I believe, for I will speak: I was greatly afflicted: {138} I said in my haste, All men are a lie.
What shall I render unto the Lord For all his benefits toward me?
I will take the cup of salvation, And call upon the name of the Lord.
I will pay my vows unto the Lord, Yea, in the presence of all his people.
Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of his saints.
O Lord, truly I am thy servant: I am thy servant, the son of thine handmaid; Thou hast loosed my bonds.
I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, And will call upon the name of the Lord.
I will pay my vows unto the Lord.
--_Psalm 116:1-18_.
{139}
PRAISE THE LORD, YE NATIONS
O praise the Lord, all ye nations; Laud him, all ye peoples.
For his mercy is great toward us; And the truth of the Lord endureth for ever.
Praise ye the Lord.
--_Psalm 117_.
{140}
THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH AND SONG
O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: For his mercy endureth for ever.
Let Israel now say, That his mercy endureth for ever.
Let the house of Aaron now say, That his mercy endureth for ever.
Let them now that fear the Lord say, That his mercy endureth for ever.
Out of my distress I called upon the Lord: The Lord answered me and set me in a large place.
The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: What can man do unto me?
The Lord is on my side among them that help me: Therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.
It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in man.
It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in princes.
All nations compa.s.sed me about: In the name of the Lord I will cut them off.
They compa.s.sed me about; yea, they compa.s.sed me about: In the name of the Lord I will cut them off.
They compa.s.sed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: {141} In the name of the Lord I will cut them off.
Thou didst thrust sore at me that I might fall: But the Lord helped me.
The Lord is my strength and song; And he is become my salvation.
The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous: The right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly.
The right hand of the Lord is exalted: The right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly.
I shall not die, but live, And declare the works of the Lord.
The Lord hath chastened me sore: But he hath not given me over unto death.
Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will enter into them, I will give thanks unto the Lord.
This is the gate of the Lord; The righteous shall enter into it.
I will give thanks unto thee, for thou hast answered me, And art become my salvation.
The stone which the builders rejected Is become the head of the corner.
This is the Lord"s doing; It is marvellous in our eyes.
This is the day which the Lord hath made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Save now, we beseech thee, O Lord: O Lord, we beseech thee, send now prosperity.
Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord: {142} We have blessed you out of the house of the Lord.
The Lord is G.o.d, and he hath given us light: Bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.
Thou art my G.o.d, and I will give thanks unto thee: Thou art my G.o.d, I will exalt thee.
O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; For his mercy endureth for ever.
--_Psalm 118_.
{143}
THE SONGS OF THE PURE IN HEART
Blessed are they that are perfect in the way, Who walk in the law of the Lord.
Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, That seek him with the whole heart.
Yea, they do no unrighteousness; They walk in his ways.
Thou hast commanded us thy precepts, That we should observe them diligently.
Oh that my ways were established To observe thy statutes!
Then shall I not be ashamed, When I have respect unto all thy commandments.
I will give thanks unto thee with uprightness of heart, When I learn thy righteous judgments.
I will observe thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.
Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?
By taking heed thereto according to thy word.
With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
Thy word have I laid up in mine heart, That I might not sin against thee.
Blessed art thou, O Lord: Teach me thy statutes. {144} With my lips have I declared All the judgments of thy mouth.
I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, As much as in all riches.
I will meditate in thy precepts, And have respect unto thy ways.
I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live; So will I observe thy word.
Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold Wondrous things out of thy law.
I am a sojourner in the earth: Hide not thy commandments from me.
My soul breaketh for the longing That it hath unto thy judgments at all times.
Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, Who wander from thy commandments.
Take away from me reproach and contempt; For I have kept thy testimonies.
Princes also sat and talked against me: But thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.
Thy testimonies also are my delight And my counsellors.
My soul cleaveth unto the dust: Quicken thou me according to thy word.
I declared my ways, and thou answeredst me: Teach me thy statutes. {145} Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: So shall I meditate of thy wondrous works.
My soul melteth for heaviness: Strengthen thou me according unto thy word.
Remove from me the way of falsehood: And grant me thy law graciously.
I have chosen the way of faithfulness: Thy judgments have I set before me.
I cleave unto thy testimonies: O Lord, put me not to shame.
I will run the way of thy commandments, When thou shalt enlarge my heart.
Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; And I shall keep it unto the end.
Give me understanding, and I shall keep the law; Yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; For therein do I delight.