The Book of Common Prayer Part 74

2 The hill of Sion is a fair place, and the joy of the whole earth: upon the north-side lieth the city of the great King; G.o.d is well known in her palaces as a sure refuge.

3 For lo, the kings of the earth: are gathered, and gone by together.

4 They marvelled to see such things: they were astonished, and suddenly cast down.

5 Fear came there upon them, and sorrow: as upon a woman in her travail.

6 Thou shalt break the s.h.i.+ps of the sea: through the east-wind.

7 Like as we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our G.o.d: G.o.d upholdeth the same for ever.

8 We wait for thy loving-kindness, O G.o.d: in the midst of thy temple.

9 O G.o.d, according to thy Name, so is thy praise unto the world's end: thy right hand is full of righteousness.

10 Let the mount Sion rejoice, and the daughter of Judah be glad: because of thy judgements.

11 Walk about Sion, and go round about her: and tell the towers thereof.

12 Mark well her bulwarks, set up her houses: that ye may tell them that come after.

13 For this G.o.d is our G.o.d for ever and ever: he shall be our guide unto death.

PSALM 49. _Audite haec, omnes_.

O hear ye this, all ye people: ponder it with your ears, all ye that dwell in the world;

2 High and low, rich and poor: one with another.

3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom: and my heart shall muse of understanding.

4 I will incline mine ear to the parable: and shew my dark speech upon the harp.

5 Wherefore should I fear in the days of wickedness: and when the wickedness of my heels compa.s.seth me round about?

6 There be some that put their trust in their goods: and boast themselves in the mult.i.tude of their riches.

7 But no man may deliver his brother: nor make agreement unto G.o.d for him;

8 For it cost more to redeem their souls: so that he must let that alone for ever;

9 Yea, though he live long: and see not the grave.

10 For he seeth that wise men also die, and perish together: as well as the ignorant and foolish, and leave their riches for other.

11 And yet they think that their houses shall continue for ever: and that their dwelling-places shall endure from one generation to another; and call the lands after their own names.

12 Nevertheless, man will not abide in honour: seeing he may be compared unto the beasts that perish; this is the way of them.

13 This is their foolishness: and their posterity praise their saying.

14 They lie in the h.e.l.l like sheep, death gnaweth upon them, and the righteous shall have domination over them in the morning: their beauty shall consume in the sepulchre out of their dwelling.

15 But G.o.d hath delivered my soul from the place of h.e.l.l: for he shall receive me.

16 Be not thou afraid, though one be made rich: or if the glory of his house be increased;

17 For he shall carry nothing away with him when he dieth: neither shall his pomp follow him.

18 For while he lived, he counted himself an happy man: and so long as thou doest well unto thyself, men will speak good of thee.

19 He shall follow the generation of his fathers: and shall never see light.

20 Man being in honour hath no understanding: but is compared unto the beasts that perish.

DAY 10 MORNING PRAYER

PSALM 50. _Deus deorum_.

The Lord, even the most mighty G.o.d, hath spoken: and called the world, from the rising up of the sun unto the going down thereof.

2 Out of Sion hath G.o.d appeared: in perfect beauty.

3 Our G.o.d shall come, and shall not keep silence: there shall go before him a consuming fire, and a mighty tempest shall be stirred up round about him.

4 He shall call the heaven from above: and the earth, that he may judge his people.

5 Gather my saints together unto me: those that have made a covenant with me with sacrifice.

6 And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for G.o.d is Judge himself.

7 Hear, O my people, and I will speak: I myself will testify against thee, O Israel; for I am G.o.d, even thy G.o.d.

8 I will not reprove thee because of thy sacrifices, or for thy burnt-offerings: because they were not alway before me.

9 I will take no bullock out of thine house: nor he-goat out of thy folds.

10 For all the beasts of the forest are mine: and so are the cattle upon a thousand hills.

11 I know all the fowls upon the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are in my sight.

12 If I be hungry, I will not tell thee: for the whole world is mine, and all that is therein.

13 Thinkest thou that I will eat bulls flesh: and drink the blood of goats?

14 Offer unto G.o.d thanksgiving: and pay thy vows unto the most Highest.

15 And call upon me in the time of trouble: so will I hear thee, and thou shalt praise me.