The Book of Common Prayer Part 83

PSALM 74. _Ut quid, Deus?_

O G.o.d, wherefore art thou absent from us so long: why is thy wrath so hot against the sheep of thy pasture?

2 O think upon thy congregation: whom thou hast purchased and redeemed of old.

3 Think upon the tribe of thine inheritance: and Mount Sion, wherein thou hast dwelt.

4 Lift up thy feet, that thou mayest utterly destroy every enemy: which hath done evil in thy sanctuary.

5 Thine adversaries roar in the midst of thy congregations: and set up their banners for tokens.

6 He that hewed timber afore out of the thick trees: was known to bring it to an excellent work.

7 But now they break down all the carved work thereof: with axes and hammers.

8 They have set fire upon thy holy places: and have defiled the dwelling-place of thy Name, even unto the ground.

9 Yea, they said in their hearts, Let us make havock of them altogether: thus have they burnt up all the houses of G.o.d in the land.

10 We see not our tokens, there is not one prophet more: no, not one is there among us, that understandeth any more.

11 O G.o.d, how long shall the adversary do this dishonour: how long shall the enemy blaspheme thy Name, for ever?

12 Why withdrawest thou thy hand: why pluckest thou not thy right hand out of thy bosom to consume the enemy?

13 For G.o.d is my King of old: the help that is done upon earth he doeth it himself.

14 Thou didst divide the sea through thy power: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.

15 Thou smotest the heads of leviathan in pieces: and gavest him to be meat for the people in the wilderness.

16 Thou broughtest out fountains and waters out of the hard rocks: thou driedst up mighty waters.

17 The day is thine, and the night is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.

18 Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.

19 Remember this, O Lord, how the enemy hath rebuked: and how the foolish people hath blasphemed thy Name.

20 O deliver not the soul of thy turtle-dove unto the mult.i.tude of the enemies: and forget not the congregation of the poor for ever,

21 Look upon the covenant: for all the earth is full of darkness and cruel habitations.

22 O let not the simple go away ashamed: but let the poor and needy give praise unto thy Name.

23 Arise, O G.o.d, maintain thine own cause: remember how the foolish man blasphemeth thee daily.

24 Forget not the voice of thine enemies: the presumption of them that hate thee increaseth ever more and more.

DAY 15 MORNING PRAYER

PSALM 75. _Confitebimur tibi_.

Unto thee, O G.o.d, do we give thanks: yea, unto thee do we give thanks.

2 Thy Name also is so nigh: and that do thy wondrous works declare.

3 When I receive the congregation: I shall judge according unto right.

4 The earth is weak, and all the inhabiters thereof: I bear up the pillars of it.

5 I said unto the fools, Deal not so madly: and to the unG.o.dly, Set not up your horn.

6 Set not up your horn on high: and speak not with a stiff neck.

7 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west: nor yet from the south.

8 And why? G.o.d is the Judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

9 For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red: it is full mixed, and he poureth out of the same.

10 As for the dregs thereof: all the unG.o.dly of the earth shall drink them, and suck them out

11 But I will talk of the G.o.d of Jacob: and praise him for ever.

12 All the horns of the unG.o.dly also will I break: and the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.

PSALM 76. _Notus in Judaea_.

In Jewry is G.o.d known: his Name is great in Israel.

2 At Salem is his tabernacle: and his dwelling in Sion.

3 There brake he the arrows of the bow: the s.h.i.+eld, the sword, and the battle.

4 Thou art of more honour and might: than the hills of the robbers.

5 The proud are robbed, they have slept their sleep: and all the men whose hands were mighty have found nothing.

6 At thy rebuke, O G.o.d of Jacob: both the chariot and horse are fallen.

7 Thou, even thou art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when thou art angry?

8 Thou didst cause thy judgement to be heard from heaven: the earth trembled, and was still;

9 When G.o.d arose to judgement: and to help all the meek upon earth.

10 The fierceness of man shall turn to thy praise: and the fierceness of them shalt thou refrain.