17 Thy testimonies are very

28 His dominion is an eversure: holiness becometh thine lasting dominion, which shall house, O Lord, for ever. not pass away, and his king

18 Thy name, O Lord, en- dom that which shall not be dureth for ever; and thy me- destroyed. morial, O Lord, throughout all 29 And the kingdom and generations.

dominion, and the greatness of 19 I will sing of the mercies the kingdom under the whole of the Lord for ever: with my heaven, shall be given to the mouth will I make known thy people of the saints of the Most faithfulness to all generations. High; whose kingdom is an

20 For I have said, Mercy everlasting kingdom, and all shall be built up for ever: thy

dominions shall serve and obey faithfulness shalt thou establish him. in the very heavens.

30 There are many devices 21 Blessed be thou, Lord in a man's heart; nevertheless God of Israel our father, for the counsel of the Lord, that ever and ever.

shall stand. [ 22 The Lord thy God he 31 The counsel of the Lord is God, the faithful God, which standeth for ever, the thoughts keepeth covenant and mercy of his heart to all generations. with them that love him, and 32 I know that whatsoever keep his commandments, to a God doeth, it shall be for ever: thousand generations.

nothing can be put to it, nor 23 The Lord is King for ever any thing taken from it: and and ever.

God doeth it, that men should 24 How great are his signs! fear before him. and how mighty are his won

33 God is not a man, that ders! his kingdom is an ever- he should lie; neither the son lasting kingdom, and his do- of man, that he should repent : minion is from generation to hath he said, and shall he not generation.

do it? or hath he spoken, and 25 The works of his hands shall he not make it good ? are verity and judgement: all 34 The Strength of Israel his commandments are sure. will not lie, nor repent: for he

26 They stand fast for ever is not a man, that he should and ever, and are done in truth repent. But he is in one mind, and uprightness.

and who can turn him ? and 27 He is the living God, and what his soul desireth, even that steadfast for ever, and his king- he doeth. For he performeth dom that which shall not be de- the thing that is appointed. stroyed, and his dominion shall 35 Who is he that saith, and be even unto the end. He de- it cometh to pass, when the Lord livereth and rescueth, and he commandeth it not? worketh signs and wonders in 36 For the Lord of hosts heaven and in earth.

hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is to whom the former prophets stretched out, and who shall have cried, saying, Thus saith turn it back ?

the Lord of hosts, Turn ye now 37 The Lord shall reign for from your evil ways, and from ever, even thy God, o Zion, un- your evil doings : but they did to all generations. For this God 'not hear, nor hearken unto me, is our God for ever and ever : saith the Lord. he will be our guide even unto

7 Your fathers, where are death.

they? and the prophets, do they 38 His work is honourable live for ever? and glorious; and his righteous

8 But

my
words and

my

staness endureth for ever.

tutes, which I commanded my

servants the prophets, did they LESSON XXII.

not take hold of

your

fathers?

and they returned, and said, The Lord of hosts hath sworn, Like as the Lord of hosts thought saying, Surely as I have thought, to do unto us, according to our so shall it come to pass; and as I ways, and according to our dohave purposed, so shall it stand: ings, so hath he dealt with us. for I am the Lord; I will speak, 9 Keep silence before me, and the word that I shall speak O islands; and let the people shall come to pass.

renew their strength : hearken 2 I the Lord have spoken it: unto me, my people; and give it shall come to pass, and I will ear unto me, O my nation: for a do it: I will not go back, nei- law shall proceed from me, and ther will I spare, neither will I I will make my judgement to repent. According to thy ways, rest for a light of the people. and according to thy doings will 10 My righteousness is near; I judge thee, saith the Lord my salvation is gone forth, and God.

mine arm shall judge the peo3 My covenant will I not ple; the isles shall wait upon break, nor alter the thing that me, and on mine arm shall they is gone out of my lips.

trust. 4 Know therefore that the 11 Lift up your eyes to the Lord' thy God he is God, the heavens, and look upon the faithful God, which keepeth earth beneath: for the heavens covenant and mercy with them shall vanish away like smoke, that, love him, and keep his and the earth shall wax old like commandments, to a thousand a garment, and they that dwell generations.

therein shall die in like manner: T5 Thus saith the Lord of but my salvation shall be for hosts, Turn ye unto me, saith ever, and my righteousness shall the Lord of hosts, and I will not be abolished. turn unto you, saith the Lord 12 Hearken unto me, ye

that of hosts.

know righteousness, the people 6 Be ye not as your fathers, in whose heart is my law; fear

ye not the reproach of men, nei. shall eat them like wool: but my ther be ye afraid of their re- righteousness shall be for ever, vilings.

and my salvation from genera13 For the moth shall eat them tion to generation. up like a garment, and the worm

SECTION VII.-Goodness of God.
LESSON XXIII.

9 Therefore he brought down

their heart with labour; they O GIVE thanks unto the Lord; fell down, and there was none for he is good; for his mercy to help. endureth for ever.

10 Then they cried unto the 2 Let the redeemed of the Lord in their trouble, and he Lord say so, whom he hath re- saved them out of their disdeemed from the hand of the tresses. enemy; and gathered them out 11 He brought them out of of the lands, from the east and darkness and the shadow of from the west, from the north death, and brake their bands and from the south.

in sunder. 3 They wandered in the wil- 12 Oh that men would derness in a solitary way, they praise the Lord for his goodfound no city to dwell in. Hun- ness, and for his wonderful gry and thirsty, their soul fainted works to the children of men! in them.

13 For he hath broken the 4 Then they cried unto the gates of brass, and cut the bars Lord in their trouble, and he of iron in sunder. delivered them out of their dis- 14 Fools because of their tresses.

transgression and because of 5 And he led them forth by their iniquities are afflicted : the right way, that they might 15 Their soul abhorreth all go to a city of habitation. manner of meat ;

and they 6 Oh that men would praise draw near unto the gates of the Lord for his goodness, and death. for his wonderful works to the 16 Then they cry unto the children of men!

Lord in their trouble, and he 7 For he satisfieth the long- saveth them out of their dising soul, and filleth the hungry tresses. soul with goodness.

17 He sent his word, and 8 Such as sit in darkness, healed them, and delivered them and in the shadow of death, from their destructions. being bound in affliction and 18 Oh that men would iron; because they rebelled praise the Lord for his goodagainst the words of God, and ness, and for his wonderful contemned the counsel of the works to the children of men! Most High:

go

crifices of thanksgiving, and de- hungry to dwell, that they may clare his works with rejoicing. prepare a city for habitation :

20 They that down to the and sow the fields, and plant sea in ships, that do business vineyards, which may yield in great waters; these see the fruits of increase. works of the Lord, and his won- 32 He blesseth them also, so ders in the deep.

that they are multiplied greatly, 21 For he commandeth, and and suffereth not their cattle to raiseth the stormy wind, which decrease. lifteth

up

the waves thereof. 33 Again they are minished 22 They mount up to the and brought low through opheaven, they go down again to pression, affliction and sorrow. the depths : their soul is melted 34 He poureth contempt upbecause of trouble.

on princes, and causeth them to 23 They reel to and fro, and wander in the wilderness, where stagger like a drunken man, and there is no way. are at their wit's end.

35 Yet setteth he the poor 24 Then they cry unto the on high from affliction, and Lord in their trouble, and he maketh him families like a flock; bringeth them out of their dis- 36 The righteous shall see it, tresses.

and rejoice: and all iniquity 25 He maketh the storm a shall stop her mouth. calm, so that the waves thereof 37 Whoso is wise, and will

observe these things, even they 26 Then are they glad be shall understand the lovingcause they be quiet; so he kindness of the Lord. bringeth them unto their desired haven.

LESSON XXIV. | 27 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, What shall I render unto the and for his wonderful works to Lord for all his benefits towards the children of men !

me ? 28 Let them exalt him also 2 Gracious is the Lord and in the congregation of the peo- righteous; yea, our God is merple, and praise him in the as- ciful. sembly of the elders.

3 The Lord preserveth the 29 He turneth rivers into simple : I was brought low, and a wilderness, and the water- he helped me. springs into dry ground, a 4 Return unto thy rest, O fruitful land into barrenness, my soul; for the Lord hath for the wickedness of them dealt bountifully with thee. that dwell therein.

5 For thou hast delivered my 30 He turneth the wilder- soul from death, mine eyes

from ness into a standing water, and tears, and my feet from falldry ground into water-springs. ing

31 And there he maketh the 6 In my distress I called up

are still.

me up:

on the Lord, and cried unto my 19 The eyes of all wait upon God: he heard my voice out of thee; and thou givest them his temple, and my cry came

their meat in due season. before him, even into his ears. 20 Thou openest thine hand,

7 When I said, My foot slip- and satisfiest the desire of every peth ; thy mercy, O Lord, held living thing.

21 The Lord is righteous in 8 For thy mercy is great all his ways, and holy in all his above the heavens; and thy works. truth reacheth unto the clouds. 22 The Lord is nigh unto

9 Be thou exalted, O God, all them that call upon him, to above the heavens; and thy all that call upon him in truth. glory above all the earth.

23 He will fulfil the desire 10 Who is like unto the of them that fear him : he also Lord our God, who dwelleth on will hear their cry, and will high! who humbleth himself save them. to behold the things that are in 24 The Lord preserveth all heaven, and in the earth! them that love him: but all

11 He raiseth up the poor the wicked will he destroy. out of the dust, and lifteth the 25 My mouth shall speak needy out of the dunghill ; that the praise of the Lord : and let he may set him with princes, all flesh bless his holy name for even with the princes of his peo- ever and ever. ple.

26 Thy mercy, O Lord, is in 12 God setteth the solitary the heavens; and thy faithfulin families : he bringeth out ness reacheth unto the clouds. those which are bound with 27 Thy righteousness is like chains.

the great mountains; thy judge13 God giveth to a man that ments are a great deep: O Lord, is good in his sight, wisdom thou preservest man and beast. and knowledge and joy.

28 How excellent is thy lo14 O give thanks unto the ving-kindness, O God! thereLord; for he is good; for his fore the children of men put mercy endureth for ever.

their trust under the shadow of 15 For how great is his good- thy wings. ness, and how great is his beau- 29 They shall be abundantly ty!

satisfied with the fatness of thy | 16 The Lord is good to all; house : and thou shalt make and his tender mercies are over them drink of the river of thy all his works.

pleasures. For with thee is the 17 All thy works shall praise fountain of life; in thy light thee, O Lord; and thy saints shall we see light. shall bless thee.

30 O continue thy loving18 The Lord upholdeth all kindness unto them that know that fall, and raiseth up all those thee, and thy righteousness to that be bowed down.

the upright in heart,