ASCENSION-DAY. FROM PSALMS 24, 47. LIFT up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in. Who is the King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty; even the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, 0 ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in. Who is the King of glory? Even the LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. O clap your hands together, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth. GOD is gone up with a shout; the LORD with the sound of a trumpet. sing our Sing praises to GOD, praises; sing praises unto King, sing praises. GOD reigneth over the heathen: GoD sitteth the upon throne of his holiness. The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham; for the shields of the earth belong unto GOD: He is greatly exalted. WHITSUNDAY. I WILL declare the decree; Desire of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the utmost it was weary. The LORD gave the word; great was the company of those that published it. Though ye have lain among wings of a dove covered with the pots, yet shall ye be as the silver, and her feathers with yellow gold. Thou hast ascended on high; thou hast received gifts for men; thou hast led captivity captive; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD GOD might dwell among them. Blessed be the LORD, who daily loadeth us with benefits; even the God of our salvation. Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth: O sing praises unto the LORD; To him that rideth upon the heaven of heavens, which were of old: Lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice. Ascribe the strength unto God; his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds. O GOD, thou art terrible out of thy holy places; the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people Blessed be God. THE PSALTER, OR PSALMS OF DAVID. THE FIRST DAY. MORNING PRAYER. PSALM 1. Beatus vir, qui non abiit. BLESSED is the man that hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way of sinners, and hath not sat in the seat of the scornful: 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in his law will he exercise himself day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the water-side, that will bring forth his fruit in due season: 4 His leaf also shall not wither; and look, whatsoever he doeth, it shall prosper. 5 As for the ungodly, it is not so with them; but they are like the chaff, which the wind scattereth away from the face of the earth. 6 Therefore the ungodly shall not be able to stand in the judgment; neither the sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 7 But the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous; and the way of the ungodly shall perish. PSALM 2. Quare fremuerunt gentes? WHY do the heathen so furiously rage together? and why do the people imagine a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth stand up, and the rulers take counsel together against the LORD, and against his Anointed: 3 Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast away their cords from us. 4 He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh them to scorn: the LORD shall have them in derision. 5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. 6 Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Sion. 7 I will preach the law, whereof the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. 8 Desire of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession. 9 Thou shalt bruise them with a rod of iron, and break them in pieces like a potter's vessel. 10 Be wise now, therefore, O ye kings; be learned, ye that are judges of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD in fear, and rejoice unto him with PSALM 3. Domine, quid multiplicati? | and in your chamber, and be LORD, how are they in- still. creased that trouble me? many are they that rise against me. 2 Many one there be that say of my soul, There is no help for him in his God. 3 But thou, O LORD, art my defender; thou art my worship, and the lifter up of my head. 4 I did call upon the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. 5 I laid me down and slept, and rose up again; for the LORD Sustained me. 6 I will not be afraid for ten thousands of the people, that have set themselves against me round about. Up, LORD, and help me, O my GoD; for thou smitest all mine enemies upon the cheek bone: thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. 8 Salvation belongeth unto the LORD; and thy blessing is upon thy people. PSALM 4. Cum invocarem. HEAR me, when I call, O GOD of my righteousness: thou hast set me at liberty, when I was in trouble; have mercy upon me, and hearken unto my prayer. 20 ye sons of men, how long will ye blaspheme mine honour, and have such pleasure in vanity, and seek after falsehood? 3 Know this also, that the LORD hath chosen to himself the man that is godly; when I call upon the LORD he will hear me. 4 Stand in awe, and sin not; commune with your own heart, 5 Offer the sacrifice of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD. 6 There be many that say, Who will show us any good? 7 LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. 8 Thou hast put gladness in my heart, since the time that corn, and wine, and oil their increased. 9 I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest; for it is thou LORD only that makest me dwell in safety. PSALM 5. Verba mea auribus. PONDER my words, O LORD, meditation. consider my 2 O hearken thou unto the voice of my calling, my King, and my GoD: for unto thee will I make my prayer. 3 My voice shalt thou hear betimes, O LORD; early in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. 4 For thou art the GoD that hast no pleasure in wickedness; neither shall any evil dwell with thee.. 5 Such as be foolish, shall not stand in thy sight; for thou hatest all them that work vanity. 6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak lies: the LORD will abhor both the blood-thirsty and deceitful man. 7 But as for me, I will come into thine house, even upon the multitude of thy mercy, and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple. 8 Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness, because of mine enemies; make thy way plain | trouble, and worn away because before my face. of all mine enemies. 9 For there is no faithfulness in his mouth; their inward parts are very wickedness. 10 Their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue. 11 Destroy thou them, O GOD; let them perish through their own imaginations; cast them out in the multitude of their ungodliness; for they have rebelled against thee. 12 And let all them that put their trust in thee rejoice: they shall ever be giving of thanks, because thou defendest them; they that love thy name shall be joyful in thee: 13 For thou, LORD, wilt give thy blessing unto the righteous, and with thy favourable kindness wilt thou defend him, as with a shield, 8 Away from me all ye that work vanity; for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping. 9 The LORD hath heard my petition; the LORD will receive my prayer. 10 All mine enemies shall be confounded, and sore vexed; they shall be turned back, and put to shame suddenly. PSALM 7. Domine, Deus meus. O LORD, my GoD, in thee have I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me; 2 Lest he devour my soul like a lion, and tear it in pieces, while there is none to help. 3 O LORD my GOD, if I have done any such thing; or if there be any wickedness in my hands; 4 If I have rewarded evil unto him that dealt friendly with me; yea, I have delivered him that without any cause is mine enemy; 5 Then let mine enemy persecute my soul, and take me · yea, let him tread my life down upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. 6 Stand up, O LORD, in thy wrath, and lift up thyself, because of the indignation of mine enemies; arise up for me in the judgment that thou hast commanded : 7 And so shall the congregation of the people come about thee: for their sakes therefore lift up thyself again. 8 The LORD shall judge the people: give sentence with me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according | to the innocency that is in me. 9 O let the wickedness of the ungodly come to an end; but guide thou the just. 10 For the righteous GoD trieth the very hearts and reins. 11 My help cometh of GoD, who preserveth them that are true of heart. 12 GoD is a righteous judge, strong, and patient; and GoD is provoked every day. 13 If a man will not turn, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready. 14 He hath prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors. 15 Behold, he travaileth with mischief; he hath conceived sorrow, and brought forth ungodliness. 16 He hath graven and digged up a pit, and is fallen himself into the destruction that he made for other. 17 For his travail shall come upon his own head, and his wickedness shall fall on his own pate. 18 I will give thanks unto the LORD, according to his righteousness; and I will praise the name of the LORD most high. PSALM 8. Domine, Dominus noster. O LORD, our Governor, how excellent is thy name in all the world; thou that hast set thy glory above the heavens! 3 For I will consider thy heavens, even the works of thy fingers; the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained. 4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man that thou visitest him? 5 Thou madest him lower than the angels, to crown him with glory and worship. 6 Thou makest him to have dominion of the works of thy hands: and thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet; 7 All sheep and oxen; yea, and the beasts of the field; 8 The fowls of the air, and the fishes of the sea; and whatsoever walketh through the paths of the seas. 9 O LORD, our Governor, how excellent is thy name in all the world! THE SECOND DAY. MORNING PRAYER. PSALM 9. Confitebor tibi. I WILL give thanks unto thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will speak of all thy marvellous works. 2 I will be glad and rejoice in thee; yea, my songs will I make of thy name, O thou Most Highest. 3 While mine enemies are driven back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence: 4 For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou art set in the throne that judgest right. 2 Out of the mouth of very babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength, because of thine enemies, that thou mightest 5 Thou hast rebuked the still the enemy and the avenger. heathen, and destroyed the f |