And, like thyself, thy judgments, Lord, 154 Plead thou my cause; to that and me In all respects are just. Thy timely aid afford; 138 Most just and true those statutes were, With beams of mercy quicken me, Which thou didst first decree; According to thy word. And all with faithfulness performid, 155 From hardend sinners thou remov'st Succeeding times shall see. Salvation far away ; 139 With zeal my flesh consumes away, 'Tis just thou shouldst withdraw from them My soul with anguish frets, Who from thy statutes stray. To see my foes contemn at once 156 Şince great thy tender mercies are Thy promises and threats. To all who thee adore; 140 Yet each neglected word of thine, According to thy judgments, Lord, Howe'er by them despis'd, My fainting hopes restore. Is pure, and for eternal truth 157 A num'rous host of spiteful foos By me, thy servant, priz’d. Against my life combine; 141 Brought, for thy sake, to low estate, But all too few to force my soul Contempt from all I find; Thy statutes to decline. Yet no affronts or wrongs can drive 158 Those bold transgressors I beheldy Thy precepts from my mind. And was with grief oppress'd, 142 Thy righteousness shall then endure, To see with what audacious pride When time itself is past; Thy cov'nant they transgress’d. Thy law is truth itself, that truth 159 Yet while they slight, consider, Lord, Which hall for ever last. How I thy precepts love; 143 Thouge trouble, anguish, doubts, and therefore quicken me with beams dread, Of mercy from above. To compas me unite; 160 As from the birth of time thy truth Beset with danger, still I make Has held through ages past, Thy precots my delight. So shall thy righteous judgments, firm, 144 Eternal ind unerring rules To endless ages last. SCHIN. 161 Though mighty tyrants, without cause, Conspire my blood to shed, Thy sacred word has power alone To fill my heart with dread. 145 With my whole heart to God I call’d, 162 And yet that word my joyful breast lord, hear ny earnest cry ; With heavenly rapture warms; Andl thy statates to perform Nor conquest, nor the spoils of war, Wll all my care apply. Have such transporting charms. 146 \gain sore fervently I pray'd, 163 Perfidious practices and lies O ave ne, that I may I utterly detest; Thy estinonies throughly know, But to thy laws affection bear, Ai stedfastly obey. Too vast to be exprest. 147 Ty carlier prayer the dawning day 164 Sev’n times a day, with grateful voice, P:vented, while I cry'd Thy praises I resound, To m, on whose engaging word Because I find thy judgments all, I hope alone rely'd. With truth and justice crown'd. 14:Vith zeal have I awak'd before 165 Secure, substantial peace have they le midnight watch was set, Who truly love thy law ; T! I of thy mysterious word No smiling mischief them can tempt ight perfect knowledge get. Nor frowning danger awe. 14Lord, hear my supplicating voice, 166 For thy salvation I have hop'd, nd wonted favour show: And though so long delay'd, Quicken me, and so approve With cheerful zeal and strictest care hy judgment ever true. All thy commands obey'd. 1 My persecuting foes advance, 167 Thy testimonies I have kept, ind hourly nearer draw; And constantly obey’d; Thy service easy made. I never yet withdrew; You, whose commands are righteous all, Convinc'd that my most secret ways rhy promises sincere. Are open to thy view. ! Concerning thy divine decrees, THƯ. Attend, O gracious Lord; Inspire my heart with heavenly skill, According to thy word. 3 Consider my affliction, Lord, 170 Let my repeated prayer at last And me from bondage draw; Before thy throne appear; hink on thy servant in distress, According to thy plighted word, Who ne'er forgets thy law. For my relief draw near, lo 171 Then shall my grateful lips return PSALM CXXI. 'Twas a joyful sound to hear Our tribes devoutly say, And taught me thy just ways. 172 My tongue the praises of thy word Up, Israel, to the temple haste, Shall thankfully resound, And keep your festal day! 2 At Salem's courts we must appear, Because thy promises are all With our assembled powers, With truth and justice crown'd. 173 Let thy Almighty arm appear, 3 In strong and beauteous order rang'd, Like lier united towers. 4 'Tis thither, by divine command, The tribes of God repair, My heart's free choice have made. Before his ark to celebrate 174 My soul has waited loug to see His name with praise and prayer. Thy saving grace restor'd; 5 Tribunals stand erected there, Nor comfort knew, but what thy laws, Where equity takes place: Thy heavenly laws, afford. 175 Prolong my life, that I may sing There stand the courts and palaces My great Restorer's praise; Of royal David's race. Whose justice, from the depths of woe, 6 0, pray we then for Salem's peace, For they shall prosp'rous be, My fainting soul shall raise. Thou holy city of our God, 176 Like some lost sheep I've stray'd, till I Who bear true love to thee. 7 May peace within thy sacred wal's Who keeps thy laws in mind. A constant guest be found, With plenty and prosperity Thy palaces be crown'd. 8 For my dear brethren's sake, and friends No less than brethren dear, To rescue me oppress'd with wrongs; I'll pray—May peace in Salem's towers A constant guest appear. 2 Once more, O Lord, deliv'rance send, 9 But most of all l'll seek thy god, From lying lips my soul defend, And from the rage of sland'ring tongues. And ever wish thee well, For Sion and the temple's sake, 3 What little profit can accrue, Where God vouchsafes to dwell. PSALM CXXIII. For mercy wait my longing eyes; 5 But, O! how wretched is my doom, As servants wait their masters' hards, And maids their mistresses' commands. Who am a sojourner become In barren Mesech's desert soi!! 3, 4 O then have mercy on us, Lord; With Kedar's wicked tents enclos'd, Thy gracious aid to us afford; To lawless savages expos’d, To us, whom cruel foes oppress, Who live on nought but theft and spoil. Grown rich and proud by our distress. 6 My hapless dwelling is with those PSALM CXXIV. AD not the Lord, may Isra'l say, 2 Had he not then espous'd our cause, They straight cry out, To arms, to arms. When men against us rose; 13, 4, 5 Their wrath had swallow'd us alive, PSALM CXXI. And rag'd without control; O Sion's hill I lift my eyes, Their spite and pride's united foods Had quite o’erwhelm'd our soul. 2 From Sion's hill, and Sion's. God 6 But prais'd be our eternal Lord, Who heaven and earth has made. Who rescu'd us that day, 3 Then thou, my soul, in safety rest, Nor to their savage jaws gave up Our threaten'd lives a prey. Tly guardian will not sleep; 4 His watchful care, that Israel guards, 7 Our soul is like a bird escap'd Will Israel's inonarch keep. From out the fowler's net; 5 Shelter'd beneath th' Almighty's wings The snare is broke, their hopes are cross'd, Thou shalt securely rest, And we at freedom set. 6 Where neither sun nor noon shall thee 8 Secure in his Almighty name By day or night molest. Our confidence remains, 7 From common accidents of life Who, as he made both heaven and earth, His care shall guard thee still; Of both sole Monarch reigns. 8 From the blind strokes of chance, and foes PSALM CXXV. Like Sion's rock shall stand; By his Almighty hand.. ON , 1 H W trust,, T'For only worship pays, W From long captivity, F 2 Look how the hills on every side PSALM CXXVIII. Jerusalem enclose; THE man is blest that fears the Lord, So stands the Lord around his saints, To guard them from their foes. But keeps his steps confin’d with care 3 The wicked may afflict the just, To his appointed ways. But ne'er too long oppress, 2 He shall upon the sweet returns Nor force him by despair to seek Of his own labour feed; Base means for his redress. Without dependence live, and see 4 Be good, O righteous God, to those His wishes all succeed. Who righteous deeds affect; 3 His wife, like a fair fertile vine, The heart that innocence retains, Her lovely fruit shall bring ; Let innocence protect. His children, like young olive plants, 5 All those who walk in crooked paths, About his table spring. The Lord shall soon destroy, 4 Who fears the Lord shall prosper thus; Cut off th' unjust, but crown the saints Him Sion's God shall bless, With lasting peace and joy: 5 And grant him all his days to see PSALM CXXVI. Jerusalem's success. THEN Sion's God her sons recall'd 6 He shall live on, till heirs from him Descend with vast increase; It seem'd at first a pleasing dream Much bless'd in his own prosp'rous state, Of what we wish'd to see: And more in Israel's peace. 2 But soon in unaccustom'd mirth, PSALM CXXIX. We did our voice employ, FROM my youth up, may Israel say, And sung our great Restorer's praise They oft have me assaild, In thankful hymns of joy. 2 Reduc'd me oft to heavy straits, Our heathen foes repining stood, But never quite prevai’d. Yet were compell’d to own 3 They oft have plough'd my patient back That great and wondrous was the work With furrows deep and long; Our God for us had done. 4 But our just God has broke their chains, 3 “ 'Twas great,” say they, “'twas wondrous And rescu'd us from wrong. great;" 5 Defeat, confusion, shameful rout Much more should we confess, Be still the doom of those, The Lord has done great things, whereof Their righteous doom, who Sion hate, We reap the glad success. And Sion's God oppose. 4 To us bring back the remnant, Lord, 6 Like corn upon our houses' tops, Of Israel's captive bands, Untimely let them fade, More welcome than refreshing showers Which too much heat, and want of root, To parch'd and thirsty lands; Has blasted in the blade : 5 That we, whose work commenc'd in tears, 7 Which in his arms no reaper takes, May see our labours thrive, But unregarded leaves; Till finish'd with success, to make No binder thinks it worth his pains Our drooping hearts revive. To fold it into sheaves. 6 Though he desponds that sows his grain, 8 No traveller that passes by Yet doubtless he shall come Vouchsafes a minute's stop, Heaven's blessing on the crop. PSALM CXXX. WE "ROM lowest depths of woe 2 Lord, hear my supplicating voice, And graciously reply. 2 In vain we rise before the day, 3 Should thou severely judge, Who can the trial bear? 4 But thou forgiv'st, lest we despond, And quite renounce thy fear. 5 My soul with patience waits For thee, the living Lord; Thy never-failing word. For thy enliv'ning ray, More duly than the morning watch, To spy the dawning day. 7 Let Israel trust in God, No bounds his mercy knows; The plenteous source and spring from whence Eternal succour flows; Supplies in want convey ; A healing spring, a spring to cleanse, And wash our guilt away. I O . heart, L O consent, PSALM CXXXI. PSALM CXXXII. OW vast must their advantage be, Nor cast a scornful eye; Nor my aspiring thoughts employ Who live like brethren, and consent In things for me too high. In offices of love! 2 With infant innocence thou know'st 2 True love is like that precious oil, I have myself demean'd; Which, pour'd on Aaron's head, Compos'd to quiet, like a babe Ran down his beard, and o'er his robes 'That from the breast is wean'd. Its costly moisture shed. s Like me let Israel hope in God, 3 'Tis like refreshing dew, which does His aid alone implore; On Hermon's top distil ; Both now and ever trust in him, Or like the early drops that fall On Sion's fruitful hill. 14 For Sion is the chosen seat, Where the Almighty King, ET David, Lord, a constant place The promis'd blessing has ordain'd, And life's eternal spring. Let all the sorrows he endur'd PSALM CXXXIV. Be ever in thy mind. LESS God, ye servants, that attend 3 Remember what a solemn oath To thee, his Lord, he swore; That in his temple, night by night, How to the mighty God he vow'd, With humble rev'rence wait : Whom Jacob's sons adore; 3, 4 I will not go into my house, 2, 3 Within his house lift up your hands, And bless his holy name : From Sion bless thy Israel, Lord, Who earth and heaven didst frame. Nor sleep my eye-lids bend; 5 Till for the Lord's design'd abode PSALM CXXXV. And magnify his name; For Jacob's God have found. Let all the servants of the Lord 6 Th' appointed place, with shouts of joy, His worthy praise proclaim. At Ephrata we found, 2 Praise him all ye that in his house And made the woods and neighb'ring fields Attend with constant care ; Our glad applause resound. With those that to his outmost courts 70 with due rev'rence let us then With humble zeal repair. To his abode repair; 3 For this our truest int'rest is, And, prostrate at his foot-stool fall’n, Glad hymns of praise to sing ; Pour out our humble prayer. And with loud songs to bless his name, 8 Arise, O Lord, and now possess A most delightful thing. Thy constant place of rest; 4 For God his own peculiar choice Be that, not only with thy ark, The sons of Jacob makes ; But with thy presence, blest. And Israel's offspring for his own 9, 10 Clothe thou thy priests with righteous. Most valu'd treasure takes. ness, 5 That God is great, we often have Make thou thy saints rejoice; By glad experience found; Aud, for thy servant David's sake, And seen how he, with wondrous power, Hear thy anointed's voice. Above all gods is crown'd. 11 God sware to David in his truth, 6 For he, with unresisted strength, Nor shall his oath be vain, Performs his sov'reign will, One of thy offspring after thee, In heaven and earth, and wat'ry stores Upon thy throne shall reign: That earth's deep caverns fill. 12 And if thy seed my covnant keep, 7 He raises vapours from the ground, And to my laws submit, Which, pois'd in liquid air, Their children too upon thy throne Fall down at last in showers, through which For evermore shall sit. His dreadful lightnings glare. 13, 14 For Sion does, in God's esteem, 8 He from his store-house brings the winds ; All other seats excel; And he, with vengeful hand, His place of everlasting rest, The first-born slew of man and beast, Where he desires to dwell. Through Egypt's mourning land. 15, 16 Her store, says he, I will increase, 9 He dreadful signs and wonders show'd, Her poor with plenty bless ; Through stubborn Egypt's coasts ; Her saints shall shout for joy, her priests Nor Pharach could his plagues escape, My saving health confess. Nor all his num'rous hosts. 17 There David's power shall long remain 10, 11 'Twas he that various nations smote, In his successive line, And mighty kings suppress’d; And my anointed servant there Sihon and Og, and all besides, Shall with fresh lustre shine. Who Canaan's land possess’d. 18 The faces of his vanquish'd foes 12, 13 Their fand upon his chosen race Confusion shall o'erspread; He firmly did entail; His praise shall never fail. , On willow trees, that wither'd there. All other gods obey, 3 Meanwhile our foes, who all conspir'd Whom earthly kings adore, To triumph in our slavish wrongs, This grateful homage pay : Music and mirth of us requir'd, For God, &c. “ Come, sing us one of Sion's songs." 4,5 By his Almighty hand 4 How shall we tune our voice to sing, Amazing works are wrought : Or touch our harps with skilful hands? The heavens by his command Shall hymns of joy to God, our King, Were to perfection brought: Be sung by slaves in foreign lands? For God, &c. 5 O Salen, our once happy seat! 6 He spread the ocean round When I of thee forgetful prove, About the spacious land; Let then my trembling hand forget And made the rising ground The speaking strings with art to move! Above the waters stand: 6 If I to mention thee forbear, For God, &c. Eternal silence seize my tongue; 7,8,9 Through heaven he did display Or if I sing one cheerful air, His num'rous hosts of light; Till thy deliv'rance is my song: The sun to rule by day, 7 Remember, Lord, how Edom's race, The moon and stars by night: In thy own city's fatal day, For God, &c. Cry'd out,“ Her stately walls deface, 10, 11, 12 He struck the first-born dead « And with the ground quite level lay.” Of Egypt's stubborn land; 8 Proud Babel's daughter, doom'd to be And thence his people led Of grief and woe the wretched prey ; With his resistless hand : Bless'd is the man who shall to thee For God, &c. The wrongs thou laid'st on us repay. 13, 14 By him the raging sea, 19 Thrice bless'd, who, with just rage possest, As if in pieces rent, And deaf to all the parents' moans, Disclos'd a middle way, Shall snatch thy infants from the breast, Through which his people went : And dash their heads against the stones. For God, &c. PSALM CXXXVIII. 15 Where soon he overthrew Proud Pharaoh and his host, JITH my whole heart, my God and King, Who, daring to pursue, Were in the billows lost: Before the Gods with joy I'll sing, For God, &c. And bless thy holy name. |