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.

But I said, My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me! the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously. Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth. And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake. The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth. And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited. Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.

And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick? For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath. And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

BLESSED Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

ALMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal, through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen.

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