BE merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me; for my soul trusteth in thee; * and under the shadow of thy wings shall be my refuge, until this tyranny be overpast.
I will call unto the Most High God, * even unto the God that shall perform the cause which I have in hand.
He shall send from heaven, * and save me from the reproof of him that would eat me up.
God shall send forth his mercy and truth: * my soul is among lions;
And I lie even among the children of men, that are set on fire, * whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
Set up thyself, O God, above the heavens; * and thy glory above all the earth.
They have laid a net for my feet, and pressed down my soul; * they have digged a pit before me, and are fallen into the midst of it themselves.
My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed; * I will sing and give praise.
Awake up, my glory; awake, lute and harp: * I myself will awake right early.
I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the peoples; * and I will sing unto thee among the nations.
For the greatness of thy mercy reacheth unto the heavens, * and thy truth unto the clouds.
Set up thyself, O God, above the heavens; * and thy glory above all the earth.

OUT of the deep have I called unto thee, O LORD; * Lord, hear my voice.
O let thine ears consider well * the voice of my complaint.
If thou, LORD, wilt be extreme to mark what is done amiss, * O Lord, who may abide it?
For there is mercy with thee; * therefore shalt thou be feared.
I look for the LORD; my soul doth wait for him; * in his word is my trust.
My soul fleeth unto the Lord before the morning watch; * I say, before the morning watch.
O Israel, trust in the LORD; for with the LORD there is mercy, * and with him is plenteous redemption.
And he shall redeem Israel * from all his sins.

O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth, * thou God, to whom vengeance belongeth, show thyself.
Arise, thou Judge of the world, * and reward the proud after their deserving.
LORD, how long shall the ungodly, * how long shall the ungodly triumph?
How long shall all wicked doers speak so disdainfully, * and make such proud boasting?
They smite down thy people, O LORD, * and trouble thine heritage.
They murder the widow and the stranger, * and put the fatherless to death.
And yet they say, Tush, the LORD shall not see, * neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.
Take heed, ye unwise among the people: * O ye fools, when will ye understand?
He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? * or he that made the eye, shall he not see?
Or he that instructeth the heathen, * it is he that teacheth man knowledge; shall not he punish?
The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, * that they are but vain.
Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, * and teachest him in thy law;
That thou mayest give him patience in time of adversity, * until the pit be digged up for the ungodly.
For the LORD will not fail his people; * neither will he forsake his inheritance;
Until righteousness turn again unto judgment: * all such as are true in heart shall follow it.
Who will rise up with me against the wicked? * or who will take my part against the evil doers?
If the LORD had not helped me, * it had not failed, but my soul had been put to silence.
But when I said, My foot hath slipt; * thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.
In the multitude of the sorrows that I had in my heart, * thy comforts have refreshed my soul.
Wilt thou have any thing to do with the throne of wickedness, * which imagineth mischief as a law?
They gather them together against the soul of the righteous, * and condemn the innocent blood.
But the LORD is my refuge, * and my God is the strength of my confidence.

vs 23 He shall recompense them their wickedness, and destroy them in their own malice; * yea, the LORD our God shall destroy them.

PRAISE the LORD, O my soul: * O LORD my God, thou art become exceeding glorious; thou art clothed with majesty and honour.
Thou deckest thyself with light as it were with a garment, * and spreadest out the heavens like a curtain.
Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters, * and maketh the clouds his chariot, and walketh upon the wings of the wind.
He maketh his angels winds, * and his ministers a flaming fire.
He laid the foundations of the earth, * that it never should move at any time.
Thou coveredst it with the deep like as with a garment; * the waters stand above the hills.
At thy rebuke they flee; * at the voice of thy thunder they haste away.
They go up as high as the hills, and down to the valleys beneath; * even unto the place which thou hast appointed for them.
Thou hast set them their bounds, which they shall not pass, * neither turn again to cover the earth.
He sendeth the springs into the rivers, * which run among the hills.
All beasts of the field drink thereof, * and the wild asses quench their thirst.
Beside them shall the fowls of the air have their habitation, * and sing among the branches.
He watereth the hills from above; * the earth is filled with the fruit of thy works.
He bringeth forth grass for the cattle, * and green herb for the service of men;
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.
The trees of the LORD also are full of sap; * even the cedars of Lebanon which he hath planted;
Wherein the birds make their nests; * and the firtrees are a dwelling for the stork.
The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; * and so are the stony rocks for the conies.
He appointed the moon for certain seasons, * and the sun knoweth his going down.
Thou makest darkness that it may be night; * wherein all the beasts of the forest do move.
The lions, roaring after their prey, * do seek their meat from God.
The sun ariseth, and they get them away together, * and lay them down in their dens.
Man goeth forth to his work, and to his labour, * until the evening.
O LORD, how manifold are thy works! * in wisdom hast thou made them all; the earth is full of thy riches.
So is the great and wide sea also; * wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.
There go the ships, and there is that leviathan, * whom thou hast made to take his pastime therein.
These wait all upon thee, * that thou mayest give them meat in due season.
When thou givest it them, they gather it; * and when thou openest thy hand, they are filled with good.
When thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: * when thou takest away their breath, they die, and are turned again to their dust.
When thou lettest thy breath go forth, they shall be made; * and thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
The glorious majesty of the LORD shall endure for ever; * the LORD shall rejoice in his works.
The earth shall tremble at the look of him; * if he do but touch the hills, they shall smoke.
I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live; * I will praise my God while I have my being.
And so shall my words please him: * my joy shall be in the LORD.
As for sinners, they shall be consumed out of the earth, * and the ungodly shall come to an end.
Praise thou the LORD, O my soul. * Praise the LORD.

And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the Lord, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off. And Moses alone shall come near the Lord: but they shall not come nigh; neither shall the people go up with him. And Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the Lord hath said will we do. And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto the Lord. And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basins; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient. And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these words. Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel: And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness. And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink. And the glory of the Lord abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud. And the sight of the glory of the Lord was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel. And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.

And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord. And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me. And the Lord said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

And the Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons. And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the Lord said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the Lord. And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee. And Samuel did that which the Lord spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably? And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the Lord: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice. And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord's anointed is before him. But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the Lord chosen this. Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the Lord chosen this. Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The Lord hath not chosen these. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them. But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying, I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me: Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat. But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth. But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven. And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me. And the spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house: And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

O GOD, who hast prepared for those who love thee such good things as pass man's understanding; Pour into our hearts such love toward thee, that we, loving thee above all things, may obtain thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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