THE LORD is King, the earth may be glad thereof; * yea, the multitude of the isles may be glad thereof.
Clouds and darkness are round about him: * righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his seat.
There shall go a fire before him, * and burn up his enemies on every side.
His lightnings gave shine unto the world: * the earth saw it, and was afraid.
The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD; * at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
The heavens have declared his righteousness, * and all the peoples have seen his glory.
Confounded be all they that worship carved images, and that delight in vain gods: * worship him, all ye gods.
Sion heard of it, and rejoiced; and the daughters of Judah were glad, * because of thy judgments, O LORD.
For thou, LORD, art higher than all that are in the earth: * thou art exalted far above all gods.
O ye that love the LORD, see that ye hate the thing which is evil: * the Lord preserveth the souls of his saints; he shall deliver them from the hand of the ungodly.
There is sprung up a light for the righteous, * and joyful gladness for such as are true-hearted.
Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; * and give thanks for a remembrance of his holiness.

BLESSED is the man that feareth the LORD; * he hath great delight in his commandments.
His seed shall be mighty upon earth; * the generation of the faithful shall be blessed.
Riches and plenteousness shall be in his house; * and his righteousness endureth for ever.
Unto the godly there ariseth up light in the darkness; * he is merciful, loving, and righteous.
A good man is merciful, and lendeth; * and will guide his words with discretion.
For he shall never be moved: * and the righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance.
He will not be afraid of any evil tidings; * for his heart standeth fast, and believeth in the LORD.
His heart is stablished, and will not shrink, * until he see his desire upon his enemies.
He hath dispersed abroad, and given to the poor, * and his righteousness remaineth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.
The ungodly shall see it, and it shall grieve him; * he shall gnash with his teeth, and consume away; the desire of the ungodly shall perish.

Let us now praise famous men, and our fathers that begat us. The Lord hath wrought great glory by them through his great power from the beginning. Such as did bear rule in their kingdoms, men renowned for their power, giving counsel by their understanding, and declaring prophecies: Leaders of the people by their counsels, and by their knowledge of learning meet for the people, wise and eloquent are their instructions: Such as found out musical tunes, and recited verses in writing: Rich men furnished with ability, living peaceably in their habitations: All these were honoured in their generations, and were the glory of their times. There be of them, that have left a name behind them, that their praises might be reported. And some there be, which have no memorial; who are perished, as though they had never been; and are become as though they had never been born; and their children after them. But these were merciful men, whose righteousness hath not been forgotten. With their seed shall continually remain a good inheritance, and their children are within the covenant. Their seed standeth fast, and their children for their sakes. Their seed shall remain for ever, and their glory shall not be blotted out. Their bodies are buried in peace; but their name liveth for evermore. The people will tell of their wisdom, and the congregation will shew forth their praise.

And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

O ALMIGHTY God, who hast knit together thine elect in one communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord; Grant us grace so to follow thy blessed Saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those unspeakable joys which thou hast prepared for those who unfeignedly love thee; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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