Consider mine affliction, and deliver me; For I do not forget thy law.
Plead thou my cause, and redeem me: Quicken me according to thy word.
Salvation is far from the wicked; For they seek not thy statutes.
Great are thy tender mercies, O Lord: Quicken me according to thy judgments.
Many are my persecutors and mine adversaries; Yet have I not swerved from thy testimonies.
I beheld the treacherous dealers, and was grieved; Because they observe not thy word.
Consider how I love thy precepts: Quicken me, O Lord, according to thy lovingkindness.
The sum of thy word is truth; And everyone of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
--_Psalm 119:1-48, 73-160_.
{153}{154}
[Ill.u.s.tration]
MOUNT CARMEL
"I will lift my eyes unto the mountains."
[End ill.u.s.tration]
{155}
I WILL LIFT MINE EYES UNTO THE MOUNTAINS
I will lift up mine eyes unto the mountains: From whence shall my help come?
My help cometh from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth thee will not slumber.
Behold, he that keepeth Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is thy keeper: The Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.
The sun shall not smite thee by day, Nor the moon by night.
The Lord shall keep thee from all evil; He shall keep thy soul.
The Lord shall keep thy going out and thy coming in, From this time forth and for evermore.
--_Psalm 121_.
{156}
A PILGRIM SONG
I was glad when they said unto me, "Let us go unto the house of the Lord."
Our feet are standing Within thy gates, O Jerusalem; Jerusalem, that art builded As a city that is compact together: Whither the tribes go up, even the tribes of the Lord, For a testimony unto Israel, To give thanks unto the name of the Lord.
For there are set thrones for judgment, The thrones of the house of David.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: They shall prosper that love thee.
Peace be within thy walls, And prosperity within thy palaces.
For my brethren and companions" sakes, I will now say, "Peace be within thee."
For the sake of the house of the Lord our G.o.d I will seek thy good.
--_Psalm 122_.
{157}
A SONG OF THE EXILES
When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, We were like unto them that dream.
Then was our mouth filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing: Then said they among the nations, The Lord hath done great things for them.
The Lord hath done great things for us; Whereof we are glad.
Turn again our captivity, O Lord, As the streams in the South.
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
Though he goeth on his way weeping, bearing forth the seed; He shall come again with joy, bringing his sheaves with him.
--_Psalm 126_.
{158}
"DE PROFUNDIS."
Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord.
Lord, hear my voice: Let thine ears be attentive To the voice of my supplications.
If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?
But there is forgiveness with thee, That thou mayest be feared.
I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, And in his word do I hope.
My soul looketh for the Lord, More than watchmen look for the morning; Yea, more than watchmen for the morning.
O Israel, hope in the Lord; For with the Lord there is mercy, And with him is plenteous redemption.
And he shall redeem Israel From all his iniquities.
--_Psalm 130_.
{159}
BROTHERHOOD
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!
It is like the precious oil upon the head, That ran down upon the beard, Even Aaron"s beard; That came down upon the skirt of his garments; Like the dew of Hermon, That cometh down upon the mountains of Zion: For there the Lord commanded the blessing, Even life for evermore.
--_Psalm 133_.
{160}
BLESS YE THE LORD
Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord, Who by night stand in the house of the Lord.
Lift up your hands to the sanctuary, And bless ye the Lord.
The Lord bless thee out of Zion; Even he that made heaven and earth.
Praise ye the Lord.
Praise ye the name of the Lord; Praise him, O ye servants of the Lord: Ye that stand in the house of the Lord, In the courts of the house of our G.o.d.
Praise ye the Lord; for the Lord is good: Sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.
For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself, And Israel for his peculiar treasure.