6 An unwise man doth not well consider this: and a fool doth not understand it.
7 When the unG.o.dly are green as the gra.s.s, and when all the workers of wickedness do flourish: then shall they be destroyed for ever; but thou, Lord, art the most Highest for evermore.
8 For lo, thine enemies, O Lord, lo, thine enemies shall perish: and all the workers of wickedness shall be destroyed.
9 But my horn shall be exalted like the horn of an unicorn: for I am anointed with fresh oil.
10 Mine eye also shall see his l.u.s.t of mine enemies: and mine ear shall hear his desire of the wicked that arise up against me.
11 The righteous shall flourish like a palm-tree: and shall spread abroad like a cedar in Liba.n.u.s.
12 Such as are planted in the house of the Lord: shall flourish in the courts of the house of our G.o.d.
13 They also shall bring forth more fruit in their age: and shall be fat and well-liking.
14 That they may shew how true the Lord my strength is: and that there is no unrighteousness in him.
DAY 18 EVENING PRAYER
PSALM 93. _Dominus regnavit_.
The Lord is King, and hath put on glorious apparel: the Lord hath put on his apparel, and girded himself with strength.
2 He hath made the round world so sure: that it cannot be moved.
3 Ever since the world began hath thy seat been prepared: thou art from everlasting.
4 The floods are risen, O Lord, the floods have lift up their voice: the floods lift up their waves.
5 The waves of the sea are mighty, and rage horribly: but yet the Lord, who dwelleth on high, is mightier.
6 Thy testimonies, O Lord, are very sure: holiness becometh thine house for ever.
PSALM 94. _Dem ultionum_.
O Lord G.o.d, to whom vengeance belongeth, thou G.o.d, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.
2 Arise, thou Judge of the world: and reward the proud after their deserving.
3 Lord, how long shall the unG.o.dly: how long shall the unG.o.dly triumph?
4 How long shall all wicked doers speak so disdainfully: and make such proud boasting?
5 They smite down thy people, O Lord: and trouble thine heritage.
6 They murder the widow and the stranger: and put the fatherless to death.
7 And yet they say, Tush, the Lord shall not see: neither shall the G.o.d of Jacob regard it.
8 Take heed, ye unwise among the people: O ye fools, when will ye understand?
9 He that planted the ear, shall he not hear: or he that made the eye, shall he not see?
10 Or he that nurtureth the heathen: it is he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he punish?
11 The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man: that they are but vain.
12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord: and teachest him in thy law;
13 That thou mayest give him patience in time of adversity: until the pit be digged up for the unG.o.dly.
14 For the Lord will not fail his people: neither will he forsake his inheritance;
15 Until righteousness turn again unto judgement: all such as are true in heart shall follow it.
16 Who will rise up with me against the wicked: or who will take my part against the evil-doers?
17 If the Lord had not helped me: it had not failed but my soul had been put to silence.
18 But when I said, My foot hath slipt: thy mercy, O Lord, held me up.
19 In the mult.i.tude of the sorrows that I had in my heart: thy comforts have refreshed my soul.
20 Wilt thou have any thing to do with the stool of wickedness: which imagineth mischief as a law?
21 They gather them together against the soul of the righteous: and condemn the innocent blood.
22 But the Lord is my refuge: and my G.o.d is the strength of my confidence.
23 He shall recompense them their wickedness, and destroy them in their own malice: yea, the Lord our G.o.d shall destroy them.
DAY 19 MORNING PRAYER
PSALM 95. _Venite, exultemus_.
O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us heartily rejoice in the strength of our salvation.
2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving: and shew ourselves glad in him with psalms.
3 For the Lord is a great G.o.d: and a great King above all G.o.ds.
4 In his hand are all the corners of the earth: and the strength of the hills is his also.
5 The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands prepared the dry land.
6 O come, let us worship and fall down: and kneel before the Lord our Maker.
7 For he is the Lord our G.o.d: and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.