The Book of Common Prayer Part 77

2 I will call unto the most high G.o.d: even unto the G.o.d that shall perform the cause which I have in hand.

3 He shall send from heaven: and save me from the reproof of him that would eat me up.

4 G.o.d shall send forth his mercy and truth: my soul is among lions.

5 And I lie even among the children of men, that are set on fire: whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

6 Set up thyself, O G.o.d, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth.

7 They have laid a net for my feet, and pressed down my soul: they have digged a pit before me, and are fallen into the midst of it themselves.

8 My heart is fixed, O G.o.d, my heart is fixed: I will sing, and give praise.

9 Awake up, my glory; awake, lute and harp: I myself will awake right early.

10 I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the people: and I will sing unto thee among the nations.

11 For the greatness of thy mercy reacheth unto the heavens: and thy truth unto the clouds.

12 Set up thyself, O G.o.d, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth.

PSALM 58. _Si vere utique_.

Are your minds set upon righteousness, O ye congregation: and do ye judge the thing that is right, O ye sons of men?

2 Yea, ye imagine mischief in your heart upon the earth: and your hands deal with wickedness.

3 The unG.o.dly are froward, even from their mother's womb: as soon as they are born, they go astray, and speak lies.

4 They are as venomous as the poison of a serpent: even like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ears;

5 Which refuseth to hear the voice of the charmer: charm he never so wisely.

6 Break their teeth, O G.o.d, in their mouths; smite the jaw-bones of the lions, O Lord: let them fall away like water that runneth apace; and when they shoot their arrows let them be rooted out.

7 Let them consume away like a snail, and be like the untimely fruit of a woman: and let them not see the sun.

8 Or ever your pots be made hot with thorns: so let indignation vex him, even as a thing that is raw.

9 The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his footsteps in the blood of the unG.o.dly.

10 So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: doubtless there is a G.o.d that judgeth the earth.

DAY 11 EVENING PRAYER

PSALM 59._ Eripe me de inimicis_.

Deliver me from mine enemies, O G.o.d: defend me from them that rise up against me.

2 O deliver me from the wicked doers: and save me from the blood-thirsty men.

3 For lo, they lie waiting for my soul: the mighty men are gathered against me, without any offence or fault of me, O Lord.

4 They run and prepare themselves without my fault: arise thou therefore to help me, and behold.

5 Stand up, O Lord G.o.d of hosts, thou G.o.d of Israel, to visit all the heathen: and be not merciful unto them that offend of malicious wickedness.

6 They go to and fro in the evening: they grin like a dog, and run about through the city.

7 Behold, they speak with their mouth, and swords are in their lips: for who doth hear?

8 But thou, O Lord, shalt have them in derision: and thou shalt laugh all the heathen to scorn.

9 My strength will I ascribe unto thee: for thou art the G.o.d of my refuge.

10 G.o.d sheweth me his goodness plenteously: and G.o.d shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.

11 Slay them not, lest my people forget it: but scatter them abroad among the people, and put them down, O Lord, our defence.

12 For the sin of their mouth, and for the words of their lips, they shall be taken in their pride: and why? their preaching is of cursing and lies.

13 Consume them in thy wrath, consume them, that they may perish: and know that it is G.o.d that ruleth in Jacob, and unto the ends of the world.

14 And in the evening they will return: grin like a dog, and will go about the city.

15 They will run here and there for meat: and grudge if they be not satisfied.

16 As for me, I will sing of thy power, and will praise thy mercy betimes in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.

17 Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for thou, O G.o.d, art my refuge, and my merciful G.o.d.

PSALM 60. _Deus, repulisti nos_.

O G.o.d, thou hast cast us out, and scattered us abroad: thou hast also been displeased; O turn thee unto us again.

2 Thou hast moved the land, and divided it: heal the sores thereof, for it shaketh.

3 Thou hast shewed thy people heavy things: thou hast given us a drink of deadly wine.

4 Thou hast given a token for such as fear thee: that they may triumph because of the truth.

5 Therefore were thy beloved delivered: help me with thy right hand, and hear me.

6 G.o.d hath spoken in his holiness, I will rejoice, and divide Sichem: and mete out the valley of Succoth.

7 Gilead is mine, and Mana.s.ses is mine: Ephraim also is the strength of my head; Judah is my law-giver;

8 Moab is my wash-pot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe: Philistia, be thou glad of me.