IN the LORD put I my trust; * how say ye then to my soul, that she should flee as a bird unto the hill?
For lo, the ungodly bend their bow, and make ready their arrows within the quiver, * that they may privily shoot at them which are true of heart.
If the foundations be destroyed, * what can the righteous do?
The LORD is in his holy temple; * the LORD'S seat is in heaven.
His eyes consider the poor, * and his eyelids try the children of men.
The LORD approveth the righteous: * but the ungodly, and him that delighteth in wickedness, doth his soul abhor.
Upon the ungodly he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, storm and tempest: * this shall be their portion to drink.
For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; * his countenance will behold the thing that is just.

HELP me, LORD, for there is not one godly man left; * for the faithful are minished from among the children of men.
They talk of vanity every one with his neighbour; * they do but flatter with their lips, and dissemble in their double heart.
The LORD shall root out all deceitful lips, * and the tongue that speaketh proud things;
Which have said, With our tongue will we prevail; * we are they that ought to speak; who is lord over us?

Now, for the comfortless troubles' sake of the needy, * and because of the deep sighing of the poor,
I will up, saith the LORD; * and will help every one from him that swelleth against him, and will set him at rest.
The words of the LORD are pure words; * even as the silver which from the earth is tried, and purified seven times in the fire.
Thou shalt keep them, O LORD; * thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
The ungodly walk on every side: * when they are exalted, the children of men are put to rebuke.

Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came! Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; and from thence go ye to Hamath the great: then go down to Gath of the Philistines: be they better than these kingdoms? or their border greater than your border? Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near; That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall; That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of music, like David; That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph. Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive, and the banquet of them that stretched themselves shall be removed. The Lord God hath sworn by himself, saith the Lord the God of hosts, I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces: therefore will I deliver up the city with all that is therein.

Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

O LORD God, who seest that we put not our trust in any thing we do; Mercifully grant that by thy power we may be defended against all adversity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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