The Book of Common Prayer Part 96

38 He spread out a cloud to be a covering: and fire to give light in the night-season.

39 At their desire he brought quails: and he filled them with the bread of heaven.

40 He opened the rock of stone, and the waters flowed out: so that rivers ran in the dry places.

41 For why? he remembered his holy promise: and Abraham his servant.

42 And he brought forth his people with joy: and his chosen with gladness;

43 And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they took the labours of the people in possession;

44 That they might keep his statutes: and observe his laws.

DAY 21 EVENING PRAYER

PSALM 106. _Confitemini Domino_.

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

2 Who can express the n.o.ble acts of the Lord: or shew forth all his praise?

3 Blessed are they that alway keep judgement: and do righteousness.

4 Remember me, O Lord, according to the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation;

5 That I may see the felicity of thy chosen: and rejoice in the gladness of thy people, and give thanks with thine inheritance.

6 We have sinned with our fathers: we have done amiss, and dealt wickedly.

7 Our fathers regarded not thy wonders in Egypt, neither kept they thy great goodness in remembrance: but were disobedient at the sea, even at the Red sea.

8 Nevertheless, he helped them for his Name's sake: that he might make his power to be known.

9 He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the deep, as through a wilderness.

10 And he saved them from the adversaries' hand: and delivered them from the hand of the enemy.

11 As for those that troubled them, the waters overwhelmed them: there was not one of them left.

12 Then believed they his words: and sang praise unto him.

13 But within a while they forgat his works: and would not abide his counsel.

14 But l.u.s.t came upon them in the wilderness: and they tempted G.o.d in the desert.

15 And he gave them their desire: and sent leanness withal into their soul.

16 They angered Moses also in the tents: and Aaron the saint of the Lord.

17 So the earth opened, and swallowed up Dathan: and covered the congregation of Abiram.

18 And the fire was kindled in their company: the flame burnt up the unG.o.dly.

19 They made a calf in h.o.r.eb: and wors.h.i.+pped the molten image.

20 Thus they turned their glory: into the similitude of a calf that eateth hay.

21 And they forgat G.o.d their Saviour: who had done so great things in Egypt;

22 Wondrous works in the land of Ham: and fearful things by the Red sea.

23 So he said, he would have destroyed them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the gap: to turn away his wrathful indignation, lest he should destroy them.

24 Yea, they thought scorn of that pleasant land: and gave no credence unto his word;

25 But murmured in their tents: and hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord.

26 Then lift he up his hand against them: to overthrow them in the wilderness;

27 To cast out their seed among the nations: and to scatter them in the lands.

28 They joined themselves unto Baal-peor: and ate the offerings of the dead.

29 Thus they provoked him to anger with their own inventions: and the plague was great among them.

30 Then stood up Phinees and prayed: and so the plague ceased.

31 And that was counted unto him for righteousness: among all posterities for evermore.

32 They angered mm also at the waters of strife: so that he punished Moses for their sakes;

33 Because they provoked his spirit: so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.

34 Neither destroyed they the heathen: as the Lord commanded them;

35 But were mingled among the heathen: and learned their works.

36 Insomuch that they wors.h.i.+pped their idols, which turned to their own decay: yea, they offered their sons and their daughters unto devils;

37 And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters: whom they offered unto the idols of Canaan; and the land was defiled with blood.

38 Thus were they stained with their own works: and went a whoring with their own inventions.

39 Therefore was the wrath of the Lord kindled against his people: insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.

40 And he gave them over into the hands of the heathen: and they that hated them were lords over them.

41 Their enemies oppressed them: and had them in subjection.