The Psalter or Psalms of David
The First Day.
Morning Prayer.
Psalm 1. Beatus vir qui non abiit.
BLESSED is the man that hath not walked in the counsel of the
ungodly, nor stood in the way of sinners, * and hath not sat
in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; * and in his law
will he exercise himself day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the water-side, * that
will bring forth his fruit in due season.
4 His leaf also shall not wither; * and look, whatsoever he doeth,
it shall prosper.
5 As for the ungodly, it is not so with them; * but they are
like the chaff, which the wind scattereth away from the face
of the earth.
6 Therefore the ungodly shall not be able to stand in the judgment,
* neither the sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
7 But the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous; * and the way
of the ungodly shall perish.
Psalm 2. Quare fremuerunt gentes?
WHY do the heathen so furiously rage together? * and why do the
people imagine a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth stand up, and the rulers take counsel
together * against the LORD, and against his Anointed:
3 Let us break their bonds asunder, * and cast away their cords
from us.
4 He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh them to scorn: * the
Lord shall have them in derision.
5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, * and vex them
in his sore displeasure:
6 Yet have I set my King * upon my holy hill of Sion.
7 I will rehearse the decree; * the LORD hath said unto me, Thou
art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
8 Desire of me, and I shall give thee the nations for thine inheritance,
* and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession.
9 Thou shalt bruise them with a rod of iron, * and break them
in pieces like a potter's vessel.
10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings; * be instructed, ye that
are judges of the earth.
11 Serve the LORD in fear, * and rejoice unto him with reverence.
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and so ye perish from the
right way, if his wrath be kindled, yea but a little. * Blessed
are all they that put their trust in him.
Psalm 3. Domine, quid multiplicati?
LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! * many are they
that rise against me.
2 Many one there be that say of my soul, * There is no help for
him in his God.
3 But thou, O LORD, art my defender; * thou art my worship, and
the lifter up of my head.
4 I did call upon the LORD with my voice, * and he heard me out
of his holy hill.
5 I laid me down and slept, and rose up again; * for the LORD
sustained me.
6 I will not be afraid for ten thousands of the people, * that
have set themselves against me round about.
7 UP, LORD, and help me, O my God, * for thou smitest all mine
enemies upon the cheek-bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the
ungodly.
8 Salvation belongeth unto the LORD; * and thy blessing is upon
thy people.
Psalm 4. Cum invocarem.
HEAR me when I call, O God of my righteousness: * thou hast set
me at liberty when I was in trouble; have mercy upon me, and
hearken unto my prayer.
2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye blaspheme mine honour, *
and have such pleasure in vanity, and seek after falsehood?
3 Know this also, that the LORD hath chosen to himself the man
that is godly; * when I call upon the LORD he will hear me.
4 Stand in awe, and sin not; * commune with your own heart, and
in your chamber, and be still.
5 Offer the sacrifice of righteousness, * and put your trust
in the LORD.
6 There be many that say, * Who will show us any good?
7 LORD, lift thou up* the light of thy countenance upon us.
8 Thou hast put gladness in my heart; * yea, more than when their
corn and wine and oil increase.
9 I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest; * for it is
thou, LORD, only, that makest me dwell in safety.
Psalm 5. Verba mea auribus.
PONDER my words, O LORD, * consider my meditation.
2 O hearken thou unto the voice of my calling, my King and my
God: * for unto thee will I make my prayer.
3 My voice shalt thou hear betimes, O LORD; * early in the morning
will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
4 For thou art the God that hast no pleasure in wickedness; *
neither shall any evil dwell with thee.
5 Such as be foolish shall not stand in thy sight; * for thou
hatest all them that work iniquity.
6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak lies: * the LORD will abhor
both the blood-thirsty and deceitful man.
7 But as for me, in the multitude of thy mercy I will come into
thine house; * and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy
temple.
8 Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness, because of mine enemies;
* make thy way plain before my face.
9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; * their inward
parts are very wickedness.
10 Their throat is an open sepulchre; * they flatter with their
tongue.
11 Destroy thou them, O God; let them perish through their own
imaginations; * cast them out in the multitude of their ungodliness;
for they have rebelled against thee.
12 And let all them that put their trust in thee rejoice: * they
shall ever be giving of thanks, because thou defendest them;
they that love thy Name shall be joyful in thee;
13 For thou, LORD, wilt give thy blessing unto the righteous,
* and with thy favourable kindness wilt thou defend him as with
a shield.
Evening Prayer.
Psalm 6. Domine, ne in furore.
O LORD, rebuke me not in thine indignation, * neither chasten
me in thy displeasure.
2 Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am weak; * O LORD, heal me,
for my bones are vexed.
3 My soul also is sore troubled: * but, LORD, how long wilt thou
punish me?
4 Turn thee, O LORD, and deliver my soul; * O save me, for thy
mercy's sake.
5 For in death no man remembereth thee; * and who will give thee
thanks in the pit?
6 I am weary of my groaning; * every night wash I my bed, and
water my couch with my tears.
7 My beauty is gone for very trouble, * and worn away because
of all mine enemies.
8 Away from me, all ye that work iniquity; * for the LORD hath
heard the voice of my weeping.
9 The LORD hath heard my petition; * the LORD will receive my
prayer.
10 All mine enemies shall be confounded, and sore vexed; * they
shall be turned back, and put to shame suddenly.
Psalm 7. Domine, Deus meus.
O LORD my God, in thee have I put my trust: * save me from all
them that persecute me, and deliver me;
2 Lest he devour my soul like a lion, and tear it in pieces,
* while there is none to help.
3 O LORD my God, if I have done any such thing; * or if there
be any wickedness in my hands;
4 If I have rewarded evil unto him that dealt friendly with me;
* (yea, I have delivered him that without any cause is mine enemy;)
5 Then let mine enemy persecute my soul, and take me; * yea,
let him tread my life down upon the earth, and lay mine honour
in the dust.
6 Stand up, O LORD, in thy wrath, and lift up thyself, because
of the indignation of mine enemies; * arise up for me in the
judgment that thou hast commanded.
7 And so shall the congregation of the peoples come about thee:
* for their sakes therefore lift up thyself again.
8 The LORD shall judge the peoples: give sentence with me, O
LORD, * according to my righteousness, and according to the innocency
that is in me.
9 O let the wickedness of the ungodly come to an end; * but guide
thou the just.
10 For the righteous God * trieth the very hearts and reins.
11 My help cometh of God, * who preserveth them that are true
of heart.
12 God is a righteous Judge, strong, and patient; * and God is
provoked every day.
13 If a man will not turn, he will whet his sword; * he hath
bent his bow, and made it ready.
14 He hath prepared for him the instruments of death; * he ordaineth
his arrows against the persecutors.
15 Behold, the ungodly travaileth with iniquity; * he hath conceived
mischief, and brought forth falsehood.
16 He hath graven and digged up a pit, * and is fallen himself
into the destruction that he made for other.
17 For his travail shall come upon his own head, * and his wickedness
shall fall on his own pate.
18 I will give thanks unto the LORD, according to his righteousness;
* and I will praise the Name of the LORD Most High.
Psalm 8. Domine, Dominus noster.
O LORD our Governor, how excellent is thy Name in all the world;
* thou that hast set thy glory above the heavens!
2 Out of the mouth of very babes and sucklings hast thou ordained
strength, because of thine enemies, * that thou mightest still
the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I consider thy heavens, even the work of thy fingers;
* the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained;
4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? * and the son of
man, that thou visitest him?
5 Thou madest him lower than the angels, * to crown him with
glory and worship.
6 Thou makest him to have dominion of the works of thy hands;
* and thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet:
7 All sheep and oxen; * yea, and the beasts of the field;
8 The fowls of the air, and the fishes of the sea; * and whatsoever
walketh through the paths of the seas.
9 O LORD our Governor, * how excellent is thy Name in all the
world!
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