3 Because to me thy wondrous love Than life itself does dearer prove, My lips shall always speak thy praise. 4 My life, while I that life enjoy, In blessing God I will employ; With lifted hands adore his name: 5 My soul's content shall be as great As theirs who choicest dainties eat, While I with joy his praise proclaim. 6 When down I lie, sweet sleep to find, Thou, Lord, art present to my mind; And when I wake in dead of night: 7 Because thou still dost succour bring, Beneath the shadow of thy wing I rest with safety and delight. 8 My soul, when foes would me devour, Cleaves fast to thee, whose matchless power In her support is daily shown: 9 But those the righteous Lord shall slay, That my destruction wish; and they That seek my life shall lose their own. 10 They by untimely ends shall die, Their flesh a prey to foxes lie; But God shall fill the king with joy: 11 Who thee confess shall still rejoice; Whilst the false tongue, and lying voice, Thou, Lord, shalt silence and destroy. PSALM LXIV. LORD, hear the voice of my complaint, To my request give ear; Preserve my life from cruel foes, And free my soul from fear. 2 O! hide me with thy tend'rest care, From sinners that against me rise, 3 See how, intent to work my harm, 4 Lurking in private, at the just And suddenly at him they shoot, 5 To carry on their ill designs 7 But God, to anger justly mov'd, Shall swift destruction send. 8 Those slanders which their mouths did vent, Upon themselves shall fall; Their crimes disclos'd, shall make them be 9 The world shall then God's power confess, 10 Whilst righteous men, whom God secures, In him shall gladly trust; And all the list ning earth shall hear PSALM LXV. OR thee, O God, our constant praise, FIn Sion waits, thy chosen seat; Our promis'd altars there we'll raise, And all our zealous vows complete. 2 Othou, who to my humble prayer Didst always bend thy list'ning ear, To thee shall all mankind repair, And at thy gracious throne appear. 3 Our sins, though numberless, in vain To stop thy flowing mercy try; Whilst thou o'erlook'st the guilty stain, And washest out the crimson dye. 4 Blest is the man, who near thee plac'd, Within thy sacred dwelling lives! Whilst we at humble distance taste The vast delights thy temple gives. 5 By wondrous acts, O God, most just, Have we thy gracious answer found: In thee remotest nations trust, And those whom stormy waves surround. 6, 7 God, by his strength, sets fast the hills, And does his matchless power engage, With which the sea's loud waves he stills, And angry crowd's tumultuous rage. PART II. 8 Thou, Lord, dost barb'rous lands dismay, When they thy dreadful tokens view; With joy they see the night and day Each other's track, by turns, pursue. 9 From out thy unexhausted store Thy reign relieves the thirsty ground; Makes lands, that barren were before, With corn and useful fruits abound. 10 On rising ridges down it pours, And every furrow'd valley fills; Thou mak'st them soft with gentle showers, In which a blest increase distils. 11 Thy goodness does the circling year With fresh returns of plenty crown; And where thy glorious paths appear, The fruitful clouds drop fatness down. In beauteous robes of joy are seen. LET all the lands, with shouts of joy, To God their voices raise; Sing psalms in honour of his name, 3 And let them say, How dreadful, Lord, In all thy works, art thou! To thy great power thy stubborn foes 4 Through all the earth the nations round Shall thee their God confess; And, with glad hymns, their awful dread Of thy great name express. Has wondrous judgment shown. 7 He, by his power, 'for ever rules; PART II. 8, 9 O! all ye nations, bless our God, 10 For thou hast try'd us, Lord, as fire Does try the precious ore; 11 Thou brought'st us into straits, where we 12 Insulting foes did us, their slaves, 13 Burnt-off'rings to thy house I'll bring, 14 Which I with solemn zeal did make In trouble's dismal day. 15 Then shall the richest incense smoke, The choicest goats from out the fold, 16 O! come all ye that fear the Lord, Whilst I what God for me has done 17, 18 As I before his aid implor'd, Who, if my heart had harbour'd sin, 19 But God to me, whene'er I cry'd, With constant love attend. 20 Then bless'd for ever be my God, Ti PSALM LXVII. bless thy chosen race, In mercy, Lord, incline; And cause the brightness of thy face 2 That so thy wondrous way May through the world be known; While distant lands their tribute pay, And thy salvation own. 3 Let diff'ring.nations join To celebrate thy fame; Let all the world, O Lord, combine With joy and pious mirth; For thou, the righteous Judge and King, To celebrate thy fame; Let all the world, O Lord, combine 6 Then shall the teeming ground And we with plenty shall be crown'd, 7 Then God upon our land Shall constant blessings shower; And all the world in awe shall stand Of his resistless power. L PSALM LXVIII. ET God, the God of battle, rise, 12 As smoke in tempest's rage is lost, Before his wrathful presence waste. In him rejoice, extol his praise, Who rides upon high-rolling spheres. And judge the injur'd widow's cause. 8 The breaking clouds did rain distil, Of Israel's God the presence bear? 9 Thy hand, at famish'd earth's complaint, Assuag'd the drought with plenteous 10 Where savages had rang'd before, Thy gen'rous bounty did provide. 11 Thou gav'st the word; we sally'd forth, Or silver'd o'er with paler light. High Salmon's glitt'ring snow outshone. 16 But wherefore (though the honour's great) Where he for ever will reside. 17 His chariots numberless; his powers As once it honour'd Sinai's hill. The spoil of armies once their dread. To worship at thy dwelling-place, And all the world pay homage there. 19 For benefits each day bestow'd, Be daily his great name ador'd, 20 Who is our Saviour, and our God, Of life and death the sov'reign Lord. 21 But justice for his harden'd foes Proportion'd vengeance hath decreed, To wound the hoary head of those Who in presumptuous crimes proceed. 22 The Lord hath thus in thunder spoke: "As I subdu'd proud Bashan's king, "Once more I'll break my people's yoke, "And from the deep my servants bring. 23"Their feet shall with a crimson flood "Of slaughter'd foes be cover'd o'er; "Nor earth receive such impious blood, "But leave for dogs th' unhallow'd gore." PART III. 24 When, marching to thy blest abode, With voice and timbrel charm'd the ear. "Of Israel's God the praise record." 27 Nor little Benjamin alone From neighb'ring bounds did there attend, Nor only Judah's nearer throne Her counsellors in state did send; But Zebulon's remoter seat, And Napthali's more distant coast, The grand procession to complete, Sent up their tribes, a princely host. 28 Thus God to strength and union brought Our tribes, at strife till that blest hour; This work, which thou, O God, hast wrought, Confirm with fresh recruits of power. 29 To visit Salem, Lord, descend, And Sion, thy terrestrial throne; Where kings with presents shall attend, And thee with offer'd crowns atone. 30 Break down the Spearmen's ranks, threat Like pamper'd herds of savage might; Of ancient heaven, sublimely rides; AVE me, who SAVE O God, from waves that roll, And press to overwhelm my soul: 12 With painful steps in mire I tread, 4 My hairs, though num'rous, are but few, 11 When cloath'd with sackcloth for their sake, 16 Lord, hear the humble prayer I make, I from my enemies have borne; Nor can their close dissembled spite, 20 Reproach and grief have broke my heart; 22 Their tables, therefore, to their health 25 And make their house a dismal cell, Where none will e'er vouchsafe to dwell. 26 For new afflictions they procur'd For him who had thy stripes endur'd; And made the wound, thy scourge had torn, To bleed afresh, with sharper scorn. 27 Sin shall to sin their steps betray, Till they to truth have lost the way: 28 From life thou shalt exclude their soul, Nor with the just their names enrol. 29 But me, howe'er distress'd and poor, Thy strong salvation shall restore; 30 Thy power with songs I'll then proclaim, And celebrate with thanks thy name. 31 Our God shall this more highly prize, Than herds or flocks in sacrifice; 32 Which humble saints with joy shall see, And hope for like redress with me. 33 For God regards the poor's complaint; Sets pris'ners free from close restraint: 34 Let heaven, earth, sea, their voices raise, 36 This blessing they shall, at their death, Lord, to my relief draw near; Who to destroy my soul combine; With shame their malice be repaid, With me shall sing, The Lord be prais'd. 5 Thus, wretched though I am and poor, The mighty Lord of me takes care: Thou, God, who only can'st restore, To my relief with speed repair. PSALM LXXI. IN thee I put my steadfast trust; For, from my earliest youth till now, 6 Thy constant care did safely guard Thou took'st me from my mother's womb, 7, 8 While some on me with wonder gaze, 9 Reject not then thy servant, Lord, 10 My foes against my fame and me Against my soul they lay their snares, 11 "His God," say they, "forsakes him now, "On whom he did rely; "Pursue and take him, whilst no hope "Of timely aid is nigh." 12 But thou, my God, withdraw not far, For speedy help I call: 13 To shame and ruin bring my foes, 14 But as for me, my steadfast hope 15 Thy righteous acts, and saving health, Though summ'd with utmost care. All other righteousness disclaim, And mention his alone. 17 Thou, Lord, hast taught me from my youth To praise thy glorious name; And, ever since, thy wondrous works Thy strength and power have shown. 19 How high thy justice soars, O God! How great and wondrous are The mighty works which thou hast done! 20 Me, whom thy hand has sorely press'd, And from the lowest depth of woe, With tender care retrieve. 21 Through thee, my time to come shall be 22 Then I with psaltery and harp, 23 Then joy shall fill my mouth, and songs Employ my cheerful voice; My grateful soul by thee redeem'd, 24 My tongue thy just and righteous acts Because thou didst confound my foes, LORD, let thy just decrees the king In all his ways direct; And let his son, throughout his reign, 2 So shall he still thy people judge 8 Then hills and mountains shall bring forth The happy fruits of peace; Which all the land shall own to be The work of righteousness: 4 Whilst he the poor and needy race Shall rule with gentle sway; And from their humble necks shall take 5 In every heart thy awful fear Or time itself shall last. 6 He shall descend like rain, that cheers The meadow's second birth; Or like warm showers, whose gentle drops 7 In his blest days the just and good 8 His uncontrol'd dominion shall 9 To him the savage nations round 11 To him shall every king on earth 13 His providence for needy souls Shall watch with tender care. 14 He shall preserve and keep their souls From fraud and rapine free; And, in his sight, their guiltless blood 15 Therefore shall God his life and reign To many years extend; Whilst eastern princes tribute pay, For him shall constant prayers be made, A lasting theme of praise. 16 Of useful grain, through all the land, A handful, sown on mountains-top, ~ 17 The mem'ry of his glorious name In him the nations of the world 18 Then bless'd be God, the mighty Lord, 19 Let earth be with his glory fill'd; Whilst to his praise the list'ning world PSALM LXXIII. Alength, the saints be kind; T length, by certain proofs, 'tis plain Ihat all whose hearts are pure and clean Shall his protecting favour find. 2, 3 Till this sustaining truth I knew, My stagg'ring feet had almost fail'd; griev'd the sinners' wealth to view, And envy'd when the fools prevail'd.` 4, 5 They to the grave in peace descend, And, whilst they live, are hale and strong; No plagues or troubles them offend, Which oft to other men belong. 6,7 With pride, as with a chain they're held, And rapine seems their robe of state; Their eyes stand out, with fatness swell'd; They grow, beyond their wishes, great. 8, 9 With hearts corrupt, and lofty talk, Oppressive methods they defend; Their tongue through all the earth does walk; Their blasphemies to heaven ascend. 10 And yet admiring crowds are found, Who servile visits duly make; Because with plenty they abound, Of which their flatt'ring slaves partake. 11 Their fond opinions these pursue, Till they with them profanely cry, "How should the Lord our actions view? "Can he perceive who dwells so high?" 12 Behold the wicked! these are they Who openly their sins profess; And yet their wealth's increas'd each day, And all their actions meet success. 13, 14 "Then have 1 cleans'd my heart," said I, "And wash'd my hands from guilt, in vain, "If all the day oppress'd I lie, "And every morning suffer pain." 15 Thus did I once to speak intend; But, if such things 1 rashly say, Thy children, Lord, I must offend, And basely should their cause betray. PART II. 16, 17 To fathom this my thoughts 1 bent, Then I their end did plainly see. Cast down by thy avenging hand. 19, 20 How dreadful and how quick their fate! Despis'd by thee, when they're destroy'd; As waking men with scorn do treat The fancies that their dreams employ'd. Who no reflecting thought retains. |