The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me:
Thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever;

Forsake not the works of thine own hands.

O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.
Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising,
Thou understandest my thought afar off.
Thou searchest out my path and my lying down,
And art acquainted with all my ways.

For there is not a word in my tongue,

But, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

Thou hast beset me behind and before,
And laid thine hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain unto it.
Whither shall I go from thy spirit?

Or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there:

If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, thou art there.

If I take the wings of the morning,

And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

Even there shall thy hand lead me,

And thy right hand shall hold me.

If I say, Surely the darkness shall overwhelm me,

And the light about me shall be night;

Even the darkness hideth not from thee,

But the night shineth as the day:

The darkness and the light are both alike to thee. For thou hast possessed my reins :

Thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.

I will give thanks unto thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:

Wonderful are thy works;

And that my soul knoweth right well.

My frame was not hidden from thee,

When I was made in secret,

And curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the

Thine

earth.

eyes did see mine unperfect substance,

And in thy book were all my members written,

Which day by day were fashioned,

When as yet there was none of them.

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!

If I should count them, they are more in number than

the sand:

When I awake, I am still with thee.

Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God:

Depart from me therefore, ye bloodthirsty men.

For they speak against thee wickedly,

And thine enemies take thy name in vain.

Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee?

And am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

I hate them with perfect hatred:

I count them mine enemies.

Search me, O God, and know my heart:

Try me, and know my thoughts:

And see if there be any way of wickedness in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.

cxl

A Cry for Deliverance from the Wicked

Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man;

Preserve me from the violent man:

Which imagine mischiefs in their heart;

Continually do they gather themselves together for war. They have sharpened their tongue like a serpent; Adders' poison is under their lips.

Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked;
Preserve me from the violent man:

Who have purposed to thrust aside my steps.
The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords;
They have spread a net by the way side;
They have set gins for me.

I said unto the LORD, Thou art my

God:

Give ear unto the voice of my supplications, O LORD.
O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation,
Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.

Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked;
Further not his evil device; lest they exalt themselves.
As for the head of those that compass me about,
Let the mischief of their own lips cover them.

Let burning coals fall upon them:

Let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.

An evil speaker shall not be established in the earth:

Evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.

I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the

afflicted,

And the right of the needy.

Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name :
The upright shall dwell in thy presence.

cxli

Consecration to the Cause of the Righteous

LORD, I have called upon thee; make haste unto me:
Give ear unto my voice, when I call unto thee.
Let my prayer be set forth as incense before thee;
The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth;

Keep the door of my lips;

Incline not my heart to any evil thing:

To be occupied in deeds of wickedness
With men that work iniquity:

And let me not eat of their dainties.

Let the righteous smite me, it shall be a kindness;

And let him reprove me, it shall be as oil upon the head; Let not my head refuse it:

For even in their calamities shall my prayer continue

Their judges are thrown down by the sides of the rock – And they shall hear my words;

As when one ploweth and cleaveth the earth,
Their bones are scattered at the grave's mouth.