No More Learning

CXXVI. 13p
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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
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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&
>--. \--
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nrpSpn ^y-^ 4 *p ^ ^PV^
inn'}^ nmp rfy-i; wip 5 :xpvi jyo1?
npnn r? n;-Dpa nin;-^ Sir7
^xn^-nx rns* xim8 :rvn$ tey nrrn
:vniaiy
It 1-:
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
Woteott Sometimes when we have done wrong, we lose
3. CXXX- Qur self-respect and feel discouraged, and as
though we could not start the struggle again.
How comforting it is then to read this Psalm! It
helps us to feel that if we are truly sorry, there
is always forgiveness with God, from whatever
depths we cry unto Him.
It gives us courage to "hope in the Lord," and to
feel that He will strengthen our hearts for the con-
PSALM CXXXIII.
a Song of Degrees of DavtD.
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for
brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the
precious ointment upon the head, that ran down
upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went
down to the skirts of his garments; 3 As the dew
of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the
mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded
the blessing, even life for evermore.
mote on This Psalm is in praise of the spirit of love and
3XXXHI kindliness that helps the peace and happiness of all
'the world. The word " brother " in Eastern countries
has a wide meaning, and includes not only brothers in
kinship, but also neighbours and fellow creatures. As
the Psalmist and his brother-pilgrims come near the
land of freedom, where no oppressive conquerors'
rule will bind them in common cause to one another,
he sings the beauty of peace and love and unity
among brethren.
Like all poetry written in the East, this Psalm is
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
stant struggle with our own faults, and that if we mote on
only try hard enough, we can--through the mercy P8<< cxx
of God--earn His full forgiveness (plenteous re-
demption). "For there is forgiveness with Thee
that Thou mayest be feared. " That is the watch-
word of courage and comfort for all who have done
wrong. Feel the fear of hope, but never despair;
pray for the merciful forgiveness of God, and "hope
in the Lord. "
trh rnf? yan n&
nrv-DH wm natf D^-rntti ato-ras nan
-IV -- j>> - V*V j<< t _ i - j-- ?
> - at t: - v t :i ji - t a" : -
full of imagery --that is, of description by comparison. mote on
An Eastern poet brings his thoughts before us, not CXXXIII
so much by speaking of the actual thing he is de-
scribing, as by speaking of some other thing that
suggests the special idea he wishes to bring to our
minds.
We do not use imagery, as Eastern people do, in
ordinary conversation, though we use it in poetry.
Shakespear, for instance, calls England "this
precious stone set in the silver sea. "
This Psalm is a poem full of imagery. The open-
CXXXIII. zbp
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
mote on ing words recall the words of Moses:--" Thou shalt
CXXXIII. ^ove neighbour as thyself. " The Psalmist
'speaks of the happiness of always being good friends,
and of never quarrelling. He does not describe love,
but he compares it, first to a fragrant ointment
softening and perfuming the hair and beard, flow-
ing down a beard so long that like the beard of
Aaron, the High Priest, it reaches to the very hem
of the long robe that men wore (and still wear)
in Eastern countries. So he brings before us the
thought of a sweet ointment,* softening everything
* Every one in the East uses ointment, as we use soap, to
cleanse and refresh themselves. The ointments used in the
East have a delicious and refreshing perfume,
PSALM CXXXIV.
a Song of Degrees.
Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the
Lord, which by night stand in the house of the
Lord. 2 Lift up your hands in holiness, and bless
the Lord.
3 The Lord that made heaven and earth bless
thee out of Zion.
mote on This evening hymn is the last of the Songs of
'XXXIV degrees. The long march is ended, and the pilgrims
'pour out a song of praise and thanks as they reach
the Temple. The third verse is the answering
blessing spoken by the priests of the Temple.
Every one of us, however young, or however
ignorant, may pour out our hearts in prayer to God.
For He is the all-merciful Father and King of us all.
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
it touches, iust as love sweetens all companion- mote on
shiP- CXXXIII
Then the Psalmist compares love to the dew, that
beneficent gift of God, showered on all nature.
First to the dew of Hermon, a beautiful mountain,
a landmark for miles round, in the country where
our forefathers lived. And finally he compares it
to the dew on the mountain of Zion, on which
stood the Holy Temple, where the Lord com-
manded the blessing, "even life for evermore. "
So the Psalmist ends with the thought that love,
like the dew, is the gift of God, and is the ever-
lasting mirror of His goodness in the human heart.
One of the great Rabbis said, " If thou canst not mote on
pray in the synagogue, pray in thy field; and if thou IPs.
canst not pray there, pray in thy house; and if CXXX1V
thou canst not pray there, pray in thy bed; and
if thou canst not pray there, pray in thy heart. "
Whenever and wherever we think of God, and
pray to God, we are " standing in the house of the
CXXXIV. -hp
Lord.
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
PSALM CXXXV.
Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the name of the
Lord; 2 Praise, O ye servants of the Lord that
stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the
house of our God, 3 Praise ye the Lord; for the
Lord is good: sing praises unto His name; for it is
pleasant. 4 For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto
Himself, and Israel as His. 5 For I know that the
Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.
6 Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did He in
heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep
places. 7 He causeth the vapours to ascend from
the ends of the earth; He maketh lightnings for the
rain; He bringeth the wind out of his store-houses.
8 Who smote the first-born of Egypt, both of man
and beast. 9 Who sent tokens and wonders into
the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon
all his servants. 10 Who smote great nations, and
slew mighty kings; 11 Sihon king of the Amorites,
and Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of
Canaan: 12 And gave their land for an heritage,
an heritage unto Israel His people.
13 Thy name,
O Lord, endureth for ever; and Thy memorial, O
Lord, throughout all generations. 14 For the Lord
will judge His people, and He will have compassion on
His servants. 15 The idols of the heathen are silver
and gold, the work of men's hands. 16 They have
mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they
see not; 17 They have ears, but they hear not;
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
cxxxv. rhp
: nim nay bbr\ nim athvi $hn I nnSSn
iwrhx ma ninxna nir v maa tmafotf 2
f v; j-* :-; at; ; ? ; i v\
: d*m *a ibV? <<dt nim nn^n 3
I*t >> :? / ; - at: j? t :ri
*a 5 nn^JD1? ^1^' m iS nna apy*-*a 4
f 1 t *. : ? ? ? t: ? at j -1 t I -;i-t ?
imbxhab wjik) nir v b)iy>2 w
r v: t ? at; iv p ? :-ti
d*&>>3 pxai trwra new him vsn~itrN Sa e
? I Vatt t" jt t t: i j" t V <
D*mia pgn nypa ekveq rb$p 7 :niphn-Sai'
niaanan^8 :vniurtwj mH xxia ntry ntaaS
j": t ? ! << it :1 ? ? - ? ? ? IT r jtt-
D^nsb! i mAxinS&r 9 :nanny dSno Dnxa
. . i j ,-t it "; * tti" *at: ?
D*ia nantr 10 :vnay-^aa} npsa Dnxo *aaina
'? t " |vi itt1: t: ':-: -at: ? -j? ? :
nbxn 'nba 1 nn*DS 11 :dto d^So Km' ran
? v:it |v<< I < ? : r '? t: -t: a* -
jnjl 12 j jyja nia^a ^ jtfan ^ :iy^
Tiatr nim 13 :iay bsr&h n^nS rfrro dtw
>>|; ? t ;i l - j** t; *: t at -;I- jt : -
iay nim rnr>s 14 i-tirfh TM hir v DSiyS
a - jt: I j't 1 - it 1: j\ :: ? t: at ';
njrya ann tpa D*i^n *asy 15 j Drum vnajr^yi
? ? jti: Iv-v ? -i j"-*; itv : ? tt-:
Dh^ nar xSi DnS ns 13 :dik *r
V t . v- ? ? a" -; j; V t* jV Itt j";
tn tjx w DnS 17 nxm kS)
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
CXXXV ne'theris there any breath in their mouths. 18 They
'that make them are like unto them: so is every one
that trusteth in them, ig Bless the Lord, O house
of Israel: bless the Lord, O house of Aaron:
20 Bless the Lord, O house of Levi: ye that fear
the Lord, bless the Lord. 21 Blessed be the Lord
out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise
ye the Lord.
flote on The Psalmist reminds the race of Israel of
CXXXV. their mission. "For the Lord hath chosen Jacob
unto Himself, and Israel as His," to be the first of
all people on earth to receive the knowledge of the
greatest fact in the whole world, the fact that is
the beginning of all goodness and all learning and
all wisdom, the Unity and Universality of God.
"For I myself know," says the Psalmist, " that
God is great, and our Lord above all gods. "
After picturing the power of God over all the
wonders of creation, the Psalmist tells how the
Messenger Race was redeemed from slavery in Egypt,
and led safely to the land that was the ancient
heritage of Israel.
But far greater than the heritage of the land is the
heritage of the Message. "Thy name, O God, for
ever, Thy remembrance unto all generations. For
PSALM CXLV.
Davio's p8alm of praise.
I will extol Thee, my God, O king; and I will
bless Thy name for ever and ever. 2 Every day
will I bless Thee; and I will praise Thy name for
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
-ittn bb drvbw wr dpiim 13 . Dn*sa nivtr JP|vYV
? ? * -; i av ? * , j :r v ;i iv ? : - / v UX. AAV.
nirrnx Jina *fen jva 20 . nirrm ins nnx
at: v j :it ? -i j" it: v j :it I -; |-
ltfraintav 'srna 21 :nirvriK <<na frtrfr *nt
I ? ? t: l <t it: v j :it t; r* :?
jpp-^Sn Df? #n* p&
it :1- -t t 1: l/"
God will judge His people, and He will have com- IRote on
passion on his servants. " IjXXXV
The Psalmist perceives that though the power and
stability of the nation of Israel may not endure, the
race of Israel shall yet remain and proclaim its
message to all the inhabitants of the world--that the
One God is the Creator of the Universe, and that all
other gods are lifeless idols--the work of men's
hands, the fiction of men's brains. *
*The six verses describing the senseless idols wrought by
heathens, and exhorting Israel and all those who fear (i. e. revere)
God to worship Him, are strikingly similar to a passage in
Psalm cxv. (page 196), and also recalls Isaiah's scornful picture
of the makers and worshippers of idols, one of the few satirical
passages in the Bible (Isaiah xliv. 9--20). Surrounded as they
were by nations who worshipped idols of wood and stone, we
can easily imagine how often the leaders of Israel felt the need
of reminding their people of the Great Message.
CXLV. ncp
-rnS r&nn
/? t: t ? ;
hvi *w h! ? 1? ^- jijjnuK 2
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
pa. CXLV. ever and ever. 3 Great is the Lord, and greatly
to be? praised; and His greatness is unsearchable.
4 One generation shall praise Thy works to another,
and shall declare Thy mighty acts. 5 I will speak
of the glorious honour of Thy majesty, and of Thy
wondrous works. 6 And men shall speak of the
might of Thy terrible acts: and I will declare Thy
greatness. 7 They shall abundantly utter the
memory of Thy great goodness, and shall sing of
Thy righteousness.
8 The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion;
slow to anger, and of great mercy. 9 The Lord is
good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His
works. 10 All Thy works shall praise Thee, O Lord;
and Thy godly ones shall bless Thee. 11 They shall
speak of the glory of Thy kingdom, and talk of Thy
power; 12 To make known to the sons of men
His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His
kingdom. 13 Thy kingdom is an everlasting king-
dom, and Thy dominion endureth throughout all
generations.
14 The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth
up all those that be bowed down. 15 The eyes of
all wait upon Thee; and Thou givest them their meat
in due season. 16 Thou openest Thine hand, and
satisfieth the desire of every living thing. 17 The
Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all
His works. 18 The Lord is nigh unto all them that
call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth.
19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear Him:
He also will hear their cry, and will save them.
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
npn px irta-uSi ito S'-tidi nirv SnF 3(C)s. cxlv.
:nrro? K vrt^M nyn Trin niaa Yin 5
pan 8 :^-j sjn|Trxi. tyva: 151 7
-ate 9 :-tDn-^Vijn d'bx tin nirv mrrn
l -. -|t t: ? I at: j -j
rfirv wnv 10 :vfewr^a-Sy vsmi SaS nin*
t j I i itt - t-:i-: *- 't:
sinwS& niaa" :naiana^ rim y'mjyhi
if: i ; - j: t | ;it: I v ? ~:\ P*v-:i t
Dnxn *aaS 1 yninS 12 . visit writta rax**
ttiti j? ? : ? -: ^I:lt: *? ?
roa'pa i^a'pa 13 :inia^a rtq Tiaai vrniaj
'piD 14 :*rn Ifo-Saa ^nWasi D^Vy-b
m" tt / t; I : : - ;v a' t | t
Sa ^y 15 :ttttwn-W? npiri D^san-SaS nir
v
1 ? ? iTM ? ? :- t: l|-: t: t:
:inya DSax-na DnS-? nu nnxi nab" tSk
pit 17 :pyi trW? y\sro \"irn^ tf^s 16
ana i8 :v^-Saa Tbm va-n-Saa nirv
-Jt it t: ? t: at t: t; t ;i
mmi vunp* usta SaS vaob-SaS nirv
iv v:iv <<tJ:- -: <: /. t :|i t: t :i
:Dywi yb&i; Dnyie'-riNi new VK"v-iixn 19
i" ? i: ' :? t t;- -. -: >>v->>r jt ? ? : I i:
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
ps. CXLV. 20 The Lord preserveth all them that love Him:
but all the wicked will He destroy.
21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord:
and let all flesh bless His holy name for ever and
ever.
mote on This is another alphabetical Psalm,* but one letter
pa. CXLV. (j) is left ou(---so the verse following verse 13 may
have been lost, perhaps before the Psalm was ever
written down. It is a Psalm of praise, which brings
home to our minds the beauty and harmony of the
Divine ordering of things, and gives us something oi
the feeling that Pope expressed when he said, " What-
ever is, is right. " We feel this in our souls rather
than think it in our minds, for to the mind of man, as
the Psalmist says in verse 3, "the greatness of God
is unsearchable. "
The wide and comforting ideas of verses 8 and 9
lead up to two great thoughts in verse 10--that all
the works of God are for ever silently praising Him
"without speech, without language, is their voice
heard" (as David says in another Psalm), and that
all those who are " godly" perceive this and render
thanks to God.
* Like Psalms xxv. , xxxiv. , xxxvii. , cxi. , cxii. , and cxix.
PSALM CXLVI.
Praise ye the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my
soul. 2 While I live will I praise the Lord: I will
sing praises unto my God while I have any being.