[9] Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: In the balances they will go up; They are together lighter than vanity." [10] Trust not in oppression, And become not vain in robbery: If riches increase, set not your heart thereon. [11] God hath spoken once, Twice have I heard this; That power belongeth unto God: [12] Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth lovingkindness; For thou renderest to every man according to his work. LXIII THE THIRSTING SOUL SATISFIED IN GOD A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah [1] O GOD, thou art my God; earnestly will I seek thee: My soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee, In a dry and weary land, where no water is. [2] So have I looked upon thee in the sanctuary, To see thy power and thy glory. [3] Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise thee. [4] So will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. [5] My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow' and fat ness; And my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips; [6] When I remember thee upon my bed, And meditate on thee in the night-watches. [7] For thou hast been my help, And in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. [8] My soul followeth hard after thee: Thy right hand upholdeth me. [9] But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, Shall go into the lower parts of the earth. Heb. a breath. 3 Heb. fat. 8 Or, I meditate. Or, shall be destroyed; They shall &c. [10] They shall be given over to the power of the sword: They shall be a portion for foxes. [11] But the king shall rejoice in God: Every one that sweareth by him shall glory; For the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped. LXIV PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE FROM SECRET ENEMIES For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David [1] HEAR my voice, O God, in my complaint: And have aimed their arrows, even bitter words; [4] That they may shoot in secret places at the perfect: Suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not. [5] They encourage themselves in an evil purpose; They commune of laying snares privily; They say, Who will see them? [6] They search out iniquities; We have accomplished, say they, a diligent search: And the inward thought and the heart of every one is deep. [7] But God will shoot at them; With an arrow suddenly shall they be wounded. [8] So they shall be made to stumble, their own tongue being against them: All that see them shall wag the head. [9] And all men shall fear; And they shall declare the work of God, And shall wisely consider of his doing. [10] The righteous shall be glad in Jehovah, and shall take refuge in him; And all the upright in heart shall glory. Or, poured out by. 1 Or, throng. Or, jackals. Or, as otherwise read, They have accomplished (or, have hidden). Or, shall they against whom their tongue was make them to stumble •Or, flee away. LXV GOD'S ABUNDANT FAVOR TO EARTH AND MAN For the Chief Musician. A Psalm. A Song of David [1] PRAISE waiteth for thee, O God, in Zion; And unto thee shall the vow be performed. [2] O thou that hearest prayer, Unto thee shall all flesh come. [3] Iniquities' prevail against me: As for our transgressions, thou wilt forgive them. [4] Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, That he may dwell in thy courts: We shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, [5] By terrible things thou wilt answer us in righteous ness, O God of our salvation, Thou that art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, And of them that are afar off upon the sea: [6] Who by his strength setteth fast the mountains, Being girded about with might; [7] Who stilleth the roaring of the seas, The roaring of their waves, And the tumult of the peoples. [8] They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: Thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice. [9] Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it, Thou greatly enrichest it; The river of God is full of water: Thou providest them grain, when thou hast so prepared the earth. 1Or, There shall be silence before thee, and praise, O God & [10] Thou waterest its furrows abundantly; Thou blessest the springing thereof. [11] Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; And thy paths drop fatness. [12] They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness; And the hills are girded with joy. [13] The pastures are clothed with flocks; The valleys also are covered over with grain; LXVI PRAISE FOR GOD'S MIGHTY DEEDS AND FOR HIS ANSWER TO PRAYER For the Chief Musician. A Song, a Psalm [1] MAKE a joyful noise unto God, all the earth: [2] Sing forth the glory of his name: Make his praise glorious. [3] Say unto God, How terrible are thy works! Through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit' themselves unto thee. [4] All the earth shall worship thee, And shall sing unto thee; They shall sing to thy name. [5] Come, and see the works of God; [Selah He is terrible in his doing toward the children of men. [6] He turned the sea into dry land; They went through the river on foot: There did we rejoice in him. [7] He ruleth by his might for ever; His eyes observe the nations: Let not the rebellious exalt themselves. [8] Oh bless our God, ye peoples, And make the voice of his praise to be heard; Heb. lowerest. Heb. the year of thy goodness. Or, The pastures do drop. 1Or, yield feigned obedience. Heb. lie. HC-Vol. 44 (8) [Selah Or, let us rejoice. [9] Who holdeth our soul in life, And suffereth not our feet to be moved. [10] For thou, O God, hast proved us: Thou hast tried us, as silver is tried. [11] Thou broughtest us into the net; Thou layedst a sore burden upon our loins. [12] Thou didst cause men to ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; But thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place. [13] I will come into thy house with burnt-offerings; I will pay thee my vows, [14] Which my lips uttered, And my mouth spake, when I was in distress. [15] I will offer unto thee burnt-offerings of fatlings, With the incense of rams; I will offer bullocks with goats. [16] Come, and hear, all ye that fear God, [Selah And I will declare what he hath done for my soul. [17] I cried unto him with my mouth, And he was extolled with my tongue. [18] If I regard' iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear: [19] But verily God hath heard; He hath attended to the voice of my prayer. [20] Blessed be God, Who hath not turned away my prayer, LXVII THE NATIONS EXHORTED TO PRAISE GOD For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm, a Song [1] GOD be merciful unto us, and bless us, And cause his face to shine upon1 us; [2] That thy way may be known upon earth, Thy salvation among all nations. Heb. putteth. Heb. abundance. Or, as otherwise read, high praise was under my tongue. 1 Heb. with us. [Selah |