nable in their doings: there is none that doeth good, no not one.

3 The Lord 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 none that doeth good, no not one.

5 Their throat is an open sepulchre, with their tongues have they deceived; the poison of asps is under their lips.

6 Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness; their feet are swift to shed blood.

7 Destruction and unhappiness is in their ways, and the way of peace have they not known; there is no fear of God before their eyes.

8 Have they no knowledge, that they are all such workers of mischief, eating up my people as it were bread, and call not upon the Lord?

9 There were they brought in great fear, even where no fear was; for God is in the generation of the righteous.

10 As for you, ye have made a mock at the counsel of the poor; because he putteth his trust in the Lord.

3. The Lord looked down from heaven] "And God looked upon the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth." See Gen. vi. 12.

5-8.] These verses are not

in the Bible translation, but are quoted by St. Paul, Rom. iii. 13-18, from a translation (called the Septuagint) of the Old Testament into Greek, which was made 277 years before Christ.

10. You,] The enemies of God.

11 Who shall give salvation unto Israel out of Sion? When the Lord turneth the captivity of his people, then shall Jacob rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

Morning.]

PSALM XV.

[Day 3.

THE PATTERN OF A TRUE MEMBER OF THE CHURCH.

Proper Psalm for Ascension Day.

LORD, who shall dwell in thy tabernacle,

or who shall rest upon thy holy hill?

2 Even he that leadeth an uncorrupt life, and doeth the thing which is right, and speaketh the truth from his heart.

3 He that hath used no deceit in his tongue, nor done evil to his neighbour, and hath not slandered his neighbour.

4 He that setteth not by himself, but is lowly in his own eyes, and maketh much of them that fear the Lord.

5 He that sweareth unto his neighbour, and disappointeth him not, though it were to his own hindrance.

11. Who shall give salvation] "Oh, that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion." See Ps. liii. 7.

When the Lord turneth] When the Lord shall deliver his people from the bondage of their sins. "Though we be tied and bound with the chain of our sins, yet let the pitifulness of thy great mercy loose us." See Occasional Prayers.

Ps. XV. As the preceding Psalm describes the character of the unbeliever and ungodly, so this Psalm exhibits the pattern of the true servant of God.

4. He that setteth not by himself,] He that doth not make much of himself, nor "think of himself more highly than he ought to think." Rom. xii. 2; see also Matt. xiv. 11.

6 He that hath not given his money upon usury, nor taken reward against the innocent. 7 Whoso doeth these things shall never fall.

PSALM XVI.

TRUST IN GOD, CONTENTMENT, AND HOPE.

PRE

RESERVE me, O God; for in Thee have
I put my
trust.

2 O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, "Thou art my God; my goods are nothing unto Thee."

3 All my delight is upon the saints, that are in the earth, and upon such as excel in

virtue.

4 But they that run after another god shall have great trouble.

5 Their drink-offerings of blood will I not offer, neither make mention of their names within my lips.

6. Hath not given his money upon usury,] The practice condemned is not that of lending money on interest to a merchant to trade with, but that of extorting usurious interest from the necessities of a poor brother; and this was strictly forbidden by the law of Moses. See Exod. xxii. 25; Deut. xxiii. 19, 20; xxiv. 10-13.

6. Nor taken reward] that is, A bribe to bear false wit

ness.

Ps. XVI.-David expresses his entire dependence upon

Jehovah, his abhorrence of idolatry, his thankfulness for the lot assigned to him, and his belief of a future resurrection.

2. My goods are nothing unto Thee.] My good is not without, or independent of, Thee; nay, rather it is wholly in Thee who art my highest good. See Ps. lxxiii. 24.

5. Their drink-offerings, &c.] I will be no party to their offerings of blood; I will not even pronounce the names of their idol-gods.

6 The Lord Himself is the portion of mine inheritance, and of my cup; Thou shalt maintain my lot.

7 The lot is fallen unto me in a fair ground; I have a goodly heritage.

yea,

8 I will thank the Lord for giving me warning: my reins also chasten me in the night-season.

9 I have set God always before me; for He is on my right hand, therefore I shall not fall.

10 Wherefore my heart was glad, and my glory rejoiced; my flesh also shall rest in hope.

11 For why? Thou shalt not leave my soul in hell; neither shalt Thou suffer thy Holy One to see corruption.

12 Thou shalt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is the fulness of joy; and at thy right hand there is pleasure for ever

more.

6. Shalt maintain my lot.] Sustain me in my rightful inheritance.

7. The lot is fallen unto me] A pleasant country and sphere have been measured out to me by line; but David had declared in the preceding verse, "The Lord Himself is my portion." See Lam. iii, 24.

8. Warning] Counsel.

My reins also chasten me, &c.] My secret thoughts remind me of God's holiness and loving mercy.

is.

9. For He is] Because He

10. My glory] that is, My soul, or it may be, My tongue.

11. In hell;] In the place of departed spirits. St. Peter, Acts ii. 31, declares that "David here spake of the resurrection of Christ." See also Acts xiii. 35.

12. The path of life:] God in his infinite mercy opened the way of life eternal by the resurrection and ascension of Christ.

PSALM XVII.

THE PRAYER OF THE RIGHTEOUS MAN.

EAR the right, O Lord, consider my complaint; and hearken unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.

2 Let my sentence come forth from thy presence, and let thine eyes look upon the thing that is equal.

3 Thou hast proved and visited mine heart in the night-season; Thou hast tried me, and shalt find no wickedness in me; for I am utterly purposed that my mouth shall not offend.

4 Because of men's works, that are done against the words of thy lips, I have kept me from the ways of the destroyer.

5 O hold Thou up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.

6 I have called upon Thee, O God, for Thou shalt hear me; incline thine ear to me, and hearken unto my words.

7 Shew thy marvellous loving-kindness, Thou that art the Saviour of them which put their trust in Thee, from such as resist thy right hand.

XVII.-1. Hear the right, O Lord,] "We know that God heareth not sinners, but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him He heareth." John ix. 31; see also James v. 17.

3. Thou hast proved] David does not fear to appeal to God's

knowledge of the sincerity and uprightness of his heart.

4. Because of men's works, As for the doings of men, have, by obeying thy word, and following thy commandment, taken heed of and avoided the ways of the destroyer. See Ps. cxix. 11.