TRULY God is loving unto Israel: * even unto such as are of a clean heart.
 
Nevertheless, my feet were almost gone, * my treadings had well-nigh slipt.
 
And why? I was grieved at the wicked: * I do also see the ungodly in such prosperity.
 
For they are in no peril of death; * but are lusty and strong.
 
They come in no misfortune like other folk; * neither are they plagued like other men.
 
And this is the cause that they are so holden with pride, * and cruelty covereth them as a garment.
 
Their eyes swell with fatness, * and they do even what they lust.
 
They corrupt other, and speak of wicked blasphemy; * their talking is against the Most High.
 
For they stretch forth their mouth unto the heaven, * and their tongue goeth through the world.
 
Therefore fall the people unto them, * and thereout suck they no small advantage.
 
Tush, say they, how should God perceive it? * is there knowledge in the Most High?
 
Lo, these are the ungodly, * these prosper in the world, and these have riches in possession:
 
And I said, Then have I cleansed my heart in vain, * and washed my hands in innocency.
 
All the day long have I been punished, * and chastened every morning.
 
Yea, and I had almost said even as they; * but lo, then I should have condemned the generation of thy children.
 
Then thought I to understand this; * but it was too hard for me,
 
Until I went into the sanctuary of God: * then understood I the end of these men;
 
Namely, how thou dost set them in slippery places, * and castest them down, and destroyest them.
 
O how suddenly do they consume, * perish, and come to a fearful end!
 
Yea, even like as a dream when one awaketh; * so shalt thou make their image to vanish out of the city.
 
Thus my heart was grieved, * and it went even through my reins.
 
So foolish was I, and ignorant, * even as it were a beast before thee.
 
Nevertheless, I am alway by thee; * for thou hast holden me by my right hand.
 
Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, * and after that receive me with glory.
 
Whom have I in heaven but thee? * and there is none upon earth that I desire in comparison of thee.
 
My flesh and my heart faileth; * but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
 
For lo, they that forsake thee shall perish; * thou hast destroyed all them that are unfaithful unto thee.
 
But it is good for me to hold me fast by God, to put my trust in the Lord GOD, * and to speak of all thy works in the gates of the daughter of Sion.

And it came to pass a long time after that the Lord had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken in age. And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old and stricken in age: And ye have seen all that the Lord your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for the Lord your God is he that hath fought for you. Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the Lord your God. Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you: Know for a certainty that the Lord your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the Lord your God hath given you. And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof. Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all good things are come upon you, which the Lord your God promised you; so shall the Lord bring upon you all evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which the Lord your God hath given you. When ye have transgressed the covenant of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.

But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also. Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

O LORD, who never failest to help and govern those whom thou dost bring up in thy stedfast fear and love; Keep us, we beseech thee, under the protection of thy good providence, and make us to have a perpetual fear and love of thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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