They thought with t>s' cxx
contempt of those who had slothfully preferred their
ease, and stayed behind, and prayed that God's
mercy might be with His more zealous servants.
contempt of those who had slothfully preferred their
ease, and stayed behind, and prayed that God's
mercy might be with His more zealous servants.
Childrens - Psalm-Book
*Jt$p
jfcfpov Hf'^jpn? 175 ^twi? to^I
pnn? t f riS ^niv6
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
mote on Pi In Canto Tau the "servant " of God, prays for
the Divine acceptance of his prayer poem, and for
Divine Mercy towards himself--and he humbly asks
that if he be tempted to do wrong, God will mercifully
lead him back to righteousness--as a shepherd leads
a strayed sheep back to the fold.
"For," he says, " I do not forget Thy command-
ments. "
When we know we have done wrong, we are
sometimes apt to try ? iol to hear the voice within us
that reproaches us for our wrong-doing. Then we
PSALM CXX.
21 Song of Degrees.
In my distress I cried unto the Lord, and He
heard me. 2 Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying
lips, and from a false tongue. 3 What shall be
given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee,
thou false tongue? 4 Sharp arrows of the mighty,
with coals of genista. * 5 Woe is me, that I so-
journ in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar ! f
6 My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth
peace. 7 I am for peace: but when I speak, they
are for war.
* A pink broom, which grows abundantly in the desert. It is
exceedingly bitter. The roots, when burned, make fine charcoal,
a precious thing in a country where there is no coal. "Sharp
arrows of the mighty with coals of genista" is a description in
imagery of the poet's hatred of all manner of untruth ; he would
punish, with sharpest weapon and hottest fire, the "false
tongue. "
t Mesech and Kedar were tribes of barbarians.
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
are trying to forget the commandments of God. IRote on n
But if--like the Psalmist--we try to remember the
laws of God and are truly sorry whenever we have
disobeyed them, and try hard to resist doing so
again--then God will mercifully pardon our wrong-
doing. The Psalmist's prayer recalls the comforting
words of the prophet Isaiah: "Let the wicked for-
sake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts,,
and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have
mercy on him, and unto our God and He will abun-
dantly pardon. "
CXX. 3p
t j? _ t; 'r . i-- * t|t a>> tjtt- t ;i
oy D^3^ ni33 4 'rv&-j jitpS s|*p*-nw
n3ijr oy *traa n^-n3Dtr nan e :-np *Shx-D>>
V" ? a" :- jt t :|t 1 |t|" j"t;|t
:nanW? nan na-tx *ai DiW-^x 7 :Di^tr
|t t : ? - t ** a" --: j'; n I t
243
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
ore on This is the first of a series of fifteen Psalms, all
. CXX. with the title " A Song of Degrees," which means
a song of steps, a marching song.
Old Hebrew traditions say that these Songs were
sung by the Priests in procession on the steps of the
Temple at Jerusalem. Some of them may be older
still, and may have been sung by the Israelites, (to
whom they were probably as familiar as " God Save
the King " is to us), to beguile the way on the pil-
grimages to Jerusalem to celebrate the three great
yearly festivals of Passover, Pentecost, and Taber-
nacles. *
When the Israelites were carried away as captives
to Babylon, one the Psalms tells us how they silently
cherished their national hymns:
"By the rivers of Babylon, there sat we down and
"wept when we remembered Zion. Upon the
"willows in the midst thereof we hanged our harps.
"For there they that had led us captive required of
* "Three times a year shall all thy males appear before the
Lord thy God in the place that He shall choose " (Deut. xvi. 15).
PSALM CXXI.
a Song of Degrees.
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills. Whence
cometh my help? 2 My help cometh from the
Lord, Which made heaven and earth. 3 He will
not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth
thee will not slumber. 4 Behold, He that keepeth
Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The Lorp
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
"us songs, and they that had wasted us--mirth, IRote on
"saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. CSX
"How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange
"land? "
After seventy years' captivity in Babylon, the
Israelites were allowed by King Cyrus of Persia,
(who had conquered the King of Babylon), to go back
to Jerusalem, and to rebuild the Temple. *
We can imagine the exiles setting out to return to
the land of their fathers, joyfully singing the old
marching hymns, and mingling with them new songs
of joy and thankfulness to God as they approached
Jerusalem, the beloved City that symbolized the
history of their race and faith.
The " Songs of Degrees " seem to carry us through
all the episodes of the return of Israel to the Father-
land. The first one, Psalm cxx. , rings with the
sorrow of the home-sick exile among unsympathetic
strangers.
Ezra, ch. i.
cxxi. nap
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
IPs. CXXI. is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right
hand. 6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor
the moon by night. 7 The Lord shall preserve thee
from all evil: He shall preserve thy soul. 8 The
Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming
in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
mote on Sorrow changes to hope as the great pilgrim-
IPs. CXXI. age starts on its way. The pilgrims eagerly
scan the horizon to catch sight of the mountain
range which marks the last stage of their journey.
But a vast plain is spread out before them; the
mountains of Zion are not yet in sight. "Whence
PSALM CXXII.
a Song of Degrees of Davio.
I WAS glad when they said unto me, Let us go into
the house of the Lord. 2 Our feet shall stand within
thy gates, O Jerusalem. 3 Jerusalem is builded as
a city that is compact together: 4 Whither the
tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord; a testimony
unto Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the
Lord. 5 For there are set thrones of judgment
the thrones of the house of David. 6 Pray for the
peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love
thee. 7 Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity
within thy palaces. 8 For the sake of my brethren
and my companions I will now say, Peace be within
thee, 9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our
God I will seek thy good.
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
-p-Sy pin? sp&e> rftxi5 'hx'p] nibit? >><<? cxxi.
t:it- -/? ? t: tv- i v >v - t ||-. - ? :
cometh my help ? " cries the Psalmist, as he thinks flote on
of their many long days of wayfaring through un- P8, CXXI.
known lands and across the great desert inhabited
only by wild beasts.
The rest of the Psalm is his comforting and
courage-giving answer to his own question.
cxxn. nap
? t: <: t tV 1 t ; - 't t; iV *:
*a 5 :nin^ de'1? rvniir? ^n^S nm rr*&3#
it: j**: :a** t; ? : j? ? rx ? ? : ?
:Tn rnfcM bsetoS nixoj >>b* 1 rvs&
i ? t j": :? at: ? : j : * j :it t t
/ t r: i'|t i t; ? -att i; j:
a" v: jt; r* 1-- ;i ||t j t it t; --j
247
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
IRote on Jerusalem is the emblem of rejoicing, of Israel's
ps. CXXII. consciousness of the Divine blessing. The pilgrims
beguile the way by singing the glories of her history.
In imagination they have already reached the
PSALM CXXIII.
H Song of Degrees.
Unto Thee lift I up mine eyes, O Thou that
dwellest in the heavens. 2 Behold, as the eyes of
servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as
the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress;
so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until that
He have mercy upon us. 3 Have mercy upon us, O
Lord, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly
filled with contempt. 4 Our soul is exceedingly
filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and
with the contempt of the proud.
1Flote on Many a long march had to be accomplished to
pe. CXXIII. cover the 600 miles that lay between Babylon
and Jerusalem.
As the pilgrims trudged sturdily over the great
Syrian desert, they strengthened their hearts and
braced their bodies for the toilsome journey by the
PSALM CXXIV.
% Song of Degrees of Davto.
If it had not been the Lord Who was on our side,
now may Israel say; 2 If it had not been the Lord
Who was on our side, when men rose up against us:
3 Then they had swallowed us up alive, when their
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
cherished home of their forefathers, and restored mote on
the great Temple that was the centre and focus t>s' CXXII.
of the religious life of Israel.
cxxiii. aap
j -: i ?
nan 2 <d<< *ae>''n wtik *HKjw tVn
. . . ,|t t _ . . | _ a_ . . . . jt t j ?
: uan'0 ny wkx rrin^x tfw p wnaa t
|" t : v - V v: jt: v |j" jt :? : a-
nan 4 >up3|f nr*a qan nin; Ian 3
t&figi? nan D^ge>n jyVn n^>-nyae>
thought of God as their great Master, to whom all mote on
mankind owes faithful service.
They thought with t>s' cxx
contempt of those who had slothfully preferred their
ease, and stayed behind, and prayed that God's
mercy might be with His more zealous servants.
cxxiv. nap
ioh 2 :htr&> so-netf* ub n w nirv hh
I t; ? t -- i at tjt V t ;i j"
D<<n *tx 3 *onx mpa vh nw nirr
j>> - ;i Itt j"t 11: at tjt V t;
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
t>3. CXXIV. wrath was kindled against us: 4 Then the waters had
overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:
5 Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.
6 Blessed be the Lord, Who hath not given us
as a prey to their teeth. 7 Our soul is escaped
as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare
is broken, and we are escaped. 8 Our help is in the
name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.
mote on The thought of the Divine Mercy that has
IPs. CXXIV. released them from exile and captivity fills all their
hearts with gratitude to God, and with the courage
PSALM CXXV.
a Song of Deflrees.
They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount
Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for
ever. 2 As the mountains are round about Jeru-
salem, so the Lord is round about His people from
henceforth even for ever. 3 For the rod of the
wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous;
lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.
4 Do good, O Lord, unto the good, and to the
upright in heart. 5 As for such as turn aside unto
their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them forth
with the workers of iniquity. Peace be upon
Israel 1
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
ttwetf D^an *tk 4 :'ua ninns wySa (C)s. cxxiv.
at: *j-- --|t jt- at:
a-* :- ~ j- t --;i i" : ~ . . -t t ; -
epib <<ana nirv . ? mna 6 'doittpi D*sn
I v v /tt: ( v at: I /t i* i"-
D^pi; nso rtaSaj nisxa uetea 7 iDrvatrS
prtrp Deft tt-ny 8 n^Saj uroxi naeo nsn
at:: :it ; ? :*--:i- t: * *--
nStt mB0 n&jf
Itt '/-t "^
to face whatever danger may come across their path. mote on
"Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made P8, CXXIV.
Heaven and earth. "
CXXV. TOp
I? ? 't: ? i i j * -: at i- :l ~
iayS nim a*ao 5nn of? eh7 2
a -; j* t t a * t ? t ? - t i:
fy win nw 16 *a 3 'D^y-nyi nnya
- - V t V. <" t V it * - I t-|"
:DniaSa DntrVi d^nitsS nirr nawi 4 :ditt
it ? : ? t i ? : *? - t n t j- **
Ivatt i v t ;i j? ? . i t |-:|--: --:
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
mote on The first two verses describe with poetic imagery
p8. CXXV. tne mountains surrounding Jerusalem as an emblem of
steadfast faith in the never-ceasing care of God. That
same steadfast faith, which gives us courage in the
darkest moments of trouble and danger, inspires the
third verse. Without faith even the righteous--
tempted by the expediency of the moment--would
"put forth their hands to iniquity. " The purer our
faith, the greater our courage to hold fast to what
PSALM CXXVI.
H Song of Degrees-
When the Lord turned again the captivity of
Zion, we were like them that dream. 2 Then was
our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with
singing: then said they among the nations, The
Lord hath done great things for them. 3 The Lord
hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.
4 Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams
in the south. 5 They that sow in tears shall reap in
joy. 6 He that goeth forth weeping, bearing precious
seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bring-
ing his sheaves with him.
mote on Psalm cxxvi. is a song of joy and thankfulness
(C)8. CXXVI. to God for the restoration of freedom to Israel
after the seventy years of captivity and exile.
When we are in trouble and things seem going
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
we know is right through all trial and temptation; mote on
believing with perfect faith, in God's perfect justice P8, CXXV.
and gracious mercy to us all. "For the rod of the
wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous. "
We know not how, we know not when, salvation
may come to us, and so arises our faith in life
beyond the grave when we think of those whose
souls have known little but adversity in this
world.
against us, it is good to think, as the Psalmist mote on
says, that they "who sow in tears shall reap in IPs. CXXVI.
joy," if only they cherish the "precious seed," i. e.
truth, honour, and trust in God.
CXXVI. 13p
ribvpn vty
it . . ? ? at ? : / t
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
PSALM CXXVII.
a Song of Degrees for Solomon. *
1 Except the Lord build the house, they labour
in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city,
the watchman waketh but in vain.
2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late,
to eat the bread of toil. Even so He giveth His
beloved in sleep.
3 Lo, sons are an heritage of the Lord, and
children are His reward.
4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so
are children of youth.
5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of
them: they shall not be ashamed when they speak
with enemies in the gate
PSALM CXXVIII.
H Song of Degreee.
1 Happy is every one that feareth the Lord, that
walketh in His ways.
2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands:
happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.
3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine, in the inner-
most parts of thy house: thy children like olive
plants round about thy table.
4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed that
feareth the Lord.
* The translation of this Psalm is that of Mr. C. G. Monte-
fiore in the " Bible of Home Reading. "
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
cxxvu. tap
ia vata boo rvii niy riS 1 nirr-DK
|*>> J- t ;<t ? t; ? | 't: ?
D^avpn onS *S3fc rotrnnxa oip *yaeto 1 DbS
D*aa nirv nSro nan 3 ftH*S uv a
a* t jt: j--;i- <<;** ? It" j ? ? )>? ? ? i^--
insfx"nx xba nfx n3|n e :D^wti
CXXVIII. TOp
niSgan tb>
2 :V31i3 "nbnri nirv x-rSa new
3dD dtvt bn&s wis wvd *na*Va Fi'nb
:nin; xn; n$| -spj; nan 4 :^nS^S
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
ps. * The Lord bless thee out Zion; may thou see
CXXVIII
'the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.
6 Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children.
Peace be upon Israel!
mote on These two Psalms seem to echo the thoughts of
CXXVII. t'ie released exiles, as they neared Jerusalem after
ano the seventy years captivity in Babylon.
CXXVIII. They picture the joys of a good citizen's life,
filled with honest work, and crowned with all the
blessings of family love and a happy homestead in
Jerusalem, the well-beloved city. Their earnest
resolve to try to be worthy of the blessing of God
inspires the first two verses of Ps. cxxvii. These
PSALM CXXX.
21 Song of Degrcc8.
Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O
Lord. 2 Lord, hear my voice: let Thine ears be
attentive to the voice of my supplications. 3 If
Thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who
shall stand? 4 But there is forgiveness with Thee,
that Thou mayest be feared. 5 I wait for the
Lord, my soul doth wait, and in His word do I hope.
6 My soul looketh for the Lord more than they that
watch for the morning: yea, more than they that
watch for the morning. 7 Let Israel hope in the
Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with
Him is plenteous redemption. 8 And He shall
redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
% ^ D^T: >>9? *W N2? TO! 5 Cxfvhl
r? ? x: ? * t iavt: "t (" :( in-
verses came into my mind as I gazed amid the ruins mote on
of Rome on the triumphal arch erected by the Emperor ^XVII
Titus, to commemorate his conquest of the Jews and at,j)
capture of Jerusalem. The empire of the conqueror CXXVIII
has crumbled and vanished; but " Israel, the witness
of God, still remains, a marvel to many, a puzzle to
some, to accomplish in God's good time the work
which God has given him to do. "*
* "Bible for Home Reading. " C. G. Montefiore.
cxxx. bp
niSy&n v&
>--. \--
^ip?
jfcfpov Hf'^jpn? 175 ^twi? to^I
pnn? t f riS ^niv6
24I R
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
mote on Pi In Canto Tau the "servant " of God, prays for
the Divine acceptance of his prayer poem, and for
Divine Mercy towards himself--and he humbly asks
that if he be tempted to do wrong, God will mercifully
lead him back to righteousness--as a shepherd leads
a strayed sheep back to the fold.
"For," he says, " I do not forget Thy command-
ments. "
When we know we have done wrong, we are
sometimes apt to try ? iol to hear the voice within us
that reproaches us for our wrong-doing. Then we
PSALM CXX.
21 Song of Degrees.
In my distress I cried unto the Lord, and He
heard me. 2 Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying
lips, and from a false tongue. 3 What shall be
given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee,
thou false tongue? 4 Sharp arrows of the mighty,
with coals of genista. * 5 Woe is me, that I so-
journ in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar ! f
6 My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth
peace. 7 I am for peace: but when I speak, they
are for war.
* A pink broom, which grows abundantly in the desert. It is
exceedingly bitter. The roots, when burned, make fine charcoal,
a precious thing in a country where there is no coal. "Sharp
arrows of the mighty with coals of genista" is a description in
imagery of the poet's hatred of all manner of untruth ; he would
punish, with sharpest weapon and hottest fire, the "false
tongue. "
t Mesech and Kedar were tribes of barbarians.
242
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
are trying to forget the commandments of God. IRote on n
But if--like the Psalmist--we try to remember the
laws of God and are truly sorry whenever we have
disobeyed them, and try hard to resist doing so
again--then God will mercifully pardon our wrong-
doing. The Psalmist's prayer recalls the comforting
words of the prophet Isaiah: "Let the wicked for-
sake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts,,
and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have
mercy on him, and unto our God and He will abun-
dantly pardon. "
CXX. 3p
t j? _ t; 'r . i-- * t|t a>> tjtt- t ;i
oy D^3^ ni33 4 'rv&-j jitpS s|*p*-nw
n3ijr oy *traa n^-n3Dtr nan e :-np *Shx-D>>
V" ? a" :- jt t :|t 1 |t|" j"t;|t
:nanW? nan na-tx *ai DiW-^x 7 :Di^tr
|t t : ? - t ** a" --: j'; n I t
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
ore on This is the first of a series of fifteen Psalms, all
. CXX. with the title " A Song of Degrees," which means
a song of steps, a marching song.
Old Hebrew traditions say that these Songs were
sung by the Priests in procession on the steps of the
Temple at Jerusalem. Some of them may be older
still, and may have been sung by the Israelites, (to
whom they were probably as familiar as " God Save
the King " is to us), to beguile the way on the pil-
grimages to Jerusalem to celebrate the three great
yearly festivals of Passover, Pentecost, and Taber-
nacles. *
When the Israelites were carried away as captives
to Babylon, one the Psalms tells us how they silently
cherished their national hymns:
"By the rivers of Babylon, there sat we down and
"wept when we remembered Zion. Upon the
"willows in the midst thereof we hanged our harps.
"For there they that had led us captive required of
* "Three times a year shall all thy males appear before the
Lord thy God in the place that He shall choose " (Deut. xvi. 15).
PSALM CXXI.
a Song of Degrees.
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills. Whence
cometh my help? 2 My help cometh from the
Lord, Which made heaven and earth. 3 He will
not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth
thee will not slumber. 4 Behold, He that keepeth
Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The Lorp
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
"us songs, and they that had wasted us--mirth, IRote on
"saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. CSX
"How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange
"land? "
After seventy years' captivity in Babylon, the
Israelites were allowed by King Cyrus of Persia,
(who had conquered the King of Babylon), to go back
to Jerusalem, and to rebuild the Temple. *
We can imagine the exiles setting out to return to
the land of their fathers, joyfully singing the old
marching hymns, and mingling with them new songs
of joy and thankfulness to God as they approached
Jerusalem, the beloved City that symbolized the
history of their race and faith.
The " Songs of Degrees " seem to carry us through
all the episodes of the return of Israel to the Father-
land. The first one, Psalm cxx. , rings with the
sorrow of the home-sick exile among unsympathetic
strangers.
Ezra, ch. i.
cxxi. nap
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
IPs. CXXI. is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right
hand. 6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor
the moon by night. 7 The Lord shall preserve thee
from all evil: He shall preserve thy soul. 8 The
Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming
in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
mote on Sorrow changes to hope as the great pilgrim-
IPs. CXXI. age starts on its way. The pilgrims eagerly
scan the horizon to catch sight of the mountain
range which marks the last stage of their journey.
But a vast plain is spread out before them; the
mountains of Zion are not yet in sight. "Whence
PSALM CXXII.
a Song of Degrees of Davio.
I WAS glad when they said unto me, Let us go into
the house of the Lord. 2 Our feet shall stand within
thy gates, O Jerusalem. 3 Jerusalem is builded as
a city that is compact together: 4 Whither the
tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord; a testimony
unto Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the
Lord. 5 For there are set thrones of judgment
the thrones of the house of David. 6 Pray for the
peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love
thee. 7 Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity
within thy palaces. 8 For the sake of my brethren
and my companions I will now say, Peace be within
thee, 9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our
God I will seek thy good.
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
-p-Sy pin? sp&e> rftxi5 'hx'p] nibit? >><<? cxxi.
t:it- -/? ? t: tv- i v >v - t ||-. - ? :
cometh my help ? " cries the Psalmist, as he thinks flote on
of their many long days of wayfaring through un- P8, CXXI.
known lands and across the great desert inhabited
only by wild beasts.
The rest of the Psalm is his comforting and
courage-giving answer to his own question.
cxxn. nap
? t: <: t tV 1 t ; - 't t; iV *:
*a 5 :nin^ de'1? rvniir? ^n^S nm rr*&3#
it: j**: :a** t; ? : j? ? rx ? ? : ?
:Tn rnfcM bsetoS nixoj >>b* 1 rvs&
i ? t j": :? at: ? : j : * j :it t t
/ t r: i'|t i t; ? -att i; j:
a" v: jt; r* 1-- ;i ||t j t it t; --j
247
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
IRote on Jerusalem is the emblem of rejoicing, of Israel's
ps. CXXII. consciousness of the Divine blessing. The pilgrims
beguile the way by singing the glories of her history.
In imagination they have already reached the
PSALM CXXIII.
H Song of Degrees.
Unto Thee lift I up mine eyes, O Thou that
dwellest in the heavens. 2 Behold, as the eyes of
servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as
the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress;
so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until that
He have mercy upon us. 3 Have mercy upon us, O
Lord, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly
filled with contempt. 4 Our soul is exceedingly
filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and
with the contempt of the proud.
1Flote on Many a long march had to be accomplished to
pe. CXXIII. cover the 600 miles that lay between Babylon
and Jerusalem.
As the pilgrims trudged sturdily over the great
Syrian desert, they strengthened their hearts and
braced their bodies for the toilsome journey by the
PSALM CXXIV.
% Song of Degrees of Davto.
If it had not been the Lord Who was on our side,
now may Israel say; 2 If it had not been the Lord
Who was on our side, when men rose up against us:
3 Then they had swallowed us up alive, when their
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
cherished home of their forefathers, and restored mote on
the great Temple that was the centre and focus t>s' CXXII.
of the religious life of Israel.
cxxiii. aap
j -: i ?
nan 2 <d<< *ae>''n wtik *HKjw tVn
. . . ,|t t _ . . | _ a_ . . . . jt t j ?
: uan'0 ny wkx rrin^x tfw p wnaa t
|" t : v - V v: jt: v |j" jt :? : a-
nan 4 >up3|f nr*a qan nin; Ian 3
t&figi? nan D^ge>n jyVn n^>-nyae>
thought of God as their great Master, to whom all mote on
mankind owes faithful service.
They thought with t>s' cxx
contempt of those who had slothfully preferred their
ease, and stayed behind, and prayed that God's
mercy might be with His more zealous servants.
cxxiv. nap
ioh 2 :htr&> so-netf* ub n w nirv hh
I t; ? t -- i at tjt V t ;i j"
D<<n *tx 3 *onx mpa vh nw nirr
j>> - ;i Itt j"t 11: at tjt V t;
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
t>3. CXXIV. wrath was kindled against us: 4 Then the waters had
overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:
5 Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.
6 Blessed be the Lord, Who hath not given us
as a prey to their teeth. 7 Our soul is escaped
as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare
is broken, and we are escaped. 8 Our help is in the
name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.
mote on The thought of the Divine Mercy that has
IPs. CXXIV. released them from exile and captivity fills all their
hearts with gratitude to God, and with the courage
PSALM CXXV.
a Song of Deflrees.
They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount
Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for
ever. 2 As the mountains are round about Jeru-
salem, so the Lord is round about His people from
henceforth even for ever. 3 For the rod of the
wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous;
lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.
4 Do good, O Lord, unto the good, and to the
upright in heart. 5 As for such as turn aside unto
their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them forth
with the workers of iniquity. Peace be upon
Israel 1
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
ttwetf D^an *tk 4 :'ua ninns wySa (C)s. cxxiv.
at: *j-- --|t jt- at:
a-* :- ~ j- t --;i i" : ~ . . -t t ; -
epib <<ana nirv . ? mna 6 'doittpi D*sn
I v v /tt: ( v at: I /t i* i"-
D^pi; nso rtaSaj nisxa uetea 7 iDrvatrS
prtrp Deft tt-ny 8 n^Saj uroxi naeo nsn
at:: :it ; ? :*--:i- t: * *--
nStt mB0 n&jf
Itt '/-t "^
to face whatever danger may come across their path. mote on
"Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made P8, CXXIV.
Heaven and earth. "
CXXV. TOp
I? ? 't: ? i i j * -: at i- :l ~
iayS nim a*ao 5nn of? eh7 2
a -; j* t t a * t ? t ? - t i:
fy win nw 16 *a 3 'D^y-nyi nnya
- - V t V. <" t V it * - I t-|"
:DniaSa DntrVi d^nitsS nirr nawi 4 :ditt
it ? : ? t i ? : *? - t n t j- **
Ivatt i v t ;i j? ? . i t |-:|--: --:
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
mote on The first two verses describe with poetic imagery
p8. CXXV. tne mountains surrounding Jerusalem as an emblem of
steadfast faith in the never-ceasing care of God. That
same steadfast faith, which gives us courage in the
darkest moments of trouble and danger, inspires the
third verse. Without faith even the righteous--
tempted by the expediency of the moment--would
"put forth their hands to iniquity. " The purer our
faith, the greater our courage to hold fast to what
PSALM CXXVI.
H Song of Degrees-
When the Lord turned again the captivity of
Zion, we were like them that dream. 2 Then was
our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with
singing: then said they among the nations, The
Lord hath done great things for them. 3 The Lord
hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.
4 Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams
in the south. 5 They that sow in tears shall reap in
joy. 6 He that goeth forth weeping, bearing precious
seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bring-
ing his sheaves with him.
mote on Psalm cxxvi. is a song of joy and thankfulness
(C)8. CXXVI. to God for the restoration of freedom to Israel
after the seventy years of captivity and exile.
When we are in trouble and things seem going
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
we know is right through all trial and temptation; mote on
believing with perfect faith, in God's perfect justice P8, CXXV.
and gracious mercy to us all. "For the rod of the
wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous. "
We know not how, we know not when, salvation
may come to us, and so arises our faith in life
beyond the grave when we think of those whose
souls have known little but adversity in this
world.
against us, it is good to think, as the Psalmist mote on
says, that they "who sow in tears shall reap in IPs. CXXVI.
joy," if only they cherish the "precious seed," i. e.
truth, honour, and trust in God.
CXXVI. 13p
ribvpn vty
it . . ? ? at ? : / t
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
PSALM CXXVII.
a Song of Degrees for Solomon. *
1 Except the Lord build the house, they labour
in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city,
the watchman waketh but in vain.
2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late,
to eat the bread of toil. Even so He giveth His
beloved in sleep.
3 Lo, sons are an heritage of the Lord, and
children are His reward.
4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so
are children of youth.
5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of
them: they shall not be ashamed when they speak
with enemies in the gate
PSALM CXXVIII.
H Song of Degreee.
1 Happy is every one that feareth the Lord, that
walketh in His ways.
2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands:
happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.
3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine, in the inner-
most parts of thy house: thy children like olive
plants round about thy table.
4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed that
feareth the Lord.
* The translation of this Psalm is that of Mr. C. G. Monte-
fiore in the " Bible of Home Reading. "
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
cxxvu. tap
ia vata boo rvii niy riS 1 nirr-DK
|*>> J- t ;<t ? t; ? | 't: ?
D^avpn onS *S3fc rotrnnxa oip *yaeto 1 DbS
D*aa nirv nSro nan 3 ftH*S uv a
a* t jt: j--;i- <<;** ? It" j ? ? )>? ? ? i^--
insfx"nx xba nfx n3|n e :D^wti
CXXVIII. TOp
niSgan tb>
2 :V31i3 "nbnri nirv x-rSa new
3dD dtvt bn&s wis wvd *na*Va Fi'nb
:nin; xn; n$| -spj; nan 4 :^nS^S
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
ps. * The Lord bless thee out Zion; may thou see
CXXVIII
'the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.
6 Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children.
Peace be upon Israel!
mote on These two Psalms seem to echo the thoughts of
CXXVII. t'ie released exiles, as they neared Jerusalem after
ano the seventy years captivity in Babylon.
CXXVIII. They picture the joys of a good citizen's life,
filled with honest work, and crowned with all the
blessings of family love and a happy homestead in
Jerusalem, the well-beloved city. Their earnest
resolve to try to be worthy of the blessing of God
inspires the first two verses of Ps. cxxvii. These
PSALM CXXX.
21 Song of Degrcc8.
Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O
Lord. 2 Lord, hear my voice: let Thine ears be
attentive to the voice of my supplications. 3 If
Thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who
shall stand? 4 But there is forgiveness with Thee,
that Thou mayest be feared. 5 I wait for the
Lord, my soul doth wait, and in His word do I hope.
6 My soul looketh for the Lord more than they that
watch for the morning: yea, more than they that
watch for the morning. 7 Let Israel hope in the
Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with
Him is plenteous redemption. 8 And He shall
redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
% ^ D^T: >>9? *W N2? TO! 5 Cxfvhl
r? ? x: ? * t iavt: "t (" :( in-
verses came into my mind as I gazed amid the ruins mote on
of Rome on the triumphal arch erected by the Emperor ^XVII
Titus, to commemorate his conquest of the Jews and at,j)
capture of Jerusalem. The empire of the conqueror CXXVIII
has crumbled and vanished; but " Israel, the witness
of God, still remains, a marvel to many, a puzzle to
some, to accomplish in God's good time the work
which God has given him to do. "*
* "Bible for Home Reading. " C. G. Montefiore.
cxxx. bp
niSy&n v&
>--. \--
^ip?
