A SELECTION FROM THE PSALMS OF DAVID. The First Day. MORNING PRAYER. PSALM 1. BLESSED is the man who walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he exercise himself day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the water side, that will bring forth his fruit in due season. His leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth, it shall prosper. As for the ungodly, it is not so with them; but they are like the chaff which the wind scattereth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not be able to stand in the judgment; neither the sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous; but the way of the ungodly shall perish. PSALM 3. LORD, how are they increased who trouble me! many are they who rise up against me. Many there be who say of my soul, There is no help for him in his God. But thou, O Lord, art my defender; thou art my glory, and the lifter up of my head. I did call upon the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. I laid me down and slept, and rose up again; for the Lord sustained me. Salvation belongeth unto the Lord, and thy blessing is upon thy people. PSALM 4. HEAR me when I call, O God of my righteousness; thou hast set me at liberty when I was in trouble; have mercy upon me, and hearken unto my prayer. O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame, and have such pleasure in vanity, and seek after falsehood? Know this, that the Lord hath chosen to himself the man who is godly; when I call upon the Lord he will hear me. Stand in awe, and sin not; commune with your own heart, and in your chamber, and be still.. Offer the sacrifice of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord. There be many who say, Who will show us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than when their corn, and wine, and oil, increased. I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest, for it is thou, O Lord, only, who makest me dwell in safety. Now unto the King eternal, &c. Be honor and glory, &c. EVENING PRAYER. PSALM 5. GIVE ear unto my words, O Lord; consider their trust in thee rejoice; my meditation. O hearken thou unto the voice of my calling, my King and my God; for unto thee will I make my prayer. My voice shalt thou hear betimes, O Lord; early in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. For thou art a God who hast no pleasure in wickedness; neither shall any evil dwell with thee. Such as be foolish shall not stand in thy sight; for thou hatest all those who work vanity. Thou shalt destroy those who speak falsehood; the Lord will abhor both the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. But as for me, I will come into thy house, even upon the multitude of thy mercy; and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple. Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness, because of mine enemies; make thy way plain before my face. they shall ever be giving of thanks, because thou defendest them; they who love thy name shall be joyful in thee. For thou, Lord, wilt give thy blessing unto the righteous; and with thy favorable kindness wilt thou defend him as with a shield. PSALM 7. O LORD my God, in thee have I put my trust; save me from all those who persecute me, and deliver me; Lest he devour my soul like a lion, and tear it in pieces, while there is none to help. O Lord my God, if I have done this thing; or if there be any wickedness in my hands; If I have rewarded evil unto him who dealt friendly with me; (yea, I have delivered him who without any cause is mine enemy ;) Then let mine enemy persecute my soul, and Let all those who put take it; yea, let him tread my life down upon the earth, and lay mine honor in the dust. The Lord shall judge the people; give sentence with me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to the innocency that is in me. O let the wickedness of the ungodly come to an end; but guide thou the just. For the righteous God trieth the very hearts and reins. My help cometh of God, who preserveth those who are true of heart. God is a righteous judge; and God is provoked every day. I will give thanks unto the Lord, according to his righteousness; and I will praise the name of the Lord most high. Now unto eternal, &c. how excellent is thy name in all the world! thou who hast set thy glory above the heavens! Out of the mouth of very babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength, because of thine enemies; that thou mightest still the enemy and the revengeful. When I consider thy heavens, even 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? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor. Thou makest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; and the King thou hast put all things under his feet; Be honor and glory, &c. The Second Day. PSALM 8. O LORD our Governor, All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowls of the air, and the fishes of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. O Lord our Governor, how excellent is thy name in all the world! PSALM 9. I WILL give thanks unto thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will speak of all thy marvellous works. I will be glad and re-joice in thee; I will sing praise to thy name, O thou Most High. Thou hast rebuked the heathen, and destroyed the ungodly; thou hast put out their name for ever and ever. Desolations have con sumed the enemy for for ever; and as to the cities which thou hast destroyed, their memory is perished with them. But the Lord shall endure for ever; he hath prepared his throne for judgment. And he shall judge the world in righteousness, and minister true judgment unto the people. The Lord also will be a defence for the oppress ed, even a refuge in time of trouble. And they, who know thy name, will put their trust in thee; for thou, Lord, hast never failed those who seek thee. O praise the Lord who dwelleth in Sion: show the people of his doings. For when he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them, and forgetteth not the complaint of the poor. The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made; in the same net which they hid privily, is their own foot taken. The Lord is known to execute judgment; the ungodly is ensnared in the work of his own hands. The wicked shall be turned into the pit, and all the people who forget God. For the poor shall not always be forgotten; the patient abiding of the meek shall not perish for ever. Arise, O Lord, and let not man prevail; let the |