O GIVE thanks unto the LORD, and call upon his Name; * tell the people what things he hath done.
 
O let your songs be of him, and praise him; * and let your talking be of all his wondrous works.
 
Rejoice in his holy Name; * let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.
 
Seek the LORD and his strength; * seek his face evermore.
 
Remember the marvellous works that he hath done; * his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;
 
O ye seed of Abraham his servant, * ye children of Jacob his chosen.
 
He is the LORD our God; * his judgments are in all the world.
 
He hath been alway mindful of his covenant and promise, * that he made to a thousand generations;
 
Even the covenant that he made with Abraham; * and the oath that he sware unto Isaac;
 
And appointed the same unto Jacob for a law, * and to Israel for an everlasting testament;
 
Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, * the lot of your inheritance:
 
When there were yet but a few of them, * and they strangers in the land;
 
What time as they went from one nation to another, * from one kingdom to another people;
 
He suffered no man to do them wrong, * but reproved even kings for their sakes;
 
Touch not mine anointed, * and do my prophets no harm.
 
Moreover, he called for a dearth upon the land, * and destroyed all the provision of bread.
 
But he had sent a man before them, * even Joseph, who was sold to be a bond-servant;
 
Whose feet they hurt in the stocks; * the iron entered into his soul;
 
Until the time came that his cause was known: * the word of the LORD tried him.
 
The king sent, and delivered him; * the prince of the people let him go free.
 
He made him lord also of his house, * and ruler of all his substance;
 
That he might inform his princes after his will, * and teach his senators wisdom.
 
Israel also came into Egypt, * and Jacob was a stranger in the land of Ham.
 
And he increased his people exceedingly, * and made them stronger than their enemies;
 
Whose heart turned so, that they hated his people, * and dealt untruly with his servants.
 
Then sent he Moses his servant, * and Aaron whom he had chosen.
 
And these showed his tokens among them, * and wonders in the land of Ham.
 
He sent darkness, and it was dark; * and they were not obedient unto his word.
 
He turned their waters into blood, * and slew their fish.
 
Their land brought forth frogs; * yea, even in their kings' chambers.
 
He spake the word, and there came all manner of flies, * and lice in all their quarters.
 
He gave them hailstones for rain; * and flames of fire in their land.
 
He smote their vines also and fig-trees; * and destroyed the trees that were in their coasts.
 
He spake the word, and the grasshoppers came, and caterpillars innumerable, * and did eat up all the grass in their land, and devoured the fruit of their ground.
 
He smote all the firstborn in their land; * even the chief of all their strength.
 
He brought them forth also with silver and gold; * there was not one feeble person among their tribes.
 
Egypt was glad at their departing; * for they were afraid of them.
 
He spread out a cloud to be a covering, * and fire to give light in the night season.
 
At their desire he brought quails; * and he filled them with the bread of heaven.
 
He opened the rock of stone, and the waters flowed out, * so that rivers ran in the dry places.
 
For why? he remembered his holy promise; * and Abraham his servant.
 
And he brought forth his people with joy, * and his chosen with gladness;
 
And gave them the lands of the heathen; * and they took the labours of the people in possession;
 
That they might keep his statutes, * and observe his laws.

How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary! She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies. Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: all her persecutors overtook her between the straits. The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness. Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the Lord hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy. And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed: her princes are become like harts that find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer.

And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

O LORD, we beseech thee, absolve thy people from their offences; that through thy bountiful goodness we may all be delivered from the bands of those sins, which by our frailty we have committed. Grant this, O heavenly Father, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen.

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