XXXIX.

1 I SAID, I will take heed to my ways: that I offend not in my tongue.

2 I will keep my mouth as it were with a bridle : while the ungodly is in my sight.

3 I held my tongue, and spake nothing: I kept silence, yea, even from good words; but it was pain and grief to me.

4 My heart was hot within me, and while I was thus musing the fire kindled: and at the last I spake with my tongue;

5 LORD, let me know my end, and the number of my days that I may be certified how long I

have to live.

6 Behold, Thou hast made my days as it were a span long and mine age is even as nothing in respect of Thee; and verily every man living is altogether vanity.

7 For man walketh in a vain shadow, and disquieteth himself in vain: he heapeth up riches, and cannot tell who shall gather them.

8 And now, LORD, what is my hope: truly my hope is even in Thee.

9 Deliver me from all mine offences: and make me not a rebuke unto the foolish.

10 I became dumb, and opened not my mouth: for it was Thy doing.

11 Take Thy plague away from me: I am even consumed by the means of Thy heavy

hand.

12 When Thou with rebukes doth chasten man for sin, Thou makest his beauty to consume away, like as it were a moth fretting a garment: every man therefore is but vanity.

13 Hear my prayer, O LORD, and with Thine

ears consider my calling: hold not Thy peace at my tears.

14 For I am a stranger with Thee: and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.

15 O spare me a little, that I may recover my strength: before I go hence, and be no more

seen.

Glory be, &c.

XL.

Thanksgiving.

1 I WAITED patiently for the LORD: and He inclined unto me, and heard my calling.

2 He brought me also out of the horrible pit, out of the mire and clay and set my feet upon the rock, and ordered my goings.

3 And He hath put a new song in my mouth: even a thanksgiving unto our GOD.

4 Many shall see it, and fear: and shall put their trust in the LORD.

5 Blessed is the man that hath set his hope in the LORD and turned not unto the proud, and to such as go about with lies.

6 O LORD my GOD, great are the wondrous works which Thou hast done, like as be also Thy thoughts which are to us-ward: and yet there is no man that ordereth them unto Thee.

7 If I should declare them, and speak of them: they should be more than I am able to express.

14 Withdraw not Thou Thy mercy from me, O LORD: let Thy loving-kindness and Thy truth alway preserve me.

15 For innumerable troubles are come about me; my sins have taken such hold upon me that

I am not able to look up: yea, they are more in number than the hairs of my head, and my heart hath failed me.

16 O LORD, let it be Thy pleasure to deliver me: make haste, O LORD, to help me.

19 Let all those that seek Thee be joyful and glad in Thee: and let such as love Thy salvation say alway, The LORD be praised.

20 As for me, I am poor and needy: but the LORD careth for me.

21 Thou art my helper and Redeemer: make no long tarrying, Ŏ Glory be, &c.

my

GOD.

XLII.

In heaviness.

1 LIKE as the hart desireth the water-brooks: so longeth my soul after Thee, O God.

2 My soul is athirst for GOD, yea, even for the living GOD: when shall I come to appear before the presence of God?

3 My tears have been my meat day and night: while they daily say unto me, Where is now thy GOD?

4 Now when I think thereupon, I pour out my heart by myself: for I went with the multitude, and brought them forth into the house of GOD;

5 In the voice of praise and thanksgiving; among such as keep holy-day.

6 Why art thou so full of heaviness, O my soul and why art thou so disquieted within

me?

:

7 Put thy trust in GoD: for I will yet give Him thanks for the help of His countenance.

11 I will say unto the GoD of my strength, Why hast Thou forgotten me: why go I thus heavily, while the enemy oppresseth me?

12 My bones are smitten asunder as with a sword: while mine enemies that trouble me cast me in the teeth;

13 Namely, while they say daily unto me: Where is now thy God?

14 Why art thou so vexed, O my soul and why art thou so disquieted within me?

15 O put thy trust in GoD: for I will yet thank Him, which is the help of my countenance, and my God.

Glory be, &c.

LJ.

Penitential.

1 HAVE mercy upon me, O GOD, after Thy great goodness: according to the multitude of Thy mercies do away mine offences.

2 Wash me throughly from my wickedness: and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my faults: and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against Thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight: that Thou mightest be justified in Thy saying, and clear when Thou art judged. 5 Behold, I was shapen in wickedness: and in sin hath my mother conceived me.

6 But lo, Thou requirest truth in the inward parts and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly.

7 Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness that the bones which thou hast broken rejoice.

may

9 Turn Thy face from my sins and put out all my misdeeds.

10 Make me a clean heart, O GOD: and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from Thy presence: and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.

12 O give me the comfort of Thy help again : and stablish me with Thy free Spirit.

13 Then shall I teach Thy ways unto the wicked and sinners shall be converted unto Thee.

:

14 Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, Thou that art the GoD of my health: and my tongue shall sing of Thy righteousness.

15 Thou shalt open my lips, O LORD: and my mouth shall shew Thy praise.

16 For Thou desirest no sacrifice, else would I give it Thee but Thou delightest not in burntofferings.

17 The sacrifice of GOD is a troubled spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O GOD, shalt Thou not despise.

18 O be favourable and gracious unto Sion: build Thou the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then shalt Thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, with the burnt-offerings and oblations: then shall they offer young bullocks upon Thine altar.

Glory be, &c.

LV.

1 HEAR my prayer, O GOD: and hide not Thyself from my petition.