Book of Common Prayer
118 ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.
2 Blessed are they who search his testimonies: that seek him with their whole heart.
3 For they that work iniquity, have not walked in his ways.
4 Thou hast commanded thy commandments to be kept most diligently.
5 O! that my ways may be directed to keep thy justifications.
6 Then shall I not be confounded, when I shall look into all thy commandments.
7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned the judgments of thy justice.
8 I will keep thy justifications: O! do not thou utterly forsake me.
9 BETH. By what doth a young man correct his way? by observing thy words.
10 With my whole heart have I sought after thee: let me not stray from thy commandments.
11 Thy words have I hidden in my heart, that I may not sin against thee.
12 Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy justifications.
13 With my lips I have pronounced all the judgments of thy mouth.
14 I have been delighted in the way of thy testimonies, as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on thy commandments: and I will consider thy ways.
16 I will think of thy justifications: I will not forget thy words.
17 GIMEL. Give bountifully to thy servant, enliven me: and I shall keep thy words.
18 Open thou my eyes: and I will consider the wondrous things of thy law.
19 I am a sojourner on the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.
20 My soul hath coveted to long for thy justifications, at all times.
21 Thou hast rebuked the proud: they are cursed who decline from thy commandments.
22 Remove from reproach and contempt: because I have sought after thy testimonies.
23 For princes sat, and spoke against me: but thy servant was employed in thy justifications.
24 For thy testimonies are my meditation: and thy justifications my counsel.
25 DALETH. My soul hath cleaved to the pavement: quicken thou me according to thy word.
26 I have declared my ways, and thou hast heard me: teach me thy justifications.
27 Make me to understand the way of thy justifications: and I shall be exercised in thy wondrous works.
28 My soul hath slumbered through heaviness: strengthen thou me in thy words.
29 Remove from me the way of iniquity: and out of thy law have mercy on me.
30 I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments I have not forgotten.
31 I have stuck to thy testimonies, O Lord: put me not to shame.
32 I have run the way of thy commandments, when thou didst enlarge my heart.
33 HE. Set before me for a law the way of thy justifications, O Lord: and I will always seek after it.
34 Give me understanding, and I will search thy law; and I will keep it with my whole heart.
35 Lead me into the path of thy commandments; for this same I have desired.
36 Incline my heart into thy testimonies and not to covetousness.
37 Turn away my eyes that they may not behold vanity: quicken me in thy way.
38 Establish thy word to thy servant, in thy fear.
39 Turn away my reproach, which I have apprehended: for thy judgments are delightful.
40 Behold I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy justice.
41 VAU. Let thy mercy also come upon me, O Lord: thy salvation according to thy word.
42 So shall I answer them that reproach me in any thing; that I have trusted in thy words.
43 And take not thou the word of truth utterly out of my mouth: for in thy words have I hoped exceedingly.
44 So shall I always keep thy law, for ever and ever.
45 And I walked at large: because I have sought after thy commandments.
46 And I spoke of thy testimonies before kings: and I was not ashamed.
47 I meditated also on thy commandments, which I loved.
48 And I lifted up my hands to thy commandments, which I loved: and I was exercised in thy justifications.
49 ZAIN. Be thou mindful of thy word to thy servant, in which thou hast given me hope.
50 This hath comforted me in my humiliation: because thy word hath enlivened me.
51 The proud did iniquitously altogether: but I declined not from thy law.
52 I remembered, O Lord, thy judgments of old: and I was comforted.
53 A fainting hath taken hold of me, because of the wicked that forsake thy law.
54 Thy justifications were the subject of my song, in the place of my pilgrimage.
55 In the night I have remembered thy name, O Lord: and have kept thy law.
56 This happened to me: because I sought after thy justifications.
57 HETH. O Lord, my portion, I have said, I would keep the law.
58 I entreated thy face with all my heart: have mercy on me according to thy word.
59 I have thought on my ways: and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
60 I am ready, and am not troubled: that I may keep thy commandments.
61 The cords of the wicked have encompassed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.
62 I rose at midnight to give praise to thee; for the judgments of thy justification.
63 I am a partaker with all them that fear thee, and that keep thy commandments.
64 The earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy justifications.
65 TETH. Thou hast done well with thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word.
66 Teach me goodness and discipline and knowledge; for I have believed thy commandments.
67 Before I was humbled I offended; therefore have I kept thy word.
68 Thou art good; and in thy goodness teach me thy justifications.
69 The iniquity of the proud hath been multiplied over me: but I will seek thy commandments with my whole heart.
70 Their heart is curdled like milk: but I have meditated on thy law.
71 It is good for me that thou hast humbled me, that I may learn thy justifications.
72 The law of thy mouth is good to me, above thousands of gold and silver.
73 JOD. Thy hands have made me and formed me: give me understanding, and I will learn thy commandments.
74 They that fear thee shall see me, and shall be glad: because I have greatly hoped in thy words.
75 I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are equity: and in thy truth thou hast humbled me.
76 O! let thy mercy be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.
77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me, and I shall live: for thy law is my meditation.
78 Let the proud be ashamed, because they have done unjustly towards me: but I will be employed in thy commandments.
79 Let them that fear thee turn to me and they that know thy testimonies.
80 Let my heart be undefiled in thy justifications, that I may not be confounded.
81 CAPH. My soul hath fainted after thy salvation: and in thy word I have very much hoped.
82 My eyes have failed for thy word, saying: When wilt thou comfort me?
83 For I am become like a bottle in the frost: I have not forgotten thy justifications.
84 How many are the days of thy servant: when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?
85 The wicked have told me fables: but not as thy law.
86 All thy statutes are truth: they have persecuted me unjustly, do thou help me.
87 They had almost made an end of me upon earth: but I have not forsaken thy commandments.
88 Quicken thou me according to thy mercy: and I shall keep the testimonies of thy mouth.
89 LAMED. For ever, O Lord, thy word standeth firm in heaven.
90 Thy truth unto all generations: thou hast founded the earth, and it continueth.
91 By thy ordinance the day goeth on: for all things serve thee.
92 Unless thy law had been my meditation, I had then perhaps perished in my abjection.
93 Thy justifications I will never forget: for by them thou hast given me life.
94 I am thine, save thou me: for I have sought thy justifications.
95 The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I have understood thy testimonies.
96 I have seen an end to all persecution: thy commandment is exceeding broad.
97 MEM. O how have I loved thy law, O Lord! it is my meditation all the day.
98 Through thy commandment, thou hast made me wiser than my enemies: for it is ever with me.
99 I have understood more than all my teachers: because thy testimonies are my meditation.
100 I have had understanding above ancients: because I have sought thy commandments.
101 I have restrained my feet from every evil way: that I may keep thy words.
102 I have not declined from thy judgments, because thou hast set me a law.
103 How sweet are thy words to my palate! more than honey to my mouth.
104 By thy commandments I have had understanding: therefore have I hated every way of iniquity.
105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my paths.
106 I have sworn and am determined to keep the judgments of thy justice.
107 I have been humbled, O Lord, exceedingly: quicken thou me according to thy word.
108 The free offerings of my mouth make acceptable, O Lord: and teach me thy judgments.
109 My soul is continually in my hands: and I have not forgotten thy law.
110 Sinners have laid a snare for me: but I have not erred from thy precepts.
111 I have purchased thy testimonies for an inheritance for ever: because they are a joy to my heart.
112 I have inclined my heart to do thy justifications for ever, for the reward.
113 SAMECH. I have hated the unjust: and have loved thy law.
114 Thou art my helper and my protector: and in thy word I have greatly hoped.
115 Depart from me, ye malignant: and I will search the commandments of my God.
116 Uphold me according to thy word, and I shall live: and let me not be confounded in my expectation.
117 Help me, and I shall be saved: and I will meditate always on thy justifications.
118 Thou hast despised all them that fall off from thy judgments; for their thought is unjust.
119 I have accounted all the sinners of the earth prevaricators: therefore have I loved thy testimonies.
120 Pierce thou my flesh with thy fear: for I am afraid of thy judgments.
121 AIN. I have done judgment and justice: give me not up to them that slander me.
122 Uphold thy servant unto good: let not the proud calumniate me.
123 My eyes have fainted after thy salvation: and for the word of thy justice.
124 Deal with thy servant according to thy mercy: and teach me thy justifications.
125 I am thy servant: give me understanding that I may know thy testimonies.
126 It is time, O Lord, to do: they have dissipated thy law.
127 Therefore have I loved thy commandments above gold and the topaz.
128 Therefore was I directed to all thy commandments: I have hated all wicked ways.
129 PHE. Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore my soul hath sought them.
130 The declaration of thy words giveth light: and giveth understanding to little ones.
131 I opened my mouth and panted: because I longed for thy commandments.
132 Look thou upon me, and have mercy on me, according to the judgment of them that love thy name.
133 Direct my steps according to thy word: and let no iniquity have dominion over me.
134 Redeem me from the calumnies of men: that I may keep thy commandments.
135 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: and teach me thy justifications.
136 My eyes have sent forth springs of water: because they have not kept thy law.
137 SADE. Thou art just, O Lord: and thy judgment is right.
138 Thou hast commanded justice thy testimonies: and thy truth exceedingly.
139 My zeal hath made me pine away: because my enemies forgot thy words.
140 Thy word is exceedingly refined: and thy servant hath loved it.
141 I am very young and despised; but I forgot not thy justifications.
142 Thy justice is justice for ever: and thy law is the truth.
143 Trouble and anguish have found me: thy commandments are my meditation.
144 Thy testimonies are justice for ever: give me understanding, and I shall live.
145 COPH. I cried with my whole heart, hear me, O Lord: I will seek thy justifications.
146 I cried unto thee, save me: that I may keep thy commandments.
147 I prevented the dawning of the day, and cried: because in thy words I very much hoped.
148 My eyes to thee have prevented the morning: that I might meditate on thy words.
149 Hear thou my voice, O Lord, according to thy mercy: and quicken me according to thy mercy.
150 They that persecute me have drawn nigh to iniquity; but they are gone far off from the law.
151 Thou art near, O Lord: and all thy ways are truth.
152 I have known from the beginning concerning thy testimonies: that thou hast founded them for ever.
153 RES. See my humiliation and deliver me: for I have not forgotten the law.
154 Judge my judgment and redeem me: quicken thou me for thy word's sake.
155 Salvation is far from sinners; because they have not sought thy justifications.
156 Many, O Lord, are thy mercies: quicken me according to thy judgment.
157 Many are they that persecute me, and afflict me; but I have not declined from thy testimonies.
158 I beheld the transgressors, and I pined away; because they kept not thy word.
159 Behold I have loved thy commandments, O Lord; quicken me thou in thy mercy.
160 The beginning of thy words is truth: all the judgments of thy justice are for ever.
161 SIN. Princes have persecuted me without cause: and my heart hath been in awe of thy words.
162 I will rejoice at thy words, as one that hath found great spoil.
163 I have hated and abhorred iniquity; but I have loved thy law.
164 Seven times a day I have given praise to thee, for the judgments of thy justice.
165 Much peace have they that love thy law, and to them there is no stumbling block.
166 I looked to thy salvation, O Lord: and I loved thy commandments.
167 My soul hath kept thy testimonies: and hath loved them exceedingly.
168 I have kept thy commandments and thy testimonies: because all my ways are in thy sight.
169 TAU. Let my supplication, O Lord, come near in thy sight: give me understanding according to thy word.
170 Let my request come in before thee; deliver thou me according to thy word.
171 My lips shall utter a hymn, when thou shalt teach me thy justifications.
172 My tongue shall pronounce thy word: because all thy commandments are justice.
173 Let thy hand be with me to save me; for I have chosen thy precepts.
174 I have longed for thy salvation, O Lord; and thy law is my meditation.
175 My soul shall live and shall praise thee: and thy judgments shall help me.
176 I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost: seek thy servant, because I have not forgotten thy commandments.
145 Alleluia, of Aggeus and Zacharias.
2 Praise the Lord, O my soul, in my life I will praise the Lord: I will sing to my God as long as I shall be. Put not your trust in princes:
3 In the children of men, in whom there is no salvation.
4 His spirit shall go forth, and he shall return into his earth: in that day all their thoughts shall perish.
5 Blessed is he who hath the God of Jacob for his helper, whose hope is in the Lord his God:
6 Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all things that are in them.
7 Who keepeth truth for ever: who executeth judgment for them that suffer wrong: who giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth them that are fettered:
8 The Lord enlighteneth the blind. The Lord lifteth up them that are cast down: the Lord loveth the just.
9 The Lord keepeth the strangers, he will support the fatherless and the widow: and the ways of sinners he will destroy.
10 The Lord shall reign for ever: thy God, O Sion, unto generation and generation.
17 And Achitophel said to Absalom: I will choose me twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night.
2 And coming upon him (for he is now weary, and weak handed) I will defeat him: and when all the people is put to flight that is with him, I will kill the king who will be left alone.
3 And I will bring back all the people, as if they were but one man: for thou seekest but one man: and all the people shall be in peace.
4 And his saying pleased Absalom, and all the ancients of Israel.
5 But Absalom said: Call Chusai the Arachite, and let us hear what he also saith.
6 And when Chusai was come to Absalom, Absalom said to him: Achitophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do it or not? what counsel dost thou give?
7 And Chusai said to Absalom: The counsel that Achitophel hath given this time is not good.
8 And again Chusai said: Thou knowest thy father, and the men that are with him, that they are very valiant, and bitter in their mind, as a bear raging in the wood when her whelps are taken away: and thy father is a warrior, and will not lodge with the people.
9 Perhaps he now lieth hid in pits, or in some other place where he list: and when any one shall fall at the first, every one that heareth it shall say: There is a slaughter among the people that followed Absalom.
10 And the most valiant man whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall melt for fear: for all the people of Israel know thy father to be a valiant man, and that all who are with him are valiant.
11 But this seemeth to me to be good counsel: Let all Israel be gathered to thee, from Dan to Bersabee, as the sand of the sea which cannot be numbered: and thou shalt be in the midst of them.
12 And we shall come upon him in what place soever he shall be found: and we shall cover him, as the dew falleth upon the ground, and we shall not leave of the men that are with him, not so much as one.
13 And if he shall enter into any city, all Israel shall cast ropes round about that city, and we will draw it into the river, so that there shall not be found so much as one small stone thereof.
14 And Absalom, and all the men of Israel said: The counsel of Chusai the Arachite is better than the counsel of Achitophel: and by the will of the Lord the profitable counsel of Achitophel was defeated, that the Lord might bring evil upon Absalom.
15 And Chusai said to Sadoc and Abiathar the priests: Thus and thus did Achitophel counsel Absalom, and the ancients of Israel: and thus and thus did I counsel them.
16 Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying: Tarry not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but without delay pass over: lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that is with him.
17 And Jonathan and Achimaas stayed by the fountain Rogel: and there went a maid and told them: and they went forward, to carry the message to king David, for they might not be seen, nor enter into the city.
18 But a certain boy saw them, and told Absalom: but they making haste went into the house of a certain man in Bahurim, who had a well in his court, and they went down into it.
19 And a woman took, and spread a covering over the mouth of the well, as it were to dry sodden barley: and so the thing was not known.
20 And when Absalom's servants were come into the house, they said to the woman: Where is Achimaas and Jonathan? and the woman answered them: They passed on in haste, after they had tasted a little water. But they that sought them, when they found them not, returned into Jerusalem.
21 And when they were gone, they came up out of the well, and going on told king David, and said: Arise, and pass quickly over the river: for this manner of counsel has Achitophel given against you.
22 So David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they passed over the Jordan, until it grew light, and not one of them was left that was not gone over the river.
23 But Achitophel seeing that his counsel was not followed, saddled his ass, and arose and went home to his house and to his city, and putting his house in order, hanged himself, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.
6 As it is written: Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him unto justice.
7 Know ye therefore, that they who are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
8 And the scripture, foreseeing, that God justifieth the Gentiles by faith, told unto Abraham before: In thee shall all nations be blessed.
9 Therefore they that are of faith, shall be blessed with faithful Abraham.
10 For as many as are of the works of the law, are under a curse. For it is written: Cursed is every one, that abideth not in all things, which are written in the book of the law to do them.
11 But that in the law no man is justified with God, it is manifest: because the just man liveth by faith.
12 But the law is not of faith: but, He that doth those things, shall live in them.
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written: Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus: that we may receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.
30 I cannot of myself do any thing. As I hear, so I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not my own will, but the will of him that sent me.
31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.
32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.
33 You sent to John, and he gave testimony to the truth.
34 But I receive not testimony from man: but I say these things, that you may be saved.
35 He was a burning and a shining light: and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.
36 But I have a greater testimony than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to perfect; the works themselves, which I do, give testimony of me, that the Father hath sent me.
37 And the Father himself who hath sent me, hath given testimony of me: neither have you heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
38 And you have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him you believe not.
39 Search the scriptures, for you think in them to have life everlasting; and the same are they that give testimony of me.
40 And you will not come to me that you may have life.
41 I receive glory not from men.
42 But I know you, that you have not the love of God in you.
43 I am come in the name of my Father, and you receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him you will receive.
44 How can you believe, who receive glory one from another: and the glory which is from God alone, you do not seek?
45 Think not that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one that accuseth you, Moses, in whom you trust.
46 For if you did believe Moses, you would perhaps believe me also; for he wrote of me.
47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?
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