The Penitential Psalms. Psalm vi. LORD, rebuke me not in Thine indignation neither chasten me in Thy dis pleasure. Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am weak: O LORD, heal me, for my bones are vexed. My soul also is sore troubled: but, LORD, how long wilt Thou punish me? Turn Thee, O LORD, and deliver my soul: 0 save me for Thy mercy's sake. For in death no man remembereth Thee and who will give Thee thanks in the pit? I am weary of my groaning; every night wash I my bed and water my couch with my tears. My beauty is gone for very trouble: and worn away because of all mine enemies. Away from me, all ye that work vanity for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping. The LORD hath heard my petition: the LORD will receive my prayer. All mine enemies shall be confounded, and sore vexed they shall be turned back, and put to shame suddenly. Glory be to the FATHER, etc. BLES Psalm xxxii. LESSED is he whose unrighteousness is forgiven and whose sin is covered. : Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth no sin and in whose spirit there is no guile. For while I held my tongue : my bones consumed away through my daily complaining. For Thy hand is heavy upon me day and night and my moisture is like the drought in summer. : I will acknowledge my sin unto Thee and mine unrighteousness have I not hid. I said, I will confess my sins unto the LORD: and so Thou forgavest the wickedness of my sin. For this shall every one that is godly make his prayer unto Thee, in a time when Thou mayest be found : but in the great water-floods they shall not come nigh him. Thou art a place to hide me in, Thou shalt preserve me from trouble: Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. I will inform thee, and teach thee in the way wherein thou shalt go and I will guide thee with Mine eye. Be ye not like to horse and mule, which have no understanding : whose mouths must be held with bit and bridle, lest they fall upon thee. Great plagues remain for the ungodly but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD, mercy embraceth him on every side. Be glad, O ye righteous, and rejoice in the LORD and be joyful, all ye that are true of heart. Glory be to the FATHER, etc. PUT Psalm xxxviii. UT me not to rebuke, O LORD, in Thine anger neither chasten me in Thy heavy displeasure. For Thine arrows stick fast in me and Thy hand presseth me sore. There is no health in my flesh, because of Thy displeasure: neither is there any rest in my bones, by reason of my sin. For my wickednesses are gone over my head: and are like a sore burden, too heavy for me to bear. My wounds stink, and are corrupt through my foolishness. I am brought into so great trouble and misery: that I go mourning all the day long. For my loins are filled with a sore disease: and there is no whole part in my body. I am feeble, and sore smitten: I have roared for the very disquietness of my heart. : LORD, Thou knowest all my desire and my groaning is not hid from Thee. My heart panteth, my strength hath failed me and the sight of mine eyes is gone from me. My lovers and my neighbours did stand looking upon my trouble: and my kinsmen stood afar off. They also that sought after my life laid snares for me and they that went about to do me evil talked of wickedness, and imagined deceit all the day long. As for me, I was like a deaf man, and heard not : and as one that is dumb, who doth not open his mouth. I became even as a man that heareth not: and in whose mouth are no reproofs. For in Thee, O LORD, have I put my trust : Thou shalt answer for me, O LORD my GOD. I have required that they, even mine enemies, should not triumph over me : for when my foot slipped, they rejoiced greatly against me. And I, truly, am set in the plague and my heaviness is ever in my sight. : For I will confess my wickedness and be sorry for my sin. But mine enemies live, and are mighty and they that hate me wrongfully are many in number. They also that reward evil for good are against me because I follow the thing that good is. Forsake me not, O LORD my GOD : be not Thou far from me. Haste Thee to help me : O LORD GOD of my salvation. Glory be to the FATHER, etc. Psalm li. HAVE mercy upon me, O GOD, after Thy great goodness: according to the multitude of Thy mercies do away mine offences. Wash me throughly from my wickedness: and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my faults: and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight that Thou mightest be justified in Thy saying, and clear when Thou art judged. : Behold, I was shapen in wickedness and in sin hath my mother conceived me. But lo, Thou requirest truth in the inward parts and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly. Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness that the bones which Thou hast broken may rejoice. : Turn Thy face from my sins and put out all my misdeeds. Make me a clean heart, O GOD : and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence and take not Thy holy Spirit from me. |