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. 19. CONTENTMENT (Ps. XXIII.) 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; i. He shall surely come back rejoicing, bearing his sheaves. (Ps. CXXVI. 5-6.) 21. SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE. 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. go I will instruct thee, and show thee the way thou shouldst ; I will give thee counsel, and keep mine eye upon thee. 2. Be ye not like the horse and the mule, which have no under standing, Whose mouths must be pressed with the bridle and curb, 3. The wicked hath many sorrows; 1. But he that trusteth in the LORD is encompassed with mercies. 23. (Ps. XXXII, 8-10.). THE LESSON OF LIFE, 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. 24. ASPIRATION. (Ps. XXXIV. 11-14.) 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! (Ps. LXI. 2.) O God! my heart is strengthened! I will sing and give thanks. 7. Awake, my soul! awake, my psaltery and harp! 1. I will wake with the early dawn. The (Ps. CVIII. 1-2.) 25. MEDITATION IN THE NIGHT. I think of the days of old,— 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 ! Who so great a god as our GOD? 6. 1. (Ps. LXXX. 5-6, 9, 10, 13.) Teach me, O LORD! thy way, 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. 3. The haughty shall not stand in thy sight;" Thou hatest all that do iniquity. 4. Thou destroyest them that speak falsehood; The man of blood and deceit the LORD abhorreth. 5. But I, through thy great goodness, will come to thy house; In thy fear will I worship at thy holy temple. 6. Lead me, O LORD! in thy righteousness; Make thy path straight before my face! (Ps. V. 3-8.) 1. II. THE GLORY OF GOD. 1. THE DIGNITY OF MAN. O Eternal, our LORD! How excellent is thy name in all the earth! Thou hast set thy glory above the heavens. 2. Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained praise, 3. To put thine adversaries to shame, And to silence the enemy and avenger. When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, The moon and the stars which thou has ordained: 4. What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou carest for him? 5. Yet thou hast made him little lower than God; Thou hast crowned him with glory and honor. 6. Thou hast given him dominion over the works of thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet,— 7. All sheep and oxen, Yea, and the beasts of the forest; 8. The birds of the air, and the fishes of the sea, And whatever passeth through the paths of the deep. 9. O Eternal, our LORD, How excellent is thy name in all the earth! 2. 1. (Ps. VIII.) THE HEAVENS DECLARE THE GLORY OF GOD. The heavens declare the glory of God; The firmament showeth forth the work of his hands. 2. Day uttereth instruction unto day, And night showeth knowledge unto night. 3. They have no speech nor language, And their voice is not heard ; 4. Yet their sound goeth forth to all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, 5. Which cometh forth like a hero from his chamber, And rejoiceth, like a strong man, to run his course. 1. 2. 3. CREATION AND PROVIDENCE. Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD, my God! thou art very great! Thou art clothed with glory and majesty! (Ps. XIX; 1-5.) He covereth himself with light as with a garment; 3. He layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters; He rideth upon the wings of the wind. 4. He maketh the winds his messengers, 5. The flaming lightnings his ministers. He established the earth on its foundations; It shall not be removed for ever. 6. Thou didst cover it with the deep, as with a garment; The waters stood above the mountains! 7. At thy rebuke they fled; At the voice of thy thunder they hasted away. 8. The mountains rose, the valleys sank, In the place which thou didst appoint for them. 9. Thou hast established a bound which the waters may not pass, That they may not return, and cover the earth. 10. He sendeth forth the springs in brooks; They run among the mountains; 11. About them the birds of heaven have their habitation; They sing among the branches. 12. He watereth the hills from his clouds; The earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works! 13. He causeth grass to spring up for cattle, And herbage for the service of man, To bring forth food out of the earth, 14. And wine that gladdeneth the heart of man, And bread that strengtheneth man's heart. 15. He appointed the moon to mark seasons; |