XXIII.

M. Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations, Before the mountains were brought forth,

C.

Or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world,
Even from everlasting to everlasting Thou art God.
Of old hast Thou laid the foundations of the earth;
And the heavens are the work of Thy hands.
They shall perish, but Thou shalt endure;

They shall wax old like a garment,

As a vesture shalt Thou change them,

And they shall be changed;

But Thou art the same,

And Thy years shall have no end.

A thousand years in Thy sight are as yesterday when it is past,

Or a watch in the night.

Thou carriest them away as with a flood,

They are even as a sleep;

They fade like the grass, which groweth up in the morning,
And in the evening it is cut down and withered.

What is man that Thou art mindful of him,

Or the son of man that Thou visitest him.

Man that is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble,
He cometh forth as a flower and is cut down.

M.

C.

His life is like a shadow that declineth;

His days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle,
They pass away like the swift ships;

Like an eagle that hasteth to its prey.
Yea, our years fly swifter than a courier;

We spend our days as a tale that is told.
Thou hast made our days as a hand-breadth,
And our years are as nothing before Thee.
Teach us so to number our days,

That we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Oh, satisfy us early with Thy mercy,

That we may be glad and rejoice all our days.
Let Thy deeds be known to 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.

All. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation. Deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.

Choir. Amen.

OR

All. Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer.

Choir. Amen.

7

M.

C.

XXIV.

Let us call to remembrance the great and good,

Through whom the Lord hath wrought great glory; Those who were leaders of the people by their judgment, Giving counsel by their understanding and foresight;

Wise and eloquent in their teachings,

And through knowledge and might fit helpers of the people.

All these were honored in their generation,

And were the glory of their times.

There be some who have left a name behind them,

Whose remembrance is sweet as honey in all mouths:

And there be some who have no memorial,

Who are perished as though they had never been,

But their righteousness has not been forgotten,
And the glory of their work cannot be blotted out.

Their bodies are buried in peace,

But their name liveth forever more.

The people will tell of their wisdom,

And the congregation will show forth their praise.

For the memorial of virtue is immortal,

Because it is known with God and with men.
When it is preson mankind takes example of it,

And when it is gone they earnestly desire for it.

It weareth a crown, and triumpheth forever;

Having gotten the victory striving for undefiled rewards.

The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance,

And the memory of the just shall be blessed.
Though a good life hath but few days,

Yet a good name endureth forever.

Though the righteous be overtaken by death,

They shall be at rest, their souls are in the hand of God. Though they perish from the sight of men,

Yet is their hope full of immortality.

Seeing we are compassed about with such a cloud of witnesses,
Let us run with patience the race set before us.

Whatsoever things are true,

And whatsoever things are honest;

Whatsoever things are just,

And whatsoever things are pure;

Whatsoever things are lovely and of good report,

If there is any virtue or any praise, think of these things. All. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on

heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.

earth as it is in

Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation. Deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.

All. Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart

be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer.

Amen.

M.

C.

XXV.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord;

The people that He hath chosen for His inheritance. Open ye the gates,

That the righteous nation inay enter in.

For when the righteous are in authority the people rejoice,

But when the wicked bear rule the people mourn.

Woe unto thee O land, when equity cannot enter,
When judgment is turned away backward;

When justice standeth afar off,

And truth is fallen in the street;

When thy rulers follow after rewards,

And their eyes are blinded with bribes;
When none bringeth his suit with justice,
And no one pleadeth with truth.

Blessed art thou, O land,

When thy law is not slackened;

When thou makest they rulers righteousness,

And thine officers peace;

When each despiseth the gain of oppression,

And shaketh his hands from holding bribes;
When he respecteth not the person of the poor,
Nor honoreth the person of the mighty;