5

6

God is not before his eyes-his ways are polluted on every

occasion.

Thy judgments are removed from his sight-shall he have a mastery over all his enemies?

For he said in his heart, I shall not be moved and I shall never be in adversity.

Is not his mouth full of cursing, and bitterness and deceit? 8 Under his tongue there is mischief and sorrow.

9

10

He sat in secret places with the rich to slay the innocent— His eyes are on the watch for the distressed.

He lurketh in secret like a lion in his den-He lurketh to make a prey of the poor.

To make a prey of the poor when he hath drawn him inin his net he will humble him.

He will stoop and crouch at his tyrannising over the poor11 For he said in his heart God hath forgotten-He hath turned his face from ever seeing.

12

13

14

15

16

17

Arise, O Lord God, let thy hand be lifted up-Forget not the oppressed.

Why hath the wicked provoked God?-For he said in his heart, He will not make inquisition.

Thou seest (for thou observest mischief and wrath)-That they have delivered themselves into thy hands.

To thee the poor hath committed himself-Thou art the helper of the fatherless.

Break the arm of the sinful and malicious man.-Let his sin be sought out till no more can be found.

Let the Lord reign for ever and ever!

Perish ye nations out of his land! The Lord hath hearkened to the desire of the oppressed.

Thine ear hath attended to the preparation of their heart; 18 to administer justice to the fatherless and the weakThat man may no longer continue his insolence in the land.

XI.

For the conclusion. A Psalm by David.

1 IN the Lord I have placed my confidence, how say ye to my soul, "away to the mountains as an ostrich.

2

For behold the sinners have bent a bow: they have provi. ded arrows for a quiver; to shoot privily the upright in heart. 3 For what thou didst build up, they have pulled down."

4.

Now what hath the righteous done? The Lord is in his holy temple. The Lord, whose throne is in heaven; whose eyes look down on the needy; whose eye lids examine the 5 sons of men-the Lord examineth both the righteous and the wicked. He then who loveth iniquity hateth his own soul. 6 Upon the wicked he will rain snares. Fire and brimstone and a tempestuous wind, shall be the portion of their cup.

7

Because the Lord is righteous, therefore he loved righteousness; his countenance beheld uprightness.

XII.

1

For the conclusion, for the eighth [day] A Psalm by David.

SAVE me, O Lord! for a holy one hath ceased; for truths 2 are scarce among the sons of men. They spoke vanities one to another: their lips are deceitful, they spoke with a double heart.

3

May the Lord destroy all deceitful lips; and the tongue 4 which speaketh swelling words-them who say, "We will magnify our tongue our lips are our own: who is Lord

5

6

over us?"

Because of the oppression of the poor; because of the groans of the needy; now will I arise, saith the Lord; I will set in safety and speak boldly.

The oracles of the Lord are pure oracles-tried silver, clear 7 of dross, seven times purified. Thou, O Lord, wilt keep us and preserve us, from this generation, and forever.

8

The wicked are walking about: thou, in thy sublimity, hast carefully observed the sons of men.

1

XIII.

For the conclusion. A Psalm by David.

HOW long, O Lord, wilt thou forget me? For ever? How long wilt thou turn away thy face from me?

2

- 3

How long shall I revolve counsels in my mind, and sorrows in my heart? For years? How long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?

Look down, hearken to me, O Lord, my God. Enlighten 4 mine eyes, that I may not sleep unto death-lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed over him. They who afflict me will rejoice, if I be moved.

5

1

As for me, I have trusted in thy mercy: let my heart rejoice in thy salvation: I will sing to the Lord my benefactor; and hymn to the name of the Lord Most High.

XIV.

For the conclusion. A Psalm by David.

THE fool said in his heart, There is no God. They are cor rupt and by their works abominable: there is none who doeth good. No not one.

2 The Lord looked down from heaven on the children of men; to see if any had understanding or were seeking God. 3 They had all gone aside, they were altogether become vile: there is none who doeth good-no not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre : with their tongues they practised deceit: the poison of asps is under the lips of them whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: their feet are swift to shed blood : destruction and misery are in their ways: and the way of peace they did not know: there is no fear of God before their eyes.

4 Will they all continue senseless? They are going on in a course of iniquity: they are eating up my people as they do 5 bread: they have not called on the Lord. They were seized with terror, where there was no fear; because God was among a righteous generation.

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7

Have you despised the counsel of the poor; because his trust is in the Lord?

O that he would for Sion's sake send deliverance to Israel! When the Lord hath brought back the captives of his people: Let Jacob rejoice and let Israel be glad.

1

XV.

A Psalm by David.

O LORD! who shall sojourn at thy tabernacle? And who shall dwell on thy holy mountain?

2 He who walketh blameless and worketh righteousness: 3 And who speaketh truth from his heart. Who hath not deceived with his tongue; nor done evil to his neighbour; nor taken up a reproach against his neighbours. In whose sight an evil doer is contemned; but who honoureth them who fear the 5 Lord who sweareth to his neighbour; and doth not violate his engagements: who hath not lent his money on usury; nor taken bribes against the innocent. He whose practise is such, shall never be moved.

1

XVI.

An inscription for a pillar. By David.

PRESERVE me, O Lord: for in thee I have trusted. I 2 said to the Lord, Thou art my Lord: thou hast no need of my 3 goods. By the hallowed things in this land of his he had marvellously displayed all his designs. Their infirmities were multiplied: after these hallowed things they hastened.

4

I will no more assemble their congregations for blood, 5 nor make mention of their names with my lips. The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thouart he who re6 storeth me mine inheritance. The lines have fallen to me in the best places for this inheritance of mine is the best for me.

7

I will bless the Lord who hath given me understanding: 8 even now at night my reins have instructed me. I saw the Lord continually before me. Because he is at my right hand 9 that I may not be moved; therefore my heart was gladdened;

and my tongue exulted with joy : moreover my flesh also will 10 dwell in hope; that thou wilt not leave my soul in the mansion of the dead nor suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

11

Thou hast made known to me the ways of life: thou with thy presence wilt fill me with joy. At thy right hand are pleasures for evermore.

XVII.

A Prayer of David.

1 HEARKEN, O Lord, to my justification; attend to my supplication: give ear to my prayer which is not made with feigned lips.

2

Let my sentence come forth from thy presence: Let mine eyes behold righteous decisions.

3 Thou hast proved my heart: thou hast watched me by night thou hast tried me: and in me there was found no injustice.

4

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6

That my mouth might not speak the works of these men; I, because of the words of thy lips, kept rugged ways.

Establish my footsteps in thy paths; that my footsteps may not be moved.

I have cried, because thou, O God, didst hear me: incline 7 thine ear to me and hear my words. Display marvellously thy

mercies, O thou, who, with thy right hand, savest from adver8 saries them who trust in thee. Keep me as the apple of an eye: 9 with the cover of thy wings thou wilt shelter me from the face 10 of the wicked who afflict me. These enemies of mine beset my 11 soul: they shut up their fat; their mouth spoke proudly. Hav

ing driven me out they now enclosed me. They set their eyes 12 inclining to the ground. They observed me, like a lion eager for prey, and like a young lion lurking in coverts. 13 Arise, O Lord, prevent them and cause them to stumble. Deliver my soul from the wicked: wrest thy sword from thine 14 enemies hand. Dismiss them, O Lord, from the land: disperse them in their life time. Though their belly was filled with thy stores; they glutted themselves with swine's flesh, and left the relicks for their children.

15

But as for me, let me appear righteous before thee; let me be satisfied with a display of thy glory.

XVIII.

For the conclusion. By David the servant of the Lord; who spake to the Lord the words of this Ode on the day when