VERSES OF PSALMS OMITTED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19629, 25 October 1933, Page 7

VERSES OF PSALMS OMITTED

FIRM STAND BY DEAN OF DURHAM DECLARED UNCHRISTIAN IN SENTIMENT United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, October 23. Verses 5 to 19 of Psalm 109 have been omitted at Durham Cathedral, where Dean Alington, former head of Eton College, declared that he hoped that they would not again be heard there. Despite his admiration for the Psalms, he said, he had never understood why it was necessary to sing those which were definitely unChristian. In Psalm 109 David complains against slanderous treatment received from his enemies. The verses referred to in the above cable are as follows: And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love. Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand. When he shall be judged, let him be condemned; and let his prayer become sin. Let his days be few; and let another take his office. Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow. Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places. Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; and let the strangers spoil his labour. Let thete be none to extend mercy unto him: neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children. Let his posterity be cut off; and in the generation following let their name be blotted out. Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the Lord: and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out. Let them be before the Lord continually, that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth. Because that he remembered not to show mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy man, that he may even slay the broken in heart. As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be frr from him. As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones.

Let it be unto him as the garment which covereth him. and for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually.