4 Let them now that fear
the Lord say, that His mercy endureth for ever.
the Lord say, that His mercy endureth for ever.
Childrens - Psalm-Book
16 The heaven, even the
heavens, are the Lord's: but the earth hath he
given to the children of men. 17 The dead praise
not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence.
18 But we will bless the Lord from this time forth
and for evermore. Praise ye the Lord.
mote on The first three verses of the 115th Psalm utter
IPs. CXV. the thought so often expressed in all the Psalms
of praise--that when the children of men are
blessed, the glory is not the glory of man, but the
glory of the goodness and mercy of God, and that
the marvels of God's creation are ever praising Him
by their wondrousness.
The Psalmist then contrasts the work of God and
the work of Man.
The 9th, 10th, and nth verses are an exhortation,
not only to Israel and her priests, but to all human
beings to trust in the Lord. The refrain at the
end of each of these verses was evidently written
to be sung by an answering chorus. Hence the use
of the third person plural.
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
11 :wn tnra rrtrva intDS nnxj>s. cxv.
j" :? I t 'It it: v at i- j ; ? I -;ai
rrirv 12 win taaw diw rtrva ^ntpa rrirv
t: I jtmt it;v at i- :* t ;t
jvrnx w rva-nx to to wnjr
/? ? v I "t: *? t; ? v I **t ;t p**t: *tt;
^nan-N^ 17 :d-ix-^ rn3 pxni rrirv1?
? **-i j itt -*: ? |/-t I vtt: at i-
Bearing in mind that the expression, "they that mote on
fear the Lord," conveys the thought not of cowardly Ps. CXV
fear but of awe and reverence, we realize the broad
spirit that breathes through the Psalm, invoking and
declaring trustfulness in the Divine lovingkindness
of God towards all the children of men.
The last six verses teem with the characteristic
spirit of Judaism. No mystic theory is woven to
guide mankind to a trust in the goodness of God and
to make that goodness an ever-present and ever-
guiding thought to the living children of man, to
whom God has given the earth for a dwelling-place.
But the Psalmist exhorts all mankind to be constantly
giving thanks and praise to God by ever striving to
live in the image of His goodness.
: prion t&ty-nn nnyo rv
It t w -; /tCi" T
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
PSALM CXVI.
I love the Lord, because He hath heard my
voice and my supplications. 2 Because He hath
inclined His ear unto me, therefore will I call upon
Him as long as I live. 3 The sorrows of death com-
passed me, and the pains of the grave gat hold upon
me: I found trouble and sorrow. 4 Then called I
upon the name of the Lord; O Lord, I beseech
thee, deliver my soul. 5 Gracious is the Lord, and
righteous; yea, our God is merciful. 6 The Lord
preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and He
helped me. 7 Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for
the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. 8 For
Thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes
from tears, and my feet from falling. 9 I will walk
before the Lord in the land of the living. 10 I
believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly
afflicted: 11 I said in my haste', All men are
liars.
12 What shall I render unto the Lord for all His
benefits toward me? 13 I will take the cup of
salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord.
14 I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the
presence of all His people. 15 Precious in the sight
of the Lord is the death of His saints. 16 O Lord,
truly I am Thy servant; I am Thy servant, and the
son of Thine handmaid : Thou hast loosed my bonds.
17 I will offer to Thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and will call upon the name of the Lord. 18 I will
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
CXVI. Vp
-*a 2 :**onpi tyfrm rrtrv I yoefc-*3 min
I- it -;r- ? | v at: :? f ? : - t
ma-^an i ^ssx 3 :mpn 'p^i *S ijtx ntsn
v t ;v ? < t tt|: v r t: a* j : t jt ?
jTM; it ; v I jt; ttt ? a t; j; j*'t;
nirv nan 5 j *trsa n^a nirr nax tnpw nin*
jt ; I j - 1* :- 't : - t; jt t at); v jt;
Ti1? ^ nin* Dwis . Qnia wrfon pnxi
- at; j* t; j** i" ~: j" i" J
Saa nirv *a *awaa1? *trfia *a^ 7 :ywv ^i
j- t t: |* ? :at :? r :-i << * i ? : j-:
nyftTjft'JT^ TM? ft Tsaimkn *a 8 :o^y
niinxa njnj osS ^? nm 9 :133ft ^TrH?
way 131n *a Wftta 10 :Dwnn
1: ? ,-t ? -: a? ? --; j- ? :- v:ivi c-|-
-no 12 cnMST^a *tsna vnan on"
,t I" jttit t , a' ; t: ? ;j-t ? -;l
niyi^-Dia 13: ^ntaoarrSa nirvS
TM ; I Itt 'j ;~ t atI" j't
rbm rmh *"nj 14 rrtrv nb>n
j" -- jt 1-- ~t;i It); v jt; l"; at V
nnian nin* o*ya >> ^ :tey-W? na'-rnaa
t : t - at: j. . ? ? : tti i - t: t t : v
TOa; ox '? jiaa njn* nax w :vTt>nS
nnifi nar nawn1? w :nDiaS nnns Wb&rta
at -4V - ;Vl j|; It" I . t . * Ia. * t , IV
-maa dWn nirvS ma w :tnpx nirr craty
t :v a" - . jt i- ~ t;i it|; v jt; i";
20I
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
t>e. CXVJ. pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of
all His people, 19 In the courts of the Lord's
house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye
the Lord.
D? CXVin In the Il6th Psalm trie poet utters a personal
''prayer. He tells of his own suffering and misery,
and then in the passage ending with the poetic
words, "Return unto thy rest, O my soul, for the
Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee," he tells of
the comfort that came to him from prayer.
He describes his bitterness of feeling towards his
fellow-creatures when he is soured by misfortune--
and how that bitterness is obliterated by his over-
whelming sense of gratitude to God. "I believed,
therefore will I declare. I was greatly afflicted. I
said in my haste, All men are liars. "
Perhaps no moral exhortation ever spoken brings
more forcibly home to our minds the wrong
of judging our fellow-creatures uncharitably.
Embittered by his own woes, the Psalmist speaks
bitterly of all men. But when he is in a calmer
frame of mind,--when his soul has returned to its
rest, he repents of his hasty judgment. When we
find ourselves judging others uncharitably, we too
should all do well to consider whether it may not be
the folly within ourselves that we know not of, which
colours our view of others.
This Psalm is a soliloquy, and each emotion that
seizes the poet is alluded to rather than described.
But his thoughts and feelings are so natural to us all
that we can easily follow them, and fill in the gaps.
He feels that even if his sufferings had ended
in death they had not been in vain. He is ready
to cry in the spirit of another Psalmist, "I
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
it -: i- >tt i:
know, O Lord, that Thy judgments are right, mote on
and Thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me. " He*s'cm
will be ever loyal to his belief in the goodness of
God. "O Lord, truly I am Thy servant. " He,
"the son of Thine hand-maiden," the inheritor by
birthright of the Divine message of the Unity and
Goodness of God, will proclaim to his brethren his
faith, his gratitude, and his trust in God, and he will
proclaim them in the courts of the Lord's house, in
the Temple where burned the beacon of pure religion.
The true meaning of prayer, the communion of
man with God, comes to us in this Psalm. It is
not mere asking for that which we desire should
happen. As a great preacher once said, "If that
were the meaning of prayer, the street beggar might
well pray, ' O Lord, may the next passer-by give me
eighteen pence. '"
But we lay our prayers before God in the spirit of
asking for help in our efforts to try to be worthy of
having our desires fulfilled, and to try to act
worthily, whatever trials may befall us.
Prayer is the act of throwing our mind and
soul into the loftiest mood of which they are
capable, trying to view our aims, hopes, and actions
by something as near to the light of the Divine
Judgment as we can attain to, and then praying for
strength to maintain that attitude amid the daily
incidents of life, be they joys or sorrows, work or
play. Whether winning our heart's desire or losing
it, whether in health or in sickness, the attitude of
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
mote on our mind in prayer is to trust in the justice, and
IPs. CXVJ. wisdom, and lovingkindness of God, to "be of
good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart,
all ye that hope in the Lord," * as David both said
and did, all through his eventful life.
David's prayerful attitude gave him courage to
slay the lion and the bear, and to face the giant
warrior. It gave him the serene hopefulness that
made him say, when he was a homeless outlaw in
constant danger of his life by reason of the unjust
enmity of King Saul, "I will bless the Lord at all
times. " And when he knew he had done wrong, the
* Psalm xxxi.
PSALM CXVII.
O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all
ye people. 2. For His merciful kindness is great
toward us: and the truth of the Lord endureth for
ever. Praise ye the Lord.
mote on No one is too little or too young to praise God--
3. CXVII. for He Js merciful to us au.
When the Psalmist says, " Praise the Lord," he
means praise Him by trying to be good and to be
PSALM CXVIII.
(Chorus? ) O give thanks unto the Lord: for
He is good: because His mercy endureth for ever.
2 Let Israel now say, that His mercy endureth for
ever. 3 Let the house of Aaron now say, that His
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
same prayerful attitude gave him courage to confess IRote on
his sins to God and to pray for forgiveness, in the (C)8. CXVI.
devout, humble, and noble spirit of true repentance.
"Hide Thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine
iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and
renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away
from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit
from me. '' *
Such is the spirit begotten by prayer; true heroism,
moral courage blended with physical courage, and
both upheld by perfect faith in the infinite righteous-
ness and mercy of God.
useful, and so to make the best use of God's tflote on
wonderful gifts to us all of hearts that can love,
and minds that can think, and bodies that can do.
* Psalm li. 9, 10, 11.
cxviii. rpp
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
CXVIII. mercy endureth for ever.
4 Let them now that fear
the Lord say, that His mercy endureth for ever.
5 I called upon the Lord in distress: the Lord
answered me, and set me in a large place. 6 The
Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can
man do unto me? 7 The Lord taketh my part
with them that help me: therefore shall I see my
desire upon them that hate me.
[Chorus. ) 8 It is better to trust in the Lord
than to put confidence in man. 9 It is better to
trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.
10 All nations compassed me about: but in the
name of the Lord will I destroy them. 11 They
compassed me about; yea, they compassed me
about: but in the name of the Lord I will destroy
them. 12 They compassed me about like bees; they
are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of
the Lord I will destroy them. 13 Thou hast thrust
sore at me that I might fall: but the Lord helped
me. 14 The Lord is my strength and song, and is
become my salvation.
[Chorus. ) 15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation
is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand
of the Lord doeth valiantly. 16 The right hand
of the Lord is exalted: the right hand of the Lord
doeth valiantly.
17 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works
of the Lord. 18 The Lord hath chastened me
sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
thuh >s nirr mtibk* 4 . non oSiyS *a cxvm.
jt : i? at ; j- :? t :i i : - jt ': f
rrtm 7 :dik ^ nfejE-ntp nn*x ^ nirv 6
jt; Itt j' V "I" - at ? j '1 jt:
nionS aia 8 :wjfea nxnx 0x1 nr'ya *S
'-:p |t : i: at:"i: n
nibaa rrtrva nionS nib 9 :Dnxa nibaa nirva
-- ;? ax p * -:i- Ittit - :* at i_
: dS? ox *a nisr n&z ^aao trir^a 10 :D*anja
*a<<D 12 :tfroK *a nirv Dtfa ^aairtu ^ao"
? <= - i- ? ~: j' t: ? ? a t: ? *-
:D^tox *a rrtrfr Dtra onrip etea ttift onan3
r ? -: j- t: /**: a- | j? ? : i :?
man *w 1* :*jnra ninn SbaS *3rvrn n? m 13
jt : ? : t ? |tt~: jt i- a:* -j- ? : j t
*Snxa ntoeh nh 1 Sip << :nw'*S *'fwi ,t
'? ? t:it: t r t ? |< it i>> ? at
nin; pa* w' :Sjn npfe nirv pa; D'fjnx
-*a niax-xS 17 :Vn nb'y nin; pa* naain
'r i -it t n t: I j-: at ? ? i
niaSi n' *,w nb* i8 :n* wa nbdx'i irriN
vt-: at -j-: j- it '**? ? --:i- w :'v
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
p8. CXVIII. ig Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will
go into them, and I will praise the Lord:
{Chorus. ) 20 This is the gate of the Lord, into
which the righteous shall enter.
21 I will praise Thee: for Thou hast heard me,
and art become my salvation.
{Chorus. ) 22 The stone which the builders
refused is become the head stone of the corner.
23 This is the Lord's doing; it is marvellous in
our eyes. 34 This is the day which the Lord hath
made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save now, I beseech Thee, O Lord: O
Lord, I beseech Thee, send now prosperity.
{Chorus. ) 26 Blessed be he that cometh in the
name of the Lord: we have blessed you out of the
house of the Lord. 27 God is the Lord, which
hath showed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords,
even unto the horns of the altar.
28 Thou art my God, and I will praise Thee:
Thou art my God, I will exalt Thee.
{Chorus. ) 29 O give thanks unto the Lord; for
He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever.
flote on This is the last Psalm of the Service of Songs
ps. CXVIII. called the Hallel, and seems to gather up the
threads of them all.
The chorus verses of Psalm cxv. (verses 9, 10, 11,)
are echoed and emphasized in the opening chorus of
Psalm cxviii. (verses 1, 2, 3, 4).
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
miM DK-ttaN pvtr*0 'Wins 19 :*jjn3 p>>. cxvih.
D^an iDxa px 22 . nyie>>S *1pnni way *a
a* - j -;i t I v vi 1 t 1 ? ? ? : ? at * '*
nrvn nirv nso 23 :nas nrvn
i- a t;'t t ;i j" ** it* t;it
nnaboi nb*jfl nin* n^y Dvn-nr 24 nwa nxSsti
jt; : ? : t i* t at: jt t 1 iv t" ? ? : jt : ?
nV* nak rwin rrirv Nax 25 :p
t: 'ti t at t j? t ;i -ti t l
Dauana nin* db>a xan ^ina 26 . ^j nn^xn
: "J" at; \ t -1 I jt It It ? : -
D'naya jrrro* rtov 1 27 :nvv mao
a* '~ :? jt vvr t; j" it; ?
nnx ^ 28 :na. ti3n rrtihj? iv
:npn DSiy1? *| aiD-'? nirvS vfin 29 :t^aiix
Then as in Psalm cxvi. the poet pours out the mote on
inmost feelings of his own soul. Each time that (C)s. CXVIII-
he recounts how, in all woe and trouble, he has ever
been strengthened and comforted by his trust in
God, the chorus takes up his thought and repeats it
with every-varying imagery.
209
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
Mote on Those who have passed through dark times of
CXVI1I. misery to renewed happiness know the feeling that
inspires the song of hope and thanksgiving in verses
17, 18, and 19. The thought that to try and do right
is the true way to offer praise to God (expressed in
the 117th Psalm) is reiterated in the imagery of the
19th and 20th verses of the 118th Psalm.
The 22nd verse is a prophetic utterance of a pro-
found historic truth, and breathes that spirit of un-
daunted sturdy faith which has preserved Judaism
throughout the ages, while many great Empires have
risen, fallen, and become obliterated. It is also a
message of encouragement to us all. If we do our
work in life faithfully and to the best of our power,
however small the result of our labours--however
much all our efforts may seem to have been made in
PSALM CXIX.
^cxix" PsALM cxix. , the longest of all the Psalms, is
>8. CXIX. another alphabetic poem. * It is divided into twenty-
two cantos, each containing eight verses beginning
with the same letter, and the initial letters of the
successive cantos follow the order of the alphabet.
Thus the eight verses of the first canto begin with
Aleph, N; the eight verses of the second canto with
Beth, 2; and so on.
There is a certain literary ingenuity, a knack of
playing with words that all poets possess. It finds
expression in rhymes, imitative harmony, alliteration
* The alphabetic Psalms are the 25th, 34th and 145th, of
which each verse begins with the successive letters of the
alphabet in their alphabetical order; the 37th, every alternate
verse of which begins with the letters in alphabetical order,
the 111th and 112th, of which every half verse begins with
the successive letters in alphabetical order, and the 119th Psalm.
2IO
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
vain--we may comfort ourselves with the thought that mote on
God knows and accepts the offering of our honest toil. 1P8. CXVIII.
The idea of the 22nd verse is the topic of many great
literary masterpieces--not the least beautiful of which
is Hans Andersen's tale of the " Ugly Duckling. "
This Psalm was probably meant to be sung by a
procession of priests while ascending the steps of the
Temple. As they came near the door of the Temple
they sang verse 20. The huge blocks of unhewn
stone of which the Temple was built (one can yet
see them among the ruins of the Temple in Jerusalem)
lent a double meaning to verse 22. The prayer of
verse 25 is answered from within the Temple by the
impressive blessing of verse 26, and the Psalm ends
with a repetition of the familiar opening verse, the
keynote of so many beautiful Psalms.
cxix. taip
and other "jeux d'esprit " among the western poets, mote on
Southey's " Cataract of Lodore " is one of the best IPs. CXIX.
English examples of this playful exercise of literary
aptitude. Shakespear sometimes winds up a passage
in blank verse with a pithy set of rhymes. * But
rhyming was probably an unknown art to the
Psalmists, and, indeed, Hebrew does not lend itself
very well to rhyme. Though the later Hebrew
poets made use cf it, the early Hebrew poets, the
authors of the Psalms, used their literary ingenuity
in other ways, such as making alphabetical poems
like these Psalms.
Perhaps the alphabetic form was also used as a
help to memory. It is difficult now to realize that
* For example, Henry IV. . Act i. , Sc. 3: Merchant of Venice,
Act iii. , Sc. 2; and As You Like It, Act Hi. , Sc. 2.
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
IRore on memory was in great measure the library of the
IPs. CXiX. ancients, and in order to possess a book they had
either to write a copy of it themselves or to learn it
by heart. This circumstance seems to make one
understand better the intensity and minuteness with
which every word of the Law is studied and analyzed
ALEPH.
Happy are the undefiled in the way, who walk in
the law of the Lord. 2 Happy are they that keep
His testimonies; they seek Him with the whole
heart. 3 They also do no iniquity: they walk in
His ways. 4 Thou hast commanded us to keep Thy
precepts diligently. 5 O that my ways were directed
to keep Thy statutes! 6 Then shall I not be
ashamed, when I have respect unto all Thy com-
mandments. 7 I will praise Thee with uprightness
of heart, when I shall have learned Thy righteous
judgments. 8 I will keep Thy statutes: O forsake
me not utterly.
IRote on N Canto Aleph (N) describes the happiness and the
help to right conduct that comes of obedience to
God's laws, and it ends with a protestation and a
2
BETH.
(1) 9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his
way? by taking heed thereto according to Thy word.
(2) 10 With my whole heart have I sought Thee: O let
(3) me not wander from Thy commandments. 11 Thy
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heavens, are the Lord's: but the earth hath he
given to the children of men. 17 The dead praise
not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence.
18 But we will bless the Lord from this time forth
and for evermore. Praise ye the Lord.
mote on The first three verses of the 115th Psalm utter
IPs. CXV. the thought so often expressed in all the Psalms
of praise--that when the children of men are
blessed, the glory is not the glory of man, but the
glory of the goodness and mercy of God, and that
the marvels of God's creation are ever praising Him
by their wondrousness.
The Psalmist then contrasts the work of God and
the work of Man.
The 9th, 10th, and nth verses are an exhortation,
not only to Israel and her priests, but to all human
beings to trust in the Lord. The refrain at the
end of each of these verses was evidently written
to be sung by an answering chorus. Hence the use
of the third person plural.
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
11 :wn tnra rrtrva intDS nnxj>s. cxv.
j" :? I t 'It it: v at i- j ; ? I -;ai
rrirv 12 win taaw diw rtrva ^ntpa rrirv
t: I jtmt it;v at i- :* t ;t
jvrnx w rva-nx to to wnjr
/? ? v I "t: *? t; ? v I **t ;t p**t: *tt;
^nan-N^ 17 :d-ix-^ rn3 pxni rrirv1?
? **-i j itt -*: ? |/-t I vtt: at i-
Bearing in mind that the expression, "they that mote on
fear the Lord," conveys the thought not of cowardly Ps. CXV
fear but of awe and reverence, we realize the broad
spirit that breathes through the Psalm, invoking and
declaring trustfulness in the Divine lovingkindness
of God towards all the children of men.
The last six verses teem with the characteristic
spirit of Judaism. No mystic theory is woven to
guide mankind to a trust in the goodness of God and
to make that goodness an ever-present and ever-
guiding thought to the living children of man, to
whom God has given the earth for a dwelling-place.
But the Psalmist exhorts all mankind to be constantly
giving thanks and praise to God by ever striving to
live in the image of His goodness.
: prion t&ty-nn nnyo rv
It t w -; /tCi" T
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
PSALM CXVI.
I love the Lord, because He hath heard my
voice and my supplications. 2 Because He hath
inclined His ear unto me, therefore will I call upon
Him as long as I live. 3 The sorrows of death com-
passed me, and the pains of the grave gat hold upon
me: I found trouble and sorrow. 4 Then called I
upon the name of the Lord; O Lord, I beseech
thee, deliver my soul. 5 Gracious is the Lord, and
righteous; yea, our God is merciful. 6 The Lord
preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and He
helped me. 7 Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for
the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. 8 For
Thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes
from tears, and my feet from falling. 9 I will walk
before the Lord in the land of the living. 10 I
believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly
afflicted: 11 I said in my haste', All men are
liars.
12 What shall I render unto the Lord for all His
benefits toward me? 13 I will take the cup of
salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord.
14 I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the
presence of all His people. 15 Precious in the sight
of the Lord is the death of His saints. 16 O Lord,
truly I am Thy servant; I am Thy servant, and the
son of Thine handmaid : Thou hast loosed my bonds.
17 I will offer to Thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and will call upon the name of the Lord. 18 I will
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
CXVI. Vp
-*a 2 :**onpi tyfrm rrtrv I yoefc-*3 min
I- it -;r- ? | v at: :? f ? : - t
ma-^an i ^ssx 3 :mpn 'p^i *S ijtx ntsn
v t ;v ? < t tt|: v r t: a* j : t jt ?
jTM; it ; v I jt; ttt ? a t; j; j*'t;
nirv nan 5 j *trsa n^a nirr nax tnpw nin*
jt ; I j - 1* :- 't : - t; jt t at); v jt;
Ti1? ^ nin* Dwis . Qnia wrfon pnxi
- at; j* t; j** i" ~: j" i" J
Saa nirv *a *awaa1? *trfia *a^ 7 :ywv ^i
j- t t: |* ? :at :? r :-i << * i ? : j-:
nyftTjft'JT^ TM? ft Tsaimkn *a 8 :o^y
niinxa njnj osS ^? nm 9 :133ft ^TrH?
way 131n *a Wftta 10 :Dwnn
1: ? ,-t ? -: a? ? --; j- ? :- v:ivi c-|-
-no 12 cnMST^a *tsna vnan on"
,t I" jttit t , a' ; t: ? ;j-t ? -;l
niyi^-Dia 13: ^ntaoarrSa nirvS
TM ; I Itt 'j ;~ t atI" j't
rbm rmh *"nj 14 rrtrv nb>n
j" -- jt 1-- ~t;i It); v jt; l"; at V
nnian nin* o*ya >> ^ :tey-W? na'-rnaa
t : t - at: j. . ? ? : tti i - t: t t : v
TOa; ox '? jiaa njn* nax w :vTt>nS
nnifi nar nawn1? w :nDiaS nnns Wb&rta
at -4V - ;Vl j|; It" I . t . * Ia. * t , IV
-maa dWn nirvS ma w :tnpx nirr craty
t :v a" - . jt i- ~ t;i it|; v jt; i";
20I
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
t>e. CXVJ. pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of
all His people, 19 In the courts of the Lord's
house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye
the Lord.
D? CXVin In the Il6th Psalm trie poet utters a personal
''prayer. He tells of his own suffering and misery,
and then in the passage ending with the poetic
words, "Return unto thy rest, O my soul, for the
Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee," he tells of
the comfort that came to him from prayer.
He describes his bitterness of feeling towards his
fellow-creatures when he is soured by misfortune--
and how that bitterness is obliterated by his over-
whelming sense of gratitude to God. "I believed,
therefore will I declare. I was greatly afflicted. I
said in my haste, All men are liars. "
Perhaps no moral exhortation ever spoken brings
more forcibly home to our minds the wrong
of judging our fellow-creatures uncharitably.
Embittered by his own woes, the Psalmist speaks
bitterly of all men. But when he is in a calmer
frame of mind,--when his soul has returned to its
rest, he repents of his hasty judgment. When we
find ourselves judging others uncharitably, we too
should all do well to consider whether it may not be
the folly within ourselves that we know not of, which
colours our view of others.
This Psalm is a soliloquy, and each emotion that
seizes the poet is alluded to rather than described.
But his thoughts and feelings are so natural to us all
that we can easily follow them, and fill in the gaps.
He feels that even if his sufferings had ended
in death they had not been in vain. He is ready
to cry in the spirit of another Psalmist, "I
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
it -: i- >tt i:
know, O Lord, that Thy judgments are right, mote on
and Thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me. " He*s'cm
will be ever loyal to his belief in the goodness of
God. "O Lord, truly I am Thy servant. " He,
"the son of Thine hand-maiden," the inheritor by
birthright of the Divine message of the Unity and
Goodness of God, will proclaim to his brethren his
faith, his gratitude, and his trust in God, and he will
proclaim them in the courts of the Lord's house, in
the Temple where burned the beacon of pure religion.
The true meaning of prayer, the communion of
man with God, comes to us in this Psalm. It is
not mere asking for that which we desire should
happen. As a great preacher once said, "If that
were the meaning of prayer, the street beggar might
well pray, ' O Lord, may the next passer-by give me
eighteen pence. '"
But we lay our prayers before God in the spirit of
asking for help in our efforts to try to be worthy of
having our desires fulfilled, and to try to act
worthily, whatever trials may befall us.
Prayer is the act of throwing our mind and
soul into the loftiest mood of which they are
capable, trying to view our aims, hopes, and actions
by something as near to the light of the Divine
Judgment as we can attain to, and then praying for
strength to maintain that attitude amid the daily
incidents of life, be they joys or sorrows, work or
play. Whether winning our heart's desire or losing
it, whether in health or in sickness, the attitude of
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
mote on our mind in prayer is to trust in the justice, and
IPs. CXVJ. wisdom, and lovingkindness of God, to "be of
good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart,
all ye that hope in the Lord," * as David both said
and did, all through his eventful life.
David's prayerful attitude gave him courage to
slay the lion and the bear, and to face the giant
warrior. It gave him the serene hopefulness that
made him say, when he was a homeless outlaw in
constant danger of his life by reason of the unjust
enmity of King Saul, "I will bless the Lord at all
times. " And when he knew he had done wrong, the
* Psalm xxxi.
PSALM CXVII.
O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all
ye people. 2. For His merciful kindness is great
toward us: and the truth of the Lord endureth for
ever. Praise ye the Lord.
mote on No one is too little or too young to praise God--
3. CXVII. for He Js merciful to us au.
When the Psalmist says, " Praise the Lord," he
means praise Him by trying to be good and to be
PSALM CXVIII.
(Chorus? ) O give thanks unto the Lord: for
He is good: because His mercy endureth for ever.
2 Let Israel now say, that His mercy endureth for
ever. 3 Let the house of Aaron now say, that His
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
same prayerful attitude gave him courage to confess IRote on
his sins to God and to pray for forgiveness, in the (C)8. CXVI.
devout, humble, and noble spirit of true repentance.
"Hide Thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine
iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and
renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away
from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit
from me. '' *
Such is the spirit begotten by prayer; true heroism,
moral courage blended with physical courage, and
both upheld by perfect faith in the infinite righteous-
ness and mercy of God.
useful, and so to make the best use of God's tflote on
wonderful gifts to us all of hearts that can love,
and minds that can think, and bodies that can do.
* Psalm li. 9, 10, 11.
cxviii. rpp
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
CXVIII. mercy endureth for ever.
4 Let them now that fear
the Lord say, that His mercy endureth for ever.
5 I called upon the Lord in distress: the Lord
answered me, and set me in a large place. 6 The
Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can
man do unto me? 7 The Lord taketh my part
with them that help me: therefore shall I see my
desire upon them that hate me.
[Chorus. ) 8 It is better to trust in the Lord
than to put confidence in man. 9 It is better to
trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.
10 All nations compassed me about: but in the
name of the Lord will I destroy them. 11 They
compassed me about; yea, they compassed me
about: but in the name of the Lord I will destroy
them. 12 They compassed me about like bees; they
are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of
the Lord I will destroy them. 13 Thou hast thrust
sore at me that I might fall: but the Lord helped
me. 14 The Lord is my strength and song, and is
become my salvation.
[Chorus. ) 15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation
is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand
of the Lord doeth valiantly. 16 The right hand
of the Lord is exalted: the right hand of the Lord
doeth valiantly.
17 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works
of the Lord. 18 The Lord hath chastened me
sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
thuh >s nirr mtibk* 4 . non oSiyS *a cxvm.
jt : i? at ; j- :? t :i i : - jt ': f
rrtm 7 :dik ^ nfejE-ntp nn*x ^ nirv 6
jt; Itt j' V "I" - at ? j '1 jt:
nionS aia 8 :wjfea nxnx 0x1 nr'ya *S
'-:p |t : i: at:"i: n
nibaa rrtrva nionS nib 9 :Dnxa nibaa nirva
-- ;? ax p * -:i- Ittit - :* at i_
: dS? ox *a nisr n&z ^aao trir^a 10 :D*anja
*a<<D 12 :tfroK *a nirv Dtfa ^aairtu ^ao"
? <= - i- ? ~: j' t: ? ? a t: ? *-
:D^tox *a rrtrfr Dtra onrip etea ttift onan3
r ? -: j- t: /**: a- | j? ? : i :?
man *w 1* :*jnra ninn SbaS *3rvrn n? m 13
jt : ? : t ? |tt~: jt i- a:* -j- ? : j t
*Snxa ntoeh nh 1 Sip << :nw'*S *'fwi ,t
'? ? t:it: t r t ? |< it i>> ? at
nin; pa* w' :Sjn npfe nirv pa; D'fjnx
-*a niax-xS 17 :Vn nb'y nin; pa* naain
'r i -it t n t: I j-: at ? ? i
niaSi n' *,w nb* i8 :n* wa nbdx'i irriN
vt-: at -j-: j- it '**? ? --:i- w :'v
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
p8. CXVIII. ig Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will
go into them, and I will praise the Lord:
{Chorus. ) 20 This is the gate of the Lord, into
which the righteous shall enter.
21 I will praise Thee: for Thou hast heard me,
and art become my salvation.
{Chorus. ) 22 The stone which the builders
refused is become the head stone of the corner.
23 This is the Lord's doing; it is marvellous in
our eyes. 34 This is the day which the Lord hath
made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save now, I beseech Thee, O Lord: O
Lord, I beseech Thee, send now prosperity.
{Chorus. ) 26 Blessed be he that cometh in the
name of the Lord: we have blessed you out of the
house of the Lord. 27 God is the Lord, which
hath showed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords,
even unto the horns of the altar.
28 Thou art my God, and I will praise Thee:
Thou art my God, I will exalt Thee.
{Chorus. ) 29 O give thanks unto the Lord; for
He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever.
flote on This is the last Psalm of the Service of Songs
ps. CXVIII. called the Hallel, and seems to gather up the
threads of them all.
The chorus verses of Psalm cxv. (verses 9, 10, 11,)
are echoed and emphasized in the opening chorus of
Psalm cxviii. (verses 1, 2, 3, 4).
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
miM DK-ttaN pvtr*0 'Wins 19 :*jjn3 p>>. cxvih.
D^an iDxa px 22 . nyie>>S *1pnni way *a
a* - j -;i t I v vi 1 t 1 ? ? ? : ? at * '*
nrvn nirv nso 23 :nas nrvn
i- a t;'t t ;i j" ** it* t;it
nnaboi nb*jfl nin* n^y Dvn-nr 24 nwa nxSsti
jt; : ? : t i* t at: jt t 1 iv t" ? ? : jt : ?
nV* nak rwin rrirv Nax 25 :p
t: 'ti t at t j? t ;i -ti t l
Dauana nin* db>a xan ^ina 26 . ^j nn^xn
: "J" at; \ t -1 I jt It It ? : -
D'naya jrrro* rtov 1 27 :nvv mao
a* '~ :? jt vvr t; j" it; ?
nnx ^ 28 :na. ti3n rrtihj? iv
:npn DSiy1? *| aiD-'? nirvS vfin 29 :t^aiix
Then as in Psalm cxvi. the poet pours out the mote on
inmost feelings of his own soul. Each time that (C)s. CXVIII-
he recounts how, in all woe and trouble, he has ever
been strengthened and comforted by his trust in
God, the chorus takes up his thought and repeats it
with every-varying imagery.
209
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
Mote on Those who have passed through dark times of
CXVI1I. misery to renewed happiness know the feeling that
inspires the song of hope and thanksgiving in verses
17, 18, and 19. The thought that to try and do right
is the true way to offer praise to God (expressed in
the 117th Psalm) is reiterated in the imagery of the
19th and 20th verses of the 118th Psalm.
The 22nd verse is a prophetic utterance of a pro-
found historic truth, and breathes that spirit of un-
daunted sturdy faith which has preserved Judaism
throughout the ages, while many great Empires have
risen, fallen, and become obliterated. It is also a
message of encouragement to us all. If we do our
work in life faithfully and to the best of our power,
however small the result of our labours--however
much all our efforts may seem to have been made in
PSALM CXIX.
^cxix" PsALM cxix. , the longest of all the Psalms, is
>8. CXIX. another alphabetic poem. * It is divided into twenty-
two cantos, each containing eight verses beginning
with the same letter, and the initial letters of the
successive cantos follow the order of the alphabet.
Thus the eight verses of the first canto begin with
Aleph, N; the eight verses of the second canto with
Beth, 2; and so on.
There is a certain literary ingenuity, a knack of
playing with words that all poets possess. It finds
expression in rhymes, imitative harmony, alliteration
* The alphabetic Psalms are the 25th, 34th and 145th, of
which each verse begins with the successive letters of the
alphabet in their alphabetical order; the 37th, every alternate
verse of which begins with the letters in alphabetical order,
the 111th and 112th, of which every half verse begins with
the successive letters in alphabetical order, and the 119th Psalm.
2IO
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
vain--we may comfort ourselves with the thought that mote on
God knows and accepts the offering of our honest toil. 1P8. CXVIII.
The idea of the 22nd verse is the topic of many great
literary masterpieces--not the least beautiful of which
is Hans Andersen's tale of the " Ugly Duckling. "
This Psalm was probably meant to be sung by a
procession of priests while ascending the steps of the
Temple. As they came near the door of the Temple
they sang verse 20. The huge blocks of unhewn
stone of which the Temple was built (one can yet
see them among the ruins of the Temple in Jerusalem)
lent a double meaning to verse 22. The prayer of
verse 25 is answered from within the Temple by the
impressive blessing of verse 26, and the Psalm ends
with a repetition of the familiar opening verse, the
keynote of so many beautiful Psalms.
cxix. taip
and other "jeux d'esprit " among the western poets, mote on
Southey's " Cataract of Lodore " is one of the best IPs. CXIX.
English examples of this playful exercise of literary
aptitude. Shakespear sometimes winds up a passage
in blank verse with a pithy set of rhymes. * But
rhyming was probably an unknown art to the
Psalmists, and, indeed, Hebrew does not lend itself
very well to rhyme. Though the later Hebrew
poets made use cf it, the early Hebrew poets, the
authors of the Psalms, used their literary ingenuity
in other ways, such as making alphabetical poems
like these Psalms.
Perhaps the alphabetic form was also used as a
help to memory. It is difficult now to realize that
* For example, Henry IV. . Act i. , Sc. 3: Merchant of Venice,
Act iii. , Sc. 2; and As You Like It, Act Hi. , Sc. 2.
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
IRore on memory was in great measure the library of the
IPs. CXiX. ancients, and in order to possess a book they had
either to write a copy of it themselves or to learn it
by heart. This circumstance seems to make one
understand better the intensity and minuteness with
which every word of the Law is studied and analyzed
ALEPH.
Happy are the undefiled in the way, who walk in
the law of the Lord. 2 Happy are they that keep
His testimonies; they seek Him with the whole
heart. 3 They also do no iniquity: they walk in
His ways. 4 Thou hast commanded us to keep Thy
precepts diligently. 5 O that my ways were directed
to keep Thy statutes! 6 Then shall I not be
ashamed, when I have respect unto all Thy com-
mandments. 7 I will praise Thee with uprightness
of heart, when I shall have learned Thy righteous
judgments. 8 I will keep Thy statutes: O forsake
me not utterly.
IRote on N Canto Aleph (N) describes the happiness and the
help to right conduct that comes of obedience to
God's laws, and it ends with a protestation and a
2
BETH.
(1) 9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his
way? by taking heed thereto according to Thy word.
(2) 10 With my whole heart have I sought Thee: O let
(3) me not wander from Thy commandments. 11 Thy
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