Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.

For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

As for man,

his days are as grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone: and the place thereof shall know it no more.

But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting, upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;

To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all

Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.

Bless the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion; bless the Lord, O my soul.

SELECTION 56.

BLESS the Lord, O my soul. O Lord, my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honor and majesty:

Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:

Who layest the beams of thy chambers in the waters: who makest the clouds thy chariot: who walkest upon the wings of the wind:

Who makest thine angels spirits; thy ministers a flaming fire:

Who hast laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed forever.

Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.

At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.

Thou hast set a bound which the waters may not pass; that they turn not again to cover the earth.

He sendeth the springs into the valleys; they run among the hills.

They give drink to every beast of the field: the beasts of the forest quench their thirst.

Near them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.

He watereth the hills from his chambers; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of his works.

He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth.

He appointeth the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth when to go down.

Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forests do creep forth.

The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.

The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.

Man goeth forth to his work and to his labor until the evening.

O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all the earth is full of thy riches.

This great and wide sea, in it are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.

There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou

hast made to play therein.

These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.

That thou givest them, they gather thou openest thy hand, they are filled with good.

Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to the dust.

Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.

The glory of the Lord shall endure forever: the Lord shall rejoice in his works.

He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.

I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live. I will sing praise unto my God while I have my being.

My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord.

Now unto the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, the only wise God,

Be honor and glory, through Jesus Christ, forever and AMEN.

ever.

SELECTION 57.

O GIVE thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever.

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath delivered from the hand of the enemy:

And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.

They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way: they found no city to dwell in.

Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.

Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.

And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.

Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with good.

Those that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;

Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the Most High:

Therefore he brought down their heart with labor; they fell down, and there was none to help.

Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.

Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

He sent his word and healed them, and saved them from their destruction.

Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

And let them offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.

They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;

These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.

For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.

They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths their soul is melted because of trouble.

Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.

He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the loving-kindness of the Lord.

Now unto the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, the only wise God,

Be honor and glory, through Jesus Christ, forever and AMEN.

ever.

SELECTION 58.

I WILL praise thee, O Lord, among the people and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.

For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth

reacheth unto the clouds.

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

Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.

The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.

His work is honorable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth forever.