THE TWENTY-NINTH DAY. MORNING PRAYER. LORD, thou hast searched me out, and known me. Thou knowest my down-sitting, and mine up-rising; thou understandest my thoughts long before. 2 Thou art about my path, and about my bed; and spiest out all my ways. 3 For lo, there is not a word in my tongue, but thou, O LORD, knowest it altogether. 4 Thou hast fashioned me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. 5 Such knowledge is too wonderful and excellent for me; I cannot attain unto it. 6 Whither shall I go then from thy Spirit? or whither shall I go then from thy presence? 7 If I climb up into heaven, thou art there; if I go down to hell, thou art there also. 8 If I take the wings of the morning, and remain in the uttermost parts of the sea; 9 Even there also shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. 10 If I say, Peradventure the darkness shall cover me; then shall my night be turned to day. 11 Yea, the darkness is no darkness with thee, but the night is as clear as the day; the darkness and light to thee are both alike. 12 For my reins are thine; thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. 13 I will give thanks unto thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well. 14 My bones are not hid from thee, though I be made secretly, and fashioned beneath in the earth. 15 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being imperfect; and in thy book were all my members written; 16 Which day by day were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. 17 How dear are thy counsels unto me, O God; O how great is the sum of them! 18 If I tell them, they are more in number than the sand when I wake up, I am present with thee. 19 Wilt thou not slay the wicked, O God? Depart from me, ye bloodthirsty men. 20 For they speak unrighteously against thee; and thine enemies take thy Name in vain. 21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? 22 Yea, I hate them right re; even as though they were mine enemies. 23 Try me, O God, and seek the ground of my heart; prove me, and examine my thoughts. 24 Look well if there be any way of wickedness in me; and lead me in the way everlasting. PSALM 140. Eripe me, Domine. DELIVER me, O LORD, from the evil man; and preserve me from the wicked man ; 2 Who imagine mischief in their hearts, and stir up strife all the day long. 3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adder's poison is under their lips. 4 Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the ungodly; preserve me from the wicked men, who are purposed to overthrow my goings. 5 The proud have laid a snare for me, and spread a net abroad with cords; yea, and set traps in my way. 6 I said unto the LORD, Thou art my God, hear the voice of my prayers, O LORD. 7 O LORD God, thou strength of my health; thou hast covered my head in the day of battle. 8 Let not the ungodly have his desire, O LORD; let not his mischievous imagination prosper, lest they be too proud. 9 Let the mischief of their own lips fall upon the head of them that compass me about. 10 Let hot burning coals fall upon them; let then be cast into the fire, and into the pit, that they never rise up again. 11 A man full of words shall not prosper upon the earth evil shall hunt the wicked person to overthrow him. 12 Sure I am that the LORD will avenge the poor, and maintain the cause of the helpless. 13 The righteous also shall give thanks unto thy Name; and the just shall continue in thy sight. thee. PSALM 141. Domine, clamavi. ORD, I call upon thee; haste thee unto me, and consider my voice, when I cry unto 2 Let my prayer be set forth in thy sight as the incense; and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice. 3 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth, and keep the door of my lips. 4 0 let not mine heart be inclined to any evil thing; let me not be occupied in ungodly works with the men that work wickedness, lest I eat of such things as please them. 5 Let the righteous rather smite me friendly, and reprove me. 6 But let not their precious balms break my head; yea, I will pray yet against their wickedness. 7 Let their judges be overthrown in the stony places, that they may hear my words; for they are sweet. 8 Our bones lie scattered before the pit, like as when one breaketh and heweth wood upon the earth. 9 But mine eyes look unto thee, O LORD God; in thee is my trust; O cast not out my soul. 10 Keep me from the snare that they have laid for me, and from the traps of the wicked doers. 11 Let the ungodly fall into their own nets together, and let me ever escape them. EVENING PRAYER. PSALM 142. Voce mea ad Dominum. CRIED unto the LORD with my voice; yea, even unto the LORD did I make my supplica tion. 2 I poured out my complaints before him, and showed him of my trouble. 3 When my spirit was in heaviness, thou knewest my path; in the way wherein I walked, have they privily laid a snare for me. 4 I looked also upon my right hand, and saw there was no man that would know me. 5 I had no place to flee unto, and no man cared for my soul. 6 I cried unto thee, O LORD, and said, Thou art my hope, and my portion in the land of the living. 7 Consider my complaint; for I am brought very low. 8 O deliver me from my persecutors; for they are too strong for me. 9 Bring my soul out of prison, that I may give thanks unto thy Name; which thing if thou wilt grant me, then shall the righteous resort unto my company. PSALM 143. Domine, exaudi. [EAR my prayer, O LORD, and consider my desire; hearken unto me for thy truth and righteousness' sake. 2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant; for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. 3 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath laid me in the darkness, as the men that have been long dead. 4 Therefore is my spirit vexed within me, and my heart within me is desolate. 5 Yet do I remember the time past: I muse upon all thy works; yea, I exercise myself in the works of thy hands. 6 I stretch forth my hands unto thee; my soul gaspeth unto thee as a thirsty land. 7 Hear me, O LORD, and that soon; for my spirit waxeth faint: hide not thy face from me, |