PSALM XLI-THE MALICE OF EVIL-DOERS

969

4 I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.

5 Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish?

6 And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it.

7 All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.

8 An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more.

9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

10 But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.

11 By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.

12 And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.

13 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.1

Psalm 42

1 David's zeal to serve God in the temple. 5 He encourageth his soul to trust in God.

To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah.

S the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God; when shall I come and appear before God?

3 My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?

4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. 5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.

7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts; all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

8 Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.

'Here ends the first part or book of the Psalter. The Revised Version begins the second book with Psalm 42.

970

PSALM XLIII-HOPE IN GOD

9 I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

10 As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?

11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Psalm 43

1 David, praying to be restored to the temple, promiseth to serve God joyfully. 5 He encourageth his soul to trust in God.

UDGE me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.

2 For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? 3 O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.

4 Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.

5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Psalm 44

1 The church, in memory of former favours, 7 complaineth of their present evils. 17 Professing her integrity, 23 she fervently prayeth for succour. To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil.

E have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old.

2 How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; how thou didst afflict the people, and cast them

out.

3 For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.

4 Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob. 5 Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.

6 For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me. 7 But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us.

8 In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah.

9 But thou hast cast off, and put us to shame; and goest not forth with our armies.

Esther Robed in Splendor

BY JEAN FRANCOIS DE TROY, A FRENCH ARTIST, DIED 1752. THE ORIGINAL IS IN THE LOUVRE

GALLERY, PARIS.
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"Whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women."—Esther, 2, 13.

E

STHER, or Hadassah, had been an orphan, dwelling

with her uncle Mordecai. The Jews were at this time scattered throughout the Persian empire, though some of them had already returned to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel. Their captivity, begun by Nebuchadnezzar, had with the passage of years and change of empires become only nominal; they were not separated by any law from the other inhabitants of the empire, though they themselves maintained, as they have always done, their individuality of race and religion. Something of degradation or disfavor must, however, have attached to their race; for Mordecai in presenting his niece at the palace cautioned her specially not to reveal that she was a Jewess.

The maiden in her gentleness and obedience found immediate favor with the chamberlain Hegai. He "preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women." It was customary to give to each one of the chosen damsels whatever she might demand of clothes and ornaments for her adorning; but Esther left all this submissively to Hegai. Apparently she did not lose thereby, either in favor or in splendor of attire.