C. A horse is a vain thing for safety; Neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. All. Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear Upon them that hope in his mercy; And to keep them alive in famine. M. *Who is this that cometh from Edom, Travelling in the greatness of his strength? Mighty to save. M. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel? P. And thy garments like him that treadeth in the wine-fat? All. I have trodden the wine-press alone: And of the people there was none with me; For I will tread them in mine anger, And trample them in my fury; And their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, And I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in my heart, And the year of my recompense is come. And I looked, and there was none to help; And I wondered that there was none to uphold: *Isaiah lxiii. 1-16. And I will tread down the people in my anger; And I will bring down their strength to the earth. M. I will mention the loving-kindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord; According to all that the Lord hath bestowed upon us, And the great goodness to the house of Israel, Which He hath bestowed upon them according to his mercies, And according to the multitude of his loving-kindnesses. C. For He said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: So He was their Saviour. P. In all their affliction He was afflicted, And the angel of his presence saved them : In his love and in his pity He redeemed them; And He bare them, and carried them all the days of old. All. But they rebelled, and vexed his Holy Spirit : And He fought against them. M. Then He remembered the days of old, Where is He that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock? Where is He that put his Holy Spirit within Him? P. That led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, Dividing the water before them, to make Himself an everlasting name? C. That led them through the deep as a horse in the wilderness, That they should not stumble ? All. As a beast goeth down into the valley, the Spirit of the Lord caused him to rest : So didst Thou lead thy people, to make Thyself a glorious name. M. Look down from heaven, And behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory; Where is thy zeal and thy strength, The sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? P. Are they restrained ? All. Doubtless Thou art our Father, Though Abraham be ignorant of us, And Israel acknowledge us not: Thou, O Lord, art our Father, our Redeemer: VI. THE WORD OF GOD. M. *The heavens declare the glory of God: P. And night unto night sheweth knowledge. Where their voice is not heard. All. Their line is gone out through all the earth, C. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, All. And there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. M. The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: Psalm xix. P. The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. C. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. M. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: P. The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. All. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned; And in keeping of them there is great reward. M. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; P. Let them not have dominion over me: C. Then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. All. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, Be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my Strength, and my Redeemer. *Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the Lord. M. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, P. They also do no iniquity: They walk in his ways. C. Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. All. O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes. P. When I have respect unto all thy commandments. *Psalm cxix. 1-72 D C. When I shall have learned thy righteous judgments. All. I will keep thy statutes; O forsake me not utterly. C. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way ? O let me not wander from thy commandments. That I might not sin against Thee. All. Blessed art Thou, O Lord : Teach me thy statutes. M. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. P. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies as much as in all riches. C. I will meditate in thy precepts, And have respect unto thy ways. M. Deal bountifully with thy servant, That I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. Hide not thy commandments from me. C. My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times. M. Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, C. Remove from me reproach and contempt; P. Princes also did sit and speak against me ; |