enemy into his hands, would finally refcue him from all

his calamities.

1. BE merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me, for my foul trusteth in thee: yea under the shadow of thy wings fhall be my refuge, untill these calamities be overpast.

2. I will call unto God moft high, even unto the God that performeth all things for me.

3. He fhall fend from heaven and fave me; he hath put to disgrace him that panteth to destroy me; God fhall fend forth his mercy and truth.

4. My foul is among lions, and I lie amongst burning fires, even the fons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a fharp fword.

5. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens, and thy glory above all the earth.

6. They prepared a net for my steps, to enclofe my foul; they digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves.

7. My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed, I will fing and give praise.

8. Awake up my glory, awake; I will awaken the pfaltery and harp betimes in the morning.

9. I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people, I will fing unto thee among the nations.

10. For the greatness of thy mercy reacheth unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds,

11. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens, and thy glory above all the earth.

PSALM LVIII.

This Pfalm was written against Saul and his counsellors, after he had cruelly put Abimelech the priest, and his family, and all the priests at Nob, to death, on the accufation of Doeg the Edomite, who also executed the fentence. I Sam. xxii.

do

1. DO ye indeed speak righteousness, O ye judges? ye judge uprightly, O ye fons of men? 2. Nay, in your heart work wickedness, ye ponder on the violence of

earth.

you

hands upon your

the

3. The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go aftray, uttering lies, as soon as they are born.

4. Their poifon is like the poison of a serpent, like that of the deaf adder, that stoppeth her ear.

5. Which will not hear the voice of the charmer, charming never so wifely.

6. Break their teeth, O God, smite the jaw bones of the lions, O Lord.

7. Let them diffolve like water that runneth

apace; let God prepare his arrows, and let them be utterly cut off.

8. Like a fnail that melteth let them pass away, like the untimely fruit of a woman, let them not fee the fun.

9. Sooner than your pots can feel the fire of thorns, let his fury fweep him away even alive.

10. Then shall the righteous rejoice when he feeth the vengeance, he fhall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.

II. So that a man shall say, verily there is a reward for the righteous; verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth.

ELEVENTH EVENING.

Evening Prayer.

PSALM LIX.

This Pfalm was written by David, when Saul fent officers to watch his house at night; and to flay him when he came out of his doors in the morning. See 1 Sam. xix.

1. DELIVER me from mine enemies, O God, defend me from them that rife up against me.

2. O deliver me from wicked doers, and fave me from bloody men.

3. For lo, they lie in wait for my foul; the mighty are gathered against me, not for my tranf greffion nor for my fin, O Lord.

4. They run and prepare themselves without any fault of mine; awake to help me, and behold.

5. Stand up, O Lord God of hofts, thou God of Ifrael, to vifit all the heathen, and be not merciful to them that offend of wicked malice.

6. Let them return in the evening, let them growl at me like dogs, and purfue me round the city.

7.(Behold, they utter iniquity with their mouths; swords are in their lips; "for who," say they," will help?")

8. But thou, O Lord, fhalt laugh them to scorn; thou shalt have all the heathen in derifion.

9. Unto thee, O my ftrength, will I fing; for thou, O God, art my refuge, and my merciful God.

10. God fhall prevent me with his loving kindnefs; he shall caufe me to look boldly upon mine

enemies.

11. Slay them not left my people forget, fcatter them by thy power, and bring them down, O Lord, our defence.

12. For the fin of their mouth, and for the words of their lips let them be taken in their pride, and for the curfing and lying which they utter.

13. Consume them in wrath, confume them that they may be no more; and let it be known that God ruleth in Jacob, unto the ends of the earth.

14. Let them return in the evening, let them growl at me like dogs, and purfue me round the city.

15. Let them wander up and down for their prey, and howl when they are not satisfied.

16. But I will fing of thy power, yea I fing aloud of thy mercy in the morning, for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.

17. Unto thee, O my ftrength, will I fing, for thou, O God, art my refuge, and my merciful God.

PSALM LX.

This Pfalm appears to have been written by David after he had been elected king by all the tribes, had taken Jerufalem, and extended his victories as far as Idumaa; in the five first verfes he defcribes the afflicted and diftreffed ftate of the kingdom immediately fubSequent to the death of Saul; be afterwards Speaks of the fortunate commencement of his reign, and his hopes of fill greater success in future.