Bless the Lord, all his hosts, You servants who do his will, Bless the Lord, all his works, In every place where he rules, 275. GOD'S INTIMATE KNOWLEDGE OF MEN O Lord, thou searchest and knowest me, Thou readest my thought afar off, When I walk or lie down thou determinedst it. Thou knowest all my ways. There is not a word on my tongue That thou, O Lord, dost not know! Where shall I go from thy spirit, Should I take the wings of the morning, If I say, "The darkness will hide me, Thou didst form my vital parts, I thank thee, for I am wonderfully made; Thou knowest me right well, My frame was not hid from thee And formed in the depths of the womb. Thine eyes did see me while yet unformed, All the days that were preordained for me, How precious to me are thy thoughts, O God! How great is the sum of them all! Should I count them, they would be more than the sand; When I awake I am still with thee. Search me, O God, and know my heart, And lead me in the way to eternal life. 276. CONFIDENCE OF GOD'S FORGIVING LOVE Out of the depths have I cried to thee, O Lord; hear my voice, O Lord, let thine ear be attentive to the sound of my supplication. If thou shouldst keep a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with thee there is forgiveness, that thou mayest be revered. I wait for the Lord, I wait, and in his promise I hope, I wait for the Lord more than the watchmen wait for the morning. Let Israel wait for the Lord, for he is merciful and able to deliver, And he will deliver the people of Israel from all their sins. 277. LONGINGS THAT GOD ALONE CAN SATISFY As a hart longs for the water brooks, So my soul longs for thee, O God, My soul thirsts for the Lord, the living God. I remember well-and my heart sinks within meHow I marched at the head of the throng to God's house, With the joyous shouts and praise of a festal throng. Why are you cast down, O my soul, And why do you moan within me? Wait for God, for I shall yet praise him, Who is my God and my Savior! My soul is cast down within me, so I remember thee, From the land of the Jordan and Hermon and Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep in the roar of thy cataracts; Thy breakers and thy billows have all passed over me. I say to God, my Rock, 'Why hast thou forgotten me? Why go I mourning, oppressed by my foe, While the taunts of my enemies pierce me to the heart, While they continually say to me, "Where is your God?"" Why are you cast down, O my soul, Judge me and plead my cause against a merciless people; From the deceitful and wicked man, O God, deliver me, For why, O God of my refuge, hast thou rejected me? Why must I go about mourning oppressed by my foe? O send forth thy light and thy truth; let them be my guides, Let them bring me to thy holy mount, to the place where thou dwellest; I will go to God's altar, to the God who is my joy, Why are you cast down, O my soul, 278. FAITH IN GOD'S PROTECTION To thee, O God, I lift up my soul, All the day long do I wait for thee. I trust in thee, O God, let me not be ashamed; Let not my enemies exult over me, And let none who hope in thee be ashamed; But let wanton traitors be disgraced. Show me thy ways, O Lord, Teach me thy way to live. Lead me in thy truth and teach me, Remember thy tender mercies, O Lord, Good and upright is the Lord, To those who follow his law and precepts. Pardon my guilt, for it is great. Who is the man that reveres the Lord? He is friendly with those who revere him, My eyes are ever turned toward the Lord, For he delivers my feet from the net. Turn to me and be gracious, For I am alone and afflicted; Consider my foes, for they are many, Let me not be ashamed, for I trust thee. 279. GOD THE UNFAILING REFUGE God is our refuge and strength, So we fear not, though the earth trembles, And mountains totter into the heart of the sea; |