The Book of Common Prayer Part 85

26 So man did eat angels food: for he sent them meat enough.

27 He caused the east-wind to blow under heaven: and through his power he brought in the south-west-wind.

28 He rained flesh upon them as thick as dust: and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea.

29 He let it fall among their tents: even round about their habitation.

30 So they did eat and were well filled, for he gave them their own desire: they were not disappointed of their l.u.s.t.

31 But while the meat was yet in their mouths, the heavy wrath of G.o.d came upon them, and slew the wealthiest of them: yea, and smote down the chosen men that were in Israel.

32 But for all this they sinned yet more: and believed not his wondrous works.

33 Therefore their days did he consume in vanity: and their years in trouble.

34 When he slew them, they sought him: and turned them early, and inquired after G.o.d.

35 And they remembered that G.o.d was their strength: and that the high G.o.d was their redeemer.

36 Nevertheless, they did but flatter him with their mouth: and dissembled with him in their tongue.

37 For their heart was not whole with him: neither continued they stedfast in his covenant.

38 But he was so merciful, that he forgave their misdeeds: and destroyed them not.

39 Yea, many a time turned he his wrath away: and would not suffer his whole displeasure to arise.

40 For he considered that they were but flesh: and that they were even a wind that pa.s.seth away, and cometh not again.

41 Many a time did they provoke him in the wilderness: and grieved him in the desert.

42 They turned back, and tempted G.o.d: and moved the Holy One in Israel.

43 They thought not of his hand: and of the day when he delivered them from the hand of the enemy;

44 How he had wrought his miracles in Egypt: and his wonders in the field of Zoan.

45 He turned their waters into blood: so that they might not drink of the rivers.

46 He sent lice among them, and devoured them up: and frogs to destroy them.

47 He gave their fruit unto the caterpillar: and their labour unto the gra.s.shopper.

48 He destroyed their vines with hail-stones: and their mulberry-trees with the frost.

49 He smote their cattle also with hail-stones: and their flocks with hot thunderbolts.

50 He cast upon them the furiousness of his wrath, anger, displeasure, and trouble: and sent evil angels among them.

51 He made a way to his indignation, and spared not their soul from death: but gave their life over to the pestilence;

52 And smote all the first-born in Egypt: the most princ.i.p.al and mightiest in the dwellings of Ham.

53 But as for his own people, he led them forth like sheep: and carried them in the wilderness like a flock.

54 He brought them out safely, that they should not fear: and overwhelmed their enemies with the sea.

55 And brought them within the borders of his sanctuary: even to his mountain which he purchased with his right hand.

56 He cast out the heathen also before them: caused their land to be divided among them for an heritage, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.

57 So they tempted and displeased the most high G.o.d: and kept not his testimonies;

58 But turned their backs, and fell away like their forefathers: starting aside like a broken bow.

59 For they grieved him with their hill-altars: and provoked him to displeasure with their images.

60 When G.o.d heard this, he was wroth: and took sore displeasure at Israel.

61 So that he forsook the tabernacle in Silo: even the tent that he had pitched among men.

62 He delivered their power into captivity: and their beauty into the enemy's hand.

63 He gave his people over also unto the sword: and was wroth with his inheritance.

64 The fire consumed their young men: and their maidens were not given to marriage.

65 Their priests were slain with the sword: and there were no widows to make lamentation.

66 So the Lord awaked as one out of sleep: and like a giant refreshed with wine.

67 He smote his enemies in the hinder parts: and put them to a perpetual shame.

68 He refused the tabernacle of Joseph: and chose not the tribe of Ephraim;

69 But chose the tribe of Judah: even the hill of Sion which he loved.

70 And there he built his temple on high: and laid the foundation of it like the ground which he hath made continually.

71 He chose David also his servant: and took him away from the sheep-folds.

72 As he was following the ewes great with young ones he took him: that he might feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.

73 So he fed them with a faithful and true heart: and ruled them prudently with all his power.

DAY 16 MORNING PRAYER

PSALM 79. _Deus, venerunt_.