He lifteth up the lowly; He casteth the wicked down to the ground. He covereth the heavens with clouds; He causeth grass to grow on the mountains. He giveth to the beast his food; He delighteth not in the strength of the horse; IV. Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord, my God! thou art very great; Thou art clothed with glory and majesty; Thou coverest thyself with light as with a gar ment. He spreadeth out the heavens like a curtain; He layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters; He maketh the clouds his chariot; He rideth on the wings of the wind; They give drink to all the beasts of the forest: Near them the birds of heaven have their habitation. He causeth grass to spring up for cattle, Man goeth forth to his labor until the evening. To give them their food in due season. Thou givest it to them: they take it. Thou openest thine hand: they are satisfied with good. Thou hidest thy face: they are confounded. And return to the dust. Thou sendest forth thy Spirit; they are created: I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; V. Bless the Lord, O my soul! And all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul! And forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases; Who saveth thy life from destruction; Who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and ten der mercies. The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and rich in mercy. He hath not dealt with us according to our sins, So far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Even as a father pitieth his children, So the Lord pitieth them that trust him. As for man, his days are as grass : As a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. The wind passes over it, and it is gone; And its place shall know it no more: But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting, And his goodness to children's children. Ye mighty ones that do his commands; Bless the Lord, all ye his hosts, Ye servants of his that do his pleasure; Bless the Lord, all his works; . VI. The Lord is my shepherd: I shall not want. He refresheth my heart; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness When I walk through the dark valley, Thou preparest a table for me in sight of my ene mies; My cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. VII. The heavens declare the glory of God; The firmament showeth the work of his hands. Day uttereth wisdom unto day, And night showeth knowledge unto night. Their voice is not heard: Yet their sound goeth forth to all the earth, The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul; The precepts of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple; The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandments of the Lord are pure, enlightening the eyes; The service of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous. Oh! cleanse thou me from secret faults; Keep back thy children from presumptuous sins. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer! VIII. I will lift up my eyes to the hills, He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: Behold, he that keepeth us will never slumber nor sleep. The Lord is our keeper; The Lord is our shade on the right hand. The sun shall not smite us by day, Nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve us from all evil; He shall preserve our souls. |