2 Whereas the goodness of God: endureth yet daily? 3 Thy tongue imagineth wickedness: and with lies thou cuttest like a sharp razor. 4 Thou hast loved unrighteousness more than goodness: and to talk of lies more than righteousness. 5 Thou hast loved to speak all words that may do hurt : 0 thou false tongue. 6 Therefore shall God destroy thee for ever: He shall take thee, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling, and root thee out of the land of the living. 7 The righteous also shall see this, and fear and shall laugh him to scorn; 8 Lo, this is the man that took not God for his strength: but trusted unto the multitude of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness. 9 As for me, I am like a green olivetree in the house of God: my trust is in the tender mercy of God for ever and ever. 10 I will always give thanks unto Thee for that Thou hast done and I will hope in Thy Name, for Thy saints like It well. : Evening Prayer. PSALM 53. Dixit insipiens. [This Psalm of David is a variation of the fourteenth THE foolish body hath said in his heart: 2 Corrupt are they, and become abomin The 53d Psalm is to be sung upon Mahalath, which apparently means in a soft, sad tone. able in their wickedness: there is none that doeth good. 3 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any, that would understand, and seek after God. 4 But they are all gone out of the way, they are altogether become abominable: there is also none that doeth good, no not one. 5 Are not they without understanding that work wickedness: eating up my people as if they would eat bread? they have not called upon God. 6 They were afraid where no fear was: for God hath broken the bones of him that besieged thee; Thou hast put them to confusion, because God hath despised them. 7 Oh, that the salvation were given unto Israel out of Sion : Oh, that the LORD would deliver His people out of captivity! 8 Then should Jacob rejoice: and Israel should be right glad. PSALM 54. Deus, in nomine. [This Psalm of David is referred to the time when the Ziphites proposed to betray him into the hands of Saul, after he had escaped from the ungrateful and treacherous designs of the people of Keilah.-2 Sam. xxii. It is thus singularly appropriate to the memories of Good Friday.] SAVE me, O God, for Thy Name's sake: and avenge me in Thy strength. 2 Hear my prayer, O God and hearken unto the words of my mouth. 3 For strangers are risen up against me: and tyrants, which have not God before their eyes, seek after my soul. 4 Behold, God is my helper: the LORD is with them that uphold my soul. 5 He shall reward evil unto mine enemies destroy Thou them in Thy truth. 6. Of a free heart 6 An offering of a free heart will I give Thee, and praise Thy Name, O LORD: be--i.e., freely, willingcause it is so comfortable. 7 For He hath delivered me out of all my trouble and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies. PSALM 55. Exaudi, Deus. [A Psalm of David, in which he pours out his sorrow and indignation at most cruel, unworthy, and ungrateful treatment. It has been thought applicable to the conduct of Ahithophel.] : HEAR my prayer, O God and hide not 2 Take heed unto me, and hear me how I mourn in my prayer, and am vexed. : 3 The enemy crieth so, and the ungodly cometh on so fast for they are minded to do me some mischief; so maliciously are they set against me. 4 My heart is disquieted within me : and the fear of death is fallen upon me. 5 Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me and an horrible dread hath overwhelmed me. 6 And I said, O that I had wings like a dove for then would I flee away, and be at rest. : 7 Lo, then would I get me away far off : and remain in the wilderness. 8 I would make haste to escape: because of the stormy wind and tempest. 9 Destroy their tongues, O LORD, and divide them: for I have spied unrighteousness and strife in the city. ly, as in Ps. li. 12. It is so comfortable; lit. it [the name of JEHOVAH] is good. 7. Mine eye hath seen, &c.-i.e., I have as a conqueror looked down upon my vanquished enemies. The word desire is to be omitted as not being in the Hebrew. [ SELAH. ] 8. Because of; rather, from-i.e., seek a refuge from. 9. Destroy - i. e., frustrate; lit. swalCf. David's prayer, "Turn the Divide as at low. counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness," 2 Sam. xv. 31. Babel. 10 Day and night they go about within the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it. 11 Wickedness is therein : deceit and guile go not out of their streets. 12 For it is not an open enemy, that hath done me this dishonour for then I could have borne it. : 13 Neither was it mine adversary, that did magnify himself against me for then peradventure I would have hid myself from him. 14 But it was even thou, my com- 14. My companion panion my guide, and mine own familiari.e., a man of my own rank, and my friend. trusted friend. : 15 We took sweet counsel together and walked in the house of God as friends. 16 Let death come hastily upon them, and let them go down quick into hell for wickedness is in their dwellings, and them. : among 16. Hell Hades; the unseen world. Quick-i.e., alive; as Korah and 17 As for me, I will call upon God: and his company. the LORD shall save me. 18 In the evening, and morning, and at noon-day will I pray, and that instantly: and He shall hear my voice. 19 It is He that hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me for there were many with me. 20. Yea, even God, that endureth for ever, shall hear me, and bring them down : for they will not turn, nor fear God. 21 He laid his hands upon such as be at peace with him and he brake his covenant. : : 22 The words of his mouth were softer than butter, having war in his heart his words were smoother than oil, and yet be they very swords. 23 O cast thy burden upon the LORD, 19. With me—i.e., against, opposing, fighting with, me. 20. After down, SELAH. Turn; Heb. they have no changes or vicissitudes, and so they do not fear God. Cf. Bible version. 21. Covenant-i.e., the confidence of "the sweet counsel," ver. 15. 22. Butter; rather, cream. Butter seems not to have been used. Cf. Job xxix. 6, I washed my steps with butter-i.e., milk. 23. O cast, &c.— and He shall nourish thee: and shall not | i.e., "commit to God suffer the righteous to fall for ever. 24 And as for them: Thou, O God, shalt bring them into the pit of destruction. 25 The blood-thirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days: nevertheless, my trust shall be in Thee, O LORD. that which He has laid upon thee." 25. Nevertheless; cf. ver. 24, as for them; so here, as for me. Morning Prayer. PSALM 56. Miserere mei, Deus. [A Psalm probably composed by David, when he had been captured by the Philistines, and had escaped from them to the cave of Adullam.] BE merciful unto me, O God, for man goeth about to devour me he is daily fighting, and troubling me. 2 Mine enemies are daily in hand to swallow me up for they be many that fight : against me, O Thou most Highest. DAY 11. This Psalm is to be sung upon Jonathelem-rechokim, the silent dove of far-off lands; possibly having reference to the last Psalm, "O that I had wings like a dove," &c. 1. Man goeth about 3 Nevertheless, though I am sometime.e., pants after me, afraid yet put I my trust in Thee. 4 I will praise God, because of His word: I have put my trust in God, and will not fear what flesh can do unto me. 5 They daily mistake my words that they imagine is to do me evil. all as a wild beast pants after his prey. 2. Are daily in hand i. e., would swallow me up all day. 3. Though I am sometime, &c.; Heb. 6 They hold all together, and keep them- In the day [whenever] : selves close and mark my steps, when they lay wait for my soul. 7 Shall they escape for their wickedness: Thou, O God, in Thy displeasure shalt casti.e., they secretly them down. 8 Thou tellest my flittings; put my tears into Thy bottle are not these things noted in Thy book? band themselves to gether, and dog my steps. 7. For; rather, by, by means of. 8. Flittings- i.e., wanderings, flight from place to place. Put my tears, &c.-i.e., treat them as precious wine. |