For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous : but the way of the ungodly leadeth to destruction.

PSALM III.

How many, O Lord, are they that trouble me! how many are they that rise up against me!

How many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God.

But thou, O Lord, art my shield, my deliverer, and the lifter up of my head.

I cry unto the Lord with my voice, and he heareth me out of his holy hill.

I lay me down and sleep; I awake, for the Lord sustaineth me.

Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God; for salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is upon thy people.

PSALM IV.

HEAR me when I call, O God my defender: thou hast helped me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

I know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him. Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.

Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.

I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.

Now unto the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, the only wise God,

Be honor and glory, through Jesus Christ, forever and ever. Amen.

The First Day.

EVENING PRAYER.

PSALM V.

GIVE ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation.

Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I

pray.

My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.

But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness, make thy way straight before my face.

Let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.

For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favor wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

C

PSALM VIII.

O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! whose glory reaches above the heavens.

Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained praise to silence thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers; the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

Yet thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor.

Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.

O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

Now unto the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, the only wise God,

Be honor and glory, through Jesus Christ, forever and ever. Amen.

The Second Day.

MORNING PRAYER.

PSALM IX.

I WILL praise, O thee Lord, with my whole heart; I will show forth all thy marvellous works.

I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou Most High.

For thou defendest my right and my cause; thou sittest on the throne a righteous judge.

For the Lord shall endure forever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment.

And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness. The Lord also is a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.

And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

Sing praises to the Lord, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.

An avenger of blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.

Have mercy upon me, O Lord: consider my trouble, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death:

That I may show forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation.

The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands.

For the needy shall not always be forgotten: the patient hopes of the poor shall not perish forever.

Arise, O Lord; let not man prevail; let the people be judged in thy sight.

Put them in fear, O Lord: that the nations may know themselves to be but men.

PSALM XI.

THE Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try the children of men.

For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.

PSALM XII.

HELP Lord; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.

They speak falsehood every one with his neighbor: with flattering lips and with a doublé heart do they speak.

The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:

Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?

For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord; I will set him in safety from him that despiseth him.