but the night shineth as the day:

the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

For thou hast possessed my reins :

13

thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.

14

I will praise thee;

for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:

marvellous are thy works;

and that my soul knoweth right well.

My substance was not hid from thee,

when I was made in secret,

and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

Thine eyes did see my substance,

yet being unperfect;

and in thy book all my members were written,

which in continuance were fashioned,

when they existed not.

15

16

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O 17 GOD!

how great is the sum of them!

Could I count them, they are more in number than 18

sand:

when I awake, I am still with thee.

Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O GOD:
depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.
For they speak against thee wickedly,
and thine enemies take thy name in vain.

Do not I hate them, O JEHOVAH, that hate thee?
and am not I grieved with those that rise up against

thee?

I hate them with perfect hatred :

I count them mine enemies.

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20

21

22

Search me, O GOD, and know my heart:

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24

1

3

5

7

8

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10

try me, and know my thoughts:

And see if there be any wicked way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.

PSALM CXL.

TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN; A PSALM OF DAVID.

DELIVER me, O JEHOVAH, from the malig

nant man:

preserve me from the man of violence;

Which imagine mischiefs in their heart;
continually are they gathered together for war.
They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent;
adders' poison is under their lips. Selah.
Keep me, O JEHOVAH, from the hands of the
wicked;

preserve me from the violent man;

who have purposed to overthrow my goings.

The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords;
they have spread a net by the way-side;
they have set grins for me. Selah.

I said unto JEHOVAH, Thou art my GoD:
hear the voice of my supplications, O JEHOVAH.
O GOD JEHOVAH, the strength of my salvation,
thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.
Grant not, O JEHOVAH, the desires of the wicked;
further not their wicked device;

lest they exalt themselves. Selah.

As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.

Let burning coals fall upon them:

let them be cast into the fire;

into deep pits, that they rise not up again.

Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth:
evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
I know that JEHOVAH will maintain

the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor. Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: 13 the upright shall dwell in thy presence.

PSALM CXLI.

A PSALM OF DAVID.

I INVOKE thee, O JEHOVAH ;

hasten to my relief.

Give ear to my voice,

when thee I invoke.

Let my prayer be as incense presented to thee; the raising up of my hands an evening sacrifice. Set a watch, O JEHOVAH, before my mouth;

Keep the door of my lips.

3

Let not my heart be inclined to any evil thing,

to practise wicked works with men that work

iniquity:

and let me not eat of their dainties.

Let the righteous smite me;

it shall be a kindness:

and let him reprove me;

it shall be an excellent oil,

which shall not break my head:

4

for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.

as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.

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10

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2

3

4

5

6

But mine eyes are toward thee, O GOD JEHOVAH:
in thee is my trust;

leave not my soul destitute.

Keep me from the snare which they have laid for

me,

and the grins of the workers of iniquity.

Let the wicked fall into their own nets,

whilst I at the same time escape.

MASCHIL OF DAVID; A PRAYER WHEN HE WAS IN

THE CAVE.

I CRIED unto JEHOVAH with my voice;

with

my voice unto JEHOVAH did I make my sup-
plication.

I poured out my complaint before him;

I represented to him my trouble.

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,
then thou knewest my path.

In the way wherein I walked

have they privily laid a snare for me.

I looked on my right hand, and beheld,
but there was no man that would know me:
refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.
I cried unto thee, O JEHOVAH: I said,
"Thou art my refuge and my portion

in the land of the living."

Attend unto my cry;

for I am brought very low:

deliver me from my persecutors;

for they are stronger than I.

gins?

Bring my soul out of prison,

7

that I may praise thy name:

the righteous shall compass me about;

when thou shalt have dealt bountifully with me.

PSALM CXLIII.

A PSALM OF DAVID.

HEAR my prayer, O JEHOVAH ;

1

give ear to my supplications in thy faithfulness; answer me in thy righteousness.

But enter not into judgment with thy servant:

2

for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
For the enemy hath persecuted my soul;
he hath smitten my life down to the ground;

he hath made me to dwell in darkness,

as those that have been long dead.

Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me ;
my heart within me is desolate.

I remember the days of old;
I meditate on all thy works;

I muse on the work of thy hands.

3

5

I stretch forth my hands unto thee:

my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah. Hear me speedily, O JEHOVAH,

7

my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me,

lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.

Cause me to hear thy loving-kindness in the

8

morning;

for in thee do I trust:

cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.