xl A Liturgy Thanksgiving I waited patiently for the LORD; And he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay; And he set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. 'Blessed is the man that maketh the LORD his trust, 'And respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. 'Many, O LORD my God, are the wonderful works which thou hast done, 'And thy thoughts which are to us-ward : 'They cannot be set in order unto thee; 'If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.' 84 Confession of Faith Sacrifice and offering thou hast no delight in ; (Mine ears hast thou opened:) Burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. (In the roll of the book it is prescribed to me :) I delight to do thy will, O my God; (Yea, thy law is within my heart.) I have published righteousness in the great congregation; (Lo, I will not refrain my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.) I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; Supplication Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: Let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me. For innumerable evils have compassed me about, Mine iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up; They are more than the hairs of mine head, and my heart hath failed me. Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: Make haste to help me, O LORD. Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it : Let them be turned backward and brought to dishonour that delight in my hurt. Let them be desolate by reason of their shame that say unto me, Aha, Aha. Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: Let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified. But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: Thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God. 86 xli Integrity succoured in the Day of Evil Blessed is he that considereth the poor: The LORD will deliver him in the day of evil. The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive, And he shall be blessed upon the earth; And deliver not thou him unto the will of his enemies. The LORD will support him upon the couch of languishing : Thou makest all his bed in his sickness. I said, O LORD, have mercy upon me: Heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee. 'When shall he die, and his name perish?' 'An evil disease cleaveth fast unto him: 'And now that he lieth he shall rise up no more.' Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, Which did eat of my bread, Hath lifted up his heel against me. But thou, O LORD, have mercy upon me, and raise me up, That I may requite them. By this I know that thou delightest in me, Because mine enemy doth not triumph over me. And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, And settest me before thy face for ever. Blessed be the LORD, the God of Esrael, Amen, and Amen. 888 |