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XXIX.

BLESSED is the man, that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

He shall be like a tree, planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth its fruit in its season; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

The ungodly are not so; but are like the chaff, which the wind driveth away: For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

1

Teacher. Bless the Lord, O my soul:

Pupils. O Lord, my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honor and majesty.

T. Who coverest thyself with light, as with a garment:

P. Who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: T. Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the

waters :

P. Who maketh the clouds his chariot; who walketh upon the wings of the wind:

T. Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:

P. Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.

T. He watereth the hills from his chambers:

P. He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man.

T. He appointeth the moon for seasons:
P. The sun knoweth his going down.

T. Thou makest darkness and it is night: P. The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.

T. The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens:

P. Man goeth forth to his work, and to his labor until the evening.

T. O Lord, how manifold are thy works!

P. In wisdom hast thou made them all.

T. The earth is full of thy riches:

P. So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.

T. These all wait upon thee:

P. That thou mayest give them their meat in due

season.

T. That, which thou givest them, they gather : P. Thou openest thine hand; they are filled with good.

T. Thou hidest thy face; they are troubled : P. Thou takest away their breath; they die, and return to their dust.

T. Thou sendest forth thy spirit; they are created:

P. And thou renewest the face of the earth.

T. The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever: P. The Lord shall rejoice in his works.

T. I will sing to the Lord as long as I live: P. I will sing praise to my God, while I have my being.

T. My meditation of him shall be sweet:
P. I will be glad in the Lord.

T. Let sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be consumed:

P. Bless thou the Lord, O my soul.

T. & P. Praise ye the Lord.

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Then began Jesus to speak to the people this parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a wine-press in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country. And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.

Again he sent other servants, more than the first; and they did unto them likewise. But last of all, he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and seize on his inheritance. And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?

They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard to other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.

And the chief priests and the scribes sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people; for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them.

I

OUR FATHER, which art in heaven, &c.

Π

AWAKE, my soul, to hymns of praise;
To God the song of triumph raise;
Adorned with majesty divine,

What pomp, what glory, Lord, are thine!

Light forms his robe, and round his head
The heavens their ample curtain spread;
See on the wind's expanded wings
The chariot of the King of kings!

Around him, ranged in awful state,
Dark, silent storms attendant wait,
And thunders, ready to fulfil
The mandates of his sovereign will.

From earth's low margin to the skies,
He bids the dusky vapors rise;
Then, from his magazines on high,
Commands the imprisoned winds to fly.

The lightning's pallid sheet expands,
And showers descend on furrowed lands;
Whilst, down the mountain's channeled side,
The torrent rolls in swelling pride.

Thus clouds, and storms, and fires obey
Thy wise and all-controling sway;
And whilst thy terrors round us stand,
We see a Father's bounteous hand.

XXX.

THE hope of the ungodly is like dust, that is blown away by the wind; like the smoke, which is dispersed here and there by a tempest, and passeth away as the remembrance of a guest, that tarrieth but a day.

But the righteous live for evermore; their reward also is with the Lord, and the care of them is with the Most High: therefore shall they receive a glorious kingdom, and a beautiful crown from the Lord's hand; for, with his right hand shall he cover them, and with his arm shall he protect them.

T

Teacher. O that men would praise the Lord, for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Pupils. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright.

T. The works of the Lord are great:

P. Sought out of all them, that have pleasure in them.

T. His work is honorable and glorious:

P. And his righteousness endureth for ever.

T. He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered:

P. The Lord is gracious and full of compassion. T. He hath given meat unto them, that fear him: P. He will be ever mindful of his covenant.

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