THE TWENTY-FOURTH SELECTION.

(Psalms 39 and 90.)

FRAILTY OF HUMAN LIFE.

LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.

Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity.

Surely every man walketh like a shadow: surely he disquieteth himself in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

What then, O Lord, is my hope? my hope is in thee.

Deliver me from all my unrighteousness: make me not the reproach of the impious.

I am dumb, I open not my mouth; because thou hast done it.

Remove thy stroke away from me: I perish by

the blow of thine hand.

When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou consumest his beauty like a moth : surely every man is vanity.

Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee and a sojourner, as all my fathers

were.

O, spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.

LORD, thou hast been our refuge in all generations.

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.

For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yes. terday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. Thou carriest him away as with a flood; he is as a dream; he is like grass which groweth up in the morning.

In the morning it flourisheth and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.

Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.

The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their pride weariness and sorrow; for it swiftly vanisheth, and we fly away.

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Return to us, O Lord, and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.

O, satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children.

And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, and invisi ble, the only wise God,

Be honor and glory, through Jesus Christ, for ever and ever. Amen.

THE TWENTY-FIFTH SELECTION.

(Psalms 143, 142, and 57.)

PRAYER FOR STRENGTH AND COMFORT.

HEAR my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.

And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.

For my spirit is overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.

I remember the days of old, I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.

I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land.

Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me.

Cause me to hear thy loving-kindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy Spirit is good; lead me into the land of upright

ness.

I CRY unto the Lord with my voice; with my voice unto the Lord do I make my supplication.

I pour out my complaint before him; I show before him my trouble.

When my spirit is overwhelmed within me, then thou knowest my path.

Refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.

I cry unto thee, O Lord: Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.

Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low.

Bring my soul out of darkness, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.

BE merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.

I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.

He shall send from heaven, and save me: God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.

Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth.

My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.

Awake, my soul; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.

I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations.

For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.

Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.

Now unto the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, the only wise God,

Be honor and glory, through Jesus Christ, for ever and ever. Amen.

THE TWENTY-SIXTH SELECTION.

(Psalm 139.)

GOD'S OMNIPRESENCE AND OMNISCIENCE.

O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my down-sitting and mine up-rising, thou understandest my thought afar off.