| THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH AND SONG |
O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: For his mercy endureth for ever. Let Israel now say, That his mercy endureth for ever. Let the house of Aaron now say, That his mercy endureth for ever. Let them now that fear the Lord say, That his mercy endureth for ever. Out of my distress I called upon the Lord: The Lord answered me and set me in a large place. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: What can man do unto me? The Lord is on my side among them that help me: Therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me. It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in princes. All nations compassed me about: In the name of the Lord I will cut them off. They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: In the name of the Lord I will cut them off. They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: [{141}] In the name of the Lord I will cut them off. Thou didst thrust sore at me that I might fall: But the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and song; And he is become my salvation. The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous: The right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly. The right hand of the Lord is exalted: The right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly. I shall not die, but live, And declare the works of the Lord. The Lord hath chastened me sore: But he hath not given me over unto death. Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will enter into them, I will give thanks unto the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord; The righteous shall enter into it. I will give thanks unto thee, for thou hast answered me, And art become my salvation. The stone which the builders rejected Is become the head of the corner. This is the Lord's doing; It is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord hath made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. Save now, we beseech thee, O Lord: O Lord, we beseech thee, send now prosperity. Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord: [{142}] We have blessed you out of the house of the Lord. The Lord is God, and he hath given us light: Bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar. Thou art my God, and I will give thanks unto thee: Thou art my God, I will exalt thee. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; For his mercy endureth for ever. |
| --Psalm 118. |
| THE SONGS OF THE PURE IN HEART |
Blessed are they that are perfect in the way, Who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, That seek him with the whole heart. Yea, they do no unrighteousness; They walk in his ways. Thou hast commanded us thy precepts, That we should observe them diligently. Oh that my ways were established To observe thy statutes! Then shall I not be ashamed, When I have respect unto all thy commandments. I will give thanks unto thee with uprightness of heart, When I learn thy righteous judgments. I will observe thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I laid up in mine heart, That I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O Lord: Teach me thy statutes. [{144}] With my lips have I declared All the judgments of thy mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, As much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, And have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word. Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live; So will I observe thy word. Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold Wondrous things out of thy law. I am a sojourner in the earth: Hide not thy commandments from me. My soul breaketh for the longing That it hath unto thy judgments at all times. Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, Who wander from thy commandments. Take away from me reproach and contempt; For I have kept thy testimonies. Princes also sat and talked against me: But thy servant did meditate in thy statutes. Thy testimonies also are my delight And my counsellors. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: Quicken thou me according to thy word. I declared my ways, and thou answeredst me: Teach me thy statutes. [{145}] Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: So shall I meditate of thy wondrous works. My soul melteth for heaviness: Strengthen thou me according unto thy word. Remove from me the way of falsehood: And grant me thy law graciously. I have chosen the way of faithfulness: Thy judgments have I set before me. I cleave unto thy testimonies: O Lord, put me not to shame. I will run the way of thy commandments, When thou shalt enlarge my heart. Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; And I shall keep it unto the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep the law; Yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; For therein do I delight. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, And not to covetousness. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity, And quicken me in thy ways. Confirm thy word unto thy servant, Which belongeth unto the fear of thee. Turn away my reproach whereof I am afraid; For thy judgments are good. Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: Quicken me in thy righteousness. Let thy mercies also come unto me, O Lord, [{146}] Even thy salvation, according to thy word. So shall I have an answer for him that reproacheth me; For I trust in thy word. And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; For I have hoped in thy judgments. So shall I observe thy law continually For ever and ever. And I will walk at liberty; For I have sought thy precepts. I will also speak of thy testimonies before kings, And will not be ashamed. And I will delight myself in thy commandments, Which I have loved. I will lift up my hands also unto thy commandments, which I have loved; And I will meditate in thy statutes. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: Give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments. They that fear thee shall see me and be glad; Because I have hoped in thy word. I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are righteous, And that in faithfulness thou hast afflicted me. Let, I pray thee, thy lovingkindness be for my comfort, According to thy word unto thy servant. Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: For thy law is my delight. Let the proud be ashamed; for they have overthrown me wrongfully: [{147}] But I will meditate in thy precepts. Let those that fear thee turn unto me, And they shall know thy testimonies. Let my heart be perfect in thy statutes; That I be not ashamed. My soul fainteth for thy salvation: But I hope in thy word. Mine eyes fail for thy word, While I say, "When wilt thou comfort me?" For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; Yet do I not forget thy statutes. How many are the days of thy servant? When wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me? The proud have digged pits for me, Who are not after thy law. All thy commandments are faithful: They persecute me wrongfully; help thou me. They had almost consumed me upon earth; But I forsook not thy precepts. Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; So shall I observe the testimony of thy mouth. For ever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: Thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. They abide this day according to thine ordinances; For all things are thy servants. [{148}] Unless thy law had been my delight, I should then have perished in mine affliction. I will never forget thy precepts; For with them thou hast quickened me. I am thine, save me; For I have sought thy precepts. The wicked have waited for me to destroy me; But I will consider thy testimonies. I have seen an end of all perfection; But thy commandment is exceeding broad. Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day. Thy commandments make me wiser than mine enemies; For they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers; For thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, Because I have kept thy precepts. I have refrained my feet from every evil way, That I might observe thy word. I have not turned aside from thy judgments; For thou hast taught me. How sweet are thy words unto my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through thy precepts I get understanding: Therefore I hate every false way. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. I have sworn, and have confirmed it, That I will observe thy righteous judgments. [{149}] I am afflicted very much: Quicken me, O Lord, according unto thy word. Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, And teach me thy judgments. My soul is continually in my hand; Yet do I not forget thy law. The wicked have laid a snare for me; Yet went I not astray from thy precepts. Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever; For they are the rejoicing of my heart. I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes, For ever, even unto the end. I hate them that are of a double mind; But thy law do I love. Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word. Depart from me, ye evil-doers; That I may keep the commandments of my God. Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live; And let me not be ashamed of my hope. Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe, And shall have respect unto thy statutes continually. Thou hast set at nought all them that err from thy statutes; For their deceit is falsehood. Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: Therefore I love thy commandments. My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; [{150}] And I am afraid of thy judgments. I have done judgment and justice: Leave me not to mine oppressors. Be surety for thy servant for good: Let not the proud oppress me. Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, And for thy righteous word. Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, And teach me thy statutes. I am thy servant, give me understanding; That I may know thy testimonies. It is time for the Lord to work; For they have made void thy law. Therefore I love thy commandments Above gold, yea, above fine gold. Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; And I hate every false way. Thy testimonies are wonderful: Therefore doth my soul keep them. The opening of thy words giveth light; It giveth understanding unto the simple. I opened wide my mouth, and panted; For I longed for thy commandments. Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me, As thou usest to do unto those that love thy name. Order my footsteps in thy word; And let not any iniquity have dominion over me. [{151}] Redeem me from the oppression of man: So will I observe thy precepts. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; And teach me thy statutes. Mine eyes run down with rivers of water, Because they observe not thy law. Righteous art thou, O Lord, And upright are thy judgments. Thou hast commanded thy testimonies in righteousness and very faithfulness. My zeal hath consumed me, Because mine adversaries have forgotten thy words. Thy word is very pure; Therefore thy servant loveth it. I am small and despised: Yet do not I forget thy precepts. Thy righteousness is everlasting righteousness, And thy law is truth. Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: Yet thy commandments are my delight. Thy testimonies are righteous for ever: Give me understanding, and I shall live. I have called with my whole heart; answer me, O Lord: I will keep thy statutes. I have called unto thee; save me, And I shall observe thy testimonies. I rose before the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy words. [{152}] Mine eyes outwatched the night watches, That I might meditate in thy word. Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: Quicken me, O Lord, according to thy judgments. They draw nigh that follow after wickedness; They are far from thy law. Thou art nigh, O Lord, And all thy commandments are truth. Of old have I known from thy testimonies, That thou hast founded them for ever. Consider mine affliction, and deliver me; For I do not forget thy law. Plead thou my cause, and redeem me: Quicken me according to thy word. Salvation is far from the wicked; For they seek not thy statutes. Great are thy tender mercies, O Lord: Quicken me according to thy judgments. Many are my persecutors and mine adversaries; Yet have I not swerved from thy testimonies. I beheld the treacherous dealers, and was grieved; Because they observe not thy word. Consider how I love thy precepts: Quicken me, O Lord, according to thy lovingkindness. The sum of thy word is truth; And everyone of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever. |
| --Psalm 119:1-48, 73-160. |
MOUNT CARMEL
"I will lift my eyes unto the mountains."
| I WILL LIFT MINE EYES UNTO THE MOUNTAINS |
I will lift up mine eyes unto the mountains: From whence shall my help come? My help cometh from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper: The Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, Nor the moon by night. The Lord shall keep thee from all evil; He shall keep thy soul. The Lord shall keep thy going out and thy coming in, From this time forth and for evermore. |
| --Psalm 121. |