I had rather stand at the threshold of the house of

my God,

Than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;

The Lord will give grace and glory;

No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

12 O Lord of hosts,

Blessed is the man that trusteth in thee!

PSALM CXVIII.

THIS psalm may perhaps be placed later in our se ries than its proper place. It may belong to the time of laying the foundation of the temple, on which occasion, we are told (Ezra iii. 10), "the Levites, the sons of Asaph, sung, giving thanks to the Lord, for his mercy endureth for ever"; which words appear in the first and last verses of this psalm. But in the nineteenth and following verses there is a plain indication that the temple was already built, and it is thought by some that those verses were sung by responsive choirs, the one demanding, the other conceding, entrance thereto. Perhaps the psalm as it now exists may embrace the original portion, with a later addition, adapted to the occasion of the completion of the edifice.

1 O, GIVE thanks unto the Lord, for he is good, Because his mercy endureth for ever.

2 Let Israel now confess

That his mercy endureth for ever.

3 Let the house of Aaron now confess That his mercy endureth for ever.

Let them now that fear the Lord confess
That his mercy endureth for ever.

5 I called upon the Lord in distress ;

The Lord heard and delivered me.

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.

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 I destroyed them. 11 They compassed me about on every side; But in the name of the Lord I destroyed them. 12 They compassed me about like bees;

They are quenched as the fire of thorns;

For in the name of the Lord I destroyed 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.

15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the habitations 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. 19 Open to me the gates of righteousness; That I may go into them, and praise the Lord. 20 This is the gate of the Lord,

Through which the righteous shall enter. 21 I will praise thee, for thou hast heard me, And art become my salvation.

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.

24 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!

26

O Lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity!

Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the

Lord!

We bless you out of the house of the Lord.

27 God is the Lord, who 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.

29 O, give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good; For his mercy endureth for ever.

Ver. 19.

"The gates of righteousness," the doors of the temple. A. C.

Ver. 22. "The stone which the builders refused."

This

seems to be a figurative expression for the prince of the nation, or for the nation itself.

PSALMS CXLVIII. AND CL.

DEDICATION OF THE SECOND TEMPLE.

THE dedication of the temple, completed after so many disappointments and interruptions, was celebrated with great joy. The edifice was built on the same plan as the former temple, erected by Solomon, five hundred years before; of larger dimensions, but with greatly diminished splendor. It became, what the former had been, the centre of the political and religious interests of the people.

The dedication took place in the early spring. The exhilaration of the occasion was aided by that of the opening year, and the poet's heart seems to leap forth to embrace all nature, and claim the fellowship of every creature of God, to partake in his joy and gratitude. The invitation is addressed first to the angelic hosts, then to the material heavens, and the luminaries placed in them, then to the ocean and its inhabitants, the earth and its productions; lastly, to the human race, of every degree, and especially to the nation chosen by God, and now enjoying his renewed favor.

PSALM CXLVIII.

PRAISE ye the Lord!

Praise ye the Lord from the heavens !

Praise him in the heights!

2 Praise ye him, all his angels!

Praise ye him, all his hosts!

3 Praise ye him, sun and moon! Praise him, all ye stars of light! 4 Praise him, ye highest heavens,

And ye waters that be above the heavens! 5 Let them praise the name of the Lord;

For he commanded, and they were created.

6 He hath established them for ever and ever;

7

He hath given them a law which they do not trans

gress.

Praise the Lord upon the earth, Ye dragons and all deeps!

8 Fire and hail, snow and vapor; Stormy wind fulfilling his word; 9 Mountains, and all hills;

Fruitful trees, and all cedars ; 10 Beasts, and all cattle;

Creeping things, and flying fowl; 11 Kings of the earth, and all people; Princes, and all judges of the earth; 12 Both young men and maidens, Old men and children;

13 Let them praise the name of the Lord, For his name alone is excellent;

His glory is above the earth and heaven. 14 He exalteth the horn of his people,

The glory of all his servants,
Even of the children of Israel,
A people near unto him.

Praise ye the Lord!