PRAISE the LORD, O my soul: * O LORD my God, thou art become exceeding glorious; thou art clothed with majesty and honour.
 
Thou deckest thyself with light as it were with a garment, * and spreadest out the heavens like a curtain.
 
Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters, * and maketh the clouds his chariot, and walketh upon the wings of the wind.
 
He maketh his angels winds, * and his ministers a flaming fire.
 
He laid the foundations of the earth, * that it never should move at any time.
 
Thou coveredst it with the deep like as with a garment; * the waters stand above the hills.
 
At thy rebuke they flee; * at the voice of thy thunder they haste away.
 
They go up as high as the hills, and down to the valleys beneath; * even unto the place which thou hast appointed for them.
 
Thou hast set them their bounds, which they shall not pass, * neither turn again to cover the earth.
 
He sendeth the springs into the rivers, * which run among the hills.
 
All beasts of the field drink thereof, * and the wild asses quench their thirst.
 
Beside them shall the fowls of the air have their habitation, * and sing among the branches.
 
He watereth the hills from above; * the earth is filled with the fruit of thy works.
 
He bringeth forth grass for the cattle, * and green herb for the service of men;
 
That he may bring food out of the earth, and wine that maketh glad the heart of man; * and oil to make him a cheerful countenance, and bread to strengthen man's heart.
 
The trees of the LORD also are full of sap; * even the cedars of Lebanon which he hath planted;
 
Wherein the birds make their nests; * and the firtrees are a dwelling for the stork.
 
The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; * and so are the stony rocks for the conies.
 
He appointed the moon for certain seasons, * and the sun knoweth his going down.
 
Thou makest darkness that it may be night; * wherein all the beasts of the forest do move.
 
The lions, roaring after their prey, * do seek their meat from God.
 
The sun ariseth, and they get them away together, * and lay them down in their dens.
 
Man goeth forth to his work, and to his labour, * until the evening.
 
O LORD, how manifold are thy works! * in wisdom hast thou made them all; the earth is full of thy riches.
 
So is the great and wide sea also; * wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.
 
There go the ships, and there is that leviathan, * whom thou hast made to take his pastime therein.
 
These wait all upon thee, * that thou mayest give them meat in due season.
 
When thou givest it them, they gather it; * and when thou openest thy hand, they are filled with good.
 
When thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: * when thou takest away their breath, they die, and are turned again to their dust.
 
When thou lettest thy breath go forth, they shall be made; * and thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
 
The glorious majesty of the LORD shall endure for ever; * the LORD shall rejoice in his works.
 
The earth shall tremble at the look of him; * if he do but touch the hills, they shall smoke.
 
I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live; * I will praise my God while I have my being.
 
And so shall my words please him: * my joy shall be in the LORD.
 
As for sinners, they shall be consumed out of the earth, * and the ungodly shall come to an end.
 
Praise thou the LORD, O my soul. * Praise the LORD.

Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabeshgilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee. And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel. And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days' respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel: and then, if there be no man to save us, we will come out to thee. Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept. And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh. And the spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly. And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out with one consent. And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabeshgilead, Tomorrow, by that time the sun be hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and shewed it to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad. Therefore the men of Jabesh said, Tomorrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you. And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together. And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death. And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for today the Lord hath wrought salvation in Israel.

Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

O GOD, whose never-failing providence ordereth all things both in heaven and earth; We humbly beseech thee to put away from us all hurtful things, and to give us those things which are profitable for us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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