Bless the Lord, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all his benefits, Who forgives all your iniquities, And heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from the grave, And crowns you with love and tender mercy, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. The Lord is a doer of righteous acts, And of justice to all the oppressed. He made known his laws to Moses, His deeds to the people of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, Patient and full of love. He will not always chide, Nor keep his anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is his love toward those who revere him. As far as the east is from the west, So far has he removed our wrong deeds from us. As a father loves his children, So the Lord loves those who revere him, For he understands our nature, He remembers that we are dust. Frail man--his days are as grass; As a flower of the field he flourishes, For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, And its place knows it no more. But the love of the Lord is eternal, And his righteousness to children's children, To those who keep their covenant with him, And remember to obey his commands. He has established his throne in the heavens, And his rule extends over all. Bless the Lord, his angels, You strong ones who do his bidding. Bless the Lord all his hosts, You servants who do his will, Bless the Lord, all his works, In every place where he rules, Bless the Lord, O my soul. GOD FROM WHOM ALL GOOD THINGS COME Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman wakens in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit down at your meal late, And so eat the bread of toil; for he gives to his loved ones sleep. Children too are a gift from the Lord, they are a reward. As arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of youth. Happy indeed is the man whose quiver is full of them, He shall not be put to shame when he argues with foes in the court. [Illustration: © _Curtis Publishing Company_ _"Lo, Children are a Heritage of the Lord"_ Painted by W. L. Taylor] GOD'S GOODNESS AND MERCY