Responsive Readings cause of the man who bringeth wicked Many, O Jehovah my God, are the wonderful works which Thou hast devices to pass. done, and Thy thoughts which are to us-ward: They cannot be set in order unto Thee; if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. Sacrifice and offering Thou hast no delight in; mine ears hast Thou opened: burnt-offering and sin-offering hast Thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I am come; in the roll of the book it is written of me: I delight to do Thy will, O my God; yea, Thy law is within my heart. I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great assembly; lo, I will not refrain my lips, O Jehovah, Thou knowest. I have not hid Thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared Thy faithfulness and Thy salvation; I have not concealed Thy lovingkindness and Thy truth from the great assembly. Withhold not Thou Thy tender mercies from me, O Jehovah; let Thy lovingkindness and Thy truth continually preserve me. For innumerable evils have comhave overtaken me, so that I am passed me about; mine iniquities not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of my head; and my heart hath failed me. Be pleased, O Jehovah, to deliver me: make haste to help me, O Jehovah. Responsive Readings SELECTION 22 Psalms XLII, XLIII S the hart panteth after the strength; why hast Thou cast me off? Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? Oh send out Thy light and Thy A water brooks, so panteth my truth, let them lead me: let them soul after Thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? These things I remember, and pour out my soul within me, how I went with the throng, and led them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, a multitude keeping holyday. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God; for I shall bring me unto Thy holy hill, and to Thy tabernacles. Then will I go unto the altar of Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise Him, Who is the help of my countenance, and my God. SELECTION 23 Psalm XLVI OD is our refuge and strength, yet praise Him for the help of His G a very present help in trouble. countenance. O my God, my soul is cast down within me: all Thy waves and Thy billows are gone over me. Yet Jehovah will command His lovingkindness in the day-time; and in the night His song shall be with me, even a prayer unto the God of my life. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise Him, Who is the help of my countenance, and my God. Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: oh deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man. Therefore will we not fear, though the earth do change, and though the mountains be shaken into the heart of the seas; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains tremble with the swelling thereof. There is a river, the streams whereof make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God will help her, and that right early. The nations raged, the kingdoms moved: He uttered His voice, the earth melted. were Jehovah of hosts is with us; the God For Thou art the God of my of Jacob is our refuge. Responsive Readings Come, behold the works of Jehovah, what desolations He hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the Be still, and know that I am God: Great is Jehovah, and greatly to be praised, in the city of our God, in His holy mountain. Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. God hath made Himself known in her palaces for a refuge. As is Thy Name, O God, so is Thy Jehovah of hosts is with us; the God praise unto the ends of the earth: of Jacob is our refuge. Thy right hand is full of righteous ness. Let mount Zion be glad, let the daughters of Judah rejoice, because of Thy judgments. Walk about Zion, and go round about her; number the towers thereof; Mark ye well her bulwarks; consider her palaces: that ye may tell it to the generation following. For this God is our God for ever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death. Sing praises to God, sing praises: HAVE sing praises unto our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. God reigneth over the nations: God sitteth upon His holy throne. The princes of the peoples are gathered together to be the people of the God of Abraham; for the shields of the earth belong unto God: He is greatly exalted. SELECTION 25 Psalm LI [AVE mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness: according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions; and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in Thy sight; that Thou mayest be Responsive Readings justified when Thou speakest, and be clear when Thou judgest. Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward parts; and in the hidden part Thou wilt make me to know wisdom. Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness, that the bones which Thou hast broken may rejoice. From the end of the earth will I call unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For Thou hast been a refuge for me, a strong tower from the enemy. I will dwell in Thy tabernacle for ever: I will take refuge in the covert of Thy wings. For Thou, O God, hast heard my vows: Thou hast given me the heri My soul, wait thou in silence for God only; for my expectation is from Him. Hide Thy face from my sins, and tage of those that fear Thy Name. blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto Thee. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation; and my tongue shall sing aloud of Thy righteousness. O Lord, open Thou my lips; and my mouth shall show forth Thy praise. For Thou delightest not in sacrifice; else would I give it: Thou hast no pleasure in burnt-offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise. He only is my rock and my salvation: He is my high tower; I shall not be moved. With God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, ye people; pour out your heart before Him: God is a refuge for us. O God, Thou art my God; earnestly will I seek Thee: my soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee, in a dry and weary land, where no water is. So have I looked upon Thee in the sanctuary, to see Thy power and Thy glory. Because Thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise Thee. So will I bless Thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in Thy Name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise Thee with joyful lips; When I remember Thee upon my Sing forth the glory of His Name: make His praise glorious. Say unto God, How terrible are Thy works! Through the greatness of Thy power shall Thine enemies submit themselves unto Thee. All the earth shall worship Thee, and shall sing unto Thee; they shall sing to Thy Name. Come, and see the works of God; He is terrible in His doing toward the children of men. He turned the sea into dry land; they went through the river on foot: there did we rejoice in Him. He ruleth by His might for ever; His eyes observe the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Oh bless our God, ye peoples, and make the voice of His praise to be heard; Who holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved. I will come into Thy house with burnt-offerings; I will pay Thee my vows, Which my lips uttered, and my mouth spake, when I was in distress. Come, and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what He hath done for my soul. I cried unto Him with my mouth, and He was extolled with my tongue. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear: But verily God hath heard; He hath attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, Who hath not turned away my prayer, nor His lovingkindness from me. Deliver me in Thy righteousness, and rescue me: bow down Thine ear unto me, and save me. Be Thou to me a rock of habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: Thou hast given commandment to save me; for Thou art my rock and my fortress. Rescue me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. For Thou art my hope, O Lord Jehovah: Thou art my trust from my youth. My mouth shall be filled with Thy praise, and with Thy honor all the day. Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth. My mouth shall tell of Thy righteousness, and of Thy salvation all |