Thy congregation hath dwelt therein thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor. The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.

Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men.

Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation.

He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death.

Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord;

The God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.

II.

PSALM LXX.

MAKE haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste

to help me, O Lord.

Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.

But I am poor and needy; make haste unto me, O God.

Thou art my help and my deliverer; O Lord, make no tarrying.

PSALM LXXI.

IN thee, O Lord, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.

Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.

Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress. For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth.

I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.

Let my mouth 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.

O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.

I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.

My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day.

FOURTEENTH SELECTION.

I

I.

PSALM LXXI. (continued).

WILL go in the strength of the Lord God: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.

O God, thou hast taught me from my youth and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.

Now also when I am old and gray-headed, O God, forsake me not; until I have showed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.

Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!

Thou, which hast showed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.

Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.

I will also praise thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing, O thou Holy One of Israel.

My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.

PSALM LXXIII.

TRULY God is good to Israel, even to such as

are of a clean heart.

But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.

For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.

They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.

Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.

And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the Most High?

Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.

For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.

When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;

Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.

Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee.

My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

For, lo, they that are far from me shall perish.

But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.

II.

PSALM LXXVII.

I

CRIED unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.

In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my soul refused to be comforted.

I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed.

Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.

I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.

I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.

Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favorable no more?

Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore?