The humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. 3 O magnify the Lord with me,

And let us exalt His Name together.

4 I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.

5 They looked unto Him, and were lightened: And their faces were not ashamed.

6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles.

7 The angel of the Lord encampeth Round about them that fear Him, And delivereth them.

(II. Blessedness of trusting in God.) 8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: Blessed is the man that trusteth in Him. 9 O fear the Lord, ye His saints:

For there is no want to them that fear Him. 10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: But they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.

(III. Practical counsels.)

11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 12 What man is he that desireth life,

And loveth many days, that he may see good?

13 Keep thy tongue from evil,

And thy lips from speaking guile.

14 Depart from evil, and do good; Seek peace, and pursue it.

(IV. Happiness of the pious.)

15 The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous,

And His ears are open unto their cry.

16 The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the

earth.

17 The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth,

And delivereth them out of all their troubles. 18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart;

And saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. 19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous : But the Lord delivereth him out of them all. 20 He keepeth all his bones:

Not one of them is broken.

21 Evil shall slay the wicked:

And they that hate the righteous shall be desolate. 22 The Lord redeemeth the soul of His servants: And none of them that trust in Him shall be desolate.

REFLECTIONS.

1. We here see with what animation and delight a good man expatiates on his own blessedness; in what lofty strains of gratitude and praise he acknowledges the goodness of God towards him in hearing his prayers, in delivering him from his fears, and in saving him out of his troubles. He calls upon others to unite with him in magnifying his gracious Benefactor.

2. If we trust in God, if we fear Him and seek Him, we shall have abundant proof of His goodness: we shall not want any good thing; we shall feel that we are blessed; safe under the divine protection, and happy in the divine favour.

3. The true fear of the Lord is a practical principle. It leads us to govern our tongues, to depart from evil, to do good, and to be lovers and promoters of peace. This is the way, not only to save our souls, but also to enjoy happiness upon earth.

4. How awful the assurances here given us about the wicked ! The wrath of God is upon them; desolation and destruction are before them. But how delightful are the assurances here given us respecting the good ! The eye of the Lord is upon them: He hears their prayers: He is nigh unto them, and delivers and saves them. Their afflictions may be many: but they shall not be desolate. He in whom they trust is their Supporter, Comforter, and Redeemer. Surely each of them must say, "My soul shall make her boast in the Lord."

PRAYER.

Grant, O Lord, that we may fear Thee, trust in Thee, and be contrite in heart before Thee. Give us grace to bring forth the fruits of faith; and enable us to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. And while we walk before Thee in faith, humility, and obedience, grant that we may experience Thy protection and favour; and praise and magnify Thee with thankful and joyful hearts; through Jesus Christ our Redeemer and Advocate. Amen.

DAY 7.]

PSALM XXXV.

MORNING PRAYER.

Prayer, as Psalm vii. A Psalm of David, written, perhaps, when he was persecuted by Saul, or by Absalom and his confederates.

(I. Prayer for safety.)

1 Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me:

Fight against them that fight against me.

2 Take hold of shield and buckler,

And stand up for my help.

3 Draw out also the spear,

And stop the way against them that persecute me:
Say unto my soul, "I am thy salvation."

(II. The wicked shall be confounded.) 4 Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul:

Let them be turned back and brought to confusion

that devise my hurt,

5 Let them be as chaff before the wind;

And let the angel of the Lord chase them.

6 Let their way be dark and slippery;

And let the angel of the Lord persecute them. 7 For without cause they have hid for me their net in a pit,

Which without cause they have digged for my soul. 8 Let destruction come upon him at unawares; And let his net that he hath hid catch himself: Into that very destruction let him fall.

(III. Joy and deliverance.)

9 And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord:

It shall rejoice in His salvation.

10 All my bones shall say,

"Lord, who is like unto Thee,
"Which deliverest the poor

from him which is too strong for him,
"Yea, the poor and the needy

from him that spoileth him."

(IV. Wrongful dealing of the wicked.) 11 False witnesses did rise up;

They laid to my charge things that I knew not. 12 They rewarded me evil for good,

To the spoiling of my soul.

13 But as for me, when they were sick,

I humbled my soul with fasting;

And

my prayer returned into mine own bosom. 14 I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother:

I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.

15 But in mine adversity they rejoiced,

and gathered themselves together:

Yea, the abjects gathered themselves together
against me, and I knew it not;

They did tear me, and ceased not:

16 With hypocritical mockers in feasts,

They gnashed upon me with their teeth.

(V. Supplication to God.)

17 Lord, how long wilt Thou look on? Rescue my soul from their destructions, My darling from the lions.

18 I will give thanks in the great congregation :

H