6 Their heart is as fat as brawn: but my delight hath been in thy law.

7 It is good for me that I have been in trouble: that I may learn thy ftatutes.

8 The law of thy mouth is dearer unto me: than thousands of gold and filver.

T

EVENING

PRAYER.

Manus tuæ fecerunt me.

HY hands have made me and fashioned me: O give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.

2 They that fear thee will be glad when they see me : because I have put my truft in thy word.

3 I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right: and that thou of faithfulness haft caufed me to be troubled.

very

4 Ó let thy merciful kindness be my comfort: according to thy word unto thy fervant.

5 O let thy loving mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.

6 Let the proud be confounded, for they go wickedly about to deftroy me but I will be occupied in thy commandments. 7 Let fuch as fear thee, and have known thy teftimonies: be turned unto me.

8 O let my heart be found in thy ftatutes: that I be not afhamed.

M

Defecit anima mea.

Y foul hath longed for thy falvation: and I have a good hope because of thy word.

2 Mine eyes long fore for thy word: faying, O when wilt thou comfort me?

3 + For I am become like a bottle in the fmoke: yet do I not forget thy ftatutes.

tion of their Conduct. Happy are those who are careful to make fuch ufe of the divine ebaftifements.

For Lam become like a Bottle in the fmoak: yet, &

The Antients ufually made their Bottles of Goat Skins: which if they were placed too near the Fire, would neceffarily be apt to be fhrivelled, and dried up. Such

4 How many are the days of thy fervant: when wilt thou be avenged of them that perfecute me?

5 The proud have digged pitts for me: which are not after thy law.

6 All thy commandments are true: they perfecute me falfly, O be thou my help.

7 They had almost made an end of me upon earth: but I forfook not thy commandments.

8 O quicken me after thy loving kindness: and fo fhall I keep the teftimonies of thy mouth.

In æternum, Domine.

LORD, thy word: endureth for ever in heaven.

2 Thy truth alfo remaineth from one generation to another: thou haft laid the foundation of the earth, and it abideth. 3 They continue this day according to thine ordinance: for all things ferve thee.

4 If my delight had not been in thy law: I fhould have perished in my trouble.

5 I will never forget thy commandments: for with them thou haft quickned me.

6 I am thine, O fave me: for I have fought thy commandments. 7 The ungodly laid wait for me, to destroy me: but I will confider thy teftimonies.

8 I fee that all things come to an end: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.

Quomodo dilexi F

ORD, what love have I unto thy law: all the day long is my

LORD,

in it.

2 Thou through thy commandments haft made me wifer than mine enemies for they are ever with me.

3 I have more understanding than my teachers: for thy testimonies are my study.

David reprefents himself to be through the force of affliction: yet with a becoming piety and steadiness of

mind he refolves to perfift in the discharge of his Duty.

4 I am wiser than the aged: because I keep thy commandments. 5 I have refrained my feet from every evil way: that I may keep thy word,

6 I have not shrunk from thy judgments: for thou teachest me. 7. O how sweet are thy words unto my throat: yea, sweeter than honey unto my mouth.

8 Through thy commandments I get understanding: therefore I hate all evil ways.

TH

Lucerna pedibus meis.

HY word is a lantern unto my feet: and a light unto my paths.

2 I have fworn, and am ftedfaftly purposed: to keep thy righteous judgments.

3 I am troubled above measure: quicken me, O Lord, according to thy word.

4 Let the free-will-offerings of my mouth please thee, O Lord; and teach me thy judgments.

5 My foul is alway in my hand: yet do not forget thy law. 6 The ungodly have laid a fnare for me: but yet I fwerved not from thy commandments.

7 Thy teftimonies have I claimed as mine heritage for ever: and why? they are the very joy of my heart.

8 I have applied my heart to fulfil thy ftatutes alway: even unto the end.

I'

Iniquos odio habui.

Hate them that imagine evil things: but thy law do I love. 2 Thou art my defence and shield: and my truft is in thy word. 3 Away from me, ye wicked: I will keep the commandments of my God.

4 O stablish me according to thy word, that I may live: and let me not be disappointed of my hope.

159 5 Hold thou me up, and I fhall be fafe: yea, my delight fhall be ever in thy ftatutes.

6 Thou haft trodden down all them that depart from thy ftatutes: for they imagine but deceit.

7 Thou putteft away all the ungodly of the earth like drofs: therefore I love thy teftimonies.

8 My flesh trembleth for fear of thee: and I am afraid of thy judgments.

I

Feci judicium.

Deal with the thing that is lawful and right: O give me not over unto mine oppressors.

2 Make thou thy fervant to delight in that which is good; that the proud do me no wrong.

3 Mine eyes are wasted away with looking for thy health: and for the word of thy righteoufnefs.

4 O deal with thy fervant according unto thy loving mercy: and teach me thy ftatutes.

5 I am thy fervant, O grant me understanding: that I may know thy teftimonies.

6 It is time for thee, Lord, to lay to thine hand: for they have destroyed thy law.

7 For I love thy commandments: above gold and precious stone. 8 Therefore hold I ftraight all thy commandments: and all falfe ways I utterly abhor.

T

Mirabilia.

HY teftimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my foul keep them.

2 When thy word goeth forth: it giveth light and understanding unto the fimple.

3 I opened my mouth, and drew in my breath: for my delightwas in thy commandments.

Therefore bold 1 fraight all thy Commandments, &c. This fignifies that he paid a steady regard to all God's Commandments in general; without making a

diftinction as to thofe which did or did not fuit his own Difpofition or Temper of Mind. And this is certain, indeed that they who reject thofe precepts

4 O look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me: as thou useft to do unto thofe that love thy Name.

5 Order my steps in thy word; and fo fhall no wickedness have dominion over me.

6 O deliver me from the wrongful dealings of men: and so shall I keep thy commandments.

Shew the light of thy countenance upon thy fervant: and teach me thy ftatutes.

8 Mine eyes gush out with water: because men keep not thy law.

Juftus es, Domine.

Ighteous art thou, O Lord: and true is thy judgment.

2 The teftimonies that thou haft commanded: are exceeding righteous and true.

3 My zeal hath even confumed me: because mine enemies have forgetten thy words.

4 Thy word is tried to the uttermoft: and thy fervant loveth it. 5 I am small, and of no reputation: yet do I not forget thy commandments.

6. Thy righteoufnefs is an everlafting righteoufnefs: and thy law is the truth.

7 Trouble and heaviness have taken hold upon me: yet is my delight in thy commandments.

8 The righteousness of thy teftimonies is everlasting: O grant me understanding, and I fhall live.

EVENING PRAYER.

Clamavi in toto corde meo.

Call with my whole heart hear me, O Lord; I will keep

I thy ftatutes.

2 Yea, even unto thee do I call: help me, and I fhall keep thy teftimonies.

which oppofe their Lufts and comply only with thofe but themselves : and must expect to be dealt with acthat fuit their Inclinations, do not properly ferve God cordingly.