The Book of Common Prayer Part 114

I called unto him with my mouth: and gave him praises with my tongue.

If I incline unto wickedness with mine heart: the Lord will not hear me.

But G.o.d hath heard me: and considered the voice of my prayer.

Praised be G.o.d, who hath not cast out my prayer: nor turned his mercy from me.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.

_Confitemini Domino_. Psalm cvii.

O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is gracious: and his mercy endureth for ever.

Let them give thanks whom the Lord hath redeemed: and delivered from the hand of the enemy;

And gathered them out of the lands, from the east and from the west: from the north and from the south.

They went astray in the wilderness out of the way: and found no city to dwell in;

Hungry and thirsty: their soul fainted in them.

So they cried unto the Lord in their trouble: and he delivered them from their distress.

He led them forth by the right way: that they might go to the city where they dwelt.

O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness: and declare the wonders that he doeth for the children of men!

For he satisfieth the empty soul: and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

Such as sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death: being fast bound in misery and iron;

Because they rebelled against the words of the Lord: and lightly regarded the counsel of the most Highest;

He also brought down their heart through heaviness: they fell down, and there was none to help them up.

So when they cried unto the Lord in their trouble: he delivered them out of their distress.

For he brought them out of darkness, and out of the shadow of death: and brake their bonds in sunder.

O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness: and declare the wonders that he doeth for the children of men!

For he hath broken the gates of bra.s.s: and smitten the bars of iron in sunder.

Foolish men are plagued for their offence: and because of their wickedness.

Their soul abhorred all manner of meat: and they were even hard at death's door.

So when they cried unto the Lord in their trouble: he delivered them out of their distress.

He sent his word, and healed them: and they were saved from their destruction.

O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness: and declare the wonders that he doeth for the children of men!

That they would offer unto him the sacrifice of thanksgiving: and tell out his works with gladness!

They that go down to the sea in s.h.i.+ps: and occupy their business in great waters;

These men see the works of the Lord: and his wonders in the deep.

For at his word the stormy wind ariseth: which lifteth up the waves thereof.

They are carried up to the heaven, and down again to the deep: their soul melteth away because of the trouble.

They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man: and are at their wits end.

So when they cry unto the Lord in their trouble: he delivereth them out of their distress.

For he maketh the storm to cease: so that the waves thereof are still.

Then are they glad, because they are at rest: and so he bringeth them unto the haven where they would be.

O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness: and declare the wonders that he doeth for the children of men!

That they would exalt him also in the congregation of the people: and praise him in the seat of the elders!

Who turneth the floods into a wilderness: and drieth up the water-springs.

A fruitful land maketh he barren: for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.

Again, he maketh the wilderness a standing water: and water-springs of a dry ground.

And there he setteth the hungry: that they may build them a city to dwell in;

That they may sow their land, and plant vineyards: to yield them fruits of increase.

He blesseth them, so that they multiply exceedingly: and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.

And again, when they are minished and brought low: through oppression, through any plague or trouble;

Though he suffer them to be evil intreated through tyrants: and let them wander out of the way in the wilderness;

Yet helpeth he the poor out of misery: and maketh him households like a flock of sheep.

The righteous will consider this, and rejoice: and the mouth of all wickedness shall be stopped.

Whoso is wise will ponder these things: and they shall understand the loving-kindness of the Lord.