1. 17. THE GIFTS OF GOD. Except the LORD build the house, The builders labor in vain; Except the LORD guard the city, The watchman waketh in vain. 2. In vain ye rise up early, and go to rest late, And eat the bread of care! The same giveth he his beloved one in sleep. 3. Behold! sons are an inheritance from the LORD, And children are his gift. 4. As arrows in the hand of the warrior, So are the sons of young men : 5. Happy the man that hath his quiver full of them! They shall not be put to shame, 1. When they speak with adversaries in the gate. (Ps, CXXVII.) 18. THE GOOD SHEPHERD, The LORD is my shepherd: I shall not want. 2. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters. 3. He reviveth my soul; he leadeth me in paths of safety, For his name's sake. 4. When I walk through a valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; Thy crook and thy staff, they comfort me. 5. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies. Thou anointest my head with oil: my cup runneth over. 6. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. 1. My portion hath fallen to me in pleasant places; Yea, I have a goodly inheritance. 2. I will bless the LORD; who careth for me; Yea, in the night my heart admonisheth me. 3. I set the LORD before me at all times; Since he is at my right hand, I shall not fall. 4. Therefore my heart is glad, and my spirit rejoiceth; Yea, my flesh dwelleth in security. 5. For thou wilt not give me up to the underworld; Nor wilt thou suffer thy holy one to see the pit. 6. Thou wilt show me the path of life; In thy presence it is fulness of joy; At thy right hand are pleasures for evermore. (Ps. XVI. 6-11.) 1. 12. HUMILITY BRINGS CONTENTMENT. O LORD! my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty; I employ not myself on great things, or things too wonderful for me! 2. Yea, I have stilled and quieted my soul 1. As a weaned child upon his mother; Henceforth even forever! 13. BROTHERLY LOVE. Behold, how good and pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! 2. It is like precious perfume upon the head, Which ran down upon the beard, The beard of Aaron; (Ps. CXXX.) Which went down to the very border of his garments ; 3. Like the dew of Hermon, 1. Like that which descendeth upon the mountains of Zion. Even life for evermore. 14. PEACE. (Ps. CXXXIII.) Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces! 2. For my brethren and companions' sake will I say, Peace be within thee! 3. For the sake of the house of the LORD, our God, Will I seek thy good! (Ps. CXXII 7-9.) 1. O praise ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, 2. Lift up your hands to the sanctuary, and praise the LORD! 1. 16. DIVINE EDUCATION, He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? He that formed the eye, shall he not see? (Ps. CXXXIV.) 2. He that chastiseth nations, shall not he punish? He that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know? 3. The LORD knoweth the thoughts of men, that they are vanity. 4. Happy the man, O LORD! whom thou correctest, Whom by thy teaching thou makest wise; To give him peace in the days of adversity. (Ps. XCIV. 9-12.) 1. 17. THE GIFTS OF GOD. Except the LORD build the house, Except the LORD guard the city, 2. In vain ye rise up early, and go to rest late, The same giveth he his beloved one in sleep. 3. Behold! sons are an inheritance from the LORD, And children are his gift. 4. As arrows in the hand of the warrior, So are the sons of young men : 5. Happy the man that hath his quiver full of them ! They shall not be put to shame, 1. When they speak with adversaries in the gate. (Ps. CXXVII.) 18. THE GOOD SHEPHERD, The LORD is my shepherd: I shall not want. 2. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters. 3. He reviveth my soul; he leadeth me in paths of safety, For his name's sake. 4. When I walk through a valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; Thy crook and thy staff, they comfort me. 5. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies. Thou anointest my head with oil: my cup runneth over. 6. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,. And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. 1. My portion hath fallen to me in pleasant places; Yea, I have a goodly inheritance. 2. I will bless the LORD; who careth for me; Yea, in the night my heart admonisheth me. 3. I set the LORD before me at all times; Since he is at my right hand, I shall not fall. 4. Therefore my heart is glad, and my spirit rejoiceth; Yea, my flesh dwelleth in security. 5. For thou wilt not give me up to the underworld; Nor wilt thou suffer thy holy one to see the pit. 6. Thou wilt show me the path of life; In thy presence it is fulness of joy ; At thy right hand are pleasures for evermore. (Ps. XVI. 6-11.) 1. 20. SOWING AND REAPING. They who sow in tears shall reap in joy. 2. Yea, he goeth forth weeping, bearing his seed; 1. He shall surely come back rejoicing, bearing his sheaves. 21. SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE. (Ps. CXXVI. 5-6.) Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God! Let thy good spirit lead me in a plain path! 2. Revive me, O LORD! for thy name's sake! 1. In thy righteousness, bring me out of my distress! (Ps. CXLIII. 10-11.) 22. THE LAW OF SELF-CONTROL. I will instruct thee, and show thee the way thou shouldst goi I will give thee counsel, and keep mine eye upon thee. 2. Be ye not like the horse and the mule, which have no understanding, Whose mouths must be pressed with the bridle and curb, 3. The wicked hath many sorrows; But he that trusteth in the LORD is encompassed with mercies. (Ps. XXXII. 8-10.) 23. THE LESSON OF LIFE, 1. Come, ye children, harken to me! I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 2. Who is he that loveth life, And desireth many days, in which he may see good? 3. Guard well thy tongue from evil, And thy lips from speaking guile! 4. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it! 1. (Ps. XXXIV. 11-14.) 24. ASPIRATION. As the hart panteth for the water-brooks, So panteth my soul for thee, O God! 2. My soul thirsteth for God, the living God: 3. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? 4. (Ps. LII. 1, 2, 5.) O send forth thy light and thy truth; let them guide me; Let them lead me to thy holy mountain, to thy dwelling-place! (Ps. LIII. 5.) 5. From the extremity of the land I cry unto thee in deep sorrow 6. of heart; Lead me to the rock that is high above me! O God! my heart is strengthened! I will sing and give thanks. 7. Awake, my soul! awake, my psaltery and harp! I will wake with the early dawn. (Ps. LXI. 2.) (Ps. CVIII. 1-2.) 25. MEDITATION IN THE NIGHT. 1. I think of the days of old,— The years of ancient times. 2. I call to remembrance my songs in the night; I meditate in my heart, and my spirit inquireth: 3. Hath GOD forgotten to be gracious? Hath he in anger shut up his compassion? 4. Then I say, "This is mine affliction, A change in the right hand of the Most High." 5. Thy ways, O GOD! are holy ! 6. ༤. Who so great a god as our GOD? (Ps. LXXX. 5-6, 9, 10, 13.) Teach me, O LORD! thy way, That I may walk in thy truth; Unite all my heart to fear thy name! 26. EVENING PRAYER. Stand in awe, and sin no more ; (Ps. XXXVI. 11.) Commune with your hearts upon your beds, and be silent. 2. Offer sacrifices of righteousness, And put your trust in the LORD! 3.There are many who say, Who will show us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us! 4. Thou puttest gladness into my heart, Greater than theirs, when their corn and wine are abundant. 5. I will lay me down in peace and sleep; 6. 1. For thou alone, O LORD, makest me dwell in safety. I lay me down and sleep; I awake, for the LORD sustaineth me. 27. MORNING PRAYER. (Ps. IV. 4-8.) Ps. III. 5. In the morning shalt thou hear my voice, O LORD! In the morning will I address my prayer to thee, and look for help. 2. For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness; The unrighteous man dwelleth not with thee. |