TWENTYFOURTH EVENING. Evening Prayer. PSALM CXIX. It is generally supposed to have been written by David, during his exile among the Philistines, whither be had been driven by the perfecution of Saul. The Structure is remarkable; it confifts of twenty-two fections, denoted by the letters of the Hebrew alphabet; and each fection confifts of eight verfes, the first of which in each section begins with the different letters in fucceffion. Aleph. 1. BLESSED are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. 2. Bleffed are they that keep his testimonies, and feek him with the whole heart, 3. They alfo do no iniquity; they walk in his ways. 4. Thou hast commanded that thy precepts be diligently kept. 5. Oh that my ways may be fo directed that I may keep thy ftatutes. 6. Then fhall I not be ashamed, while I have refpect unto all thy commandments. 7. I will praise thee with an upright heart; when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments. 8. I will keep thy commandments; O do not utterly forfake me. Beth. 9. Wherewith fhall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed according to thy word. 10. With my whole heart have I fought thee; O let me not wander from thy commandments. 11. Thy words have I hid within my heart, that I might not fin against thee. 12. Blessed art thou O Lord; O teach me thy ftatutes. 13. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. 14. I have rejoiced in the way of thy teftimonies, as much as in all riches. 15. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have refpect unto thy ways. 16. I will delight myself in thy ftatutes; I will not forget thy word. Gimel. 17. Deal bountifully with thy fervant, that I may live and keep thy word. 18. Take the covering from mine eyes, that I may behold the wondrous things of thy law. 19. I am a fojourner in the land, hide not thy commandments from me. 20. My foul pineth with the defire, that it hath always for thy judgments. 21. Thou haft rebuked the proud, they that err from thy commandments are cursed. 22. Remove from me rebuke and fhame, for I have kept thy testimonies. 23. Though princes fit and speak against me, thy fervant meditates in thy ftatutes. 24. Thy teftimonies alfo are my delight, and thy commandments my counsellors. Daleth. 25. My foul cleaveth unto the duft; quicken thou me according to thy word. 26. I have acknowledged my ways and thou heardeft me; O teach me thy ftatutes. 27. Make me to understand the way of thy precepts; fo will I meditate on thy wondrous works. 28. My foul melteth away for very heaviness; strengthen thou me according to thy word. 29. Remove from me the way of iniquity; and make me to refpect thy law. 30. I have chofen the way of truth; thy judg ments have I laid before me. 31. I cleave unto thy teftimonies; O Lord put me not to fhame. 32. I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou fhalt enlarge my heart. TWENTY FIFTH MORNING. Morning Prayer. He. 33. Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy ftatutes, and I will keep it unto the end, 34. Give me understanding that I may keep thy law, and I will obferve it with my whole heart. 35. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments, for therein is my defire. 36. Incline my heart unto thy teftimonies, and not to the love of gain. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vani 37. ty; and quicken thou me in thy way. 38. Establish thy word unto thy fervant, that I fear thee. may 39. Turn away the rebuke that I am afraid of; for thy judgments are good. 40. Behold, my delight is in thy commandments; O quicken me in thy righteousness. Vau. 41. Let thy mercies come alfo unto me, O Lord; thy falvation according to thy word. 42. So fhall I answer him that reproacheth me, because my truft is in thy word. 43. And take not out of my mouth the word of truth, for I have hoped in thy judgments. 44. So fhall I always keep thy law, yea for ever and ever. 45. And I will walk at large, because I seek thy precepts. 46. I will speak of thy teftimonies alfo before kings, and will not be ashamed. 47. And I will delight myself in thy commandments which I have greatly loved. 48. My hands alfo will I lift up unto thy commandments, and my study shall be in thy ftatutes. |