LESSON CVI.

THE POWER OF GOD.

[A different translation of this sublime specimen of Hebrew poetry will be found in the Third Reader, Lesson LIV.]

1. BLESS Jehovah, O my soul! O Jehovah, my God, thou art exalted exceedingly! Thou puttest on glory and majesty, covering thyself with light, as with a garment. Who spreadeth out the heavens like a tent; who layeth the beams of his chambers on the waters; who maketh the clouds his chariots; who walketh on the wings of the wind; who maketh the winds his messengers; his servants, a consuming fire.

2. He established the earth on its foundations; it shall not be removed forever and ever. Thou didst cover it with the floods as with a garment; the waters arose upon the mountains. From thy rebuke they fled, from the roar of thy thunder they hasted away. The mountains rise up; they flow down into the valleys, to the place which thou hast appointed for them. Thou hast established a limit, which they shall not overflow; they shall not again return to cover the earth. He setteth loose the springs in brooks; they flow among the mountains. They give drink to all beasts of the field; the wild asses quench their thirst. Near them the fowls of heaven inhabit; they sing from among the branches.

3. He watereth the hills from his chambers; the earth is filled with the fruit of his works. He causeth grass to spring up for the cattle, and herbs for the service of man; that he may bring forth food from the earth, and wine which gladdeneth the heart of man, and oil to make his countenance to shine, and bread which increaseth the strength of man.

full of sap; the cedars of There the singing birds make habitation of the stork.

4. The trees of Jehovah are Lebanon which he hath planted. their nests; the fir-trees are the high hills for the wild goats, and the rocks are a refuge for the conies.

The

5. He appointeth the moon for seasons; the sun knoweth his going down. Thou makest darkness and it is night, in which all the beasts of the forest move forth. The young lions roar for prey, and demand from God their food. The sun ariseth, they withdraw, and lie down for repose in their dwellings. Man goeth forth to his work, and to his labor until evening.

6. How manifold are thy works, O Jehovah! In wisdom hast thou made them all. The earth is full of thy riches: so also this great and wide-spreading sea. There are moving creatures innumerable; living creatures, small and great. There go the ships; there that leviathan, which thou hast made to sport therein. These all wait upon thee, and thou givest them their food in due season. Thou givest it unto them, and they gather it; thou openest wide thy hand, and they are satisfied with good. Thou hidest thy face, they are terrified; thou takest back their life, they die, and to the dust do they return. Thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they are created; and thou renewest the face of the earth.

7. The glory of Jehovah shall endure forever! Jehovah shall rejoice in his works. He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth; He toucheth the hills, and they smoke. Long as I live will I sing to Jehovah; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. My meditations of him shall be sweet; and I will be joyful in Jehovah.

8. O praise God in his holiness; praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him in his noble acts; praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him in the sound of the trumpet; praise him upon the lute and harp. Praise him with cymbals and dances; praise him upon the strings and pipes. Praise him upon the well-tuned cymbals; praise him upon the loud-sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath, praise the Lord. PRAISE YE THE LORD.

TRANSLATED FROM THE HEBREW, BY CHEEVER.

LESSON CVII.

THE CELESTIAL CITY.

1. AND I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the Holy City, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold! the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall

wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain for the former things are passed away.

2. And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold! I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And He said unto me, It is done! I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh -shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

3. And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the Bride, the Lamb's wife. And He carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the Holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God.* * And the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. * *

4. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it; and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day, (for there shall be no night there); and they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. And there shall in nowise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

5. And He showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse; but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him and they shall see his face. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord giveth them light: and they shall reign forever and ever.

BIBLE.