IN the LORD put I my trust; * how say ye then to my soul, that she should flee as a bird unto the hill?
 
For lo, the ungodly bend their bow, and make ready their arrows within the quiver, * that they may privily shoot at them which are true of heart.
 
If the foundations be destroyed, * what can the righteous do?
 
The LORD is in his holy temple; * the LORD'S seat is in heaven.
 
His eyes consider the poor, * and his eyelids try the children of men.
 
The LORD approveth the righteous: * but the ungodly, and him that delighteth in wickedness, doth his soul abhor.
 
Upon the ungodly he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, storm and tempest: * this shall be their portion to drink.
 
For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; * his countenance will behold the thing that is just.

HELP me, LORD, for there is not one godly man left; * for the faithful are minished from among the children of men.
 
They talk of vanity every one with his neighbour; * they do but flatter with their lips, and dissemble in their double heart.
 
The LORD shall root out all deceitful lips, * and the tongue that speaketh proud things;
 
Which have said, With our tongue will we prevail; * we are they that ought to speak; who is lord over us?

Now, for the comfortless troubles' sake of the needy, * and because of the deep sighing of the poor,
 
I will up, saith the LORD; * and will help every one from him that swelleth against him, and will set him at rest.
 
The words of the LORD are pure words; * even as the silver which from the earth is tried, and purified seven times in the fire.
 
Thou shalt keep them, O LORD; * thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
 
The ungodly walk on every side: * when they are exalted, the children of men are put to rebuke.

Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof. In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men, Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake. Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up: It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying, Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker? Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly: How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth? They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it. Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.

Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him. But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all; And charged them that they should not make him known: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. And in his name shall the Gentiles trust. Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David? But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

LORD, we pray thee that thy grace may always prevent and follow us, and make us continually to be given to all good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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