For I know that the Lord is great, And that our Lord is above all G.o.ds.

Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that hath he done, In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps.

He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; He maketh lightnings for the rain; He bringeth forth the wind out of his treasuries. {161} Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, Both of man and beast.

He sent signs and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, Upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants.

Who smote many nations, And slew mighty kings; Sihon king of the Amorites, And Og king of Bashan, And all the kingdoms of Canaan: And gave their land for an heritage, An heritage unto Israel his people.

Thy name, O Lord, endureth for ever; Thy memorial, O Lord, throughout all generations.

For the Lord shall judge his people, And repent himself concerning his servants.

The idols of the nations are silver and gold, The work of men's hands.

They have mouths, but they speak not; Eyes have they, but they see not; They have ears, but they hear not; Neither is there any breath in their mouths.

They that make them shall be like unto them; Yea, everyone that trusteth in them.

O house of Israel, bless ye the Lord: O house of Aaron, bless ye the Lord: O house of Levi, bless ye the Lord: Ye that fear the Lord, bless ye the Lord.

Blessed be the Lord out of Zion, {162} Who dwelleth at Jerusalem.

Praise ye the Lord.

O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: For his mercy endureth for ever.

O give thanks unto the G.o.d of G.o.ds: For his mercy endureth for ever.

O give thanks unto the Lord of lords: For his mercy endureth for ever.

To him who alone doeth great wonders: For his mercy endureth for ever.

To him who by understanding made the heavens: For his mercy endureth for ever.

To him who spread forth the earth above the waters: For his mercy endureth for ever.

To him who made great lights: For his mercy endureth for ever: The sun to rule by day: For his mercy endureth for ever: The moon and stars to rule by night: For his mercy endureth for ever.

To him who smote Egypt in their firstborn: For his mercy endureth for ever: And brought out Israel from among them: For his mercy endureth for ever: With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: For his mercy endureth for ever.

To him who divided the Red Sea in sunder: For his mercy endureth for ever: And made Israel to pa.s.s through the midst of it: {163} For his mercy endureth for ever: But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea: For his mercy endureth for ever.

To him who led his people through the wilderness: For his mercy endureth for ever.

To him who smote great kings: For his mercy endureth for ever: And slew famous kings: For his mercy endureth for ever: Sihon king of the Amorites: For his mercy endureth for ever: And Og king of Bashan: For his mercy endureth for ever: And gave their land for an heritage: For his mercy endureth for ever: Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: For his mercy endureth for ever.

Who remembered us in our low estate: For his mercy endureth for ever: And hath delivered us from our adversaries: For his mercy endureth for ever.

He giveth food to all flesh: For his mercy endureth for ever.

O give thanks unto the G.o.d of heaven: For his mercy endureth for ever.

--_Psalms 134-136_.

{164}

THE EYE OF THE LORD

O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.

Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, Thou understandest my thought afar off.

Thou searchest out my path and my lying down, And art acquainted with all my ways.

For there is not a word in my tongue, But, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.

Thou hast beset me behind and before, And laid thine hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain unto it.

Whither shall I go from thy spirit?

Or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, thou art there.

If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, And thy right hand shall hold me.

If I say, Surely the darkness shall overwhelm me, And the light about me shall be night; Even the darkness hideth not from thee, But the night shineth as the day: The darkness and the light are both alike to thee. {165} How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O G.o.d!

How great is the sum of them!

If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: When I awake, I am still with thee.

Search me, O G.o.d, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any way of wickedness in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.

--_Psalm 139:1-12, 17, 18, 23, 24_.

{166}

HAPPY IS THE PEOPLE WHOSE G.o.d IS THE LORD

Blessed be the Lord my rock, Who teacheth my hands to war, And my fingers to fight: My lovingkindness, and my fortress, My high tower, and my deliverer; My shield, and he in whom I trust; Who subdueth my people under me.

Lord, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him?

Or the son of man, that thou makest account of him?

Man is like to vanity: His days are as a shadow that pa.s.seth away.

Bow thy heavens, O Lord, and come down: Touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.

Cast forth lightning, and scatter them; Send out thine arrows, and discomfit them.

Stretch forth thy hand from above; Rescue me, and deliver me out of great waters, Out of the hand of aliens; Whose mouth speaketh deceit, And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood,

I will sing a new song unto thee, O G.o.d: Upon a psaltery of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee. {167} Thou art he that giveth salvation unto kings; Who rescueth David his servant from the hurtful sword.

Rescue me, and deliver me out of the hand of aliens, Whose mouth speaketh deceit, And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

When our sons shall be as plants grown up in their youth, And our daughters as corner stones hewn after the fashion of a palace; When our garners are full, affording all manner of store, And our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields; When our oxen are well laden; When there is no breaking in, and no going forth, And no outcry in our streets: Happy is the people that is in such a case; Yea, happy is the people whose G.o.d is the Lord.

--_Psalm 144_

{168}

SLOW TO ANGER AND PLENTEOUS IN MERCY

I will extol thee, my G.o.d, O King; And I will bless thy name for ever and ever.

Every day will I bless thee; And I will praise thy name for ever and ever.

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; And his greatness is unsearchable.

One generation shall laud thy works to another, And shall declare thy mighty acts.

Of the glorious majesty of thine honour, And of thy wondrous works, will I meditate.

And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts; And I will declare thy greatness.

They shall utter the memory of thy great goodness, And shall sing of thy righteousness

The Lord is gracious, and full of compa.s.sion; Slow to anger, and of great mercy.

The Lord is good to all; And his tender mercies are over all his works.

All thy works shall give thanks unto thee, O Lord; And thy saints shall bless thee.

They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, And talk of thy power; To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, And the glory of the majesty of his kingdom. {169} Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.

The Lord upholdeth all that fall, And raiseth up all those that be bowed down.

The eyes of all wait upon thee; And thou givest them their food in due season.

Thou openest thine hand, And satisfiest the desire of every living thing.

The Lord is righteous in all his ways, And gracious in all his works.

The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, To all that call upon him in truth.

He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him; He also will hear their cry, and will save them.

The Lord preserveth all them that love him; But all the wicked will he destroy.

My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord; And let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.