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6. Upon the wicked he shall rain coals, fire and brimstone; and a scorching tempest shall be the portion of their cup.

7. For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness ;

his countenance beholdeth that which is right.

SECOND EVENING.

Evening Prayer.

PSALM XII.

David laments the decrease of God's faithful fervants, and the general corruption of Man; but expresses bis firm reliance on God for their protection.

1. HELP Lord, for the godly man faileth; the faithful are minished from among the children of

men.

2. They speak vanity, every one with his neighbour; with flattering lips, and with a double heart do they fpeak.

3. The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips; and the tongue that speaketh proud things.

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4. Who have faid, "with our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own; who is Lord over us ?" 5. For the oppression of the poor, for the fighing of the needy, I will now arise, saith the Lord; I will openly put them in safety.

6. The words of the Lord are pure words, as filver refined in a vessel of earth, purified seven times. 7. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

8. The wicked shall wander about as vagabonds, and the despised of the fons of men shall be exalted.

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PSALM XIII.

David prays for deliverance from his deep and longcontinued distress.

1. HOW long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? For ever?-How long wilt thou hide thy face from me ? 2. How long shall I grieve in my foul, and daily forrow in my heart? How long shall mine enemy be exalted over me ?

3. Confider, and hear me, O Lord, my God, enlighten mine eyes, lest I fleep the fleep of death.

4. Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me, rejoice when I am moved.

5. Because I have trusted in thy mercy, my heart shall rejoice in thy falvation.

6. I will fing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me; and I will praise the name of the Lord most high.

PSALM XIV.

The complaint of the Jews during their captivity at Babylon, against the profaneness and oppression of their Chaldæan tyrants.

1. THE fool hath said in his heart, there is no God! they are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is not one that doeth good.

2. The Lord looked down from Heaven upon the children of men; to fee if there were any that did understand, and seek after God.

3. They are all gone afide; they are altogether become abominable, there is not one that doeth good, no not one.

4. Shall not the workers of iniquity be punished, who eat up my people, as they eat bread, nor do they invoke the Lord ?

5. Therefore shall they be fore afraid, for God is in the generation of the righteous; shall they mock at the counsel of the poor, because the Lord is his refuge?

6. Oh! That the salvation of Ifrael were come out of Sion! When the Lord bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Ifrael shall be right glad.

THIRD MORNING.

Morning Prayer.

PSALM XV.

The Pfalmist shews who are the true worshippers of God, and worthy of the divine favour and protection.

1. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle ? who shall dwell upon thy holy hill?

2. He that walketh uprightly and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. 3. He that slandereth not with his tongue, nor doth evil to his friend; nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.

4. In whose eyes the reprobate is despised; but who honoureth them that fear the Lord; he that fweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.

5. He that putteth not out his money to ufury; nor taketh reward against the innocent. Whofo doeth these things shall never fall.

PSALM XVI.

David expresses his abhorrence of the general idolatry of mankind, and his own zeal for the honour of God.

1. PRESERVE me, O God, for in thee do I put my trust.

2. I have faid unto the Lord, thou art my Lord; I have no good thing without thee.

3. As to the holy ones which are in the land, and such as excel in virtue, in them is all my delight.

4. Their forrows shall be multiplied, that hasten after another God: their drink-offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.

5. The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance, and of my cup; thou maintainest my lot.

6. The lines are fallen to me in pleasant places; yea I have a goodly heritage.

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