD loveth he cor- standing. recteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. 13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. 2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. 3 For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. 4 He taught me also, and said unto me, 14 For the merchandise of it is better Let thy heart retain my words: keep than the merchandise of silver, and the my commandments, and live. gain thereof than fine gold. 5 Get wisdom, get understanding: for 15 She is more precious than rubies: get it not; neither decline from the words and all the things thou canst desire are not of my mouth. to be compared unto her. 16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. and all her paths are peace. 6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, 7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting 18 She is a tree of life to them that lay get understanding. |