August 16 The Harvard Classics, fifteen minutes a day
Inspiring Ritual of Temple Worship
David—the psalm singer—knew the wondrous ways of the Lord and praised Him in his psalms. Burdened souls in all ages have found comfort in these songs that once were used in the gorgeous ritual of Jerusalem’s temple.
From the 1930 Reading Guide
The Psalms
Page 286 opens with the end of Psalm CIX; the reading starts at “CX”.
CX
Jehovah Gives Dominion to the King
A Psalm of David.
[1] JEHOVAH saith unto my lord, Sit thou at my right hand,Until I make thine enemies thy footstool.[2] Jehovah will send1 forth the rod2 of thy strength out of Zion:Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.[3] Thy people offer3 themselves willinglyIn the day of thy power,4 in5 holy array:Out of the womb of the morningThou6 hast the dew of thy youth.[4] Jehovah hath sworn, and will not repent:Thou art a priest for everAfter the order7 of Melchizedek.[5] The Lord at thy right handWill8 strike through kings in the day of his wrath.[6] He will judge among the nations,He9 will10 fill the places with dead bodies;He will11 strike through the head in12 many countries.[7] He will drink of the brook in the way:Therefore will he lift up the head.
CXI
Jehovah Praised for His Goodness
[1] PRAISE13 ye Jehovah.I will give thanks unto Jehovah with my whole heart,In the council of the upright, and in the congregation.[2] The works of Jehovah are great,Sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.[3] His work is honor and majesty;And his righteousness endureth for ever.[4] He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered:Jehovah is gracious and merciful.[5] He hath given food14 unto them that fear him:He will ever be mindful of his covenant.[6] He hath showed his people the power of his works,In giving them the heritage of the nations.[7] The works of his hands are truth and justice;All his precepts are sure.[8] They are established for ever and ever;They are done15 in truth and uprightness.[9] He hath sent redemption unto his people;He hath commanded his covenant for ever:Holy and reverend is his name.[10] The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom;A16 good understanding have all they that do his17 commandments:His praise endureth for ever.
CXII
Prosperity of Him that Fears Jehovah
[1] PRAISE18 ye Jehovah.Blessed is the man that feareth Jehovah,That delighteth greatly in his commandments.[2] His seed shall be mighty upon earth:The generation of the upright shall be blessed.[3] Wealth and riches are in his house;And his righteousness endureth for ever.[4] Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness:He is gracious, and merciful, and righteous.[5] Well is it with the man that dealeth graciously and lendeth;He shall maintain his cause in judgment.[6] For he shall never be moved;The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance.[7] He shall not be afraid of evil tidings:His heart is fixed, trusting in Jehovah.[8] His heart is established, he shall not be afraid,Until he see his desire upon his adversaries.[9] He hath dispersed, he hath given to the needy;His righteousness endureth for ever:His horn shall be exalted with honor.[10] The wicked shall see it, and be grieved;He shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away:The desire of the wicked shall perish.
CXIII
Jehovah Praised for Exalting the Humble
[1] PRAISE19 ye Jehovah.Praise, O ye servants of Jehovah,Praise the name of Jehovah.[2] Blessed be the name of JehovahFrom this time forth and for evermore.[3] From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the sameJehovah’s name is to be praised.[4] Jehovah is high above all nations,And his glory above the heavens.[5] Who is like unto Jehovah our God,That hath his seat on high,[6] That humbleth himself to20 beholdThe things that are in heaven and in the earth?[7] He raiseth up the poor out of the dust,And lifteth up the needy from the dunghill;[8] That he may set him with princes,Even with the princes of his people.[9] He maketh the barren woman to keep house,And to be a joyful mother of children.Praise19 ye Jehovah.
CXIV
God’s Deliverance of Israel from Egypt
[1] WHEN Israel went forth out of Egypt,The house of Jacob from a people of strange language;[2] Judah became his sanctuary,Israel his dominion.[3] The sea saw it, and fled;The Jordan was driven back.[4] The mountains skipped like rams,The little hills like lambs.[5] What aileth thee, O thou sea, that thou fleest?Thou Jordan, that thou turnest back?[6] Ye mountains, that ye skip like rams;Ye little hills, like lambs?[7] Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord,At the presence of the God of Jacob,[8] Who turned the rock into a pool of water,The flint into a fountain of waters.
CXV
Heathen Idols Contrasted with Jehovah
[1] NOT unto us, O Jehovah, not unto us,But unto thy name give glory,For thy lovingkindness, and for thy truth’s sake.[2] Wherefore should the nations say,Where is now their God?[3] But our God is in the heavens:He hath done whatsoever he pleased.[4] Their idols are silver and gold,The work of men’s hands.[5] They have mouths, but they speak not;Eyes have they, but they see not;[6] They have ears, but they hear not;Noses have they, but they smell not;[7] They have hands, but they handle not;Feet have they, but they walk not;Neither speak they through their throat.[8] They that make them shall be like unto them;Yea, every one that trusteth in them.[9] O Israel, trust thou in Jehovah:He is their help and their shield.[10] O house of Aaron, trust ye in Jehovah:He is their help and their shield.[11] Ye that fear Jehovah, trust in Jehovah:He is their help and their shield.[12] Jehovah hath been mindful of us; he will bless us:He will bless the house of Israel;He will bless the house of Aaron.[13] He will bless them that fear Jehovah,Both small and great.[14] Jehovah increase you more and more,You and your children.[15] Blessed are ye of Jehovah,Who made heaven and earth.[16] The heavens are the heavens of Jehovah;But the earth hath he given to the children of men.[17] The dead praise not Jehovah,21Neither any that go down into silence;[18] But we will bless Jehovah21From this time forth and for evermore.Praise22 ye Jehovah.
CXVI
Thanksgiving for Deliverance from Death
[1] I LOVE Jehovah, because he hearethMy 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 cords of death compassed me,And the pains of Sheol gat23 hold upon me:I found trouble and sorrow.[4] Then called I upon the name of Jehovah:O Jehovah, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.[5] Gracious is Jehovah, and righteous;Yea, our God is merciful.[6] Jehovah preserveth the simple:I was brought low, and he saved me.[7] Return unto thy rest, O my soul;For Jehovah 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 JehovahIn the land24 of the living.[10] I believe,25 for I will speak:I was greatly afflicted:[11] I said in my haste,26All men are liars.[12] What shall I render unto JehovahFor all his benefits toward me?[13] I will take the cup of salvation,And call upon the name of Jehovah.[14] I will pay my vows unto Jehovah,Yea, in the presence of all his people.[15] Precious in the sight of JehovahIs the death of his saints.[16] O Jehovah, truly I am thy servant:I am thy servant, the son of thy handmaid;Thou hast loosed my bonds.[17] I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving,And will call upon the name of Jehovah.[18] I will pay my vows unto Jehovah,Yea, in the presence of all his people,[19] In the courts of Jehovah’s house,In the midst of thee, O Jerusalem.Praise27 ye Jehovah.
CXVII
A Psalm of Praise
[1] O PRAISE Jehovah, all ye nations;Laud him, all ye peoples.[2] For his lovingkindness is great toward us;And the truth of Jehovah endureth for ever.Praise27 ye Jehovah.
CXVIII
Thanksgiving for Jehovah’s Saving Goodness
[1] OH give thanks unto Jehovah; for he is good;For his lovingkindness endureth for ever.[2] Let Israel now say,That his lovingkindness endureth for ever.[3] Let the house of Aaron now say,That his lovingkindness endureth for ever.[4] Let them now that fear Jehovah say,That his lovingkindness endureth for ever.[5] Out of my distress I called upon Jehovah:28Jehovah28 answered me and set me in a large place.[6] Jehovah is on my side; I will not fear:What can man do unto me?[7] Jehovah is on my side among them that help me:Therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.[8] It is better to take refuge in JehovahThan to put confidence in man.[9] It is better to take refuge in JehovahThan to put confidence in princes.[10] All nations compassed me about:In the name of Jehovah I will cut them off.[11] They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about:In the name of Jehovah I will cut them off.[12] They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns:In the name of Jehovah I will cut them off.[13] Thou didst thrust sore at me that I might fall;But Jehovah helped me.[14] Jehovah28 is my strength and song;And he is become my salvation.[15] The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous:The right hand of Jehovah doeth valiantly.[16] The right hand of Jehovah is exalted:The right hand of Jehovah doeth valiantly.[17] I shall not die, but live,And declare the works of Jehovah.29[18] Jehovah29 hath chastened me sore;But he hath not given me over unto death.[19] Open to me the gates of righteousness:I will enter into them, I will give thanks unto Jehovah.29[20] This is the gate of Jehovah;The righteous shall enter into it.[21] I will give thanks unto thee; for thou hast answered me,And art become my salvation.[22] The stone which the builders rejectedIs become the head of the corner.[23] This is Jehovah’s30 doing;It is marvellous in our eyes.[24] This is the day which Jehovah hath made;We will rejoice and be glad in it.[25] Save now, we beseech thee, O Jehovah:O Jehovah, we beseech thee, send now prosperity.[26] Blessed be he that cometh31 in the name of Jehovah:We have blessed you out of the house of Jehovah.[27] Jehovah is God, and he hath given us light:Bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.[28] Thou art my God, and I will give thanks unto thee:Thou art my God, I will exalt thee.[29] Oh give thanks unto Jehovah; for he is good;For his lovingkindness endureth for ever.
CXIX
Meditations and Prayers Relating to the Law of God
א ALEPH
[1] BLESSED are they that are perfect32 in the way,Who walk in the law of Jehovah.[2] Blessed are they that keep his testimonies,That seek him with the whole heart.[3] Yea, they do no unrighteousness;They walk in his ways.[4] Thou hast commanded us thy precepts,That we should observe them diligently.[5] Oh that my ways were establishedTo observe thy statutes![6] Then shall I not be put to shame,When I have respect unto all thy commandments.[7] I will give thanks unto thee with uprightness of heart,When I learn thy righteous judgments.[8] I will observe thy statutes:Oh forsake me not utterly.
ב BETH
[9] Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way?By taking heed thereto according to thy word.[10] With my whole heart have I sought thee:Oh let me not wander from thy commandments.[11] Thy word have I laid up in my heart,That I might not sin against thee.[12] Blessed art thou, O Jehovah:Teach me thy statutes.[13] With my lips have I declaredAll the ordinances of thy mouth.[14] I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies,As much as in all riches.[15] I will meditate on thy precepts,And have respect unto thy ways.[16] I will delight myself in thy statutes:I will not forget thy word.
ג GIMEL
[17] Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live;So will I observe thy word.[18] Open thou mine eyes, that I may beholdWondrous things out of thy law.[19] I am a sojourner in the earth:Hide not thy commandments from me.[20] My soul breaketh for the longingThat it hath unto thine ordinances at all times.[21] Thou hast rebuked the proud that33 are cursed,That do wander from thy commandments.[22] Take away from me reproach and contempt;For I have kept thy testimonies.[23] Princes also sat and talked against me;But thy servant did meditate on thy statutes.[24] Thy testimonies also are my delightAnd my34 counsellors.
Page 295 ends inside the GIMEL stanza of Psalm CXIX; the reading runs on to the end of that stanza (verse 24) on page 296.
Volume 44, pages 286–295 · See the scanned page on archive.org
This is the reading for August 16 in Fifteen Minutes a Day: The Reading Guide (1930 edition), page 68. There the assignment reads “Vol. 44, pp. 286–295.” Read it in the guide.