HEAR my crying, O God, * give ear unto my prayer.
 
From the ends of the earth will I call upon thee, * when my heart is in heaviness.
 
O set me up upon the rock that is higher than I; * for thou hast been my hope, and a strong tower for me against the enemy.
 
I will dwell in thy tabernacle for ever, * and my trust shall be under the covering of thy wings.
 
For thou, O Lord, hast heard my desires, * and hast given an heritage unto those that fear thy Name.
 
Thou shalt grant the King a long life, * that his years may endure throughout all generations.
 
He shall dwell before God for ever: * O prepare thy loving mercy and faithfulness, that they may preserve him.
 
So will I alway sing praise unto thy Name, * that I may daily perform my vows.

MY soul truly waiteth still upon God; * for of him cometh my salvation.
 
He verily is my strength and my salvation; * he is my defence, so that I shall not greatly fall.
 
How long will ye imagine mischief against every man? * Ye shall be slain all the sort of you; yea, as a tottering wall shall ye be, and like a broken hedge.
 
Their device is only how to put him out whom God will exalt; * their delight is in lies; they give good words with their mouth, but curse with their heart.
 
Nevertheless, my soul, wait thou still upon God; * for my hope is in him.
 
He truly is my strength and my salvation; * he is my defence, so that I shall not fall.
 
In God is my health and my glory; * the rock of my might; and in God is my trust.
 
O put your trust in him alway, ye people; * pour out your hearts before him, for God is our hope.
 
As for the children of men, they are but vanity; the children of men are deceitful; * upon the weights they are altogether lighter than vanity itself.
 
O trust not in wrong and robbery; give not yourselves unto vanity: * if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.
 
God spake once, and twice I have also heard the same, * that power belongeth unto God;
 
And that thou, Lord, art merciful; * for thou rewardest every man according to his work.

He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour. A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof. Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath. The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour. He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not. The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind? A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly. A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way. There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord. The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord.

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

O GOD, who knowest us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright; Grant to us such strength and protection, as may support us in all dangers, and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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