Book of Common Prayer
56 1 David being brought to Achish the king of Gath, 1 Sam. 21:12, complaineth of his enemies, demandeth succor, 3 Putteth his trust in God and in his promises, 12 And promiseth to perform his vows which he had taken upon him, whereof this was the effect, to praise God in his Church.
To him that excelleth. A Psalm of David on Michtam, concerning the [a]dumb dove in a far country, when the Philistines took him in Gath.
1 Be merciful unto me, O God, for [b]man would swallow me up: he fighteth continually and vexeth me.
2 Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for many fight against me, O thou most High.
3 When I was afraid, I trusted in thee.
4 I will rejoice in God, because of his [c]word, I trust in God, and will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
5 Mine own [d]words grieve me daily: all their thoughts are against me to do me hurt.
6 [e]They gather together, and keep themselves close: they mark my steps, because they wait for my soul.
7 [f]They think they shall escape by iniquity: O God, cast these people down in thine anger.
8 Thou hast counted my wanderings; put my [g]tears into thy bottle; are they not in thy register?
9 When I cry, then mine enemies shall turn back; this I know, for God is with me.
10 I will rejoice in God because of his word; in the Lord will I rejoice because of his word.
11 In God do I trust; I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
12 [h]Thy vows are upon me, O God, I will render praises unto thee.
13 For thou hast delivered my soul from death, and also my feet from falling, that I may [i]walk before God in the [j]light of the living.
57 1 David being in the desert of Ziph, where the inhabitants did betray him, and at length in the same cave with Saul, 2 Calleth most earnestly unto God, with full confidence that he will perform his promise, and take his cause in hand. 5 Also that he will show his glory in the heavens and the earth against his cruel enemies. 9 Therefore doth he render laud and praise.
To him that excelleth. [k]Destroy not. A Psalm of David on Michtam. (A)When he fled from Saul in the cave.
1 Have mercy upon me, O God, have mercy upon me; for my soul trusteth in thee, and in the shadow of thy wings will I [l]trust, till these [m]afflictions overpass.
2 I will call unto the most high God, even the God, that [n]performeth his promise toward me.
3 He will send from [o]heaven, and save me from the reproof of him that would swallow me. Selah. God will send his mercy, and his truth.
4 My soul is among lions; I lie among the children of men, that are set on fire; whose teeth are [p]spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
5 [q]Exalt thyself, O God, above the heaven, and let thy glory be upon all the earth.
6 They have laid a net for my steps; [r]my soul is pressed down, they have dug a pit before me, and are fallen into the midst of it. Selah.
7 Mine heart is [s]prepared, O God, mine heart is prepared; I will sing and give praise.
8 [t]Awake my tongue, awake viol and harp: I will awake early.
9 I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people, and I will sing unto thee among the nations.
10 For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the [u]clouds.
11 Exalt thyself, O God, above the heavens, and let thy glory be upon all the earth.
58 1 He describeth the malice of his enemies, the flatterers of Saul, who both secretly and openly sought his destruction, from whom he appealeth to God’s judgment, 10 Showing that the just shall rejoice, when they see the punishment of the wicked to the glory of God.
To him that excelleth. Destroy not. A Psalm of David on Michtam.
1 Is it true? O [v]congregation, speak ye justly? O sons of men judge ye uprightly?
2 Yea, rather ye imagine mischief in your heart: [w]your hands execute cruelty upon the earth.
3 The wicked [x]are strangers from the womb: even from the belly have they erred, and speak lies.
4 Their poison is even like the poison of a serpent; like the deaf [y]adder that stoppeth his ear.
5 Which heareth not the voice of the enchanter, though he be most expert in charming.
6 Break their [z]teeth, O God, in their mouths: break the jaws of the young lions, O Lord.
7 Let them [aa]melt like the waters, let them pass away; when he shooteth his arrows, let them be as broken.
8 Let them consume like a snail that melteth, and like the untimely fruit of a woman, that hath not seen the sun.
9 [ab]As raw flesh before your pots feel the fire of thorns: so let them carry them away as with a whirlwind in his wrath.
10 The righteous shall [ac]rejoice when he seeth the vengeance; he shall wash his feet in the [ad]blood of the wicked.
11 And men shall say, [ae]Verily there is fruit for the righteous; doubtless there is a God that judgeth in the earth.
64 1 David prayeth against the fury and false reports of his enemies. 7 He declareth their punishment and destruction. 10 To the comfort of the just and the glory of God.
To him that excelleth. A Psalm of David.
1 Hear my [a]voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.
2 Hide me from the [b]conspiracy of the wicked, and from the [c]rage of the works of iniquity.
3 Which have whet their tongue like a sword, and shot for their arrows [d]bitter words:
4 To shoot at the upright in secret: they shoot at him suddenly and [e]fear not.
5 They [f]encourage themselves in a wicked purpose: they commune together to lay snares privily, and say, Who shall see them?
6 They have sought out iniquities, and have accomplished that which they sought out, even everyone [g]his secret thoughts, and the depth of his heart.
7 But God will shoot an arrow at them suddenly: their strokes shall be at once.
8 They shall cause their own tongue to fall upon them: and whosoever shall see them, shall [h]flee away.
9 And all men shall see it, and declare the work of God, and they shall understand, what he hath wrought.
10 But the righteous [i]shall be glad in the Lord, and trust in him: and all that are upright of heart, shall rejoice.
65 1 A praise and thanksgiving unto God by the faithful, who are signified by Zion, 4 For the choosing, preservation, and governance of them, 9 And for the plentiful blessings poured forth upon all the earth, but especially toward his Church.
To him that excelleth. A Psalm or song of David.
1 O God, [j]praise waiteth for thee in Zion, and unto thee shall the vow be performed.
2 Because thou hearest the prayer, unto thee shall all [k]flesh come.
3 Wicked deeds [l]have prevailed against me: but thou wilt be merciful unto our transgressions.
4 Blessed is he, whom thou choosest and causest to come to thee: he shall dwell in thy courts, and we shall be satisfied with the pleasures of thine House, even of thine holy Temple.
5 O God of our salvation, thou wilt [m]answer us with fearful signs in thy righteousness, O thou the hope of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are far off in the [n]Sea.
6 He establisheth the mountains by his power: and is girded about with strength.
7 He appeaseth the [o]noise of the seas, and the noise of the waves thereof, and the tumults of the people.
8 They also that dwell in the uttermost parts of the earth, shall be afraid of thy signs; thou shalt make [p]the East and the West to rejoice.
9 Thou [q]visitest the earth, and waterest it; thou makest it very rich: the [r]river of God is full of water, thou preparest them corn; for so thou appointest [s]it.
10 Thou [t]waterest abundantly the furrows thereof; thou causest the rain to descend into the valleys thereof; thou makest it soft with showers, and blessest the bud thereof.
11 Thou crownest the year with thy goodness, and thy steps drop fatness.
12 They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the hills shall be compassed with gladness.
13 The pastures are clad with sheep; the valleys also shall be covered with corn; therefore they shout for joy, [u]and sing.
14 1 The Lamb standeth on mount Zion: 4 with his chaste worshippers. 6 One Angel preacheth the Gospel. 8 Another foretelleth the fall of Babylon: 9 the third warneth that the beast be avoided. 13 A voice from heaven pronounceth them happy who die in the Lord. 16 The Lord’s sickle thrust into the harvest, 18 and into the vintage.
1 Then I looked, and lo, a Lamb [a]stood on mount Zion, and with him an [b]hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s [c]Name written in their foreheads.
2 And I heard a voice from heaven as the sound of many waters, and as the sound of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers, harping with their harps.
3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the Elders: and no man could learn that song, but the hundred, forty and four thousand, which were bought from the earth.
4 These are they which are not defiled with women: for they are virgins: these follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth: these are bought from men, being the firstfruits unto God, and unto the Lamb.
5 And in their mouths was found no guile: for they are without spot before the throne of God.
6 ¶ [d]Then I saw [e]another Angel fly in the midst of heaven, having an everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation and kindred, and tongue, and people,
7 [f](A)Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him: for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made (B)heaven and earth, and the sea and the fountains of waters.
8 And there followed another Angel, saying, (C)Babylon that great city is fallen, it is fallen: for she made all nations to drink of the wine of the [g]wrath of her fornication.
9 ¶ And the third Angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, [h]If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or on his hand,
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, yea, of the pure wine, which is poured into the cup of his wrath, and he shall be tormented in fire and brimstone before the holy Angels, and before the Lamb.
11 And the smoke of their torment shall ascend evermore: and they shall have no rest day nor night, which worship the beast and his name.
12 [i]Here is the patience of Saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
13 Then I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Write, The dead which die [j]in the Lord, are fully blessed. Even so saith the Spirit: for they rest from their labors, and their [k]works follow them.
49 ¶ [a]I am come to put fire on the earth, and what is my desire, if it be already kindled?
50 Notwithstanding I must be baptized with a baptism, and how am I grieved till it be ended?
51 (A)Think ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, nay, but rather debate.
52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father: the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother: the mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
54 ¶ (B)[b]Then said he to the people, When ye see a cloud [c]rise out of the West, straightway ye say, A shower cometh: and so it is.
55 And when ye see the South wind blow, ye say, that it will be hot: and it cometh to pass.
56 Hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the earth, and of the sky: but why discern ye not this time?
57 [d]Yea, and why judge ye not of yourselves what is right?
58 ¶ (C)While thou goest with thine adversary to the ruler, as thou art in the way, give diligence in the way, that thou mayest be delivered from him, lest he draw thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the [e]jailer, and the jailer cast thee into prison.
59 I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the utmost mite.
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