: LORD and all the kings of the earth Thy 16 When the LORD shall build up Sion: and when His glory shall appear; 17 When He turneth Him unto the prayer of the poor destitute and despiseth not their desire. : 18 This shall be written for those that come after and the people which shall be born shall praise the LORD. : 19 For He hath looked down from His sanctuary: out of the heaven did the LORD behold the earth; 20 That He might hear the mournings of such as are in captivity and deliver the children appointed unto death; 21 That they may declare the Name of the LORD in Sion and His worship at Jerusalem; 22 When the people are gathered together: and the kingdoms also, to serve the LORD. 23 He brought down my strength in my journey and shortened my days. : 24 But I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of mine age as for Thy years, they endure throughout all genera tions. 25 Thou, LORD, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth and the heavens are the work of Thy hands. : 26 They shall perish, but Thou shalt endure they all shall wax old as doth a garment ; 27 And as a vesture shalt Thou change them, and they shall be changed: but Thou art the same, and Thy years shall not fail. 28 The children of Thy servants shall continue and their seed shall stand fast in Thy sight. : 17. Poor destitute; the Hebrew word signifying one "made bare and naked," occurs only here and in Jer. xvii. 6, where it is translated "heath," in the E. V. [So also LXX. and Vulgate.] 18. The [a] people which shall be borni.e., those entering as it were on a new life, on their return from the captivity. 21. Worship; T'hillah, praise, hymn. The Hebrew title of the "Psalms" is T'hillim. 28. Shall continue; Heb. shall dwell-i.e., in Zion, restored to their home. PSALM 103. Benedic, anima mea. [This Psalm, ascribed to David's authorship, may have been adapted to the circumstances of the Restoration. It is inspired by the words of God to Moses, "The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin," Ex. xxxiv. 6, 7.] PRAISE the LORD, O my soul and all that is within me praise His holy Name. 2 Praise the LORD, O my soul: and forget not all His benefits; 3 Who forgiveth all thy sin : and healeth all thine infirmities; 4 Who saveth thy life from destruction: and crowneth thee with mercy and lovingkindness; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things making thee young and lusty as an eagle. 6 The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all them that are oppressed with wrong. 7 He shewed His ways unto Moses : His works unto the children of Israel. Some render it "thy gay heart; others, thy soul," which is the beauty of a man; others trans 8 The LORD is full of compassion and late it "thy age." 7. Moses had praymercy : long-suffering, and of great good-ed, "If I have found ness. 9 He will not alway be chiding : neither keepeth He His anger for ever. 10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins nor rewarded us according to our wickednesses. 11 For look how high the heaven is in comparison of the earth: so great is His mercy also toward them that fear Him. 12 Look how wide also the east is from the west so far hath He set our sins from us. 13 Yea, like as a father pitieth his own grace in Thy sight, SHEW ME NOW THY WAY," Ex. xxxiii. 13. 10. So the versicles in the Litany: "O LORD, deal not with us after our sins, neither reward us after our iniquities." children even so is the LORD merciful unto them that fear Him. are 14 For He knoweth whereof we made: He remembereth that we are but dust. 15 The days of man are but as grass: for he flourisheth as a flower of the field. 16 For as soon as the wind goeth over it, it is gone and the place thereof shall know it no more. 17 But the merciful goodness of the LORD endureth for ever and ever upon them that fear Him : and His righteousness upon children's children; 18 Even upon such as keep His covenant : and think upon His commandments to do them. : 19 The LORD hath prepared His seat in heaven and His kingdom ruleth over all. 20 O praise the LORD, ye angels of His, ye that excel in strength: ye that fulfil His commandment, and hearken unto the voice of His words. 21 O praise the LORD, all ye His hosts : ye servants of His that do His pleasure. 22 O speak good of the LORD, all ye works of His, in all places of His dominion praise thou the LORD, O my soul. Evening Prayer. PSALM 104. Benedic, anima mea. [This Psalm continues the praise of God, instancing PRAISE the LORD, O my soul: O LORD my 14. Whereof we are made; Heb. our formation - fragile as earthenware. 17, 18. The utmost blessings of God's to those whose heart goodness are promised is set to do His commandments. So also ed through Christ's the blessings offerteaching, "If any man WILL to do His will, he shall know of the doctrine," S. John vii. 17. 21. Hosts; Sabaoth -i. e., the army of angels stationed round the throne of God. 22. Benedicite omnia opera! The Psalm ends as it began, personally. Praise THOU the LORD, O MY soul. So also the next Psalm. Whitsunday. The first Psalm for Evening Service, followed by Ps. cxlv. 2 Thou deckest Thyself with light as it were with a garment and spreadest out the heavens like a curtain. : 3 Who layeth the beams of His chambers in the waters and maketh the clouds His chariot, and walketh upon the wings of the wind. 4 He maketh His angels spirits and His ministers a flaming fire. 5 He laid the foundations of the earth that it never should move at any time. 6 Thou coveredst it with the deep like as with a garment the waters stand in the hills. 7 At Thy rebuke they flee: at the voice of Thy thunder they are afraid. 8 They go up as high as the hills, and down to the valleys beneath: even unto the place which Thou hast appointed for them. 9 Thou hast set them their bounds which they shall not pass neither turn again to cover the earth. 10 He sendeth the springs into the rivers which run among the hills. 11 All beasts of the field drink thereof and the wild asses quench their thirst. 12 Beside them shall the fowls of the air have their habitation: and sing among the branches. 13 He watereth the hills from above: the earth is filled with the fruit of Thy works. 14 He bringeth forth grass for the cattle : and herb for the service of men; green 15 That He may bring food out of the earth, and wine that maketh glad the heart of man and oil to make him a cheerful countenance, and bread to strengthen man's heart. 2. With light; the work of the FIRST DAY, "Let there be light.' Spreadest out, &c.; the SECOND DAY, "Let there be a firmament" [Heb. expansion, something spread out.] 4. Spirits i. e., winds. "He causes His messengers to act in or by means of the winds. See ALHeb. i. 7, FORD, where this verse is cited. 5. The work of the THIRD DAY-the separation of land from water. 6. In the hills; Heb. above the mountains. 7. They flee; rather, they fled, they were afraid-i.e., referring to the successive acts of creation. 8. Perhaps rather "The mountains ascended, the valleys sank," referring to the appearance of the land as the waters subsided to the place appointed. 9. The empire of God over the sea. Even the Deluge was subject to His word. 10. Rivers i. e., the water-courses, torrent beds. 12. Branches-i.e., of the trees flourishing on the river-banks. 13. From above; Heb. from the upper chambers. So in the Deluge, "The windows of heaven were opened." 15. That He may bring; rather, bringing. Food; Heb. bread. Cf. "These THY creatures of bread and wine." -Communion Service. 16 The trees of the LORD also are full of sap even the cedars of Libanus which He hath planted; 17 Wherein the birds make their nests: and the fir-trees are a dwelling for the stork. 18 The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats and so are the stony rocks for the conies. 19 He appointed the moon for certain seasons and the sun knoweth his going down. 20 Thou makest darkness that it may be night wherein all the beasts of the forest do move. 21 The lions roaring after their prey do seek their meat from God. 22 The sun ariseth, and they get them away together and lay them down in their dens. : 23 Man goeth forth to his work, and to his labour until the evening. : 24 O LORD, how manifold are Thy works: in wisdom hast Thou made them all; the earth is full of Thy riches. 25 So is the great and wide sea also: wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts. 26 There go the ships, and there is that Leviathan whom Thou hast made to take his pastime therein. : 27 These wait all upon Thee: that Thou mayest give them meat in due season. 28 When Thou givest it them they gather it : and when Thou openest Thy hand they are filled with good. 29 When Thou hidest Thy face they are troubled when Thou takest away their breath they die, and are turned again to their dust. 30 When Thou lettest Thy breath go those moun 16. Trees of the LORD i. e., growing on tains, in vast forests, independent of the care of man. 17. The Hebrew name for the stork is the Pious (bird), on account of its well known love to its family. 18. Conies; properly the hyrax, an animal like the Alpine marmot, less than the domestic cat in size, having long hair, a very short tail, and short ears. It is very common on the ridges of Lebanon. 19. Sunset, introducing the night picture. |