Morning Prayer. PSALM 90. Domine, refugium. [The Fourth Book commences with "A Prayer of MOSES, the man of God," the most ancient of all the Psalms. It is styled by Isaac Taylor "perhaps the most sublime of human compositions." The Psalm recalls the language of the Pentateuch, especially Deut. xxxii.] LORD, Thou hast been our refuge from one generation to another. 2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever the earth and the world were made Thou art God from everlasting, and world without end. 3 Thou turnest man to destruction : again Thou sayest, Come again, ye children of men. 4 For a thousand years in Thy sight are but as yesterday seeing that is past as a watch in the night. 5 As soon as Thou scatterest them they are even as a sleep : and fade away suddenly like the grass. 6 In the morning it is green, and groweth up but in the evening it is cut down, dried up, and withered. 7 For we consume away in Thy displeasure and are afraid at Thy wrathful indignation. 8 Thou hast set our misdeeds before Thee and our secret sins in the light of Thy countenance. 9 For when Thou art angry all our days are gone we bring our years to an end, as it were a tale that is told. BOOK IV. PSALMS XC. TO CVI. DAY 18. The second of the two Psalms appointed in the Order for the Burial of the Dead. 1. LORD-Adonai, i.e., ruler, not JE HOVAH. 2. Thou art God, &c.; Heb. even from everlasting to everlasting Thou art God. 3. Cf. Eccles. i. 4, "One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh." 4. Rather, are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch (i.e., one of the three watches) in the night. 5. Men are swept away as with a flood, they vanish as dreams, they are flower of the grass," S. James i. 10. 66 as the 6. "The sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth," S. James. 8. Light. In Hebrew it is the same word as that used of the sun by Moses in Gen. i. The revealing illuminating light of God's countenance. 9. A tale that is told; Heb. like a meditation, a thought. "A transitory murmur. Gone like a dream. 10 The days of our age are threescore years and ten; and though men be so strong that they come to fourscore years: yet is their strength then but labour and sorrow; so soon passeth it away, and we are gone. 11 But who regardeth the power of Thy wrath for even thereafter as a man feareth, so is Thy displeasure. : 12 O teach us to number our days: that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. 13 Turn Thee again, O LORD, at the last: and be gracious unto Thy servants. 14 O satisfy us with Thy mercy, and that soon: so shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life. 15 Comfort us again now after the time that Thou hast plagued us and for the years wherein we have suffered adversity. 16 Shew Thy servants Thy work and their children Thy glory. : 17 And the glorious Majesty of the LORD our God be upon us : prosper Thou the work of our hands upon us, O prosper Thou our handy-work. PSALM 91. Qui habitat. [This Psalm, inculcating a thorough reliance on God, has no inscription or author assigned to it. Dr Kay inclines to the tradition of the old rabbis that it was written by Moses, as many of the expressions are found in Deuteronomy. Verses 11 and 12 were quoted by Satan in the "Temptation."] WHOSо dwelleth under the defence of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say unto the LORD, Thou art my hope, and my strong hold : my God, in Him will I trust. 3 For He shall deliver thee from the : snare of the hunter and from the noisome | ful, derived from the pestilence. 4 He shall defend thee under His wings, and thou shalt be safe under His feathers: His faithfulness and truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 5 Thou shalt not be afraid for any terror verb 'noy' (ennuyer), ance, &c.; Heb. the noxious, hence nuisdestroying pestilence. 4. This illustration from the eagle recalls Deut. xxxii. 11, "As an eagle. flutter by night: nor for the arrow that flieth by eth over her young, day; 6 For the pestilence that walketh in darkness nor for the sickness that destroyeth in the noon-day. 7 A thousand shall fall beside thee, and ten thousand at thy right hand : but it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Yea, with thine eyes shalt thou behold : and see the reward of the ungodly. 9 For Thou, LORD, art my hope : Thou hast set Thine house of defence very high. 10 There shall no evil happen unto thee: neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 11 For He shall give His angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways. 12 They shall bear thee in their hands that thou hurt not thy foot against a stone. 13 Thou shalt go upon the lion and adder the young lion and the dragon shalt thou tread under thy feet. 14 Because he hath set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him up, because he hath known My Name. 15 He shall call upon Me, and I will hear him yea, I am with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and bring him to honour. 16 With long life will I satisfy him: and shew him My salvation. spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings.' 5. Terror by night. Every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night," Solomon's Song, iii. 8. 9. Rather translate, "For Thou, LORD, art my refuge; the most High hast Thou made Thy habita tion." 11. In all thy ways. Satan [to suit his purwords when quoting pose] omitted these the passage to our Lord. 13. The lion and serpent typify open violence and secret cunning. 14. The Psalm concludes with the assurance of God to the man who thus puts his trust in Him. 16. A long life spent in the service of God, and continued in eternity, is the blessing of God. Cf. the aged Symeon, "Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, Thy salvation." for mine eyes have seen PSALM 92. Bonum est confiteri. [This Psalm, "for the Sabbath-day," was used in It is a good thing to give thanks unto the : 2 To tell of Thy loving-kindness early in the morning and of Thy truth in the night-season; 3 Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the lute: upon a loud instrument, and upon the harp. : 4 For Thou, LORD, hast made me glad through Thy works and I will rejoice in giving praise for the operations of Thy hands. 5 O LORD, how glorious are Thy works: Thy thoughts are very deep. 6 An unwise man doth not well consider this and a fool doth not understand it. : 7 When the ungodly are green as the grass, and when all the workers of wickedness do flourish then shall they be destroyed for ever; but Thou, LORD, art the most Highest for evermore. 8 For lo, Thine enemies, O LORD, lo, Thine enemies shall perish and all the workers of wickedness shall be destroyed. 9 But mine horn shall be exalted like the horn of an unicorn: for I am anointed with fresh oil. A song for the Sabbath-day. 2. The Morning and Evening Sacrifice seems here alluded to. 4. Works; here Providential dispensations, as distinguished from definite acts. 5. Thoughts-i. e., counsels, purposes. 9. UNICORN. This is the rendering in our version of the Hebrew REÊM, taken from the LXX. It occurs seven times in the O.T. The two tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh are likened to the horns of the Reêm. -Deut. xxxiii. 17. The Reêm has great strength, as mentioned by Balaam, Num. xxiii. 22; it is savage and untamable, Job xxxix. 9-11; it is playful when young, Ps. xxix. 6; and the Reêmim are counted among the animals fit for sacrificial purposes by Isaiah, chap. xxxiv. 7. Their characteristics, therefore, seem to point out the BUFFALO as intended by Reêm. 10 Mine eye also shall see his lust of mine enemies and mine ear shall hear his desire of the wicked that arise up against me. : 11 The righteous shall flourish like a palm-tree and shall spread abroad like a cedar in Libanus. 12 Such as are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of the house of our God. : 13 They also shall bring forth more fruit in their age and shall be fat and well-liking. 14 That they may shew how true the LORD my strength is: and that there is no unrighteousness in Him. Evening Prayer. PSALM 93. Dominus regnavit. [This Psalm is closely connected with the former, and by some is supposed to form one Psalm with it. It celebrates the unapproachable majesty of the LORD, whatever may take place on earth. In spite of enemies or angry elements, the LORD is the most Highest for evermore.Ps. xcii. 7.] THE LORD is King, and hath put on glorious apparel the LORD hath put on His apparel, and girded Himself with strength. : 2 He hath made the round world so sure that it cannot be moved. 3 Ever since the world began hath Thy seat been prepared Thou art from everlasting. 4 The floods are risen, O LORD, the floods have lift up their voice: the floods lift up their waves. 1. Hath put on, &c.; Heb. is clothed with majesty; is clothed ! 3. Seat; rather, royal throne. The derivation of the Hebrew word points to its being covered with a canopy. 4. Are risen; Heb. have lift up; the same verb as in the two following sentences. |