cedar-trees: yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Libanus. 6 He maketh them also to skip like a calf: Libanus also, and Sirion, like a young unicorn. 7 The voice of the LORD divideth the flames of fire; the voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness: yea, the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Cades. 8 The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to bring forth young, and discovereth the thick bushes: in His temple doth every man speak of His honour. 9 The LORD sitteth above the waterflood and the LORD remaineth a King for ever. 10 The LORD shall give strength unto His people the LORD shall give His people the blessing of peace. Morning Prayer. PSALM 30. Exaltabo te, Domine. [A Psalm of David, in which he commemorates recovery from sickness. It is said to have been used at "the dedication of the House," but the occasion is uncertain. The Jews use it at the Feast of the Dedication, in memory of the purification of the Temple after its profanation by Antiochus. This feast is alluded to in S. John x. 22.*] I WILL magnify Thee, O LORD, for Thou hast set me up and not made my foes to triumph over me. 2 O LORD my God, I cried unto Thee : and Thou hast healed me. 3 Thou, LORD, hast brought my soul out of hell Thou hast kept my life from them that go down to the pit. : 6. Sirion; the Sidonian name of Hermon, from its snowy tops irradiated by the sun. Unicorn; lit. buffalo. 7. Cades; Kadesh, in the south of Palestine, the scene of the great rebellion on the return of the spies.— Num. xiv. 8. Discovereth; lit. strips off their leaves. Every man, &c.; lit. all therein cry 'Glory.' 9. Flood. The Hebrew word (Mabbool) is that used in Genesis for the DELUGE, and nowhere else except here. 4 Sing praises unto the LORD, O ye saints of His and give thanks unto Him for a remembrance of His holiness. 5 For His wrath endureth but the twink ling of an eye, and in His pleasure is life: heaviness may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. 6 And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be removed: Thou, LORD, of Thy goodness hast made my hill so strong. 7 Thou didst turn Thy face from me : and I was troubled. 8 Then cried I unto Thee, O LORD: and gat me to my LORD right humbly. 9 What profit is there in my blood : when I go down to the pit? 10 Shall the dust give thanks unto Thee : or shall it declare Thy truth? 11 Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me LORD, be Thou my Helper. 12 Thou hast turned my heaviness into joy Thou hast put off my sackloth, and girded me with gladness. 13 Therefore shall every good man sing of Thy praise without ceasing: O my God, I will give thanks unto Thee for ever. PSALM 31. In te, Domine, speravi. [A Psalm of David, earnestly praying for deliverance from trouble. It seems to have been a favourite Psalm of Jeremiah, in whose book some of the expressions are reproduced. Some have therefore referred its composition to that prophet, but it breathes throughout the spirit of David.] IN Thee, O LORD, have I put my trust : let me never be put to confusion, deliver me in Thy righteousness. 2 Bow down Thine ear to me make haste to deliver me. 3 And be Thou my strong rock, and house of defence that Thou mayest save me. : 4 For Thou art my strong rock and my castle be Thou also my guide, and lead me for Thy Name's sake. : 5 Draw me out of the net, that they have laid privily for me : for Thou art my strength. 6 Into Thy hands I commend my spirit: for Thou hast redeemed me, O LORD, Thou God of truth. 7 I have hated them that hold of superstitious vanities and my trust hath been in the LORD. : 8 I will be glad, and rejoice in Thy mercy for Thou hast considered my trouble, and hast known my soul in adversities. 9 Thou hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy but hast set my feet in a large room. 10 Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble and mine eye is consumed for very heaviness; yea, my soul and my body. 11 For my life is waxen old with heaviness and my years with mourning. 12 My strength faileth me, because of mine iniquity and my bones are consumed. 13 I became a reproof among all mine : 6. Our Saviour's last prayer, "Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit," S. Luke xxiii. 46. 7. So Jonah in the belly of the fish prayed, "They that observe lying vanities, forsake mercy," ii. 8. Vanities-i.e., idols. their own 9. Large room; open ground, as opposed to being hemmed in. 13. Without-i.e., avoided me, as they would avoid a leper. enemies, but especially among my neigh-in the streets. They bours and they of mine acquaintance were afraid of me; and they that did see me without conveyed themselves from me. 14 I am clean forgotten, as a dead man out of mind: I am become like a broken vessel. 15 For I have heard the blasphemy of the multitude and fear is on every side, while they conspire together against me, 14. Instead of being "a chosen vessel, Acts ix. 15, he is now a vessel wherein is "9 Jer. no pleasure,' and take their counsel to take away my life. 16 But my hope hath been in Thee, O LORD: I have said, Thou art my God. 17 My time is in Thy hand; deliver me from the hand of mine enemies and from them that persecute me. : 18 Shew Thy servant the light of Thy countenance and save me for Thy mercy's sake. : 19 Let me not be confounded, O LORD, for I have called upon Thee : let the ungodly be put to confusion, and be put to silence in the grave. 20 Let the lying lips be put to silence : which cruelly, disdainfully, and despitefully, speak against the righteous. 21 O how plentiful is Thy goodness, which Thou hast laid up for them that fear Thee : and that Thou hast prepared for them that put their trust in Thee, even before the sons of men! 22 Thou shalt hide them privily by Thine own presence from the provoking of all men : Thou shalt keep them secretly in Thy tabernacle from the strife of tongues. 23 Thanks be to the LORD: for He hath shewed me marvellous great kindness in a strong city. 24 And when I made haste, I said: I am cast out of the sight of Thine eyes. 25 Nevertheless, Thou heardest the voice of my prayer when I cried unto Thee. 26 O love the LORD, all ye His saints : 26. Saints; lit. for the LORD preserveth them that are faith-loved by God, and so loving Him. ful, and plenteously rewardeth the proud doer. 27 Be strong, and He shall establish your heart all ye that put your trust in the LORD. Evening Prayer. PSALM 32. Beati, quorum. [A Psalm of David; the second of the seven Penitential Psalms. It probably records David's thankfulness after Nathan had said to him, "The LORD hath put away thy sin." It is used in the synagogue at the conclusion of the service for the day of atonement.] BLESSED is he whose unrighteousness is forgiven and whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth no sin : and in whose spirit there is no guile. 3 For while I held my tongue : my bones consumed away through my daily complaining. 4 For Thy hand is heavy upon me day and night and my moisture is like the drought in summer. 5 I will acknowledge my sin unto Thee : and mine unrighteousness have I not hid. 6 I said, I will confess my sins unto the LORD and so Thou forgavest the wickedness of my sin. 7 For this shall every one that is godly make his prayer unto Thee, in a time when Thou mayest be found but in the great water - floods they shall not come nigh him. 8 Thou art a place to hide me in, Thou shalt preserve me from trouble: Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliver ance. 9 I will inform thee, and teach thee in the way wherein thou shalt go and I will guide thee with mine eye. 10 Be ye not like to horse and mule, which have no understanding: whose mouths |