The Book of Common Prayer Part 109

6 If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth: yea, if I prefer not Jerusalem in my mirth.

7 Remember the children of Edom, O Lord, in the day of Jerusalem: how they said, Down with it, down with it, even to the ground.

8 O daughter of Babylon, wasted with misery: yea, happy shall he be that rewardeth thee, as thou hast served us.

9 Blessed shall he be that taketh thy children: and throweth them against the stones.

PSALM 138. _Confitebor tibi_.

I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, with my whole heart: even before the G.o.ds will I sing praise unto thee.

2 I will wors.h.i.+p toward thy holy temple, and praise thy Name, because of thy loving-kindness and truth: for thou hast magnified thy Name and thy word above all things.

3 When I called upon thee, thou heardest me: and enduedst my soul with much strength.

4 All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Lord: for they have heard the words of thy mouth.

5 Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord: that great is the glory of the Lord.

6 For though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: as for the proud, he beholdeth them afar off.

7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, yet shalt thou refresh me: thou shalt stretch forth thy hand upon the furiousness of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.

8 The Lord shall make good his loving-kindness toward me: yea, thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever; despise not then the works of thine own hands.

DAY 29 MORNING PRAYER

PSALM 139. _Domine, probasti_.

Lord, thou hast searched me out and known me: thou knowest my down-sitting and mine up-rising, thou understandest my thoughts long before.

2 Thou art about my path, and about my bed: and spiest out all my ways.

3 For lo, there is not a word in my tongue: but thou, O Lord, knowest it altogether.

4 Thou hast fas.h.i.+oned me behind and before: and laid thine hand upon me.

5 Such knowledge is too wonderful and excel lent for me: I cannot attain unto it.

6 Whither shall I go then from thy Spirit: or whither shall I go then from thy presence?

7 If I climb up into heaven, thou art there: if I go down to h.e.l.l, thou art there also.

8 If I take the wings of the morning: and remain in the uttermost parts of the sea;

9 Even there also shall thy hand lead me: and thy right hand shall hold me.

10 If I say, Peradventure the darkness shall cover me: then shall my night be turned to day.

11 Yea, the darkness is no darkness with thee, but the night is as clear as the day: the darkness and light to thee are both alike.

12 For my reins are thine: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.

13 I will give thanks unto thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well.

14 My bones are not hid from thee: though I be made secretly, and fas.h.i.+oned beneath in the earth.

15 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect: and in thy book were all my members written;

16 Which day by day were fas.h.i.+oned: when as yet there was none of them.

17 How dear are thy counsels unto me, O G.o.d: O how great is the sum of them!

18 If I tell them, they are more in number than the sand: when I wake up I am present with thee.

19 Wilt thou not slay the wicked, O G.o.d: depart from me, ye blood-thirsty men.

20 For they speak unrighteously against thee: and thine enemies take thy Name in vain.

21 Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee: and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

22 Yea, I hate them right sore: even as though they were mine enemies.

23 Try me, O G.o.d, and seek the ground of my heart: prove me, and examine my thoughts.

24 Look well if there be any way of wickedness in me: and lead me in the way everlasting.

PSALM 140. _Eripe me, Domine_.

Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man: and preserve me from the wicked man.

2 Who imagine mischief in their hearts: and stir up strife all the day long.

3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent: adders poison is under their lips.

4 Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the unG.o.dly; preserve me from the Wicked men, who are purposed to overthrow my goings.

5 The proud have laid a snare for me, and spread a net abroad with cords: yea, and set traps in my way.

6 I said unto the Lord, Thou art my G.o.d: hear the voice of my prayers, O Lord.

7 O Lord G.o.d, thou strength of my health: thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.

8 Let not the unG.o.dly have his desire, O Lord: let not his mischievous imagination prosper, lest they be too proud.

9 Let the mischief of their own lips fall upon the head of them: that compa.s.s me about.

10 Let hot burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire and into the pit, that they never rise up again.