ph600fev@sdcc14.ucsd.edu (Robert O'Barr) (04/08/91)
Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my
heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and
heard. Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the
Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my hear
exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth
because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities. I
am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which
do so easily beset me. And when I desire to rejoice, my heart
groaneth because of my sins;
nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted. My God hath
been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the
wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great
deep. He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of
my flesh. He hath confounded mine enemies, unto the causing of
them to quake before me. Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and
he hath given me knowledge by visions in the night-time. And by day
have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before him; yea my voice have I
sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered unto me. And
upon the wings of his Spririt hath my body been carried away upon
exceeding high mountains. And mine eyes have beheld great things,
yea, even too great for man; therefore I was bidden that I should
not write them.
O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his
condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much
mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of
sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of
mine afflictions? And why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh?
Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil one have place
in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul? Why am I angry
because of mine enemy?
Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart,
and give place no more for the enemy of my soul. Do not anger again
because of mine enemies. Do not slacken my strength because of mine
afflictions. Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O
Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea my soul will rejoice in thee,
my God and the rock of my salvation.
O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out
of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake
at the appearance of sin? May the gates of hell be shut continually
before me, because that my heart is broken and my spirit is contrite!
O Lord, wilt thou not shut the gates of thy righteousness before me,
that I may walk in the path of the low valley, that I may be strict
in the plain road! O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe
of thy righteousness! O Lord, wilt thou makea way for mine escape
before mine enemies! Wilt thou make my path straight before me!
Wilt thou not place a stumbling block in my way- but that thou
wouldst clear my way before me, and hedge not up my way, but the
ways of mine enemy.
O Lord, I have trusted in thee and I will trust in thee forever.
I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed
is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm. Yea, I
know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will
give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee;
Yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness.
Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine
everlasting God, Amen