The Book of Common Prayer Part 82

22 My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded and brought unto shame that seek to do me evil.

PSALM 72. _Deus, judicium_.

Give the King thy judgements, O G.o.d: and thy righteousness unto the King's son.

2 Then shall he judge thy people according unto right: and defend the poor.

3 The mountains also shall bring peace: and the little hills righteousness unto the people.

4 He shall keep the simple folk by their right; defend the children of the poor, and punish the wrong-doer.

5 They shall fear thee, as long as the sun and moon endureth: from one generation to another.

6 He shall come down like the rain into a fleece of wool: even as the drops that water the earth.

7 In his time shall the righteous flourish: yea, and abundance of peace, so long as the moon endureth.

8 His dominion shall be also from the one sea to the other: and from the flood unto the world's end.

9 They that dwell in the wilderness shall kneel before him: his enemies shall lick the dust.

10 The kings of Tharsis and of the isles shall give presents: the kings of Arabia and Saba shall bring gifts.

11 All kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall do him service.

12 For he shall deliver the poor when he crieth: the needy also, and him that hath no helper.

13 He shall be favourable to the simple and needy: and shall preserve the souls of the poor.

14 He shall deliver their souls from falsehood and wrong: and dear shall their blood be in his sight.

15 He shall live, and unto him shall be given of the gold of Arabia: prayer shall be made ever unto him, and daily shall he be praised.

16 There shall be an heap of corn in the earth, high upon the hills: his fruit shall shake like Liba.n.u.s, and shall be green in the city like gra.s.s upon the earth.

17 His Name shall endure for ever, his Name shall remain under the sun among the posterities: which shall be blessed through him, and all the heathen shall praise him.

18 Blessed be the Lord G.o.d, even the G.o.d of Israel: which only doeth wondrous things;

19 And blessed be the Name of his majesty for ever: and all the earth shall be filled with his majesty. Amen, Amen.

DAY 14 EVENING PRAYER

PSALM 73. _Quam bonus Israel!_

Truly G.o.d is loving unto Israel: even unto such as are of a clean heart.

2 Nevertheless, my feet were almost gone: my treadings had well-nigh slipt.

3 And why? I was grieved at the wicked: I do also see the unG.o.dly in such prosperity.

4 For they are in no peril of death: but are l.u.s.ty and strong.

5 They come in no misfortune like other folk: neither are they plagued like other men.

6 And this is the cause that they are so holden with pride: and overwhelmed with cruelty.

7 Their eyes swell with fatness: and they do even what they l.u.s.t.

8 They corrupt other, and speak of wicked blasphemy: their talking is against the most High.

9 For they stretch forth their mouth unto the heaven: and their tongue goeth through the world.

10 Therefore fall the people unto them: and thereout suck they no small advantage.

11 Tush, say they, how should G.o.d perceive it: is there knowledge in the most High?

12 Lo, these are the unG.o.dly, these prosper in the world, and these have riches in possession: and I said, Then have I cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.

13 All the day long have I been punished: and chastened every morning.

14 Yea, and I had almost said even as they: but lo, then I should have condemned the gene ration of thy children.

15 Then thought I to understand this: but it was too hard for me,

16 Until I went into the sanctuary of G.o.d: then understood I the end of these men;

17 Namely, how thou dost set them in slippery places: and castest them down, and destroyest them.

18 O how suddenly do they consume: perish, and come to a fearful end!

19 Yea, even like as a dream when one awaketh: so shalt thou make their image to vanish out of the city.

20 Thus my heart was grieved: and it went even through my reins.

21 So foolish was I, and ignorant: even as it were a beast before thee.

22 Nevertheless, I am alway by thee: for thou hast holden me by my right hand.

23 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel: and after that receive me with glory.

24 Whom have I in heaven but thee: and there is none upon earth that I desire in comparison of thee.

25 My flesh and my heart faileth: but G.o.d is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

26 For lo, they that forsake thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that commit fornication against thee.

27 But it is good for me to hold me fast by G.o.d, to put my trust in the Lord G.o.d: and to speak of all thy works in the gates of the daughter of Sion.