How sweet are thy words unto my taste! Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, I have sworn, and have confirmed it, That I will observe thy righteous ordinances. I am afflicted very much: Quicken me, O Jehovah, according unto thy word. O Jehovah, And teach me thine ordinances. My soul is continually in my hand; Yet do I not forget thy law. The wicked have laid a snare for me; Yet have I not gone astray from thy precepts. Thy testimonies have I taken as a heritage for ever; For they are the rejoicing of my heart. I have inclined my heart to perform thy statutes JEHOVAH THE KEEPER OF HIS PEOPLE I will lift up mine eyes unto the mountains: My help cometh from Jehovah, Who made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: Will neither slumber nor sleep. Jehovah. is thy keeper: Jehovah is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, Nor the moon by night. Jehovah will keep thee from all evil; He will keep thy soul. Jehovah will keep thy going out and thy coming in PRAYER FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go unto the house of Jehovah. Within thy gates, O Jerusalem, As a city that is compact together; Whither the tribes go up, even the tribes of Jehovah, For an ordinance for Israel, To give thanks unto the name of Jehovah. For there are set thrones for judgment, The thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: And prosperity within thy palaces. For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee. For the sake of the house of Jehovah our God HOPE IN THE LORD'S FORGIVING LOVE Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Jehovah. Lord, hear my voice: Let thine ears be attentive To the voice of my supplications. If thou, Jehovah, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, That thou mayest be feared. I wait for Jehovah, my soul doth wait, And in his word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord More than watchmen wait for the morning; For with Jehovah there is lovingkindness, From all his iniquities. THE EXCELLENCY OF BROTHERLY UNITY Behold, how good and how pleasant it is Even Aaron's beard; That came down upon the skirt of his garments; That cometh down upon the mountains of Zion: GOD'S OMNIPRESENCE AND OMNISCIENCE Jehovah, thou hast searched me, and known me. For there is not a word in my tongue, But, lo, O Jehovah, thou knowest it altogether. And laid thy hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; And thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall overwhelm me, And the light about me shall be night; Even the darkness hideth not from thee, But the night shineth as the day: The darkness and the light are both alike to thee. For thou didst form my inward parts: Thou didst cover me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks unto thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: Wonderful are thy works; And that my soul knoweth right well. When I was made in secret, And curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance; And in thy book they were all written, Even the days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was none of them. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: When I awake, I am still with thee. Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: Depart from me therefore, ye bloodthirsty men. For they speak against thee wickedly, And thine enemies take thy name in vain. Do not I hate them, O Jehovah, that hate thee? And am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred: They are become mine enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts; And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting. PRAISE FOR JERUSALEM'S RESTORATION AND Praise ye Jehovah; PROSPERITY For it is good to sing praises unto our God; For it is pleasant, and praise is comely. Jehovah doth build up Jerusalem; He gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. And bindeth up their wounds. He counteth the number of the stars; Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; Jehovah upholdeth the meek: He bringeth the wicked down to the ground. Sing praises upon the harp unto our God, Who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains. And to the young ravens which cry. He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: Praise thy God, O Zion. For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; He maketh peace in thy borders; He filleth thee with the finest of the wheat. He sendeth out his commandment upon earth; He giveth snow like wool; He scattereth the hoar-frost like ashes. He casteth forth his ice like morsels: Who can stand before his cold? He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: He causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow. He showeth his word unto Jacob, His statutes and his ordinances unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation; And as for his ordinances, they have not known them. Praise ye Jehovah. |