//, a. Srom f 0e Eifirarg of (professor J&amuef (gtiffer in QJtemors of 3ubge ^amitef (tttiffer QBrecftintibge (preeenfeo 6)? ^amuef (tttiffer QBrecftinribge &ong to f 0e feifirars of (princeton £0eofogtcaf J&eminarg Digitized by the Internet Archive 1 in 2013 http://archive.org/details7umerrmso00merr A VERSION OF THE PSALMS; ORIGINALLY WRITTEN BY THE REV. JAMES MERRICK, A.M. LATE FELLOW OF TRINITY COLLEGE, OXFORD: DIVIDED INTO STANZAS FOR PAROCHIAL USE, BY THE REV. W. D. TATTERSALL, A.M. LATE STUDENT OF CHRIST CHURCH, OXFORD, CHAPLAIN IN ORDINARY TO HIS MAJESTY. And introduced under the Sanction of the KIN G, With the Confent and Approbation of the Rector, Into the Parifh Church within the Borough of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis. THE FIFTH EDITION. OXFORD: AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS, FOR THE EDITOR. Sold by Metfrs. Rivingtons, St. Paul's Church- Yard, Leigh and Sotheby, York Street, Covent-Garden, Hurst, Xo. 32, Paternofter Row, London; Hanwell and Parker, and Cooke, Oxford; Merrils, and Deighton, Cambridge. 1803. A VERSION OR PARAPHRASE OF THE PSALMS. PSALM I. ( ) HOW bleft the man, whofe eat Impious counfel fhuns to hear, Who nor loves to tread the way Where the Sons of Folly (tray, Nor their frantic mirth to fhare, Seated in Derifion's chair; But, to Virtue's path confin'd, Spurns the men of linful mind, And, poflefs'd with facred awe, Meditate?, great God, thy law. This by day his fix'd employ, This by night his conftant joy. Like the tree that, taught to grow Where the ftreams irriguous flow, Oft as the revolving Sun Through the dcitin'd months has run, Regular, its feafon knows, . Bending low its loaded boughs, He his verdant branch mall i'pread, Nor his fick'ning leaves fhall lhed ; B PSALM II. lie, whate'er his thoughts devife, Joyful to the work applies, Sure to find the wifh'd fuccefs Crown his hope, his labour blefs. 3 See, ah ! fee a dift'rent fate God s obdurate foes await ; See them, to his wrath confign'd, Fly like chaff before the wind. When thy Judge, O Earth, (hall come, And to each affign their doom, Say, fhall then the impious band With the juft affembled ftand? Thefe th* Almighty, Thefe alone, Objects of his love fhall own, While his vengeance who defy Whelm'd in endlefs ruin lie. PSALM II. I WlIY thus enrag'd, ye tribe3 profane ? Why ftrive the Gentiles thus in vain ? Why, rouz'd by Difcord's fierce alarms, Do headlong nations rufh to arms ? % Earth's fcepter'd lords rebellious rife Againft the Ruler of the Skies, And Him on whofe diftinguifh'd head His hand the facred oil has fhed. 3 In factious counfels thus they join, And vaunting brave the Pow'r divine ; " Quick let us each renounce their fway, " And caft their hated bands away." 4. God from on high their threats fhall hear, Laugh, as the tumult meets his ear, And, arm'd with vengeance, thus aloud Superior quell the frantic croud : 5 " Yet, mortals, yet your Monarch fee, " And bow to Him the humble knee; M His throne on Sion's hill my hand " Has built, and what 1 build fhall ftand." 6 Thy will, great Father, I obey; Pleas'd I accept the offer'd fway. PSALM III. And through the earth's extended frame The counfels of thy love proclaim. ? " Thou art my Son, on this bleft day " Begotten ; (thus I hear Thee fay ;) " Prefer thy wifh, and to thy hand, " Lo ! I confign each heathen land. 8 "I bid thee rule the nations round, " Far as to earth's remoteft bound ; " Though join'd in firmed league, thy foes " With vain attempt thy pow'r oppofe. 9 " Thy arm the iron rod extends ; " Behold them, as the ftroke defcends, " Crufh'd like the potter's brittle ftore, *' And fcatter'd, to unite no more." io Ye kings, from Error's fleep arife, Ye judges of the earth, be wife ; And, warm'dwith duteous zeal, confpire To ferve with joy th' eternal Sire. 1 1 O, left ye perifh from the way That leads to realms of endlefs day, With awful love, with holy fear, His Son, the world's gTeat hope, revere. 12 If yet but kindlfng in his hand The vengeful bolt uplifted ftand, Thrice happy, who on Him depend, And thankful own th' almighty Friend. PSALM III. i JjEHOLD, my God, what num'rous foes With dire intent my fteps inclofe, While, flufh'd with hope, the impious band In haughty triumph round me ftand : " Lo ! there," they cry, '.' our obvious prey, " The wretch whom God has caft away." 2 But fee Omnipotence my fhield 1 My head aloft by Thee upheld, Thy fav'ring beams around me fhine; Thou, Lord, from Sion's hallow'd fhrine With kind regard fhah hear my cry, And inftant grant the wifh'd reply. Ei f PSALM IV, 3 Opprefs'd with toil, I fought repofe, I laid me down, 1 flept, I role ; For Thou, my God, wert waking ftill, To guard my flumb'ring head from ill : Though myriads leagu'd againft me rife, My heart fecure their rage defies. 4 Thy aid, bleft Lord, indulgent yield : Oft, as I trod the doubtful field, Each hoftile cheek has felt thy ftroke ; Thy rod their teeth vindictive broke ; O yield (nor fhall I afk in vain) That oft experienc'd aid again. 5 Th' impending ftorm, my God, affwage, 'Tis thine to quell their impious rage, 'Tis thine, great God, 'tis thine to fave Thy fervants from th' expecting grave, 'Tis thine to blefs them from above, And crown them with eternal Love. PSALM IV. i DEFENDER of my rightful caufe, While anguifh from my bofom draws The deep-felt figh, the ceafelefs pray'r, O make thy fervant ftill thy care ; That aid, which oft my griefs has heal'd, That aid again, intreated, yield. ■z How long, ye fans of pride, how long Shall falfhood arm your impious tongue ? How long fhall fecret love of ill To wretched malice urge your will, And erring rage your breaft inflame, My pow'r to thwart, my acts defame ? 3 To God my heart fhall vent its woe, Who, prompt his blefiings to beftow On each whofe breaft has learn'd his fear, Bows to my plaint the willing ear : Him wouldft thou pleafe ? With rev'rent awe Obferve the dictates of his law. 4 In fecret on thy couch reclin'd, Search to its depth thy reftlefs mind, PSALM V. Till hufh'd to peace the tumult lie, And wrath and ftrife within thee die: With pureft gifts approach his fhrine, And fafe to Him thy care refign. 5 I hear a hopelefs train demand, " Where's now the wifh'd Deliv'rer's hand ?" Do Thou, my God, do Thou reply, And let thy prefence from on high In full effulion o'er our head Its all-enliv'ning influence fhed. 6 What joy my confeious heart o'erflows ! Not fuch th'exulting lab'rer knows, When to his long-expecting eyes The vintage and the harvefts rife, And, fhadowing wide the cultur'd foil, With full requital crown his toil. 7 My weary eyes in fleep I clofe, My limbs, fecure, to reft compofe: For Thou, great God, (halt fcreen my head, And plant a guard around my bed, Thy choiceft gifts (halt bid me (hare, And make my fafety dill thy care. PSALM V. i THE words that from my lips proceed, My thoughts, (for Thou thole thoughts canft read) My God, my King, attentive weigh, And hear, O hear me, when I pray. 2 With earlieft zeal, with wakeful care. To Thee my foul (hall pour its pray'r, And, ere the dawn has ftreak'd the iky, To Thee direft its longing eye : — 3 To Thee, whom nought oblcur'd by (lain Can pleafe ; whofe doors to feet profane Inexorable (land ; whofe law Offenders from thy fight fhall awe. 4 Let each whofe tongue to lies is turn'd, Who leffons of deceit has learn'd, Or thirfts a brother's blood to (bed, Thy hate and heavieft vengeance dread, B 1 6 PSALM VI. £ Cut I, whofe hope thy love fupports, (How great that love '.) will tread thy courts My knees in lowlieft rev'rence hend, And tow'rd thy fhrine my hands extend. 6 Do Thou, juft God, my path prepare, And guard me from each hoftile fnare ; O lend me thy conducting ray, And level to my fteps thy way. 7 Behold me by a troop inclos'd, Of hatred and of guilt compos'd, Nurs'd in deceit, in fin allied, Nor faith nor truth their actions guide 8 Their throat a fepulchre difplays, Deep, wide, infatiate ; in their praile Lurks flattery, and with fpecious art Belies the purpofe of their heart. 9 O let the milchiefs they intend Retorted on themfelves defcend ; And let thy wrath correct their fin. Whofe hearts thy mercy fails to win. ro May all who truft in Thee, employ Their grateful voice in fongs of joy, And (hare the gifts on thofe beftow'd, Who love the name of Jacob's God. 1 1 To each, who bears a guiltlefs heart, Thy grace its bleiling fhall impart ; Strong as the brazen fhield, thy aid Around him caft its cov'ring fhade. PSALM VI. i O SPARE me, Lord, nor o'er my head The fulnefs of thy vengeance fhed ; With pitying eye my weaknefs view, Heal my vex'd foul, my ftrength renew, And O, if yet my fins demand The wife correttions of thy hand, Yet give my pains their bounds to know, And fix a period to my woe. Return, great God, return, and fave Thy feivant from the greedy g PSALM VII. i Shall Death's long-filent tongue, O fay, The records of thy pow'r difplay ? Or pale Corruption's ftartled ear. Thy praife within its prifon hear? By languor, grkf, and care opprefs'd, With groans perpetual heaves my breaft, And tears, in large profufion fhed, Inceffant lave my fleeplefs bed. Return, great God, return, and fave Thy fervant from the greedy grave.. 3 While clouds of grief around me roll, And hoftile ftorms invade my foul, My life, though yet in mid career, Beholds the winter of its year Relentlefs from my cheek each trace Of youth and blooming health erafe, And fpread before my wafting fight The (hades of all-obfcuring night. Return, great God, return, and fave Thy fervant from the greedy grave. 4 Hence, ye profane : my Saviour hears ; While yet 1 fpeak, he wipes my tears, Accepts my pray'r, and bids each foe With fhame their vain attempts forego ; His vengeance whelms their fouls in dread, And burfts in tempefts o'er their head ; While, ftruck with horror from on high, In wild amaze they backward fly. My Saviour hears ; and deigns to fave His fervant from the greedy grave. PSALM VII. i O SAVE me, Lord, and to my foes Do Thou (in Thee I truft) oppofe Thy pow'r, and let the arm divine, Stretch'd in my caufe, befpeak me thine : a Left, while 1 mourn thy abfent aid, The lion fierce my foul invade, Pleas'd, with my blood his thirft allay, And rend the unjefifting prey. 8 PSALM VII. 3 My God, if truth their cenfure guide, If guilt be in my facts deferred, If e'er from my diffembling heart My friend has found the hoftile part, — 4 If, gracious Lord, with ftubborn mind To wrathful violence inclin'd, Impell'd by wrongs, I taught my foe The terrors of my hand to know, — 5 That foe's worft vengeance let me meet, Till trampled underneath his feet Low in the duft my life be laid, And earth's dark womb my glory made. 6 Rife, mightieft Lord, triumphant rife O'er each whofe hand thy pow'r defies ; O let thy wrath chaff ife my foes, Hear, and relieve thy fervant's woes. 7 Judgment is thine : In awful ftate, While circling crouds the doom await. Afcend thy throne, great God, again, And juftify thy ways to men. 8 O Thou, on whom our fates depend, My caufe, my guiltlefs caufe, defend ; Awake, thy aiding flrength excite, Awake, and vindicate my right. 9 Sin's baneful growth do Thou controul, And guard from ill the upright foul ; For Thou, juft Lord, with fearching eye, The heart and inmoft reins canft try. io To God, my foul, for help repair, Who makes the faithful heart his care, Th' impartial Judge ! whofe eyes each day, Indignant, fcenes of guilt furvey. 1 1 If man his law refufe to know, He whets his fword, he bends his bow, He tips with fire the fatal dart, Ordain'd to pierce th' oppreffor's heart. 1 2 With mifchief teem their breafts ; but woe, And fruftrate hope, attend the throe ; They dig, and with exa&eft care A pit, but for themfelves, prepare. PSALM VIII. 13 They toil, and each, condemn'd to gain The lucklcfs harveft of his pain, Ills, for a brother's head deiign'd, Retorted on his own fhall find. 14 Thy juftice, Lord, fhall on my breaft In lure remembrance ftand imprefs'd, With grateful joy my heart infpire, And wake to ceafelefs praife my lyre. PSALM VIII. J IMMORTAL King! Thro' earth's wide frame How great thy honour, praife, and name ! Whofe reign o'er diftant worlds extends, Whole glory heav'n's vaft height tranfcends. 2 From infants Thou canft ftrength upraife, And form their lifping tongues to praife, That, ftruck with awe, each wrathful band In mute aftonifhment may ftand. 3 When, rapt in thought, with wakeful eye I view the wonders of the fky, Whofe frame thy fingers o'er our head In rich magnificence have fpread, — 4. The filent moon, with waxing horn Along th' ethereal region borne, The ftars with vivid luftre crown'd, That nightly walk their deftin'd round,— 5 Lord! what is man, that in thy care His humble lot mould find a fhare ; Or what the fon of man, that Thou Thus to his wants thy ear fhouldft bow? 6 His rank awhile, by thy decree, Th* angelic tribes beneath them fee, Till round him thy imparted rays With unextinguifh'd glory blaze. 7 Subjected to his feet by Thee, To him all nature bows the knee; The beafts in him their lord behold, The grazing herd, the bleating fold, — 8 The fowls, of various wing, that fly O'er the vaft defert of the fky. *o PSALM IX. And all the watry tribes, that glide Through paths to human fight denied. 9 Immortal King! Thro' earth's wide frame How great thy honour, praife, and name '. Thy reign o'er diftant worlds extends, Thy glory heav'n's vaft height tranfcends. PSALM IX. i WARM'D to its inmoft depth my breaft Thanks, not by words to be exprefs'd, Conceives, nor (hall my grateful tongue E'er leave thy wondrous afte unlung. 2 Thee, Lord, I boaft my blifs fupreme, Thy praife my fong's exhauftlels theme; O higher than the higheft, hail ! Thou, Thou haft bid my caufe prevail. 3 Lo ! from the terror of thine eye My foes with ftumbling ftep fhall fly, Or, ftruck by thy refiftlefs hand, In heaps promiicuous ftrew the land. 4. Strift Juftice, Lord, fupports thy throne, And Her decrees and Thine are one ; Thy ftem rebuke the Heathen feel, Their name Oblivion's fhades conceal. 5 See, o'er their guilt-polluted plain Deftru&ion, Death, and Horror reign ; "While, where the rural wafte extends, No more the village fmoke afcends : 6 No more their cities brave the iky, Bui (ras'd by Thee) forgotten lie, Scarce ev'n in fhapelefs ruins view'd, That mark where once the wonder flood. 7 But Thou, when time fhall reach its end, Unchang'd the fcepter fhalt extend ; Then fill thy throne in awful ftate, While man's whole race thy judgment wait, 8 Come ye, who in the dang'rous hour Wifh for your guard the ftrong-built tovv'r ; Each terror to the winds refign'd, In God a furer refuge find. PSALM IX. xi 5 The fouls, that erft opprefs'd with woe Have learn'd thy name, great God, to know, Their hope on Thee fhall ftill Curtain, Whom none has fought, and fought in vain. 10 In Sion God has fix'd his reft ; O be his praife aloud confeft ; His acts through ev'ry clime refound, Far as to earth's extremeft bound. : i He from the proud oppreflbr's hands The poor man's guiltlefs blood demands, And (nor with unregarding ear) His juft complaint from heav'n fhall hear. 12 O Thou, whole care prolongs my breath, And lifts me from the gates of death, Thy fervant's woes attentive view, While impious men my fteps purfue: 13 So fhall thy praife employ my tongue, And Sion's portals hear my fong, While with experienc'd heart 1 (how What joys from thy falvation flow. 14 Low in the pit for others made Th' artificers of death are laid ; And, (truck with dire amazement, find Their nets around themfelves intwin'd. 15 His juftice thus our God diiplays, And mifchief wifh itfelf repays On thofe who thus their arts prepare, And for the guiltlefs plant the fnare. :6 Behold the grave its jaws extend, Whrle to its depths the crouds defcend, Who dare in lawlefs counfels join, Forgetful of the will divine. 17 For think not, O ye Good diftreft, That in the all-rememb'ring breaft Your woes and wrongs unnotie'd rife, That Virtue's hope for ever dies. 18 Up, Lord, nor let the impious foul Build fin on fin without controul ; Thy balance, mightieft Judge, afiume, Pafs on the heathen race their doom. 12 PSALM X. 19 O let thy terrors, fcatter'd wide, Correfit them, till each fori of pride, By Thee convinc'd, his weaknefs fcan, And humbled own himfelf but Man. PSALM X. 1 OAY, Lord, why thus thy aiding pow'r Deferts us in the needful hour, Why clouds impervious, round thee roll'd. Thy prefence from our fight withhold. S Shall impious men efcape thy view, While thus the guiltlefs they purfue ? O let them, by themfelves chaftis'd, The ills fuftain for Him devis'd, — 3 No longer boaft their mad defires, And acts which headlong rage infpires, Or joyous grafp their lawlefs gain, And Thee, the foul's beft wealth, difdain. 4 Proud wretch ! who fhuns o'er nature's face The footfteps of thy care to trace, And Thee, th' all-potent Monarch, Thee Denies, who gav'ft himfelf to be. 5 Behold, while, high above all height, Thy judgments, Lord, his diftant fight Elude, this minifter of woe Blaft with his breath each obvious foe ; 6 " See, proof to each affault I ftand : " What pow'r fhall e'er my fear demand? " What ill, to life's remoteft day, " Obftru6t the tenour of my way ?" 7 The finner's lips, with curfes fraught, Words ill according to his thought Have utter'd, and beneath his tongue Lurk fraud, and violence, and wrong. 8 Be fide the folitary way, Intent the helplefs poor to flay, He waits, and with malignant eye Infidious marks each pafler by. 9 As, couch'd within his bufhy lair, The lion fierce with hideous glare PSALM X. ij Around him cafts his wide furvey, And meditates the future prey,-— to So longs the man of blood to feize The fouls, that own thy juft decrees, \\ hen planted with fuccefsful care, His nets their captive feet infnare: rr What, Lord, his fury (hall withftand, Or fave them from the murd'rous band, That, leagu'd in fin, affift his toil, And fhare with him the guilty fpoi! ? is " Shall Heaven's high Lord," he cries, " defcend 11 The human actions to attend ? " The paths by me at will purfu'd " His mem'ry and his thought elude." 13 Rife, mightieft Lord, and lift thy hand, Nor let the injur'd poor demand Thy faving aid with fruitlefs pray'r, But guard them by thy foft'ring care. 14 Why fhould the fouls, who Thee defy, With impious tongue reproachful cry, " 'Tis not within th' Almighty's plan " To fcrutinize the afts of man ?" 15 What eyes, like thine, eternal Sire, Through Sin's obfcureft depths inquire ? What judge, like Thee, on Virtue's locL The needful vengeance can impofe ? 16 The meek obferver of thy laws To Thee commits his injur'd caufe ; In Thee, each anxious fear refign'd, The fatherlefs a Father find. 17 O, break the arm of impious might; So fhall their threats no more excite Our dread, nor thy offended eye The triumphs of their guilt delcry. 18 Thine is the throne: beneath thy reigri, Immortal King 1 the tribes profane Behold their dreams of conqueft o'er, And vanifh to be feen no more. 19 Thou, Lord, thy people's wifh canft read, Ere from their lips the pray'r proceed ^ C fi| PSALM XI. 'Tis Thine their drooping hearts to rear, And when they call incline thine ear. 10 'Tis Thine the orphan's cheek to dry, The guiltlefs fuff'rer's caufe to try, To rein each earthborn tyrant's will, And bid the fons of pride be ftill. PSALM XL i On God my ftedfaft hopes rely : Why urge ye then my foul to fly, And fwift, on trembling wings convey'd, To feek the mountain's cov'ring fhade ? See, prompt to ill, th* infidious foe Now couch'd in fecret bend the bow, Now to the firing adjuft the dart, That thirds to wound the guiltlefs heart .- While Juftice mourns her bafe o'erthrown, Say, who the injur'd caufe fhall own? 2 Thou, Lord, that caufe wilt ftill fuftain ; Thou, thron'd amid thy heavenly fane, Shalt caft, regardful, from on high On fuff ring innocence thine eye, Each human heart intent to prove, And bid the fouls that feek thy love, Bleft objetts of thy conftant care, The fulnefs of thy bounty fhare; While lawlefs hands and hearts impure Thy wrath and ftedfaft hate endure. 3 Behold the lightnings wing their way. Behold the fires vindi&ive ftray ; While from thy hand the baleful draught, With ftorm and mingled fulphur fraught, In wild amaze the impious train Low to its utmoft dregs fhall drain : For Quft himfelf) where'er it fhines To juftice God his love inclines, Delighted in the upright mind His own reflected beams to find. PSALM XIL 15 PSALM XIL r O HELP me, Lord: for none I fee, Whofe a&s conform to thy decree ; Nor truth nor faith my fearch can trace Amid the fons of human race. s. New plans of fraud each mind has known. And fpeaks a language not its own ; Their lips have learn'd with fpecious art To veil the purpofe of the heart. i But God with vengeance arm'd fhall rife, The tongue of Flatt'ry to chaftife, And Juftice to the lip of Pride Its ftroke with aim unerring guide. 4. What force, exclaims the impious band, Shall eloquence like ours withltand ? And fay, to whom the tafk belongs To fix the bridle on our tongues. £ "' Enough, (th' eternal Sire has cried) u Enough my fuff'ring faints have figh'd, " To Me dilclos'd their ceafelefs fear, " And pour'd their forrows in mine ear. 6; " My hand fhall fee their wrongs redreft, " And loothe to peace their troubled breaft ; ** Its faving aid around them throw, " And guard them from th' intuiting foe." 7 Pure are thy words, almighty Lord, As filver, that, by art explor'd, Has feen the fev'nth tormenting fire Around th' inclofing vafe afpire. Z Thy love thy fervants, Lord, fhall fhare, And, fafe in thy protefting care, Behold, unmov'd, an impious age Aim at their life its fruitlefs rage. 9: When men, by ev'ry crime debas'd, In feats of fov'reign rule are plac'd, Then Wrong and Fraud the earth o'erfpread, And Vice triumphant lifts the head. Cj if* PSALM XIII. XIV. PSALM XIII. i HOW long (hall I, my God, in vain, 1'rcil by a weight of griefs, complain? Say, (hall I fink in deep defpair, fur ever banifh'd from thy earc f ■X Condemn'd thy abfent beams to mourn, Still to divided counfels turn My lab'ring thought; and hear the foe Exulting triumph in my woe ? 3 Thy fuppliant's voice attentive weigh, And bid, O bid, thy heav'nly xay With healing influence o'er me rife, Ere death's dark number clofe my eyes. 4 What tranlport would my fall impart To each incens'd oppofer's heart, Who would his utmoft art addrefs, The friend of peace and truth t' opprefs ! 5 " Behold," the hoftile tongue would cry, " Beneath my feet behold him lie, " The wretch that, hafting to his end, " With pow'r l'uperior durll contend." 6 But, while their ceafelefs threats I hear, Thy mercy, Lord, difpels my fear j My hopes on thy ialvation reft, And fill with confeious joy my breaft. jr Well pleas'd that mercy to proclaim, To Thee, inftinct with holy flame, To Thee my tongue from day to day Shall meditate the grateful lay. PSALM XIV. J BEHOLD the Fool, whofe heart denies The God who form'd the earth and fkics ; While, fearlefs, fin's worft paths he treads, Mark how the dire example fpreads. 2 Orman's whole race not one we find To Virtue's Heat'n-taught rules inclin'd, Who 'midft infectious times has ftood Unftain'd, and obftinately goed. PSALM XV. 17 ] TV eternal Monarch from on high Caft on the fons of earth his eye, If haply fome he yet might fee True to their God, from error free. 4. He look'd : hut ah ! not one could find To Virtue's Heav'n-taught rules inclin'd ; Each, led from Wifdom's path aftray, Rirlues the tenojur of his way. 5 O lay, what ignorance could blind The fouls, who with remorfelefs mind ftefume my people to devour, As bread, nor own their Maker's pow'r. 6 Yet fee their thoughts tumultuous roll, See various terrors fhake their foul : For God amidft the righteous dwells, And each invading foe repels. 7 And what are ye, who thus deride The fouls that in their God confide, With wife fimplicity of mind To his all-juft decrees refign'd ? 8 Who, mightieft Lord, to J/rael's eyes Shall bid the wifh'd falvation rife, From Sion's hill its healing ray Extend, and round us pour the day ? 9 When Thou thy captives fhalt reftore, Thy praife (hall found through Judah's fhore, And ceafelefs fhouts, through heav'n's wide frame Loud echoing, Jacob's joy proclaim. PSALM XV. 1 ^VhO fhall tow'rd thy chofen feat Turn in glad approach his feet ? Who fhall at thine altars bend ? Who to Sion's, hill al'cend ? Who, great God, a welcome gueft, On that hallow'd mountain reft ? — He whofe heart thy love has warm'd, He whole will, to thine conform'd, Bids his life unfullied run ; He whole word and thought are one. :8 PSALM XVI. 2 He who ne'er, with cruel aim, Seeks to wound an honeft fame, Nor, with gloomy joy poffefs'd, Can a brother's peace molcft, Or to Slander's tongue fevere Stoops with eafy faith his ear; Who, from fervile terror free, Spurns at thofe who fpurn at Thee ; And to each, who Thee obeys, Love and lowlieft rev'rence pays. 3 What he fvvears, with ftedfaft will To his lofs he fhall fulfil, Nor by avaricious loan Make the poor man's bread his own ; Nor can bribes his fentence guide "Gainft the guiltlefs to decide. He who thus, with heart unftain'd, Treads the path by Thee ordain'd, He, great God, fhall own thy care, And thy conftant blefiing ihare. PSALM XVL i FATHER of all ! my foul defend ; On Thee my ftedfaft hopes depend : " Thou, mightieft Lord, and none befide, " Thou art my God," my heart has cried. 3 In vain, with grateful zeal, I burn Thy boundlefs goodnefs to return ; In vain would gifts by me beftow'd Augment the treafures of my God. 3 Yet (hall my love on all deicend, Whofe fouls to thy decrees attend, My heart's deiire to each incline, Whofe faint-like virtue marks him thine. 4 The wretch, who madly ftrays from Thee, And bows to Gods nufcall'd the knee, Shall find new forrows round him roll, And whelm in dread his confcious foul. 5 Be vritnefs to my guilt, if e'er Their draughts of offer 'd blood I fhare ; PSALM XVII. 19 Rile thy breath rnv life fuftains, •.iinc my hallow'd lip pro! 6 Thee, Lord, my patrimony, Thee The portion of my cup I fee : Thy care my envied lot fecur^s, And life's beft gifts around me pourc. : Thee let me blefs, the faithful guide, "Whofe counfels o'er my life prc!irk j , And wifdom to my waketul brealt At midnight's filent hour fuggefL 2 In all my acts, in each intent, Thee to my foul my thoughts prefent, "Whofe fure defence my gate has barr'd, And planted on my right a guard. $ For this my heart, for this my tcugue, Shall meditate the joyful fong ; Hope ev'n in death (hall be my gueft, And fmooth the pillow of my reft. :o Thou from the grave my foul fhalt free, Nor leave thy holy one to fee Corruption's pow'r: — before my eyes The op'ning paths of life fhall rife ; 1 1 Thofe paths that to thy prefence bear, For plenitude of blifs is there ; And pleafures, Lord, unmix'd with woe, At thy right hand for ever flow. PSALM XVII. 1 1 O Thee, the Judge enthron'd on high. Shall injur'd innocence apply : O let my pray'r by Thee be heard, From undiffembling lips preferr'd ; O let my doom from Thee proceed, And gracious mark the upright deed. 1 When night's dark fnades were round me pour'd, Thy thoughts my fpirit have explor'd ; Say, to thy ali-dilcerning eyes If aught of guilt within me rife, I: offcr'd violence and wrong Have urg'd to fin my thcughtlefs tongue, o PSALM XVII. 3 Taught by thy word, my ftedfaft mind Has each nefarious path declin'd ; O ftill my guardian, ftill my guide, Forbid my wav'ring feet to flide ; To Thee, (for Thou the pray'r canft hear) To Thee my fuppliant voice I rear. 4 O treat me not with cold difdain, Nor let my vows return in vain . O Thou, whofe hand th' oppreflbr quelte, And each invading pow'r repels From him, whole hopes on Thee repofc, To me thy wondrous grace difclofe. 5 What care the pupil of the eye Demands, that care to me apply; Let thy prevailing beams diipel The clouds of grief that o'er me dwell, " And keep, O keep me, King of Kings, " Beneath thy own almighty wings." i Rich in my fpoils, with murd'rous hate A pamper'd croud around me wait ; Their heart, with impious fury ftung, To mad preiumption prompts their tongue; Pride on their neck its chain lias bound. And violence inverts them round. 7 With watchful look they mark my way, As lurks, expectant of the prey, The lion, or his tawny brood, To rapine born, and nurs'd in blood ; Rile, Lord, and let me, by thy aid Preferv'd, their threat'ning jaws evade : 8 With fword unfheath'd, and lifted hand, Preventive crufh the lawlefs band, Whofe days, with life's full bleffings fraught, To earth's low fcene confine their thought: Whofe eyes a num'rous race behold, To heir their heaps of treafur'd gold, 9 Far other blife my foul fhall own, A blifs to guilty minds unknown: O '. when, awaken'd by thy care, Thy face I view, thy image bear, PSALM XVI IT, lfcw fhai! my bread with tranfport plow, What full delight my heart o'erfiow 1 PSALM XVIII. i JDLEST obj.e6l of my foul's defire, To Thee my grateful thoughts afpire; On Thee my ftcdfaft hope I build, My God, my reft, nay rock, mv fhield, 2 The ftrength of my falvation Thee, And tow'r of fure defence, I fee ; Protected bv thy pow'rful arm, No danger can my foul alarm. 5 What foe fhall e'er my terror raife, While thus I pay my debt of praife ; And, as the doubtful field I tread, To God my fuppliant hands outfpread? i V\ oes heap'd on woes nay heart deplor'd, While fin's tumultuous torrents roar'd,. And, fpreading wide, before my view Their gleomy horrors round me threw, ■ fepulchre's extended hands Had wrapt me in its ftfongeft bartd^ And death, intuiting,, o'er my head Th' inextricable toils had fprcad. 6 My words, as griev'd to God I pray, v ng to his heav'nly fane their way, Through adverfe clouds their paffage clear, Nor unaccepted reach his ear : 7 With ftrong convulfions groan'd the ground, The hills, with waving forefts crown*d, Loos'd from their bafe, their fummlts nod, And own the prefence of their God. 8 Collected clouds of wreathing fmoke Forth from his angry noftrils broke, And orbs of fire, with dreadful glare, Rufh'd onward through the glowing air* 9 Incumbent on. the bending flcy The Lord defcended from on hir;h, A ad badV the darknefs of the pole Beneath his feet tremendous roll. za PSALM XVIII. i© God to his car the cherub join'd, And on the wings of mightieft wind, As down to earth his journey lay, Refiftlel's urg'd his rapid way. 1 1 Thick-woven clouds, around him clos'd, His iecret residence compos'd, And waters, high fufpended, fpread Their dark pavilion o'er his head. 13. In vain reluctant to the blaze, That previous pour'd its ftreaming rays f As on he moves, the clouds retire, Diflblv'd in hail and rufhing fire. 13 His voice th' almighty Monarch rear'd, Through heav'n's high vault in thunders heard, And down in fiercer conflict came The halftones dire and mingled flame. 14 With aim direft his fhafts were fped, In vain his foes before them fled ; Now here, now there, his lightnings ftray, And lure deftruction marks their way. 15 Earth's balls open to the eye, And ocean's fprings, were feen to lie, As, chiding loud, his fury pafs'd, And o'er them breath'd the dreadful blaft. 16 God in my refcue from the fkies His arm extends, and bids me rife Emergent from the flood profound, Whofe waves my ftruggling foul furrouni. 17 His hand my ftrongeft foes-fcpell'd, Their force by force fuperior quell'd ; And 1, unequal to the fight, Ev'n I have triumph'd in his might. z& Opprefs'd with languor, grief, and pa'm, Ere yet my nerves their Itrength regain, His fierce aflault th' invader gave ; But thou wert prefent, Lord, to fave. :o My fpacious path by Thee outi'pread, With courfe fecure behold me tread ; From Thee, when terrors clo.'d me round, My fcul its fulleft faccour found psalm xrnt ,> :gh ; Thy aid withheld, what friendly pow'r Shall fhield me in the dang'rous hour? io See Biifans bulls around me roar, Xor rage the famifh'd lions more, When nightly through the ftarlefs gloom Along the howling wild they roam. 1 1 My frame, disjoin'd, in fwift decay Waftes, like the running ftream, away ; My heart in groans its grief proclaims, And melts as wax before the flames. 12 Faft to my jaws my tongue is chain'd, My fiefh its vital moifture drain'd, While, Lord, thy chafcifement it bears, Dry as the clay-form'd vafe appears. 13 Yet, patient ftill of ev'ry pain Unerring Wifdom can ordain, 1 wait ti.l Thourefume my breath, And lodge me in the duft of deal PSALM XXII. 24 A hoftile throng, who Thee defpife, Dogs fierce of kind, againft me rile ; And, while faft-ilfuing ftreams the gore, My hands and feet relentlefs bore. 15 My ftarting bones to ev'ry eye Expos'd, O ye that, paffing by, In wonder (not in pity) join, O fay, was ever grief like mine ? 16 My raiment each with each divides, My vefture, as the lot decides, Becomes fome new pofl'eflbr's fpoil, The prize that crowns his impious toil. 17 Mv God, my ftrength, recede not far, But hafte, and make my foul thy care ; My foul, puriu'd by hoftile hate, Airlifted, helplefs, defolate. 18 My God, (for Thou their rage haft feen) With timelieft fuccour intervene, And turn th' impending iwords away, Nor yield me to the dog a prev. 19 The foaming lion's wrath afluage, Nor let the oryx, in his rage, With headlong force againft me borne, Aim at my life the pointed horn. 20 I joy, O Lord, thy honour'd name A mid ft my brethren to proclaim, And gath'ring crouds (hall hear my tongue Thus to my God awake the fong : 21 " Exalt, ye faints, the Pow'r divine, " Exalt Him, all of Jacob's line ; " And let each tribe with duteous feat " Mis boundlefs majefty revere. iz" 'Tis not in Him, with cold difdain " To hear the helplefs poor complain ; " He kindly fees their wrongs redreft, " And foothes to peace their troubled breaft 23 " He (nor with unrelenting eye) M Each falling tear, each heaving fight u Regards, attentive to perceive " Their wants 3 i PSALM XXIII. 24 Such ftrains thy mercy (hall infpire, While in the full-afiembled choir To Thee the votive fong I raife, And thankful pay my debt of praife. 25 To you, ye humble, meek, and good, Who alk from IfracTs Lord your food, His hand indulgent from on high Shall yield at full the wifh'd fupply. 26 Who feek like you their God, like you To Him their praifes (hall renew, Whofe love immortal life imparts, And fwells with joy their confcious hearts. 17 Maker of all ! through ev'ry land Thy deeds in full record (hall (land, And fartheft realms converted join In homage to the name divine. 18 Kings (hall in Thee their mightier greet, And lay their fcepters at thy feet ; (Thy grace by facrifice implor'd) Earth's tribes (hall fpread the feftal board : 29 And all mankind, whole mortal frame Th* infatiate grave prepares to claim, Thy pow'r, immortal Judge, (hall own, And proftrate kneel before thy throne. 30 Sec, while by Thee redeem'd I live, A race from me their birth derive ; A race by juit poflcflion thine, Whofe hearts infpir'd, to truth incline : 3 1 Whofe tongue thy glory (hall difplay, Inftruft the world thy will t' obey, And bid thy righteous afts engage The wonder of the future age. PSALM XXIII. 1 L<0, my Shepherd's hand divine ! Want (hall never more be mine :- In a paftufe fair and large He (hall teed his happy charge, And my couch with tend"reft care 'Midft the fj. ringing grafs prcpait PSALM XXIV. 33 When I faint with fummer's heat, He fhall lead my weary feet To the ftreams that ftill and flow Through the verdant meadow flow, 2 He my foul 'anew fhall frame, And, his mercy to proclaim, When through devious paths I ftray, Teach my fteps the better way : Though the dreary vale I tread By the fhades of death o'erfpread, There I walk from terror free, While my ej/'ry wifh I fee By thy rod and ftafi' fupplied, This my guard, and that my guide. 3 While my foes are gazing on, Thou thy fav'ring care haft fhewn ; Thou my plenteous board haft fprcad, ' Thou with oil refrefh'd my head : Fill'd by Thee, my cup o'erfiows, For thy love no limit knows ; Conftant to my lateft end This my footfteps fhall attend, And fhall bid thy hallow'd dome Yield me an eternal home. PSALM XXIV. i JiARTH, big with empires, to thy reign Submits, great God, its wide domain ; Whate'er this orb's vaft bounds confine, By juft pofieffion, Lord, is thine. 2 That orb arcid the watry wafte Thy hands, beft Architect, haveplac'd, And bid th' unfathomable deep Beneath its firm foundations fleep. 3 Lord, who fhali to thy hill afcend ? Who fuppliant at thine altars bend, There joyful find a fure abode, And own the prefence of his God ? 4 Whole hands and heart from guilt are free? Who ne'er to idols bow'd the knee, 34 PSALM XXV. Nor, ftudious of deceit, would try By oaths to confecrate a lye. 5 On fuch th' Almighty from above Shall heap the blefnngs of his love, And, purg'd from fin's tranfmifnve ftain, Admit them to his facred fane. C Such only form the chofen choir, Whofe feet, with licens'd ftep, afpire To vilit Sion's bleft abode ; Who feek the face of Jacob's God. 7 Lift, lift your heads, each hallow'd gate ; Aloft, with fudden fpring, your weight, Ye everiafting portals, rear : Behold the King of Glory near ! 8 And who this King of Glory ? fay. That Lord who bears th' eternal fway ; "Who, cloth'd with ftrength, to war defcends, And conqueft on his fword attends. 9 Lift, lift your heads, each hallow'd gate ; Aloft, with fudden fpring, your weight, Ye everlafting portals, rear : Behold the King of Glory near ! ic And who this King of Glory ? fay. The God, whom heav'n's high hofts obey ; Ir\ him that King of Glory view, And yield to him that homage due. PSALM XXV. i 1 O Thee, great God, my foul fhall rife ; On Thee my ftedfaft mind relies : O fave me, Lord, from fhame and woe, And blaft the triumphs of my foe. a Nor fhame, nor woe the heart attends, Whofe truft on Jacob's God depends ; But grief, confufion, doubt, and fear The fouls that rafnly fin fhall tear. 3 Thy paths, bleft Source of Light, difplay, And teach my doubting fteps thy way. God of my health, from morn to eve In Thee my hopes have learn'd to live. PSALM XXV. 35 4 O lead me in thy truth, and ftore My heart with thy celeftial lore ; Thy mercy, Lord, recal to mind, Whole beams from earlieft age have fhin'd, 5 O let Oblivion's thickeft veil Th' offences of my youth conceal, That I with them my lot may bear, Whole fouls thy kind remembrance fhare. i 6 Good, Lord, and juft art Thou ; thy love Returning finners joy to prove, And led by thy aufpicious ray Correct the error of their way. 7 In Thee fhall each of humble mind The friend and lure inftruetor find, And each, whole truft on Thee is plac'd, Shall happineis perpetual tafte. : 8 Thus, while the dictates of thy law His thoughts to full obedience awe, Wiih joy thy paths the juft fhall tread, By mercy and by truth outfpread. 9 Thy wonted pity, Lord, impart, While in the anguifh of my heart The burthen of my guilt 1 own, And humbled bow before thy throne. io Ye fouls, that to his fear incline, Secure to God your fteps refign, And learn from his directing hand What path may beft your choice demand. ii How bleft, thy precepts, Lord, who knows! As o'er life's pilgrimage he goes, See peace and fafety nightly fpread Their tent around his favour'd head : iz See, rang'd in fair delcent, his line The lot which thy decrees affign Divide, and, long as time mall laft, The blefiings of thy bounty tafte. 13 Who bow to Thee th' attentive ear, The fecrets of thy will fhall hear ; Thy compact, Lord, to fuch reveal'd, Shall light and heav'nly tranfport yield* 36 PSALM XXVI, 14 Wrapt in the hoftile fnare I lie, Yet lift to Thee th' expecting eye, Till Thou my full relief decree,' And bid my captive foul go free. 15 O turn Thee, Lord, in pity turn, Behold me helplefs and forlorn ; See various griefs my heart opprefe, My wants fupply, my wrongs' redrefs 16 O let me thy attention win, And feal the pardon of my fin ; For who like Thee with quick'ning ray Can chafe each cloud of grief away ? 17 While factious crouds around me wait, Inflam'd with rage, and impious hate, Stretch to my aid the arm of pow'r, And guard me in the dang'rous hour. 18 Let not my foul,- on Thee reclin'd, Its forrows utter to the wind; Let truth and fpotlefs innocence Their fuccours to my heart difpenfe. 19 Indulgent to my pray'r, with mine My country's wifh'd deliv'rance join ; God of my hope, thy love dtfclofe, And heal, O heal thy people's woes. PSALM XXVT. 1 -DE Thou my judge ; thy fearching eyes My guikkfs life have known : On Thee my ftedfaft foul relies, Nor fear of lapfe fhall own. 2 O fearch me ftill ; my hearrt, my reins, With flrifteft view furvey : Thy love, great God, my hope fuftains, Thy truth directs my way. 3 The houfe of guile, and feat of lies, With ftudious care I fhun: From crouds that impious deeds devife My fteps abhorrent run. 4 In innocence I wafh my hands, Thy altar compafs round, PSALM XXVII. 37 And grateful lead the facred bands, Whofe hymns thy acts refound. 5 How oft, inftinct with warmth divine, Thy threshold have I trod ! How lov'd the courts, whofe walls infhrine The glory of my God ! 6 O let me not the vengeance fhare, That waits the guilty tribe, Whofe murd'rous hands each mifchief dare, And grafp the offer'd bribe. 7 But pour, O pour, while thus I tread / The path by Thee prepar'd, Thy beams of mercy on my head, And round me plant a guard. 8 Thou, Lord, my fteps haft fix'd aright, And, pleas'd, fhalt hear my tongue With lfraets thankful fons unite To form the feftal fong. PSALM XXVII. i 1 HOU, Lord, my fafety, Thou my light, What danger (hall my foul affright ? Strength of my life ! what arm mall dare To hurt whom Thou haft own'd thy care? 2 When erft, impatient to devour, Againft me rofe each hoftile pow'r, Their fierce attempts fuccefslefs found, They ftumbled, fell, and bit the ground. 3 Though adverfe hofts the ftandard rear, Thy fervant fhall without a fear The gath'nng war around him fee, And fix, fecure, his truft on Thee. 4 One wifh, with holy tranfport warm, My heart has form'd, and yet fhall form ; That in thy prefence I may ftand, And fhare the bleffings of thy hand, 5 One gift I afk ; that to my end Fair Shris dome I may attend, There joyful find a fure abode, And view the fceauty of my God, £ 3» PSALM XX VII. 6 For He within his hallow'd fhrine My fecret refuge mall affign, And, while the ftorms around me beat, Fix on the rock my ftedfaft feet. J My heart fecure to God refign'd, In Him its fafety boafts to find ; For He, his arm beneath me fpread, • High o'er my foes exalts my head. 8 For this, with grateful joy beftow'd, My ofr'ring fhall his altar load, My tongue its note exulting raife, And difciate to the harp his praife. 9 O hear me, Lord ; on Thee I call, And proftrate at thy footftool fall ; Propitious in my caufe appear, And bow to my requeft thine ear. io " Seek ye my face with duteous care, " And frequent to my throne repair:" Thus to my heart I hear Thee fptak ; Thy face, my heart replies, I feek. II Look down, rny only Hope ! look down, Behold me, but without a frown ; And ne'er to my defiring eye Thy preience, heav'nly Lord, deny. is O let me, on thy aid reclin'd, Thee ftiil my great falvation find, Nor leave me, helplefs and forlorn, The abfence of thy grace to mourn. 13 When, docm'd the orphan's lot to bear, No father's kind concern I fhare, Nor o'er me wakes a mother's eye, My wants attentive to fupply ; — 14 Adopted by thy care, in Thee The parent and the friend I fee, And, nourifn'd by thy foft'ring hand, "Within thy courts fecure 1 ftand. 15 Inftiuft me, Lord, thy path to know, And, while with fecret art the foe My doubting fleps would turn af.de, Be Thou my guardian and my guide. PSALM XXVIII. 39 16 O lave me from the hand of wrong ; My foul, by each malignant tongue With caufelefs infult loaded, view, And charg'd with guilt it never knew. 17 O how had grief conlum'd my frame, But that I hop'd, while yet my name Amidft the living ftands inroll'd, Thy boundlefs mercy to behold. 18 With patient hope, with mind fedate, On IfraeVs God expectant wait ; Be ftrong, be ftedfaft ; to thy heart Shall feel his grace its aid impart. PSALM XXVIII. 1 GOD, my ftrength, to Thee I pray ; Turn not Thou thine ear away ; Left, while to thy fuppliant's cry Thou thine anfwer fhalt deny, Sudden I my place aflbme Wlidft the tenants of the tomb : Gracious to my vows attend, While the humble knee I bend, And, inl'pir'd with holy fear, Tow'rd thy fhrine my hands uprear. 2 Give me not thy wrath to know, Nor to feel the vengeful blow, By thy juft decrees affign'd To the men of impious mind, Who, their hearts intent on wrong, Smooth with lies their venom'd tongue : Let whate'er their thoughts devife, Thus aloud thy juftice cries, What their ruthlels arm has dar'd, Meet from Thee its full reward : — 3 While thy wrath with fteady pace Step by ftep their feet (hall trace, And, though now their ftubborn ear Shun thy wondrous acls to hear, Teach them to confels thy pow'r, Shatter'd like ibme heav'n-ftruck tow'r, E* 40 PSALM XXIX. That before th' aftonifh'd fight, Stooping from its airy height, 'Midft the thunder's awful roar, Falls, to be rebuilt no more. 4 Let me, (for with pitying ear God my pray'r has deign'd to hear) Let me thanks perpetual yield ; He my ftrength, and he my fhield, On his long-experienc'd aid See my hope for ever ftay'd, While my heart, with joy poffefs'd, Dances in my throbbing breaft, And my tongue in grateful lays Confecrates to Him its praife. 5 Thou whofe arm is o'er us fpread, Prompt to guard th' anointed head, And from each invader's hand Vindicate thy chofen land, Save thy people from diftrefs, And thy patrimony blefs ! Give them, Lord, thy love to fhare, Feed them with a fhepherd's care, And their pow'r to lateft days O'er their foes triumphant raife. PSALM XXIX. I SlXG, ye fons of might, O ling Praife to Heav'n's eternal King ; Raife to him fome new-taught fong, To his praife the note prolong. % Pow'r and ftrength to Him affign, And before his hallow'd fhrine Yield the homage, that his name From a creature's lips may claim. 3 Hark ! his voice in thunder breaks ; Hufh'd to filence, while he fpeaks, Ocean's waves from pole to pole Hear the awful accents roll. 4 See, as louder yet they rife, Echoing through the vaulted fkies, PSALM XXX. 4 t Loftieft cedars lie o'firthrown, Cedars of fteep Lebanon. 5 See, uprooted from its feat, Lebanon itfelf retreat ; Trembling at the threat divine, Sirion haftes its flight to join. 6 See them like the heifer borne, Like the beaft, whofe pointed horn Strikes with dread the fylvan train, Bound impetuous on the plain. 7 Now the burfting clouds give way, And the vivid lightnings play, And the wilds, by man untrod, Hear, difmay'd, th' approaching God. 8 Cades, o'er thy lonely wafte Oft the dreaded founds have pafs'd ; Oft his ftroke the wood invades, Widow'd of its leafy fhades. 9 Mightieft oaks its fury know ; While the pregnant hind her throe Inftant feels, and on the earth Trembling drops th' unfinifh'd birth. io Proftrate on the facred floor, JfraePs fons his name adore, While his afts to ev'ry tongue Yield its argument of fong. 1 1 He the (welling furge commands j P'ix'd his throne for ever ftands ; He his people fhall increafe, Arm with ftrength, and blefs with peace, PSALM XXX. i To Thee, great Ruler of the fkies, Whofe arm its conftant aid fupplies, While vanquifh'd foes confefs my fway, My heart its ready vows fhall pay ; My grateful tongue, immortal King, Thy mercy fhall for ever flng. 2 As, prefs'd with woe, to Thee 1 cried, Thy hand its healing pow'r applied, 4* PSALM XXX. And, while increafing languors gave • The fignal to th* expecting grave, This mortal fabrick to receive, Revers'd the doom, and bade me live. 3 Ye faithful fons of I/raePs name, Your Maker's fanftity proclaim ; And, while his mercies on your breaft In fweet memorial ftand imprefs'd, To Him in joyful accents raife The fong of gratitude and praife. 4 How well our great Preferver knows To weigh and to relieve our woes ! Behold his wrath's avenging blaft, How flow to rife, how foon o'erpaft, How prompt his favour to dii'penfe Its life-imparting influence. 5 How fpeedy his paternal love Our deep afflictions to remove ! Grief for a night, obtrufive gueft, Beneath our roof perchance may reft j But joy, with the returning day, Shall wipe each tranfient tear away. 4 O Lord, as pleas'd I look'd around, And view'd my life with bleflings crowu'd, "While, fafe in thy protecting hand, High on the rock I took my ftand, In confidence of foul I faid, " What ills fhall e'er my peace invade ?" ? But, inftant, Thou thy face hadft turr.'d, And proftrate on the earth I mourn'd ; I mourn'd, and, O my Guard, my Guide, fWith humbler fpirit thus I cried; Shall aught of profit, if the ground My blood abforb, to Thee redound? 8 Shall, vocal in thy praife, the duft. Proclaim thv counfels wile and juft, And wake thy wondrous a£ls to tell Amid corruption's dreary cell ? Thy aid, my God, in pity lend, And gracious to my plaints attend. PSALM XXXI. 43 9 Again the face of joy I wear ; Thy hand, indulgent to my pray'r, The fackcloth from my loins unbound, With mirth's fair cincture wraps me round ; Thy ftrength my fainting fpirit cheers, And checks my griefs, and calms my fears, o For this, with facred tranfport fill'd, To Thee my foul its praile fhall yield, My thankful heart with zeal fhall burn, My tongue the bands of filenee fpurn, And pleas'd, through life, in grateful verfe Thy love, eternal Lord, rehearfe. PSALM XXXI. i LORD, (for on Thee fupported ftand My hopes) O let thy aiding hand The juftice of my caufe proclaim, And fave me from impending fhame. 2 Thy ear, thou Majefty divine, Propitious to my pray'r incline : Hafte to my help, and let thy pow'r My rock prefent and brazen tow'r : — 3 That rock, that tow'r, my God, in Thee, Snatch'd from furrounding ills, I fee ; Shew me thy path, and fo thy name Shall praife and thanks perpetual claim. 4 O let me, by thy counfel led, That path with ftep unerring tread, And, fav'd by thy preventive care, Shake from my feet the broken fnare. 5 God of my ftrength, the wife, the juft, To thee my fpirit 1 intruft ; From Thee, when terrors clos'd me round, My foul its full redemption found. 6 My thoughts, the felf-deceiving train, Enflav'd to fuperftitions vain, Abhor, and 'midft increafing woes Their confidence on Thee repofe. 1 Thy mercy fhall my thanks employ, My conftant theme, my higher! joy ■> 44. PSALM XXXI. For Thou, my foul by griefs purfu'd, My ftate with pitying eye haft view'd. 8 Thy hand, while rang'd in clofe array Infulting hofts around me lay, Gave to the wind their vain defign, And made the paths of freedom mine. 9 Once more, my fight with inward grief Confum'd, vouchfafe me thy relief, Confefs me thine, difpel the fighs That in my heaving bofom rife. io For while my foul its ceafelefs pains Deep through its inmoft frame fuftains, Life's noon for eve exchang'd 1 bear, And age invited on by care. 1 1 The guilt, that in my thought revolve?, Irength impairs, my joints diffolves ; . The fcorn of foes, and, keener yet, The fcorn of friends my foul befet. 12 My former guefts, if in their way My wafted form they now furvey, With horror ftruck, the fight forego, And fhun th' infection of my woe. 13 With lonely ftep the earth 1 tread, Forgotten as the filent dead, Or as the vafe of meaneft clay, In ufelefs fragments caft away. 14 Opprobrious tongues my fame invade, While terrors wrap me in their fhade, And crouds with fierce and heighten'd rage Againft my life their pow'rs engage. 15 Yet fee me, Lord, in Thee confide ; Thou art my God, my heart has cried ; From Thee my time its limit knows j O lave me from devouring foes. 16 O let thy preience on me beam, Thy clemency my life redeem; Nor let me, Lord, the fhame fuftain, Thy aid to afk, and afk in vain. 17 Theirs be the fhame, thy pow'r who brave, Nor ceafe their mfults, till the grave, PSALM XXXII. 45 Abforbing quick the guilty throng, In endlei's filence feal their tongue. 1 8 Such filence on their lips impofe, Whofe words their pride-fwoln heart difclofe, At Wifdom's Ions their malice aim, And blaft with lies the guiltlefs name. J9 O, how fhall all who leek thy love The fulnefs of thy bounty prove ! And teach th' admiring world to fee How bleft the fouls that truft in Thee ! 20 Thy faints, while breath their life prolongs, Sav'd by thy care from ftrife of tongues, Shall fee thy tabernacle fpread Its awful fplendours o'er their head. 21 Bleft be the name of Jacob's God, Whofe love, in happieft hour beftow'd, Has giv'n within my lot to fall The ftrong-built city's guarding wall. 22 Awhile with uncollected mind, As banifh'd from thy fight, 1 pin'd ; But Thou thy fervant's pray'r haft heard, In anguifh of my heart prefer'd. 23 Ye fouls, devoted to his fear, With thankful love your God revere, Who wakes your chofen train to guard, And deals to pride its juft reward. 24 Be ftrong, be ftedfaft ; fo your mind From Him its full fupport (Trail find j Ye faints, that in his care confide, Nor own, nor afk a help befide. PSALM XXXII. 1 -H.OW bleft the man, whofe confeious grief From Thee, great God, has found relief; Whofe guilt thy boundlefs love has veil'd, His fears compos'd, his weaknefs heal'd ; — 2 To whom th' offences of his hand No longer now imputed ftand, Who learns thy precepts to revere, Whofe heart is pure, whole tongue fincere. PSALM XXXII. 5 While deep within my lab'ring breaft My mind its dire difeafe fupp; . Incefiant groans, that fhun'd controul, Betray'd the anguifh of my i'oul. nticipating care ttrength impair, Relentlefs from my cheek each trace ad blooming health erafe. a night extends its dufky cone, Beneath thy terrors, Lord, I groan ; The (hades anon retreating fee, to all reftor'd, but me. 6 Behold my frame with drought confum'd, T " I tte v :'. youthful vigour bloom'dj Such drought the blatted fields betray, E dog-ftar's burning ray. [y humbled foul its crimes (hail own;- bow before thy throne, To Thee my inmoft guilt difclole, And in thy bofom pour mv woes. 8 But lo ! while yet my hands I rear, The voice of mercy to my ear Defcends, and, whilp'ring peace within, Confirms the pardon of mv fin. this fhall all, who Thee adore, Ere yet the day of grace be o'er, To Thee with ftedfaft hope repair, To Thee prefer th' unwearied pri.v'r. io So, when afflictions tempefts rife, heave the billows to the ikies, They, fafe in Thee, the ftorm fhall brare, And diftant view the madding wave. 1 1 When various griefs my foul furround, In Thee my fure retreat is found ; Thy wilh'd falvation meets my eyes, And fongs of triumph round me rife. iz Come, from thy God infixuetion learn ; "While, prompt from error's path to turn Thy feet, thy e\'ry ftep I L.: reaicn's ufe Lefpeak thee man. PSALM XXXIII. 13 Nor imitate the fteed and mule, Whofe brutal mouth, averfe to rule, To guard thee from their rage, muft feel The forceful rein, and curbing fteel. 14 What pangs the impious tribe await, While hope and joy his heart dilate, Who trufts in Thee, O King of Kings, And mercv round him fpreads her wings! 15 Ye faints, exulting lift your voice, Ye pure of mind, in him rejoice, Whofe prefence on the foul imprefs'd With heav'nly tranfport fills the bread. PSALM XXXIII. 1 1 E faints, fto you the tafk belt And praife fits comely on your tongues,) Blel's, blefs Jehovah ! fweet the joy, When talks like thefe the voice employ; Wake to Jehovah's name the lute, Nor let the ten-flring'd lyre be mute. 2 O ting, in accents loud and ftrong, O ling fome new-invented fong; And let the finger's artful ftroke The pfalt'ry's various pow'r provoke, And teach the praife of - To vibrate on the founding chord. 3 God's words eternal truth has feal'd ; His promifes, in act fuifili'd, Shall equity and judgment prove The changelefs objects of his love, And bid the earth's wide confines know The gifts that from his bounty flow. 4 His word yon azure v. cad, Ere time the feafons onward led ; Form'd by b le fiarry hoft Their unextinguifh'd luftre boaft ; While in their cavern'd ftorehoufe fieep The treafures of the wat'ry deep. 1 5 Thy Maker's name, O earth, revere ; And lei thy fons wida 4-1 PSALM XXXIII. To Him in low proftration bend, And duteous his decrees attend. He fpake ; and heav'n, and feas, and land Appear'd : He bade ; and lo, they ftand. 6 Their eounfels vain the Heathen tribes Unite ; but God th' event prefcribes, And blafts at will each hope, that fprings Within the bread of haughtieft kings; His counfel, from controul fecure, His counfel only fhall endure. 7 His thoughts to time's remoteft bound With fure effect fhall e'er be crown'd : How bleft the people, that have known Him for their God, and Him alone ; The flock his heritage declar'd, And objects of his fix'd regard '. 8 Wide o'er the fons of earth his eye The Pow'r eternal from on high Extends, (that Pow'r, whofe hand, with art Myfterious, forms the human heart,) Through life's wild maze their fteps purfues, Each att, each thought, attentive views. 9 Think net, ye kings, his aid refign'd, In well-arm'd hofts your help to find : In vain the warrior bold and young Exults, his arm with vigour ftrung: In vain, his lord to fave, the fteed Vaunts in the fight his ftrength and fpeed. 10 Hail, fure Protestor of the juft ! From him, who builds on Thee his truft, Thy arm averts with ftudious care Each death that viewlefs wings the air ; Thy hand with food his life fuftains, When drought infefts the blafted plains. ii Our fouls by Thee, their help and fhield, With patient hope have flood upheld ; Thy facred name our truft, each mind From Thee fhall joy perpetual find : In mercy give us, Lord, to fee How juft the hope that refts on Thee, PSALM XXXI V, 49, PSALM XXXIV. £ I FIEE will I thank, and day by day Form to thy praii'e the joyful lay ; From morn to eve the fong extend, Thee boaft my father, Thee my friend. 2 While pleas'd each heart of humble frame Shall wake, great God, to hear thy fame, His voice let each triumphant raife, And fing with me your Maker's praife. 3 To Him my foul difclos'd its care ; I le heard, and prelent to my pray'r His faithful buckler o'er me held, Each terror from my breaft difpell'd. 4 The fouls, that His decree regard, Like me his cheering light have fhar'd, And, fearlefs of repulfe or fhame, The promiie -of his mercy claim. < Behold a heart with woes opprefs'd ; Behold, its vows to God addrefs'd, His hand its healing pow'r difplay, And chafe each cloud of grief away. 6 His angel, nigh the juft man's tent Encamp'd, each danger to prevent, His lure protection round him throws, Though harnefs'd hofts his peace oppoi'e. 7 Hail, Saviour of the human race! Hail, Fountain of exhauftlefs grace ! Thrice happy, who on Thee recline. Nor own, nor afk a help but thine. 5 O tafte with me ; O tafte and prove The bleffings of his boundlefs love : His fear preferve, ye juft and pure, And live from dread of want lecure. 9 The ftrengthful lion's tawny brood With thirft and penury of food Are flung ; but who in God confide Shall find their ev'ry wifh fupplied. io Ye children, come ; my precepts hear, And learn the dictates of his fear ; F £0 PSALM XXXIV. O come, if long extent of days, With bleffings crown'd, thy hope can raife. 11 Averfe from each injurious art, Let falsehood from thy lips depart; Be good thy choice; from evil ceafe, And plight the ready hand to peace. 12 Him l'erve, whole fav'ring eyes l'urvey The hearts that his commands obey ; Him ferve, whole ever open ear With juft regard their pray'r fhall hear. 13 But terrors, planted on his brow, Inftrucl the ftubborn foul to bow ; And vengeance, kindled to a flame, Blots from the earth the impious name. 14 With fuppliant voice, in each diftrefs, His fole fupport, his lble redrefs, From God the man of faithful mind Shall feek, and what he feeks fhall find. 15 A fpirit griev'd is facrifice Delightful to th' all-feeing eyes ; God, ever watchful, ever near, The meek and contrite foul fhall cheer. 16 What though the juft, by his decree, Awhile a man of griefs we fee, His love fhall foon its aid beltow, Relieve his cares, and foothe his woe. 1 7 To violence expos'd, his frame Thy fix'd attention, Lord, fhali claim ; Nor hell's word rage one bone fhall dare To break, when Thou haft bid to fpare. 18 But ill on all who ill intend In full proportion fhall dei'ccnd ; Who tovr'rd the juft in hatred join, Shall feel, great God, the weight of thine. 19 'Tis thine thy faints from woes to free ; Nor time throughout its courfe fhall fee The foul, whole hope on Thee is ftaid, Neglected mourn, thy abieni aid. PSALM XXXV. 51 PSALM XXXV. r IJO Thou, juft God, my caufe defend., O let thy pow'r its aid extend, And make. my quarrel thine ; my foes Let thy refiftlefs arm oppofe ; Arile thy fpeedieft help to yield, And reach the corflet, reach the fhield, Grafp in thy hand the glitt'ring lance, And obvious in the breach advance ; Say to my troubled foul, " In me " Thy ftrength and fure falvation fee." 2 Let fhame their glowing cheeks o'erfpread 7 Whofe eeafelefs threats excite my dread ; And let them, ftruck with wild affright, Inglorious backward urge their flight, Difpers'd, as chaff, before the wmd, Thy angel preifmg clofe behind, Along the dark and flipp'ry way, Whofe paths their ftagg'ring fteps betrny j And from the arm ethereal hud The vengeance to their guilt affign'd. 3 Lord, lee my foes with caufelefs hate Belide my path infidious waif, With caufelefs hate the pit prepare, And' plant before my fteps their fnare. O let definition's fudden ftroke, While thus thy juftice they provoke, Deicend, vindi6tive, on their head ; Faft in the net for me outfpresd Involv'd, let each repentant groan, cap the mifchiefs be has fown. 4. But thou, my foui, with awful joy On God thy ftedfaft thought employ ; And, his faivation taught to prove, Record the wonders of his love : Each bone, whofe ftreng'ch fupports my frame^ With grateful transport fhall exclaim, Lord, whom like Thee fhall mortals find., For ever ;uft, for ever kind ; Fa 5 a PSALM XXXV. Like Thee prepar'd th' afflicted poor From lawlefs infult to fecure ? 5 A prey to want, opprels'd with wrong, Awhile I pin'd ; a hoftiie throng, Whofe tongue to fraud has loos'd the reins, And lie with lie connected feigns, Againft me urg'd, to fcandal prone, The guilt my breaft had never known, And left me helplefs and forlorn, The friendfhip ill repaid to mourn, That, when affliction's weight they bare, Had taught my heart their woes to fhare. 6 While ficknefs wrapt them in its chain, And fix'd them on the bed of pain, My heart, that no affeftion ow'd, With fympathizing pity glow'd ; 1 knew their fuff'rings to bewail, And funk with grief, with fafting pale ; To God, in forrow's garb array' d, With humhleft interceffion pray'd, And found the pray'r their pride has fpurn'd With bleffings on my head return'd. ? Difiblv'd in tears, with languor worn, What grief for foes my foul has borne ! Nor friend for friend fincerer woes, Nor brother for a brother, knows ; Nor feels ihe fon his melting breaft With deeper fenfe of grief imprefs'd, That grafps a dying mother's hand, And waits to take her laft command, Or o'er her lofs in fecret pines, And wraps the fackcloth round his loins. 8 Not fuch the pity fhown to me ; Ev'n abjects my abjection fee With fcornful gaze, as round me ftand In adverfe league a lawlefs band ; Thefe taught with well-difiemhled art To veil the purpofe of their heart, While thofe in open hate engage, And ceafelefs vent their murd'rous rage, PSALM XXXV. 55 Now furious grind their teeth, and now Intuiting aim the deathful blow. 9 flow long wilt thou, my God, how long Wuh patient eye behold my wrong ? How long (hall I, with anguiih torn, Thy face, my God, averted mourn? With vain and fruitlefs hope attend, r l ill Thou, my guardian and my friend, The lion's dreaded rage controul, refcue my deierted foul, r i '.■ t, 'mid .'• affembled tribes, my tongue May raile to Thee the thankful long ? 10 O let not my uninjur'd fees, With (peaking eye, amidft my woes, As round they (land in clofe away, The triumphs of their heart b< I Behold them, -Lord, their arts add:. The friends of peace and truth t' opprefs, But chief ray name with infults load ; " Thou wretch, abandon' d of thy God, " In v:iin," they clamour, " what our eyes '• Aitefr, thy coni'cicus tongue denies." i I Lord, thou th' oppreflbr's rage haft leen, With timelieft fuecour intervene ; Nor filent long, Almighty Sire, Remain, nor diflant far retire ; Arife, thy laving pow'r difclofe, And heal, with pitying hand, my woes j Awake, thy aiding ftrength excite, Awake, and vindicate my right ; Let juftice teach them by thyjtroke it frantic triumphs to revoke. ti Let not their heart, its wifh complete, With fecret joy tranfported beat, Or, boafting, hail th' expected hour, That gives me to the murd'rer's pov\ 'r ; But back my threaten'd life demand From (harp oppreffion's iron hand ; Let all, who make my grief their feorn, Their blafted hopeg aftonifli'd mourn ; V 3 54 PSALM XXXVI. Let ftern rebuke and foul difgrace With fhame perpetual clothe their face. 13 Lo, nigh me rang'd, with thankful voice, The friends of innocence rejoice ; And, " Bleft," they cry, " be Jacob's Lord, I 1 The God by heav'n and earth ador'd, " Who joys his fervant's cauie to plead, " And crowns with peace his favour'd head.' While, loudeft in the choir, my tongue To notes of praife fhall tune its fong, And, pleas'd, through each revolving day, Thy juftice, mightieft Lord, difplay. PSALM XXXVI. 1 BEHOLD the wretch, in error loft, Whofe ftubborn heart with impious boaft His law rejefts, his fear denies, Who form'd the earth, and feas, and fkies. 2 He ne'er repentant looks within, To view the meafure of his fin ; His tongue, to falfehood train'd, his mind No more to acts of good inclin'd. 3 Concerted mifchiefs croud his breaft, And rob his midnight hours of reft ; Nor wifdom to her paths his will Can turn, or wean his foul from ill. 4 Thy mercy, Lord, to heav'n extends, Thy truth the lofty clouds tranfcends ; Fix'd as the mountain's folid bafe, Thy righteoufnefs maintains her place. 5 Who feeks to trace the will divine By Reafon's aid, with fcanty line (Prepoft'rous) would the deep explore, And meafure with his fpan its fhore. 6 Nor reft thy cares alone confin'd To us, the Ions of human kind ; Thy hand th' unconfcious brute fuftains, And fpreads his pafture on the plains. j But we, with pious truft, who know What gifts we to thy mercy owe, PSALM XXXVH. 5$ (O what that mercy can excel 1} Beneath thy foil' ring wings lhall dwell. S To each who feeks, thy name, behold Thy houfe its richefl; llores unfold ; And blifs, unintermix'd with woe, In fulleft dreams their breaft o'erflow. g From out thy feat, immortal King, Forth iffues life's perennial fpring ; Thy light with unextinguifh'd rays Shall o'er our heads aufpicious blaze. 10 Lord, may the fouls, who Thee have known. The blefiings of thy mercy own, And each, who bears a fpotlefs mind, His refuge in thy jufiice find. j i Me let thy care, Almighty friend, From pride's injurious foot defend ; Each impious hand, that feeks my hurt, Let thy fuperior ftrength avert. iz O bid before my fight each foe The terrors of thy vengeance know ; Lo, there they fall, their triumphs o'er, And proftrate lie, to rife no more. PSALM XXXVII. i .LET not the finner's wealth oi might The envy of thy foul excite ;, Anon thine eye lhall fee him fade Quick as the flow'r or vernal blade, That now rejoicing lifts the head, Now with'ring on the earth is fpread. 2 But thou thy will to heav'n's high Lord (His faith- thy trull, thy rule his word,) Submit, and, nourifh'd by his hand, Inherit from his gift the land ; In Him delight, on Him depend, Him choofe thy guide, thy way, thy end. 3 So lhall his love thy wifhes grant, His care anticipate thy want, And bid thy afts in light ferene Fair as the riling morn be feen, 56 PSALM XXXVII. Thy juftice as the noon of day DifVufive pour its cloudlefs ray. 4 With patient hope await his will, Nor let the fight of profp* rous ill Impel thee with dilquiet vain His wife difpofals to arraign, Left wrath and doubt thy conference blind, And urge to acts of guilt thy mind- 5 See, from their dwelling torn, th' unjuft To thofe who fix on God their truft wills the Majefty divine) Their forfeit heritage refign : Wait but awhile, then look around'; No more the impious race are found. 6 But fee the meek and pious braid (Advanc'd by God's almighty hand The pow'r among them to divide, To fierce ambition's (word denied,) - Earth's bounds poffefs, and, peace their care, The fulnefs of its bleffings (hare. 7 Gnafhing his .teeth, the fool prepares To catch the upright in his fnares ; But God his frantic rage derides, And fees the day, as on it glides, Whofe beams, with wrath uncommon red, Shall ftream in vengeance o'er his head. S On you, ye poor, with vain intent The fword is drawn, the bow is bent ; The fword, with better aim imprefs'd, Defcends into its owner's breaft ; Reluctant to the archer's will, Burfts the tough bow, and mocks his fkill. 9 Exchange not ye your fcanty ftore For heaps of guilt-polluted ore ; That God, ye faints, whofe love ye feek, The arm of lawlefs pow'r fhall break, And bid the juft protected ftand Beneath the fhadow of his hand. io By him your years determined flow ; The lot, which his decrees beftow, PSALM XXXVII. From fire to fon, till time mail end, In fure fucceflion mall defcend ; No diftan: time fhall fee his love Its bleihngs from his faints remove. zz When war's dire flames around you burnv From you the darts their points mall turn; Ea# biaft that taints the redd'ning fky From your exempted fields mail fly ; Nor fhame, nor want the heart attends, Whofe truft on Jacob's God depends. az. Who know not thee, great God, to diead, As victims for the flaughter fed, Confum'd by heav'n's avenging fire Shall perifh, and in fmoke afpire : How l'wift, how fudden is their fate, What horrors, Lord, their death await I rr While faithlefs thefe th' mtrufled lean. With bale ingratitude difown, His plenteous alms the juft can give, And pleas'd a brother's wants relieve - y Earth's goods thy bleffing to the pure Shall grant, and what it giants infure, 14 While guilty fouls the curfe divine To full excifion fhall confign, The juft, bleft object of thy love, Thou, Lord, wilt lead, his path approve,. Thy faithful hands his fteps fuftain ; Nor falls he, but to rife again. 15 Once was I young, and now am old,. Yet ne'er the righteous could behold By God deferted, nor his feed Requefting at my gate their bread e Secure he lives, and for his heirs Profperity and peace prepares. 16 From ill recede ; to good incline Thy thought, and endlefs life be thine : Delighted whom his laws delight Th' Almighty views ; nor day nor night The foul, that bows to His decree, Ahandon'd from his love fhalL fee* 'S PSALM XXXVI r. 1 7 Behold, ye juft, th' eternal doom The finner's fhort-liv'd days confume ; H:s fruit, a lucklefs progeny, Uprooted from the ground fhall die ; While happier ye to yours affignkl A heritage perpetual find. 18 How bleft whom thou, great God, haft taught His lips, with facred fcicnce fraught, The lefibns of thy truth impart ; And, grav'd within his inmost heart, Thy law, the ever faithful guide, Forbids his ftedfaft feet to Hide. 19 Each art the murd'rous tribe eflay, And mark the guiltlefs for their prey; But God his ref'cue has decreed ; Himfelf will rife his caufe to plead, - Refute th' accufer's perjur'd tongue, I lave him from the hand of wrong. -o Wait on thy God ; observe his ways : His pow'r aloft thy head fhall raifej Exerted in thy right, his hand Shall vindicate to thee the land, And bid, before thy fight, each foe The terrors of his vengeance know. 21 The profp'ring finner once 1 view'd ; Strong as the healthful tree he flood, That, fhadowhig wide its native foil, r knows, nor aiks the planter's toil: I went, I came, and look'd again ; I look'd, but fought his place in vain. zz Behold the juft, and mark his end ; See peace his eve of life attend: But lee, ah ! fee a different fate The tinner's wretched courfe await ; For lo, upon his lateft hour The ftorms of heavieft vengeance low'r. 23 To God the juft his fafety c . Him owns his ftrength aniidft his woes, AiTur'd that he fhall each defend, Whofe conftant hopes on him depend. PSALM XXXVIIL $ And, while his foes their peace invade, Reach, in their caufe, his promis'd aid. PSALM XXXVIIL i O SPARE me, Lord, nor o'er my head The fulnefs of thy vengeance fhed ; Pierc'd by thy (hafts, great God', 1 (land, And feel the preffure of thy hand. 3. Thou feed, from health eftrang'd, my frame The terrors of thy wrath proclaim, While confeious guilt alarms my breaft, And robs my tortur'd joints of heft. 3 Whelm'd with a weight of fins I mourn, A weight too heavy to be borne; My wounds, whole (mart thole fins repays, The wide-infected air betrays. 4 See ! bow'd from morn to eve with wee, And wrapt in fackcloth drear, I go ; My reins with hidden torments wrung, Each limb difeas'd, each nerve unftrung. 5 Aloud my fuff'rings I bemoan, And fainting pour the frequent groan ; But Thou, ere yet my groans proceed, My griefs and inmoft wifh canft read. 6 Behold my heart with anguiih torn, Strength with long affliction worn, And ftretch'd before my wafted fight The (hadows of approaching night. 1 Each kind confoler of my care, Who wont my plenteous board to (hare, With pitying eye, with filent gaze My alter'd lineaments furveys. 8 My friends, and next allies by birth, (Once dear companions of my mirth, When wing'd with health the moments flew,) My griefs with diftant horror view. 9 With fnares my f.^es befet my way, Intent on de;.t i, throughout the day With nerceft rage my name revile, And difcipline their thoughts to gtoij €o PSALM XXXIX. 10 Invented crimes, and taunts fevere, With fteadieft patience, Lord, I hear, Unmov'd, as one who deaf and mute Nor cenfure feels, nor can refute. ii For Thou, beft advocate, art nigh ; On Thee, great God, my hopes rely : O vindicate my fame from wrong, And filence the reproachful tongue. s 2 Thou know'ft the tenour of my pray'r, Thou know'ft what infults, Lord, I bear; Propitious hear, nor let my foes Exulting triumph in my woes. 13 Mark, when my fteps have chanc'd to Hide, The fhouts that rife on ev'ry fide, And, echoing through the wounded air, The triumphs of their heart declare. 14 Thou feeft how prone to lapfe my feet, What woes my eyes inceffant meet ; Nor fhuns my foul its guilt to own, But forrowing bows before thy throne. 15 How ftrong, how num'rous are the foes, That unprovok'd my peace oppofc, Their veins with health's full current warm, And ftrung with active might their arm! 16 111 for my good return'd I find, Nor know from aught (but that, inclin'd To good, their deeds I fhun,) to date The ground of their prepoft'rous hate. 17 O let me, rais'd by Thee, no more The abfence of thine aid deplore ; God of my life, recede not far, But hafte, and make that life thy care ; PSALM XXXIX. 1 JVlY fteps difcretion's rules fhall guid.= ; Nor error from my lips fhall Aide, (Thus to myfelf refolv'd I faid,) Nor word, in wifdom's fcale unweigb/d. a While lawlefs crouds attend me nigh, And mark me with infidious eye, PSALM XXXIX. ti Behold me with the fteady rein Each effort of my tongue reftrain. 3 Awhile my foul its purpofe keeps ; A ftubborn filence feals my lips : But O, from themes of good withheld, How oft my full-fwoll'n heart rebell'd ! 4 My thoughts in various tumult roll j At length, impatient of controul, Forth from my ftruggling bofom brake The kindled flame, and thus I fpake:— ~ 5 Taught by thy wifdom, let me learn How foon my fabric mail return To earth, and in the filent tomb Its feat of lafting reft aflume. 6 O let me, heav'nly Lord, extend My view to life's approaching end ; What are my days ? (a fpan their line ;) And what my age compar'd with thine ? J Our life advancing to its clofe, While fcarce its earlieft dawn it knows, Swift through an empty (hade we run, And vanity and man are one. 8 With anxious pain this fon of care Toils to enrich an unknown heir, And, eyeing oft his heapy ftore, With vain difquiet thirfts for more. 9 Where, Lord, fhall I my refuge fee ? On whom repofe my hope but Thee ? purge my guilt, nor let my foe Exulting mock my heighten'd woe. io Convinc'd that thy paternal hand Inflifts but what my fins demand, 1 fpeechlefs fate ; nor plaintive word. Nor murmur from my lips was heaid. n But O, in thy appointed hour Withdraw thy rod ; left nature's pow'r, While griefs on griefs my heart aflail, Unequal to the conflict, fail. 1% O, how thy chaftiiements impair The human, form, however fan ! G 6z PSALM XL. How frail the ftrongeft frame we fee, If thou the tinner's fate decree'. 13 As when the fretting moths confume The labour of the curious loom, The texture fails, the dyes decay, And all its luftre fades away : 14 Such, man, thy ftate ! then humbled, own That vanity and thou are one ; Thyfelf, when in the balance weigh'd, A nothing, and thy life a fhade. 15 To Thee, great God, my knees I bend j To Thee my ceafelefs pray'rs afcend ; let my forrows reach thine ears, And mark my fighs, my groans, my tears. 16 God of my fathers ! here, as they, 1 walk the pilgrim of a dav ; A tranfient gueft, thy works admire, And inftant to my home retire. 17 O fpare me, Lord, awhile ; O fpare, And nature's ruin'd ftrength repair, Ere, life's fhort circuit wander'd o'er, I perifh, and am feen no more. PSALM XL. 1 \"V ITH patient hope my God I fought ; He to his fuppliant's want his thought In happier! hour applied ; He from the dark and miry pit High on the rock has rais'd my feet ; Nor fear my fteps to Aide. a His praife inipires my grateful tongue, And dictates to my lips a long In ftrains unheard before : Admiring crouds his work fhall fee, Their ftrength on Him repofe with me, With me his name adore. 3 Bleft, who in thee, great God, confide, Nor madly truft the arm of pride, And helps that but betray : Thy mercies, Lord, all praife furmount, PSALM XL. 6j Nor numbers can their fum recount, Nor words their worth difplay. 4 Nor facrifice thy love can win, Nor offerings from the ftain of fin Obnoxious man (hall clear: Thy hand my mortal frame prepares, (Thy hand, whole fignature it bears,) And opes my willing ear. 5 And fince the blood of viftims flain, And hallow'd gifts, attempt in vain T' avert th' offender's doom, Myfelf th' atonement will provide ; Lo ! (touch'd with pity thus I cried) I come, my God, I come. 6 Thy book, by facred bards unroll'd, My full obedience has foretold To thy myfterious will ; Hrs juft aflent thy fervant gives, Thy words my breaft with joy receives, My hands with zeal fulfil. 7 The faithful witnefs to thy fame, Aloud thy juftice I proclaim To Abraham's chofen race : My lips, thou know'ft, ha\ e ne'er declin'd To preach the theme by Thee injoin'd, The wonders of thy grace. 8 With ftrong defire my bofom glows Thy truth and mercy to difclofe, In man's relief difplay 'd : O let that truth difpel my woe, That mercy, Lord, around me throw Its all-protefting (hade. 9 While griefs on griefs my cup have mix'd, On earth my downward looks are fix'd ; The fins, whole weight I bear, (Thofe fins, that, number' d by the eye, The hairs that fhade my head outvie,; My heart with anguifh tear, io Hafte to my aid, my Saviour, hafte ; My foul, by hoftile numbers chas'd, G 2 64 PSALM XLI. To Thee directs its pray'r: In wild confufion backward borne, Their wifh defeated let them mourn, And loft in empty air. ii Be fhame their juft reward affign'd, While round me with relentlefs mind Derifion's (bout they raife: Thy blifs let all, who feek Thee, fhare, And, taught thy love, that love declaie In fongs of ceafelefs praife. 12 While thele in thy falvation joy, Increasing griefs my thought employ, And fpeedieft aid demand : My Helper and Redeemer, hear; O, inftant in my caufe appear, And reach thy faving hand. PSALM XLI. i JjLEST, who with gen'rous pity glows, Who learns to feel another's woes, Bows to the poor man's want his ear, And wipes the helplefs orphan's tear. i Who to th' afflicted gives relief, And kindly foothes each anxious grief; In ev'ry want, in ev'ry woe, Himfelf thy pity, Lord, (hall know. 3 Thy love his life (hall guard, thy hand Give to his lot the chofen land, Nor leave him, in the dreadful day, To unrelenting foes a prey. 4 When languid with difeafe and pain, Thou, Lord, his fpirit wilt fuftain, Prop with thine arm his finking head, And turn with tend'reft care his bed. 5 O let me, Lord, thy mercy (hare, (Thus to my God I form'd the pray'r) Health to my fainting foul difpenfe, That humbled owns its dire offence. 6 " When (hall he perifh?" Thus my foes With ruthlefs tongue their wifh difclofe ; PSALM XLI. 65 •' Why lingers Death's appointed hour " Oblivion on his name to pour?" ^ The hoftile vifitants appear Betide my couch, and drop the tear ; Though, feigning, o'er my griefs they mourn, Their hearts with fecret malice burn. 8 See them, fcarce parted from my gate, Aloud proclaim their fettled hate; Now pleas'd thev form fome dark defign, Now whifp'ring thus in curfes join : 9 u Still may the guilt unpurg'd remain, her. lfrad'?, ions, thy foes o'erthrown, Obtain'd poffefiions not their own ; Where, planted by the hand divine, With large increaie their profp'ring line Are blefs'd ; and, nourifh'd by thy c '( he fulnefs of thy bounty fhare. 3 For not the arm of human might, Nor fword of fteel, upheld their right; Thy pow'r exerted in their aid, Thy prefence o'er their heads difplay'd, Proclaimed them favour'd from on high, And bade each force before them fly. 4 Thee, Lord, my King, and Thee alone, Attentive to thy laws I own ; PSALM XLIV. 6 9 Indulgent ftill, almighty friend, Thy arm in lfra?I's caule extend, And let us, on thy aid reclin'd, Thee ftill our great falvation find. 5 Through Thee our hofts unmov'd fhall ftand, Strike with the horn each adverle band. Thy name invok'd, their fury meet, And tread them breathlefs at their feet ; Not from our fword, or from our bow, Our fouls luch confidence (hall know. € Thou, Lord, each adverle pow'r (halt quell, Thy ftrength their gath'ring troops difpel ; That ftrength our boaft, thy hallow'd name Our hymns of loudeft praife fhall claim, While time fhall roll its rapid tide, And day and night thy works divide. 7 Thy wonted aid, great God, withheld, Repuls'd, afham'd, we quit the field; No more we fee, to battle led, Th* almighty conqu'ror at our head, But quick retreat in wild difmay, Abandon'd to our foes a prey. 8 Beneath thy anger now we groan, The flock whom Thou hadft lcal'd thine own, As beafts for food decreed we die, Or, fpar'd, as worthlefs in thine eye; See ! fold for nought our lords we change, And loft through diftant climates range. 9 Each neighb'ring realm with fcomtul gaze Thy people's ruin'd ftate furveys ; Our name, amid the nations round, A proverb in each mouth is found ; Affembled crouds infulting ftand, And fierce derifion claps the hand. 10 How feels my heart the dire diigrace ! How glows with ceafelefs fhame my face, While thus, diverted of thy fear, With keen reproach they wound my ear^ And with revengeful hand fulfil The diaates of their lawlcfs will! ?o PSALM JULY. 1 1 Though torn with grief, with dread oppreft, Thou, Lord, canft witnei's that our breaft Its truft from Thee has ne'er remov'd, Nor faithlefs to thy compact prov'd ; For lo ! the dictates of thy law Our thoughts to full obedience awe. i i No lord but Thee thy fervants greer, Nor wander from thy paths our feet, Though, fir'd with ceafeleis rage, a croud Advance, and round us roar aloud, Though 'midft the dragon's haunts we tread, And death's dark fhades are o'er us fpread. 13 If ever, of the name divine Forgetful, we our faith refign ; Or if, averle to thy command, To ftranger gods we lift the hand ; Say, fhall our crime thy fearch elude, Whofe eyes our inmoft thoughts have view'd ? 14 Thy cauie we full avow ; thy caufe The hoftile fword againft us dmws, And numbers to the death our train, As fheep, whofe blood the hallow'd fane, Before the altar's kindled flames, By regular allotment claims. 15 Arif*, eternal God, arile ; Why fits this fiumber on thine eyes ? Awake, nor from thv care expel Thy once regarded Ij'ae! ; Say why from our afflicted race, Why veils th' impervious cloud thy face ? 16 O tell us why thine ear denies To hear thy captive people's cries, As funk with lorrow's weight we bend, And proflrate in the dufVdefcend ; Arife, thy favingpow'r dilclofe, And heal with pitying hand our woes. PSALM XLV. I V heart its nobleft theme has found : O Thou, with reg:U fpkndour crown' d, PSALM XLV. Thy pow'r, thy greatnefs taught to know, Mow fhall my lips with praife o'erflow ! at '!'o Thee the grateful (trains belong ; Thy worth fhall bid my willing tongue, Quick as the pen of readieft art, The diftates of my foul impart. 3 Hail, fairer than the ions of men ! Grace on thy lips and beauty reign, That fpeak Thee honour'd from above, And bleft with God's eternal love. . 4 Hail, Thou, whom nations own their Lord ! Gird on thy thigh the glitt'ring fword, By mercy, truth, and juftice led, Ride glorious on, thy conquefts fpread. 5 Thy ftubborn foes, a guilty race, Thy hand with faithful fearch fhall trace, Mark, as their crimes for vengeance call, I And teach thy terrors where to fall : — ; 6 While, edg'd with wrath, thy ev'ry dart Shall pierce fome proud oppofer's heart, Aflert the caufe of Judah's King, And dip in impious blood its wing. ' *] O God, through ages lafts thy throne, Thy fceptre Juftice calls her own, Thy heart th' all-perfeft law purfues, And guilt with fix'd abhorrence views. j & For this thy God, who rules the fkies, Has o'er thine equals bid thee rife, And, pleas'd, the oil of gladnels fhed In large profufion on thy head. ! 9 Myrrh, aloes, caffia, to the fenfe Their all-reviving fweets difpenfq* While, recent from the iv'ry cell, Their mingled odours round thee dwell. ! io Their daughters mightieft kings behold Amid thy virgin train inroll'd ; And, feated on thy right, the queen Array'd in robes of gold is ieen. j ii Hear, daughter, and attentive weigh The precepts of the heav'n-taught lay ; - 7* PSALM XLVI. Within thy thought retain no more Thy father's houfe and native fhore :— iz So (hall the king delighted fee Thy fpotleCs form ; and O, be he, That Lord whom heav'n's high hods revere, Thy only love, thy only fear. 13 Imperial Tyre, that, thron'd on high, O'er fubjecl feas extends her eye, Her gifts, O prince, (hall bring to thee, And fuppliant nobles (loop the knee. 74 The virgin, offspring of a king, Whom now thy happy choice we fing, Herfelf, with each perfection bleft, Ere thee (he greets, affumes the veft ; — 15 That veft, where 'mid th' inwoven gold A thoufand colours we behold, That, kindled by the beams of day, The needle's utmoft art difplay. 1.6 By eminence of beauty known Amidft her fair aflbciates, on She moves, and joys with them to tread The paths that to thy prefence lead. ij No more the patriarchs of thy line In time's long records chief (hall (hine ; Thy greater fons, to empire born, If* future annals (hall adorn. :8 Thy pow'r to them deriv'd difplay, And ftretch through earth their boundlefs fway : O'er fubje6t realms their wide command Through diftant time? confirm'd (hall (land ;— ;9 Thofe realms, while thus to Thee I raife A lading monument of praife, With thankful voice (hall join the drain, And own the bleffings cf thy reign. PSALM XLVI. j On Thee, great Ruler of the ikies, On Thee our ftedfaft hope relies ; When hoftile pow'rs againft us join, What aid fo prefent, Lord, as thine ? PSALM XLVI. 73 2 By Thee fecui'd, no fears we own, Though earth, convuls'd, beneath us groan, Though tempefls o'er her furface fweep, And whirl her hills into the deep ; — 3 Though, arm'd with rage, before our eyes That deep in all its horrors rife, While, as the tumult fpreads around, The mountains tremble at the found. 4 Behold fvir Sion's bleft retreat, Where God has fix'd his awful feat; Whole walls to heav'n's almighty Lord His chofen refidence afford. £ Xo tempefts there licentious (tray, But foft along their level way The facred ftreams their courfe maintain, And crown with health her happy plain. 6 God, ever watchful, ever nigh, Bids ftorms around her harmlefs fly ; His early care each foe withstands, And backward turns the yielding bands. . rous'd by Difcord's fierce alarms, The headlong nations rufh to arms ; But God aloud afferts his fway, And earth's whole fabrick melts away. 8 On heav'n's high Lord our truft we build ; The God of Jacob is our fhield ; His arm, exerted in our right, Shall turn each adverfe pow'r to flight. 9 O come, behold a fcene of dread, Behold a world with Slaughter fpread ; And know, 'tis God, who bids each land Thus feel the terrors of his hand. io 'Tis his, again the earth to cheer, To break the bow, to fnap the fpear, To wrap in flames the glitt'ring car, And hufh the tumult of the war. 1 1 Be ftill, ye fons of pride, and own That I am God, and I alone ; Exalted o'er each heathen land, Exalted o'er the earth I ftand. H 74 PSALM XLVII. 12 On heav'n's high Lord our truft we build j The God of Jacob is our fhield ; His arm, exerted in our right, Shall turn each adverfe pow'r to flight. PSALM XLVII. i ARISE, ye people, clap the hand, Exulting ftrike the chord ; Let ev'ry ifle, and ev'ry land, Confefs th' almighty Lord. z How awful his myfterious name! How high advanc'd his feat ! Who bids the nations own our claim, And cafts them at our feet. 3 He to our lot a land ailign'd, His favour'd Jacob's boaft, And bleft with gifts of various kind Her health-incircled coaft. 4 Hear, while the fhouts wide-echoing round Th' afccnding God proclaim, The anfw'ring trump through heav'n refound, And fhake its vaulted frame. 5 Sing to our God, in loudeft drain Perpetual praifes fing; O'er earth's wide bounds extends his reign ; O praife our God and King. 6 Prepare, prepare, with tuneful art, In one aflemblcd throng, Your fhares of harmony to part, And raife the heav'n. taught fong. 7 His fway the Cons of human kind With humbleft homage own ; And fan&ity, with pow'r combin'd, Supports his lafting th: 8 Kings from afar conven'd behold, Whofe breafts with zeal have ^low'd, Among the tribes to ftar.d inro'il'd, That bow to Abraham 's 9 For He, whofe hands amid th Th' eternal fceptre wield, PSALM XLVIII. -75 To earth's whole race his care applies, And o'er thern fpreads the fhield. PSALM XLVIII. i CxREAT is our Gcd ; with warmeft zeal O let his name be bieft, Within the precincls of his hill, And city of his reft, z Fair is that hill ; how wondrous fair i Imperial Sio7i's feat : There center?, earth, thy joy, and there Its meafure owns complete. 3 Her walls, while there his lov'd recefs The northern heav'n furveys, With fafety God vouchfafes to blefs, And pieas'a her fcepter fways. 4 Earth's haughty monarchs thither came ; They came, they law, they fled ; Amazement fhook their inmoft frame, And undinemtled dread. 5 Such fears they ihare as matrons find, That feel th' increafing throe, Struck by that God, whofe fhatt'ring wind Thv fnips, O Thaijis, know. 6 Lord ! what our ears long fince have known, Our eyes delighted trace, Thy love in long fucceffion fhown To Salens chofen race. 7 Thrice bleft abode! whofe ev'ry tow'r By Thee fupported ftands, That God, whofe wide-extended pow'r Th* ethereal hoft commands. 8 When, proftrate at thy hailow'd fhrine", Thy mercies each furveys, Tranfported with the view, we join In wonder, love, and praife. 9 Thy name, through earth's wide confines fpread, Eternal honours crown ; Each lenience by thy hand decreed Fair juftice ftarrlps her own. Hi 16 PSALM XLIX. 10 Let Sion's hcav'n-devoted mount With fhouts of triumph ring, And Judah's daughters, pleas'd, recount The judgments of her king. 1 1 Go, walk her facred ftreets along, And let her tov/'rs be told ; With curious eye her bulwarks ftrong And beauteous domes behold. iz So fhall the fair'defciiption laft, Preferv'd in full record, And tell what glories once have grac'd The feat of Jacob's Lord. 13 To Him our thankful hearts fhall bow, Nor own a God befide ; To life's laft period Him avow The ever faithful guide. PSALM XLIX. 1 X E nations, hear ; ye fons of earth. Of higheft or obfeureft birth, Ye who from wealth's full board are fed, And ye who eat with toil your bread. 2 My words with juft attention weigh, And lilten to the hallow'd lay ; While, touch'd w;:h holy fire, my tongue Forms to the harp the myftic fong. 3 My lips fhall wifdom's leflbns yield, My heart, with nobleft fcience fill'd, Shall prompt me with obedient ear The heav'n defcending truths to hear. 4 Why fhould my foul with anxious dread Behold the foes around me fpread, Who build on wealth their truft, and ftore In boafted heaps the glitt'ring ore ? 5 Ceafe, mortals, ceafe your pride ; nor dream That riches fhall from death redeem, Or from the all-difpofing hand A brother's forfeit life demand. 6 In vain would friendfhip's zeal efTay The full equivalent to pay, PSALM XLIX. ftf In vain the flitting breach to lave, And plead exemption from the grave ; — 7 In vain, though Ophir's wealthier! mine Its treafures to the purchafe ioin ; Then, taught the foul's beft price to know, At once the frantic thought forego. 8 Thou feeft the man in wifdom's fchool Long tutor'd, like the untaught fool To death fubrnit, and leave his heir His heaps of gather'd wealth y .o fhare. 9 What though they build the dome fublime, Proof to the r?ge of eating time, While lands lubje&ed to their cairn Take from their haughty lord a name ; — io Yet man, with erring pride elate, And high in pow'r, in honour great, Shares with the brute an equal doom, And fleeps forgotten in the tomb. ii Their hope, thus fond, thus faithlefs found, Their fons aflume ; in endlefs round Another and another race Their fathers' wayward fteps {hall trace. 12 Together now behold them laid, As fheep, when night extends her fnade, While death within the vaulted rock, Stern fhepherd, guards the flumb'ring flock. 13 Corruption there its work fhall ply, And, wrapt in darknefs as they lie, Each feature fair, each beaded grace, With unrelenting hand efface. 14 Ye juft, exulting lift your eyes, Behold the promis'd morn arile, That bids you, o'er each haughty foe Exalted, endiefs triumphs know. 15 My foul amidft your happy train The wifh'd redemption fhall obtain, By God adopted, death fhall brave, And mock the difappointed grave. 16 Let not the fight thy heart difmay, If man's proud offspring thou l'urvey H3 -8 PSALM L. With growing wealth incircled round, Or mark his houfe with honours crown'd. 17 Think not his treafures, at his end, Shall with him to the grave defcend, Or the vain pomp, that ftiikes thy view, Through death's dark {hade its lord purfue. 18 His life with each delight was fraught, How blefs'd his pamper'd foul its lot ! Thee too, while pleafure crowns thy days, Admiring crouds perchance may praife. 19 Yet thou, like him, the way fhalt tread, Which, one by one, thy fires have led, And 'midft th' impenetrable gloom Shalt find with them thy lafting home. 20 For man, with erring pride elate, And high in pow'r, in honour great, Shares with the brute an equal doom, And fleeps forgotten in the tomb. PSALM L. 1 iHE Lord, th' almighty Monarch, fpake, And bade the earth the lummons take, Far as his eyes the realms furvey Of riling and declining day. 2 Reveal'd from Sion's facred bound, The feat with matchlel's beauty crown'd, Our God his courfe fhall downward bend, Nor filent to his work defcend. 3 At his approach the fire fnall blaze, And kindled pour its ftreaming rays ; Devouring names ihall march before, And mightieft tempefts round him rear. 4 Heav'n from above mail hear his call, And thou, the vafl terreftrial bail! V. hile man's whole race their judge fnall meet, In counsel's throngs before his feat. 5 " My (aims collect from diftant poles, " Collecl the juft :.nd faithful fouls, " With whom my compact firm has ftood, " Seal'd with the fpotlefs victim's blood." PSALM L. 79 6 Th' applauding heav'ns the changelefs doom, "While God the balance fhall aflume, In full memorial fhall record, And own the juftice of their Lord. 7 With humbleft awe, my people, hear $ For God, thy God, his voice fhall rear j Myfelf, O l/raely will atteft The guilt that ftains thy erring breaft. 8 Though at the altar's kindled fire No bleeding victim fhould expire, Not ritual facrifice withheld • My theme of juft complaint fhall yield. 9 Still let thy ftall the fleer detain, Still let thy goat untouch'd remain Amidft his herd-mates ; from thy hands Nor goat nor fleer thy lord demands. io Mine are the beafts that range the wood, Mine all the tame or favage brood, Whole train the earth's wide paflure fills, And wanders o'er her thouland hills. ii Each fowl, that from its airy flight Defcends upon the mountain's height, Each brute, that o'er the champaign ftiays, My all-oblerving eye furveys. xz Admit, 1 hunger ; fhall thy God Defcend from thee to afk his food? Lord of the world, and all its ftore, Thy aid, thou child of earth, implore ? 1 3 Shall bulls to eal'e my want be flain, Or blood of goats my thirfl reflrain ? Go, fuppliant at my altar bow, And pay thy thanks, and pay thy vow. 14 Be this thy off'iing : in thy woes On me with fledfaft hope repofe ; So fhall my ear receive thy piay'r, And, grateful, thou my mercy fhare. 15 Thou wretch, by discipline unaw'd, (Thus to the impious lpeaks my God,) Thy fccret crimes to me are known j 1 fee my laws behind ;hee thrown. 80 PSALM LI. 1 6 And thou, doft thou with lips profane The precepts of my will explain, And, rank'd thyfelf amid my foes, My terms of offer'd grace propofe ? 17 Say, has the thief to thee applied, And thou thy wanted aid denied? Or fail'd th' adult'rer e'er to fee A partner of his guilt in thee ? 18 Train'd in each well-dilTembled art To veil the purpofe of thine heart, Thy tongue to fraud has loos'd the reins, And lie with lie conne&ed feigns. 19 Haft thou not fat, with cruel aim Reflecting on a brother's fame, And with invented fcandal ftain'd "Whom erfi one womb with thee contain'd riile yet my anger I fupprefs'd Within the fecrets of my breaft, And filent deign'd thy crimes to fee, Thy folly piftur'd me like thee. 21 But foon my op'ning lips mall yield The juft rebuke fo long withheld, • And bid, before thy confeious' eyes, Thy guilt in all its horror rife. az Ye fouls forgetful of my fear, With full regard my dictates hear ; Left, at my word, your life the grave Demand, and none be nigh to fave. 23 Who yields the facrifice of praife, His beft-accepted homage pays ; Who forms his fteps aright, mail know What joys from my falvation flow. PSALM LI. 1 O LORD, whofe mercies vaft amount, Nor words nor numbers can recount, Let now thy clemency divine Confpicuous in my pardon fhine. 2 O let the fulnefs of thy grace Each error of my life efface, PSALM LI. Its influence to my foul convey, And wafh my ev'ry ftain away. 3 My confcious heart its guilt (hall own ; My deed to Thee, and Thee alone, Obnoxious, nor the day nor night Conceals from my abhorring fight. 4 Right is thy fentence, holieft Lord; God of my hope, thy ev'ry word In truth's unvarying balance weigh'd, Thy ev'ry a£t by juftice fway'd. 5 Thou from the birth my foul couldft view, As fhap'd in fin my breath I drew, And fecft me guilt's tranfmiflive ftain Through life's revolving courfe retain. 6 But thy decrees, almighty Sire, Integrity of heart require ; Thv hand, corrective of my will, Shall wifdom in my breaft inftill. 7 With hallow'd hyflbp fprinkled o'er, My foul its fpots fhall mourn no more, But, cleans'd by Thee, the whitenefs know, That clothes the new-defcended fnow. 8 How fhall my ear thy pard'ning voice Tranfported welcome ! how rejoice My bones, with vital moifture fill'd, That, crufh'd by Thee, by Thee are heal'd ! 9 O turn, great Ruler of the ikies, Turn from my fin thy fearching eyes, Nor let th' offences of my hand Within thv book recorded ftand. to Give me a will to thine fubdu'd, A confcience pure, a foul renew'd, Nor let me, wrapt in endlefs gloom, An outcaft from thy prefence roam. ii O let thv fpirit to my heart Once more his quick ning aid impart, My mind from ev'ry fear releale, And foothe my troubled thoughts to peace. 12 So fhall the fouls, whom error's fway Has urg'd fiom Thee, bleft Lord, to ftray, 8* PSALM LII. From me thy heav'nly precepts learn, And humbled to their God return. 13 O would thy healing grace beftow'd Abiolve me from my debt of blood, How mould my breaft with transport glow, Wha: gratitude my heart o'erflow ! 14 How mould my tongue thy juftice fmg, Inv'fible, immortal King ; Ana, long as breath extends my days, The Go.i of my falvation praife ! 15 Not victims, Lord, in lblemn rite Prefented, thy defire excite : Elfe would mj hand with zealous care Th' exacted hr ccauft prepare. 16 Prompt is thy pow'r, when ills invade, The meek and contrite loul to aid ; A fpirit griev'd is facrifice* ul to th' ail-teeing eyes. 17 The "heart, that, taught its guilt to know, Repentant heaves with inward woe, Shall find its pray'r, its groans, its fighs To Thee in full acceptance rife. 18 Thy zrace to Sion, Lord, extend, And bid -fair Salem's walls "fcendj So fna.il the Ions of Jacob'* inc. With pure.. . . yi'hrme; — 19 And. whil< .itath Theii tncenfe fhall i - adov 3 breathe, Before thy altar doom'd to eed The flaughter'd fteer the flames fhall feed. PSALM LII. 1 WHY. tyrant, beads thy heart the pow'r To work a brother's woe, While God his mercy bids each hour In ftreams unmealur'd flow? 2 With joy thy tongue, to falfehood prone, Its venom deals around ; Nor razor fharpen'd on the ftone Inflicts fo deep a wound. PSALM LIII. 3 Thy lips far readier ill than good, And lies than truth, have fought ; Nor e'er has word that aim'd at blood Unwelcom'd met thy thought. 4 But God, whofe wrath thy crimes inflame, Shall pluck thee from thv home, Root from the land of life thy name, And leal thy changelefs doom. 5 The juft, with thankful awe poffefs'd, Shall view the tyrant's pride, And, from their fierceft foe- released, His blafted boafts deride. 6 " Lo there the wretch in trefpafs bold, " Who God's l'upport dil'dain'd, " And on his heaps of treafur'd gold " His frantic hope f'uftain'd." 7 Frefh as the verdant olive, I Within thy courts fhall ftand, And, fix'd, indulgent Lord, rely On thy protecting hand. 8 Thy acts my praife fhall ever claim, Thy name, amidft my woes, (How grateful to thy faints that name !) My ev'ry fear ccmpofe. PSALM LIII. i BEHOLD the fool, whofe heart denies The God who form'd the earth and fkies ; While, fearlefs, fin's worft paths he treads, Mark how the dire example fpreads. 2 Of man's whole race not one we find To virtue's heav'n-taught rules inclin'd, Who 'midft infectious times has flood Unftain'd, and obflinately good. 3 Th' eternal Monarch from on high Caft on the fons of earth his eye, If haply fome he yet might fee True to their God, from error free. 4 He lock'd ; but ah ! not one could find To virtue's heav'n-taught rules inclin'd : *4 PSALM LIV. Each, led from wtfdom's path afiray, Purfues the tenour of his way. <• O fay, what ignorance could hlind The fouls, who with remorfelcls mind Prefume my people to devour, As bread, nor own their Maker's pow'r. 6 Vet fee their thoughts tumultuous roll, See caufelefs terrors (hake their foul ; By juft alarms of confeience driv'n. To tremble at the wrath of Heav'n ! 7 Wide o'er the field the bones are fpread Of chiefs, who by thy fword have bled, And fpeak the doom that all muff fhare, Whom God abandons hum his care. 8 Who, mightieft Lord, to Ifmrl's eyes Shall bid the wiih'd falvation rife, From Sion's hill its healing ray Extend, and round us pour the day ? 9 When Thou thy captives fhalt reftore, Thy praife fhall found through Judah's fhore, And ceafelefs fhouts, through heav'n's wide frame Loud echoing, Jacob's joy proclaim. PSALM LIV. i -L HY name my ftedfaft heart avows ; Do Thou my injur' d caufe efpoufe, And be thy ftrength my aid ; Mj plaints, eternal Monarch, hear, And let them by thy pitying ear With full regard be weigh'd. z For nations from thy fear eftrang'd, With tyrants fierce, againft me rang'd, My guiltlefs foul purfue ; But 'midft my helpers heav'n's high Lord Shall (land, and, faithful to his word, Each adverfe pow'r fubdue. 3 O let my heart, their rage repell'd, Itfelf a willing oft'ring yield ; To Thee its praife fhall flow, While to my thought thy mercies rife, PSALM LV. 85 That gave me with exulting eyes To lee my proftrate foe. PSALM LV. r O HEAR my voice, all-potent Sire, Nor difiant from the pray'r retire, Wbofe accents to thine ear impart The anguifh of my heaving heart. z A croud, whofe thoughts from Thee have ftray'd, With falfehood arm'd, my peace invade, And, leagu'd in tin, reproaching foes With fettled hate my Heps inclofe. 3 Oppreffion's fhouts around me roar, Death's blacked horrors whelm me o'er, And griefs and fears, that fhun controul, Shake to its inmofl depth my foul. 4 O who fhall give me (thus my breaft Its vain inquietude exprefs'd,) The dove's light wing, that through the air My foul to peaceful reft may bear ? 5 How would I mount the wafting wind, I low leave the wrathful ftorms behind, And in the defert's lone retreat Contented fix mv lafling feat ! 6 Smite, Lord, my foes ; divide their tongue; For tumult, violence, and wrong, Where'er I turn, before my eyei In giant forms amid them rife.. 7 "Within their walls' unhallow'd bound By day, by night, they take their round j Nor ceafe their guilty ftreets to hear The voice of falfehood, grief, and fear. 8 If foes profeft had aim'd the wound, My foul fome fafe recefs had found, Or, difeiplin'd by previous care, Had learn'd th' expe£ted ill to bear. 9 .But Thou, 'twas Thou, the friend difguis'd, The man, whom chief of friends I priz'd, To whom, its counfellor and guide, My foul in ev'rv doubt applied. I 86 PSALM LV. id In bands of fweeteft union'd join'd, Each wifn, each fecret of the mind, We fhar'd, and 'midft th' afTembled train Familiar trod the hallow'd fane. 1 1 Let earth its op'ning jaws extend, While living to the grave defcend The lawlefs throng, whofe land profane Hell's worft invented mifchiefs ftain. , 12 God, as with fervent lips 1 pray, At dawn, at noon, at clofe of day, Shall ftoop to my complaint his ear, And inftant in my caui'e appear. 13 He, when the battle round me bled, From hoftile myriads fcreen'd my head. Gave to my pray'r the wifh'd-for peace, And bade the dreadful tumult ceal'c. 14 That Povv'r who reign'd through ages paft, Whofe counfels fhall for ever laft, That Pow'r my conteft fhall decide, And humble to the duft their pride. 15 See, unprovok'd, the reftlefs foe Aim at thy faints the deathful blow, (Thy fear, great God, behind him thrown,) And compacts oft confirm'd difown. 16 While war's fierce flames within him burn, As milk new foaming from the churn Smooth are his lips ; as oil his words; Yet wound they deep as keeneft fwords. 1 7 O caft thee fearlefs on thy God ; He, prompt to fave, the grateful load Within his foft'ring arms fhall bear, And feed thee with a parent's care. 18 Author of good ! beneath thy hand Secure from lapfe the juft fhall ftand, While (fuch thy mandate !) on his foes Deftruttion's pit its mouth fhall clofe. 19 Who thirft for blood, who falfehoods raife, To death fhall yield, ere half their days Be number'd, while, exulting, I On Thee with ftedfaft hope rely. PSALM LVI. if PSALM LVI. i O REACH me, Lord, thy aiding pow'r, While hoftile troops my ftrength devour; My ftrength devour, and day by day With fierceft threats my heart difmay ; Yet truft in Thee my fpirit cheers, And checks my fighs, and wipes my tears, i Thy promife, Lord, to notes of praiic In each diftrefs my fong fhall rail'c ; Thy word my bread with joy (hall l'well, And all my anxious cares dilpel : God in my caufe his arm will rear ; And man, fhall man excite my fear ? 3 My words they torture, and, their thought Each hour with deepeft malice fraught, In impious council nightly meet, To watch, with murd'rous aim, my feet, And guileful, onward as I tread, Befide my path their nets outfpread. 4 On wrong, and fuperftition vain, Their hope the frantic tribe fuftain ; But teach them, Lord, thy wrath to know^ And quell the infults of my foe; O let thine arm their crimes repay, Who feek my footfteps to betray. 5 My grief to thine obferving eye, As chas'd from -realm to realm I fly, In full difplay, great God, appears; O treaiure in thy vafe my tears : But fee ! already by thy hand Recorded in thy book they ftand. 6. Whene'er to Thee, my God, I cry, Secure of help the fight I try, For Thou thine aid, when afk'd, wilt give, And teach my fainting hope to live ; While hofts beneath my falchion bleed, And back with headlong flight recede. - Thy promife, Lord, to notes of praife In. each diftrefs my fong (hall raife - y 1 z 38 PSALM LVII. Thy word my bread with joy fhall fwell, Thy promife, Lord, my woes difpel : God in my caufe his arm will rear ; And man, fhall man excite my fear ? 5 Their thanks, their vows, (thy juft demand.) My lips fhall yield : thy fav'ring hand My feet from error, from the grave My fainting foul, has deign'd to fave ■> And bids me ftill, to Thee allied, Within the land of life refide. PSALM LVII. i JL HY mercy, Lord, amidft my woes, To my defiring eyes difclofe ; Propitious to thy fervant's heart Thy wonted clemency impart. 2 Let me, my hope on Thee reclin'd, Beneath thy wings a refuge find, Till thy prevailing beams difpel The clouds of grief that o'er me dwell. 3 To Thee, the God who reigns on high, To Thee with fuppliant voice I cry, Affui'd that Thou, indulgent ftill, My plaint fhalt hear, my pray'r fulfil. 4 Thy timelieft aid from heav'n extend, My fame from obloquy defend, And bid thy truth and mercy fhed 'Their kindeft influence on my head. £ The lions round me roar aloud ; And, fir'd with caufelefs rage, a croud Advance, (thy foes, eternal Lord,) Whole teeth are fpears, whole tongue a fword. 6 Inthron'd thyfelf above the lki^s, O bid thy fulleft glory rife, And to the earth with cloudlefs ray The wonders of thy pow'r difplay. 7 Oft, as amid the fnares I tread, Each hour by hoftile fraud outfpread, What clouds of grief around me roll, What dreadful flornis invade my foul ! PSALM LVIII. 8? S What fears, what woes my bofom prove ! Yet, fav'd by thy preventing love, Th' artificers of death I fee Fall'n in the pit prepar'd for me. 9 My heart is fix'd, almighty Sire, My heart is fix'd ; to Thee afpire My thoughts, and diftate to my lays An argument of endlefs praife. to Awake, thou glory of my frame, Awake, my tongue, to loud acclaim ; Pralt'ry awake, and joyful pay To God the tribute of the day. 1 1 Awake my lute, and new-ftrung lyre ; Inttinft, myfelf, with holy fire 1 wake ; and lo, the dawning fun Already hears the ftrain begun. 12 From me aflembling crouds fhall burn The triumphs of thy love to learn, And, rapt with zeal, the nations round Catch from my lips the facred found. 13 Lo ! to the clouds thy truth extends, And heav'n's ftupendous height tranfeends 5 Far as to earth's extremeft bound In all thy works is mercy found. 14 Inthron'd thvfclf above the fkies, O bid thy fu'lleft glory rife, And to the earth with cloudlefs ray The wonders of thy pow'r difplay. PSALM LVIII. 1 x E whofe lips the caufe decide, Say, does truth your fentence guide ? Are your thoughts by juftice (way'd, And in reafon's balance wcigh'd ? Let your conf'cious tongues acteft What ye harbour in your breafh 2 Means ye bear, thatdeep within Chcrifh each fuggefted fin, While, on fierce contention bent, Arts of milchief ye invent, 13 90 PSALM LVIII. And the dilates of your will With remorfelefs hands fulfil. 3 From the womb, in error's way- See the infant finner ftray ; Nurtur'd in deceit and wrong See him with advent' rous tongue (Prompt his earlieft fkill to try,) Lifp the meditated lye. 4 See their veins with venom fwell ; Arm'd with fuch, the adder fell Stops her ear, in many a fold 'Mid the fhelt'ring brake uproll'd, While each note the charmer tries, And his utmoft art defies. 5 Smite, great God, the lions' cheek, And their fangs indignant break : While they arm them for the war, And their quiver' d ftores prepare, Let th* oppreflbrs feel thy pow'r, Let thy fword their ftrength devour. 6 Let them wafte in fwift decay, As the torrents pals away, As the earth-bred mails confume, As th' abortions of the womb, Life's fhort circuit fcarce begun, Perifh ere they fee the fun. . 7 Ere the caldron learn to glow From the kindling thorns below, Let thy hotter wrath be fhed Quick on each rebellious head; Let thy whirlwinds through the fky, Minifters of vengeance, fly. 8 Let them, Lord, at thy beheft, Sweep from earth the living peft ; While the fouls that truft in Thee Pleas'd their caule aveng'd fhall fee, And, the dreadful conflict o'er, Wafh their fteps in hoftile gore. 9 " Doubtlefs," each convinc'd fhall cry, " Doubtlefi, there's a God on high, PSALM LIX. " Who, in awful pomp array'd, " Comes to judge the world he made ; -' All, who his commands regard, ** Reap at length their full reward." PSALM LIX. i Ill* impending ftorm, my God, afFuage ; 1 1 i c It. o'er the foes, that round me rage, Exalt tne, (foes, whofe flubborn mind, To wrong and violence rcilgn'd, Thy facred laws has long withftood,) And fave me from the man of blood. : Aflembling crouds the deadly fnare, Without my crime, great God, prepare ; Without my crime, in (in allied, To difTrent paths their courfe divide . O, obvious to my pray'r, ari'e, Nor let their guilt efcape thine eyes. 3 Leader of hofts, and IfraeVs God I Stretch o'er the heathen tribes thy rod, Nor let them vauntingly each hour With mad prefumption brave thy pow'r, But inftant from thy feat arife The proud tranfgreflbrs to chaftife. 4 When eve's daik (hades o'er heav'n are hung, See ! as the dog with fury ftung, While hideous yells their wrath betray, From ftreet to- ftreet they urge their way ; Swords in their lips, without a fear Their threats they vent ; for who (hall hear ? 5 By Thee, by Thee thole threats are heard ; Superior Thou each frantic word, Eternal Monarch, (halt deride, And check with juft reproach their pride, Whofe tongues with rane'rous boaft impart The daring purpofe of their heart. 6 Rock of my ftrength ! to Thee on high My foul (hall lift the ftedt'aft eye, For Thou, preventive of my want, The bladings of thy love wilt gram j 92 PSALM LX. Thy aid, ere yet invok'd, each foe Beneath my conqu'ringfeet fhall ibwwr. 7 Let not thy wrath, O God our fnield, Their name to fall exciiion yield, Left, vanifn'd from th' cbferving eye, Th' example of thy vengeance die ; But, arm'd with pow'r, through foreign lands Diftribute wide their vanquifh'd bands. 8 Such vengeance from thine arm, great Sire, Their tongue's repeated crimes require, Their thoughts, inflam'd with impious pride, Their oaths to guile's word ends applied, And urge Thee with impartial doom Each bold tranfgrefibr to confume. 9 Strike, Lord, O ftrike the needful blow, And teach an erring world to know, How vain its efforts to withftand The force of thy refiftlefs hand ; While Jacob's Ions thy pow'r obey, And earth's wide confines own thy fway. io When eve's dark fhades o'er heav'n are hung, Still, as the dog with fury ftung, Still let my foes, who howl for prey From ftreet to ftreet purfue their way, Infatiate; while their deitin'd fpoil Elufive mocks their fruitlefs toil. ill, Lord, fecure in Thee, thy might Will praife, and with the rifing light Thy love, that in the dreadful day Redeem'd me, on my harp difplay, Thee own my refuge, heav'nly King ! And mercy's unexhaufted fpring. PSALM IX i RePULS'D, difpers'd, chaftis'd by Thee, O grant us, Lord, thy face to fee, And let the people, once thy care, Again thy fav'ring pretence fhare. z How trembles this divided land Beneath the terrors of thy hand ! FS&LM JLX. 9i O Thou, the Gocl whom we adore, Its breaches heal, its peace reftore, 3 Thy juft decrees to I/rati's eyes Have bid a fecne of forrow rife, And to his pallid lips the wine Oi dire aftonifhment confign. 4. Yet lee, thy hands a ftandaid rear; Beneath it each, who owns thy fear, Engag'd in truth's neglected caufe, His iword, fecure of conquer!, draws. : 5 Such, objects of thy tend'rclt love, Defend propitious from above ; Let me with them thy mercy fhare, And hear, O hear my ceafelefs pray'r. 6 God's truth fhall ne'er forget to guard The promife by his lips declar'd ; And what th' almighty Monarch wills My ready hand with joy fulfils. 7 Behold me Siciem's plain divide ; My line, to Succoth's vale applied, Its bound defcribes ; thee mine I fee, O GiL-ad, and, Manajfes, thee. \ 8 Thou, Ephraim, art my ftrong defence, Thou, Judah, fhalt my law difpenfe ; A dift'rent lot fhall Moab find, A vafe to vileft ufe affign'd. 9 A doom like his fhall Edam meet, And wipe the duft from off my feet ; Pkiliftia fhall her tribute bring, And own in me her future king. 10 Who, as our troops in dole array To Edom's forts dire6l their way, Arm'd with refiftlefs ftrength fhall bid Her gates unfold, her bolts recede ? 11 Behold us, Lord, opprefs'd with woe, As exil'd from thy care we go : Shall 7/Ws hofts, thy aid withheld, Still unfuccel'sful take the field ? iz Our hope, on man repos'd in vain, G let thy ftrength, .great God, l'uftain, 94 PSALM LXL And let us, on thy aid reclin'd, In Thee our firm protector find. 13 Thus arm'd, each adverfe pow'r we dare, And dauntlefs meet the rufning war. While from thy fword our foes retire, Or trampled in the daft expire. PSALM LXL 1 OpPRESS'D with grief, in exile loft, To Thee from Judah's utmoft coaft My voice, eternal God, I fend ; O hear my piaint, my pray'r attend. 2 High on the rock my footfteps rear; There let me ftand unmov'd, and hear The ftorms, that now around me beat, At dtftance roll beneath my feet. 3 Thee, Lord, I (eek, whene'er my foes With dire intent my path indole, And own Thee in the dang'rous hour My firmed hope, my ftrongeft tow'r. 4 Thou, Lord, within thy hallow'd ftirine My conftant refuge fhalt alfign ; There will I dwell, remote from feaT, And, fav'd by Thee, thy name revere. 5 Thy wings mail wrap me in their made; Thou, Thou haft heard me when I pray'd, And yielded to my wifh the joys Of chofe, whofe care thy will employs. € Long life mail IJraeTs king behold, And ages count on ages roll'd ; With laftrng joy thy fervant's eyes Shall fee his children's children rife. 5 Safe in thy prefence let him ftand, And mare the bleffings of thy hand ; His dwelling let thy truth defend, Thy mercy on his fteus attend. 2 So fhall thy love awake my fong. Thy name the willing note prolong. While, warm'd with zeal, my vows I pay, And blefs Thee to my lateft day. PSALM LXIL 95 PSALM LXIL ! \1 V fottl m God its reft has found ; When various griefs befet me round, His love ihall lure deliv'rance yield ; By Him through life I walk upheld, And fate from lapfe my courfe maintain, ©i , falling, inttant life again, z Now long, artificers of ill, Shall fehemes of death employ your fkill? Behold the mifchiefs ye intend Retorted on your heads defcend : : femblancc fee yen loofen'd wall,. Yon bulwark, nodding to its fall. 3 Vaia are the wiles for him prepir'd, Whom hcav'n's high Lord vouchfafes to gaard ; See, vcrs'd in fraud, the impious throng With blefiings charge their guileful tongue, While deep within the heart's difguife The fecret curfc invelop'd lies. 4 But thou, my foul, on God reclin'd, In Him thy wifh'd-for reft (halt find y His love fhall fure deliv'rance yield: By Him through life I walk upheld, Secure from lapfe my courfe maintain, And dauntlefs brave the hoftile train. 5 Thee, Lord, my glory, Thee alone My rock, my health, my ftrength, I own : Ye tribes, in God your help behold, To Him, with me, vour hearts unfold, Each want confefs, each grief reveal r For who, O who like Him can heal ? 6 O vanity, thy name is Man : Intent the human mind to fcan, Come, try, if aught of weight there feem ; Sufpend the balance,, fix the beam : In vain : — with equal eafe were weigh'd The flitting air, or empty fhade. 7 Truft not in wrong and fraud ; no more On hope's light wing prefumptuous foar ; 6 PSALM LXIII. Let gather' d wealth before thee lie Beheld with unretorted eye, Nor let the glitt'ring heap impart One wifh to thy deluded heart. 8 Once from his throne th' Almighty fpake, And forth again the accents brake: " See pow'r in me with mercy dwells, " And where my fear the mind impels, " Each act I mark with kind regard, " And pieas'd confer the juft reward." PSALM LXIII. i 1 HOU art my God ; to Thee my eyes I lift, ere yet the dawn arife ; With facred third, O Lord, I burn, My heart, my flefh, thy abfence mourn, As o'er th' unhofpitable way Amidfi a barren wafte I ftray ; — z Yet here, by heav'nly wildom led, Expedtant wait, till o'er my head Thy beams in mild effulgence play, And turn my darknefs into day ; Thofe beams, which oft my eyes beheld From Salem's, hallow'd fhnne reveal'd. 3 Thv love my lips mail ever tell, (Can life itfelf that love excel ?) Nor ceai'e, while breath prolongs my days, In thankful notes the hymn to rail'e : To Thee thy fervant, Lord, as now, His hands fhall rear, his knees fhall bow. 4 For nought like this my foul can cheer ; Nor marrow from the fatted fteer Could e'er to theduxurious fenfe Such full delight, my God, difpenfe, As what my fatiate foul enjoys, Whene'er thy praife my tongue employs.. 5 Thou moon, be witnefs if my bed Forgetful of my God I fpread ; And thou, revolving fun, if e'er I wake unconfcious of his care : PSALM LX1V. 97 Each night and each returning day To Him my grateful vows I pay. 6 Safe in the (hadow of thy wings, In Thee I joy, O King of Kings ; When dangers threaten to devour, Superior to each ad\erfe pow'r Thy arm extends the help divine, And long experience calls it mine. 1 Behold my foes in dread retire, Or proftratc at my feet expire, While to my eonqu'ring fword they yield; The hearts, that nightly range the field, Amid the llaughter'd heaps (hall ftray, And rav'nous feize their liceqs'd prey, i By Thee exalted to the throne, Shall Judah's king thy mercies own; And hleft be each, my God, whofe tongue \\ ith him fhall raife the grateful fong, Who fuppliant at thy ihrine fhall kneel, While fhame the liar's lips fhall feal. PSALM LXIV. i 1 HINE ear, thou Majefty divine, Propitious to my pray'r incline, O hear, my voice in pity hear, And fave my life from hoftile fear. 2 Behold the men of impious mind, Their pow'rs in fecret league combin'd, With factious rage my foul purfue, And hide, O hide me from their view. 3 Behold the flaughter-breathing throng Whet as a fword their baleful tongue, And words, as arrows keen, prepare, That edg'd with death fhall walk the air. 4 Conceal'd they ev'ry fear difclaim, And level at the juft their aim, Nor reft, till in the blamelefs heart Their hand has lodg'd the fudden dart. 5 Their dire defigns, in guilt allied, They form ; fecure, their fnares provide ; K $3 PSALM LXV. " And who our aim mail thwart ? What eye " v'They afk) the hidden death defcrv?" 6 With future mifchiefs teem their breafts, As each to each new wiles fuggefts, And feek in art's obfeureft veil Their guilty purpofe to conceal. 7 Ah ! whither (hall the murd'rers fly ? Behold the arrow- from on high Defcend, that bears upon its wing The wrath of heav'n's offended King. 8 Their tongue, that feeks another's hurt, Itfelf their footfteps fhall fubvert, And paffers by with inward dread Behold them on the earth outfpread. 9 Each heart fhall own, with rev'rent thought, That thou the work, great God, haft wrought, And, pleas'd, thy chaftifements fhall trace, Inflicted on their guilty race ; — "io While, refcu'd from their rage, the pure In peaceful reft fhall live fecure, And with triumphant joy the juft Exulting fix on Thee their truft. PSALM LXV. i X HEE Sious praife, O Lord, attends, To Thee the frequent vow afcends From each, whom Salem's walls behold Among her faithful fons inroll'd: To Thee, whofe ready ear the pray'r Prevents, fhall man's whole race repair. z Behold, their Maker taught to own, Behold them bow before thy throne, Amidft them at thy footftool I, Prefs'd with a weight of guilt, apply, Afiur'd from thy free grace to win The wifh'd atonement of my fin. 3 Bleft, who by fweet experience knows, What joys thy prefence, Lord, beftows, The man, who, privile^'d by Thee, Thy face in near approach fhall fee, PSALM LXV. 99 Behold thy beams effulgent play, And in thy dwelling fix his May. 4 Let Ifrael's tribes, their foes overthrown, The terrors of thy juflice own, O Thou, the hope of human race, Of all whom earth's wide arms embrace, Of all who, toft by tempefts, fweep The furface of the pathlefs deep. 5 In Thee they truft, who, girt with pow'r, Haft bid the mountains heav'nward tow'r, And fix'd their bafe ; who know'ft to rein The intuits of the foaming main, Check the brute waves that roar aloud, And ftill the madnefs of the croud. 6 Remoteft realms with dire difmay Thy wonders, mightieft Lord, furvey; Struck with furprife thy pow'r they own, And humbled bow before thy throne ; While, as they walk th' ethereal round, The morn and eve thy praife refound. *] Thou teacheft, Lord, the grateful foil To recompenfe the tiller's toil ; By unexhaufted fprings fupplied Thy river pours its copious tide, And bids the ftrength-infufing grain Earth's countlefs family fuftain. 8 The clouds, in frequent fhow'rs diftill'd, Drop fatnefs on the pregnant field, Break the tough glebe, the furrows cheer, And crown with good the gliding year; Th' exulting hills, th' extended wafte, Thy gifts in rich profufion tafte. 9 Nurs'd by thy care, the fleecy train Invefts with white the rural plain. While, as beneath the fav'ring ikies In crouded ranks the harvefts rife, The laughing vale afiumes a tongue, And burfts triumphant into fong. K 2 :co PSALM LXVI. PSALM LXVI. i 1 E fons of men, in God rejoice ; Lift in one choir your thankful voice, And fpread through earth's extended frame The honour of your Maker's name. z Ye nations round aflembled meet ; Thus let your fong his praife repeat ; Eternal Ruler of the fkies, How awful are thy works, how wife ! 3 Thy late obdurate foes behold, By thy fuperior ftrength control'd, "With flatt'ring lip their homage pay, And earth's whole empire own thy fway. 4 Each tribe of human race to Thee Shall iuppliant bend the humble knee, Each tongue in hymns of praife fhall join, And joyful blefs the name divine. 5 O come, and view with rev'rent thought The a£te by heav'n's high Monarch wrought, His wonders fhown fince time began, And friendlike intercourfe with man. 6 His word the deep's vaft channel dried, And backward roll'd th' obedient tide ; Aw'd by his voice, the briny flood In liquid heaps fufpended flood. 7 Now f?.fe athwart ils fandy bed By Him our refcu'd troops are led, Now loft in grateful tranfport ftand, And fhouts of triumph (hake the ftrand. 8 Time's lateft period long o'erpaft, His pow'r fhall felf-fupported laft ; His eyes the earth furvey ; — in vain Its rebel fons oppofe his reign. 9 Ye nations all of various tongue, To Jacob's God exalt the fong ; Sing, fing aloud, that nature's ear His praife through all her bounds may hear. 10 His wakeful care within our breaft, Though countlefs foes our peace infeft, PSALM LXVII. Still gives the vital pulfe to beat, And guards from dread of lapfe our feet. 1 1 Oft has thy hand, all-potent Lord, By various proof our faith explor'd, And bid the flame each heart refine, As filver recent from the mine. i z Now round us waves the net, and now Beneath oppremon's weight we bow, While o'er our heads the fons of pride With hoftile fcorn exulting ride. 13 Through fires, through torrents, led by Thee, A.t length th' expe&ed land we fee. Where -firearm irriguous cleave the foil, And crown with wealth the tiller's toil. 14 Lo, to thy dome, my God and King, The facred holocauft I bring, That late, opprefs'd by forrow's cloud, To Thee with fervent lip I vow'd. I < Before thy altar's kindled fire The promis'd vittims fhall expire, Here bleed the full-fed goat, and here The fleecy ram, and ftubborn fteer. 16 O come, ye fouls that fear your God, And learn his grace on me befiow'd, As, fupplicating loud, my tongue Wak'd to his praife the hallow'd fong. 17 Had confeious guilt mybofom ftain'd, How had his ear my pray'r difdain'd, That upward now through tracts of day In fure acceptance, wings its way ! 1 3 Bleft be my God, who, thron'd on high, Rejects not from his care my cry, Nor, while afflictions round me rife, His mercy to my foul denies. PSALM LXVII. 1 MAY God his fav'ring ear incline, And bid his face on Ifrael fhine, That all thy counfels, Lord, may know, Where earth extends, or oceans flow, K3 i PSALM LXV11I. And, thankful, to their wond'ring eyes Behold thy wifh'd falvation rife. To Thee, of life th' eternal fpring, Invilible, all-potent King, One chorus let the nations raife, One fhout of univerfal praife. Ye diftant realms, your voice employ In fungs of gratitude and joy ; Exult each tribe, exult each land ; Heav'n's mighty Lord with equal hand The balance holds, and earth's domain Shall own to lateft age his reign. To Thee, of life th' eternal fpring, Invifible, all-potent King, One chorus let the nations raife. One fhout of univerfal praife. So, warm'd by genial funs, the field With full increafe its fruits fhall yield, And God, thy God, O Ifrael, fhed His choiceft bleffings on thy head : God fhall on us his bleffings fhow'r, And man's whole race revere his pow'r. To Thee, of life th* eternal fpring, InvTible, all-potent King, One chorus let the nations raife, One fhout of univerfal praife. PSALM LXVIII. LET God arife, and let his foes, His arm unable to oppofe, Back from the field, with wild affright O'erwhelm'd, precipitate their flight. Behold, great God, the impious hoft Like (moke in quick dilperlion loft ; Behold them at thy look expire, Diffolv'd, as wax before the fire. While all who own thy juft command. Exulting in thy prefence ftand, And bid the fhout of triumph rife Loud echoing to the diftant ikies. PSALM LXVIII. 103 4 Your fongs for TJrael's God prepare, Who, feated on his regal car, Triumphant o'er the defert wide In folemn ftatc is feen to ride ; — 5 His name Jehovah ; theme of praife Exhauftlefs ! — in his prefence raiie The grateful ftrain, and joyous fing The mercies of your heav'nly King. 6 Their parent Him the orphans hail ; He bids the widow's caui'e prevail, And, fhrin'd above th' empyreal iky, Extends to all his equal eye. 7 A manfion to the outcaft gives, The captive from his chain relieves ; But bids the tinner wear away In barren wilds his fhorten'd day. 8 O Lord, when o'er th' extended wafle Thy prefence before Ifrael part, And, beaming o'er thy people's head, Their bands to certain conquefts led, — 9 Earth, groaning to its centre, reel'd ; The heav'ns, in clouds diflblv'd, beheld The footfteps of th' approaching God ; Ev'n Sinai bow'd with lowly nod. 10 While yet the burning fands they tread, Thy kindlieft rains around them fhed, Belpeak them fav'rites of thy care, And nature's wearied pow'rs repair. 1 1 Thus joy the tribes whom Thou haft lov'd, Thus boaft their lot by Thee improv'd, Whofe aid the humble and the poor Shall ne'er with fruitlefs vows implore. 1 z Heav'n's mighty monarch gave the word ; His mandate Sion's daughters heard, And thus in one affembled throng With fvveet accordance form the long : 13 " Kings with their hofts have fled ; and we, " Who fate from toils of battle free, " Content tl>e houfhcld's care to guide, " The victor's richeft fpoils divide." ALM LXVIII. 14 Again their form obfcur'd awhile By tafks of fervitude and toil, Again the fons of Abraham's line Array'd in fpotlefs luftre fhine, — 15 As doves, while obvious to the fun F:cm plume to plume the fplendours run, Their wings in filver dipt unf And necks that glow with living gold. 16 While back thy foes, O Jfrael, turn, Thy God amid thy gloom a morn Presents, unfuliied as the fnow ©iffus'd o'er Salmon's ample brow. .'•o more, O Ba/an, vaunt thy height, awe the diftarit figh No more, ye fwelling mountains, rife In haughty triumph to the ikies. j8 On humbler Siotfe favcur'd head His tent th' eternal King has fpread, Her lacred hill his choice confeft, And lading manHcn of his reft. 19 Ten thoufa'nd cars, and yet again Ten thcufand cars, in lengthen'd train Along her hallow'd way proceed, While God the pomp vouchfafes to li zo Thus Ifrael views within her fhrine (Bleft feat of majefty divine," The 1'cene that erft his tribes beheld On Sinai's myftic top reveal'd. 21 Admiring crouds with upcaft eye Have feen thee, Lord, afcend on high Behind Thee move a captive train, fail fetter'd with the fcrvile chain. -; While gifts through Thee on all below From heav'n's high throne tranfmitted flow, A r?ce, who ihun'd thy laws to own, Thy prefence and thy aid have known. I*o God, our ever-conflant aid, Be thanks and ceafeiefs honour paid ; To whom belongs the po.v'r 10 lave His fervants from th' expc PSALM LXV1II. 14 On Him thy wifh'd falvation refts ; Him, IfraeL, praife ; whole high behefts Death's dreaded march through earth's domain. To paths by Him prefcrib'd reftrain. 15 To each, whole heart rejects his fway, His terrors (hall their guilt repay ; Deftruction, with unwearied pace, Through Tin's dark maze their path fliall trace. 26 Intent on plans of future ill, His uroke the hairy fcalp fliall feel, And lhare the vengeance, thus aloud Denounc'd on the rebellious croud. 27 " Once more from Bafan's fertile plain, " Once more from the divided main, " Thee, Jacob, my reliftlel's hand " Shall lead, and guard thy chofen band. 28 " When foes thy fword prefumptuous brave, " Thy feet the fanguine ftream fhall lave, " Thy dogs devour the (laughter' d throng, M And tinge with impious gore their tongue." 29 My God, my King, with joyful view Thy fteps our wond'ring eyes purlue, As on thou moveft to thy fhrine, ! Attended by thy chofen line. 30 Before the fingers walk ; behind The minftrels tread, in concert join'd, While, in the midft, the virgin train Awake the timbrel's lcudcii ftrain. I ;i k ' Your praifes" (thus begins the lay,) '• To heav'n's eternal Sov'reign pay, " Ye tribes, that boaft your hallow'd race " From IfracFs fruitful fource to trace." 32 Leaft of that race, thou, Benjamin, "V\ r ith mightier JuJah there art feen, While Nap/tthali'i glad chiefs confpire W r ith Zebu Ion to form the choir. 33 Strong in thy God, O Ifrael, rife ; And Thou, great Ruler of the fkies, Thy work perpetuate ; and increale Thy people's ftrength by lading peace. ^5 PSALM LXIX. 34 O let thy grace and boundlefs love, Fair Salem's fhrine incircling, move AfTembled kings her courts to greet, And caft their gifts before thy feet. 35 The heart, that from his reedy bed On _\Ws proud bank uplifts the head, - Rebike, and check the impious band, Who lift to idol gods the hand. 36 From whom the heifer, and the fteer, The offer' d vow unconfcious ke;.r, While to the filver's tinkling found Their feet in folemn dance rebound. 37 Their thirft of war, great God, reftrain, And backward drive their icatter'd train j So, fummon'd from her fartheft end, Shall Egypfi lords to Salem bend. 38 So fhall Arabia's fertile land Extend to Thee the fuppliant hand ; The various realm?, that earth divide, Shali fing to ifracl's God and guide. 39 God o'er the ikies, in awful ftate, From earlieft ige, exalted fate ; His voice, in frequent thunders giv'n, Tremendous (hakes the vault of heav'n. 40 To Him the pow'r afcribe, whofe rays To Jacob's view confpicuous blaze, Who downward from th' ethereal height O'er fubjeft world- fight. 41 What terrors from thy prefence flow ! Thou, of Ifracl's foes ihe foe, Whofe ftrengfh his arm for toil prepares, And crowns with fure fuccefs his wars. 43 Bleft be the name of I/raePs Lord, 1 he God by Jacob's fons ador'd, To Him, till time fhall reach its end, Let fongs of higheft praile afcend. PSALM LXIX. 1 To Thee 1 call ; O hafte Thee near, My voice, great God, indulgent hear; PSALM LXIX. 107 Extend thy pow'rful arm, and lave My foul from the voracious wave. - In depths of mire behold me bound ; In vain my finking feet the ground Explore ; while high above my head ■•helming floods their billows fpread. j Faint are my limbs, my palate dry, While, ceafelefs to my God I cry ; . wafting orbs my eyes attend To fee his promis'd grace defcend. + Behold my foes around me fpread, The hairs that fhade my haplefs head Outnumb'ring ; foes, that, arm'd with pow'r, My foul have labour'd to devour, pure of each offence I ftand, Plight to their terms my willing hand, Nor fhun ^extortion's eaiy p 1 The wrong-imputed debt to pav. 6 To Thee, my God, to Thee alone The errors of my heart are known ; Thine eyes my inmoft guilt have view'd, r can my the ~ch elude. 7 O let not, heav'nly Lord, thine aid, Thus long to my requeft delay'd, Their hope to hoftile fcorn conr.gn, Whofe hearts on 1/raeFs God recline. 8 Thy caufe, by me avow'd, my fame To infult gives, my cheek to fhame : The impious mockers on me gaze, Each eve, each lip contempt betrays. 9 Donieftic wrath and kindred hate, In thy defence, my foul await ; brothers of my blood in me \tn and an outcaft fee. that to thy houfe I bear My foul confumes; each taunt fevere, That loud-tongu'd rage for Thee intends, On me with fulleft weight defcends. 11 DiflbWd in tean ng worn, y foul has borne ! icS PSALM LXIX. My loins with farrow's garb o'erfpread, jefts their cruel fan iz 1 pafs the croackd gate, purl'u'd By laughter and reproaches rude, "Hie proverb of the drunkard's tongue, And theme familiar of his long. 13 O let me in th' accepted hour In pray'r to Thee my fpirit pour ; rhine ear, O Lord, propitious t And pleas'd thy promis'd help ex;. 14 Snatch from the miry depths my leet ; Back let my furious foes retreat. Safe from their hate thy fervant keep. Nor leave him finking in the deep. :< O then the fwelling ftorm affuage, Ere yet the flood's remorlelels rage In dreadful whirlpools wrap me row And plunge me in the dark profound. 16 Hear, Lord, and to my foul difplay Thy mercy's all-enliv'ning ray ; Look down, eternal God, look down, Beheld me, but without a frown. 1 7 Ne'er to thy fe r vant's longing eye Thy face, amidft my foes, deny ; Hafte to my aid, O hafte Thee near, Releafe my foul from hoftile fear. 1 3 Thine ears have heard each infult keen. Thine eyes, juft Lord, my fhame have feen. And ftedfaft mark'd the adverfe band, That leagu'd in guilt around me ftand. ry My foul, by evil tongues anail'd, Unequal to the conflict fail'd; ■ I wifh'd, in vain, fome friend to find, Whole voice might foothe my troubled mind. 20 Thefe, 'mid the croud that wait me nigh, Gall to my loathing lips apply ; While thefe my third's afflictive rage With juice of fharpeft tafte affuage. ii While pleas'd the focial board they fhare, Let death around it plant a mare, PSALM LX1X. jq 9 And what fhould blifs and health beftow With aim inverted work their woe. 22 Let blindnefs check their fell defigns, Bow with affliction's weight their loins, And let thy wrath, with loofen'd rein, Defcending crufh the rebel train. 23 Let horror and deftrutlion drear Amid their tents the itandard rear, Nor human habitant be found Within their dome's capacious round; — ■ 24 Since, unprovok'd, with murd'rous view, Whom thou haft fmitten they purfue, And leek, inftincl with cruel joy, The man of forrows to deftroy. 25 Let all, whole hearts no warnings bend, From depth to depth in fin delcend, Ne'er, touch'd by healing mercy, lee The path that leads to bills and Thee. 26 Let vengeance, kindled to a flame, Blot from the earth their hateful name, Nor let them, 'mid thy chofen band, In life's fair page recorded ftand. 27 And O! while prefs'd with ills I lie, Caft on my ftate a pitying eye, And let thy mercy to my grief In full fufficience yield relief. 28 For this to Thee my voice I rear; Nor fhall the hoof'd and horned fteer, New draughted from the fat'ning field, A facrifice fo grateful yield. 29 Ye meek, who feek God's faving aid, His love, in my releafe difplay'd, His love your dying hearts fh/.ll cheer, Who ftoops the captive poor to hear. 30 O praife him, heav'n, and leas, and earth, And all whom nature wakes to birth ; Him praife, who Sion deigns to fhield, Whofe hand fhall Judah's cities build. 31 He bids her fons the land divide, Where unmolefted fhall refide, L [TO PSALM LXX. LXXI. Through rolling time's extended year, A race devoted to his fear. PSALM LXX. i xlASTE to my aid, my Saviour, hafte ; My foul, by hoftile numbers chas'd, To Thc^ directs its pray'r: In wild confufion backward borne Their wifh defeated let them mourn, And loft in empty air. 2 Be fhame their juft reward affign'd, While round me v.-ith relentleis mind Derifion's fhout they raife : Thy blifs let all, who feek Thee, fhare, And, taught thy love, that love declare In fongs of ceafelefs praiie. 3 While thefe in thy falvation joy, Increafing griefs my thought employ, And fpeedicft aid demand : My Helper and Redeemer, hear ; O, inftant in my caufe appear, And reach thy faving hand. PSALM LXXI. i Ox Thee, O God, with fteady frame, (O blaft not Thcu my hope with fhame,) On Thee my foul its truft has Raid, And afks thy juftice to its aid. 2 Thy fervant, God of Gods fupreme, O hear, and haften to redeem ; Be Thou my rock, and fafe refort ; — My rock Thou art, my ftrcreeft fort. 3 Thy lips my refcue have decreed, And bid each rhiearen'd il! recede ; O let thy promis'd help o'erthrow Each impious and revengeful foe. 4 On Thee my hopes (upported ftand ; My life from eailieft youth thy hand fThat life which firft from Thee began,) Preferv'd, and led me up to man. PSALM LXXI. 5 When lodg'd within the womb I lay, Thy care produc'd me to the day, And, while that care my years prolongs, Thy name (hall animate my fongs. 6 Though crouds, with filent gaze, in me A lpectacle of wonder fee, Amidft my grief, amidft my pain, Thy love mail ftill my faith luftain. ? Thy arm in my relief employ, That loon, my hope abforb'd in joy, From op'ning dawn to doling eve Thy praii'es on my tongue may live. 8 O let me not, almighty friend, While with a we:^ht of age I bend, And wearied nature's fuccours fail, The abfence of thine aid bewail. 9 " Behold" (fuch words the rane'rous heart Suggefts, while, pleas'd, with fecret art My toes the deathful inare provide,) " A wretch whom God has caft aiide. 10 " Come" (thus, by lawlefs counfel led, Aloud they cry,) " deftruct-on fpread ; " Purfue, and mark him for the grave ; " Purfue ; for none is nigh to favt ." 11 My God, my God, depart not tar, But hafte, and make my life thy care ; O obvious to my pray'r arife, Nor let their guilt efcape thine eyes, iz Let fhame, let death their deeds repay, Who wifh my guiltlefs foul their prey, And black difgrace their name o'erfpread, Who aim their milchiefs at my head. 13 My heart fhall ftill on Thee depend, My thankful voice to Thee afcend, And, through the day, my God and King, Thy juftice, thy falvation, ling. 14 Thy mercies, Lord, all praife furmount, No numbers can their fum recount, For ne'er can words in equal ftrain The mealure of thy love explain, L 2 It* PSALM LXXI. 15 Lo ! in thy ftrer.gth I take my way, Thou art my God, and Thcu my ftay ; Thy righteoufnefs alone and love My heart fnall warm, my fong improve. 16 Thy leflbns on my youthful hreaft Fair wifdom's facred lines imprefs'd, And taught me, each advancing hour, To fpeak the wonders of thy pow'r. 17 Recede not now, while, grey with years, His hands to Thee thy fervant rears, Nor e'er thy wonted help withhold, Till, pleas'd, my tongue thy afts has told ; — 18 Such afts as mail the ear invite Of all, who now th' ethereal light Enjoy ; and, oft rehears'd, engage The wonder of each future age. 19 How great thy pow'r, thy works how great ! Say, what in earth, or heav'n's high feat, What fnall the fcarching eye to Thee Or equal, Lord, or fecond fee? 20 How haft Thou bid my foul to know A long viciffitude of woe, Yet, back return'd, with quick'ning ray Haft chas'd each cloud of grief away ! li Thy hand, when earth had clos'd me round, Has fnatch"d me from the dark profound, My head with endlefs honours blefs'd, And footh'd my anxious thoughts to reft. 22 O Thou, whom, wrapt in holy fear, The Ions of 1/rael's line revere ; Thy pow'r, thy mercy fhall my lay In i'weet harmonious founds difplay. 23 Thy truth my pfalt'ry fhall infpire, j\nd tune to loudeft notes my lyre, My willing lips with praife o'erhW, My refcu'd foul with tranfport glow. 24 From morn to night, indulgent Lord, My tongue thy juftice fhall record, That gave the peiiod to my woes, And whelm'd in fhame my vaunting foes. PSALM LXXII. 113 PSALM LXXII. 1 INSTRUCT, great God, the kingly heart, Nor ceale thy guidance to impart, Till, pleas'd, the heir of Judah's throne Thy precepts' full extent has known. 2 So (hall his hand difpenfe thy laws, Prompt to defend the poor man's caufe, In his protecting arm the meek With fure fuccefs their aid fhall feek. 3 Peace from the fort-clad mountain's brow Shall blefs the happy plains below, And juftice from each rocky cell Shall violence and fraud expel. 4 In him the fouls to fcorn confign'd The advocate and friend fhall find ; His arm their injur'd race fhall right, And crufh the proud oppreilbr's might. 5 Thy fear fucceeding times fhall own, Long as the fun and waxing moon, "With varied light, in iwift career, Alternate guide the circling year. € The Son from heav'n his grace fhall pour, Delightful as the copious fhovv'r, Whole drops refrefh the new-fhorn plain, And fwell with life the foodful grain. 7 His care the juft aloft fhall raife, Nor fair profperity his days Defift to crown, till round the pole The meafur'd months fhall ceafe to roll. 8 From fea to fea his wide command Shall reach, and from Euphrates' ftrand Through realms of various tongue extend Far as to earth's remote!! end. 9 To him the defert's tribes fhall kneel ; His foes, that on their conqu'ring fteel Repos'd erewhile their frantic truft, Shall proftrate fall, and lick the duvt [O Before MeJ/iah's pretence meet The chiefs, at whole imperial feet L3 114 PSALM LXXII. Arabia's far- divided fhores Prolific fpread their richeft (lores. J i See kings from Thar/is and each ifle Their prefents bring with willing toil ; Each prince to him fhall homage pay, Each nation own his equal fway. 12 He, when the heiplefs poor fhall cry, Shall hear propitious from on high, Health to their fainting fouls convey, And challenge from the grave its prey. 13 Nor fraud, nor rapine's iron hand Shall dare to touch the pious band ; For facred is their blood, and high Its price in his paternal eye. 14 Long fhall he live, and Sheba's gold In tributary heaps behold Difplay'd, while crouds fhall fuppliant bow, And thankful pay their daily vow. 15 Lift to the mountain's height your eyes, And fee the yellow harvefts rife, Wide-waving, as the verdure fpread On Lebanon's exalted head. 16 Behold his cities o'er the plain Pour from their gates a num'rous train, And healthful as the vernal birth, That (hades with green the joyous earth. 17 From age to age the orb of day His brighter glories fhall furvey, While man's whole race his love confefs, And, bleft in him, his name (hall blefs. 18 Exalt, exalt your hcav'nly Lord, In all hi* wondrous acts ador'd : To him in lof:ieft pra-.fes join, And blefs the Majefty divine; — 19 7'hat Majefty, who.e cloudlefs rays O'er e. rth's capacious round (hall blaze j To him again in praifes join j O blefs the Majefty divine. PSALM LXXIII. 115 PSALM LXXIII. 1 I ES : mightieft Lord! my foul has known Thy Love to lfrae/'s offspring fhown, And owns the blifs by Thee ordain'd To each who bears a heart unftain'd. z Yet, griev'd, awhile thy paths, my God, With hefitating ftep 1 trod, And, but for Thee, the faithful guide, My erring feet had fwerv'd afide. 3 As fix'd in happieil ftate I fee The foes to virtue, truth, and Thee, Their bleiiings on my thoughts impreft, With envy near had fill'd my breaft. 4 Health firings their nerves; and death, (their hour Approaching,) with remitted pow'r And how advance his eafy doom Inrlicling, bows them to the tomb. 5 Forbid the gen'ral lot to fhare Of pain, affliction, want, and care, The lawlei's tribe with cruel fkill Augment the woes that others feel. 6 Pride on their neck its chain has bound, And violence invefts them round ; Their fwelling eyes and pamper'd frame Their boundlefs appetite proclaim. 1 Their wifhes by fuccefs outrun, Their headlong wills controulment fhun j And words with fury w T ing'd impart The genuine dictates of their heart. 8 Lo, train'd to infolence and wrong, Againft the heav'ns their impious tongue Defiance and reproach has hurl'd, And unrefifted walks the world. 9 Untaught to fcan thy wife decree, With wonder, Lord, thy people fee Life's choiceft gifts their want fupply, Whofe breafts thy ev'ry threat defy ; — 10 Who afk, " Shall He our a£ls furvey, " Whofe hands th' ethereal fcepter fway ? n6 PSALM LXX1II. " Shall He, inthron'd above the ftars, " To earth's low fcene extend his cares ?" n While daring mortals thus each hour Thee, Lord, infult, and brave thy pow'r, Yet, funk in eafe, and blefl with health, Amal's in heaps their growing wealth : — 12 In vain, (thy fervant cried) in vain, I purge my breaft from ev'ry (lain, My acls conform to thy commands, And wafh in innocence my hands. 13 Each day, oppreft with fiercer! pains, Thy fcourge my chafien'd foul fuftains; Each morn, that rifing ftreaks the fky, Awakes me but to mii'ery. 14 My heart, awhile by grief affail'd, In iilence long its thought has veil'd, Left doubts like mine thy faints betray Erom thy decrees, great God, to ftray. 15 Thy conduct weigh'd, awhile my mind Its hidden caufe efi'ay'd to find ; That caufe, as deeper it inquires, Still farther from its fearch retires. 16 Thy fane at length I feek ; and there. (My anxious foul effus'd in pray'rj Inftru6ted by thy (pint, read The period to their guilt decreed. 17 I fee Thee on the (lipp'ry feat Of high ambition plant their feet, Then mark them as they downward bend, And headlong to the earth defcend. 18 Thy hand, in unexpected hour, Deftroys the phantom of their pow'r ; How fwift, how hidden is their fate ! "What horrors, Lord, their death await! 19 Wrapt in oblivion's (hade they lie, Their image vanifh'd from the eye, As the light fabric of a dream, Difiblv'd by day's intruding beam. ao Such woes, in error's fetters chain'dj Such hearufelt anguifh, I fuftain'd, PSALM LXXIV. Ti? Infenfate, as the brutes that rove Th' extended wild, or fhady grove. 21 Yet ftill thy care confefs'd me thine ; My hand within the hand divine Was lock'd ; Thou, Thou, almighty friend, Propitious fhalt my caufe defend. 22 By thy directive counfel led, Life's maze I yet, l'ecure, mail tread, And wait till thy appointed hour The promis'd glory round me pour. 23 O fay, in heav'n's capacious round What friend like Thee my foul has found j Or who, great God, on earth refides, Whofe love with thine my bread divides. 24 My heart, my fiefh have fail'd ; but Thee My lafting heritage I fee ; Thy flrength my fainting fpirit cheers, And checks my grief, and calms my fears. 25 Who, taught to fpurn his equal fway, From lfrael's God adult' rous ftray, His juftice, with reverfelefs doom, In life's full vigour fhall confume. 26 While, warm with holy tranfport, I To him with fure fuccefs apply, Him truft, and, guarded by his care, To man's whole race his a£ts declare. PSALM LXXIV. 1 O THOU, whofe hand has Ifrael led, His fold enlarg'd, his pafture fpread, Why haft thou doom'd us thus to bear A long exclufion from thy care ? 2 Why thus beneath thy anger groan The flock, whom thou haft feal'd thine own ? Call to thy thought the facred band Once own'd the purchale of thy hand ;— • 3 The heritage by Thee redeem'd, Fair Sion's mount, where copious ftream'd Th' eternal light, and fpoke her fhrine The feat of majefty divine. n5 PSALM LXXIV. 4 Lift to that feat thy fteps again j See defolation fpread her reign Around it, and its wide extent Each mark of hofti'.e rage prefent. 5 With clamours fierce a lawlei's train The filence of thy courts profane, And bid their ftandard to the fkies Aloft in haughty triumph rife. 6 As when the woodman's ftroke invades The lofty grove's thick-woven fhades, So through thy temple's awful bounds, No.v here, now there, the axe reiounds ;— J Down, down in fhapelcfs ruins fall The fculptures fair that grae'd its wall, Rich with the foreit's nobleft fpoil, And wrought by heav'n-dire&ed toil. 8 Along thy violated dome Intruding flames licentious roam, Swift, Lord, the fiery deluge ftrays, And wraps the fabric in its blaze. 9 Thy ipacious courts, and tow'rs fublime, Whole roofs through long- revolving time With holy wonder ftruck each eye, Now heap'd in dire confuiion lie. io " Come," thus th' intuiting foe has cried, " Come, deal the vengeance far and wide ; " And let the flames with equal doom " Each houfe of I/raets God confume." 1 1 They fpeak ; and, inftant, all around The blazing ruins ftrew the ground} No more thy wonders to our eyes, Bleft fignals of thy prefence, rife. 12 No more the prophet's lips thy will In myftic oracles reveal, Or to thy people's view difclofe The deftin'd period of their woes. 13 But fay, O fay, great God, how long Thus unchaftis'd the hoftile tongue Shall mock thy pow'r, thy fear difclaim, And load with loud reproach thy name. PSALM LXXIV. 119 14 "While crimes like thefe redrefs demand, Why in thy bofom fleeps thy hand? O pluck it forth, and let the foe Repentant feel th' inflitted blow. 15 Thee from of old my king 1 fee, Nor knows my heart a friend but Thee : Thine arm alone, in Jacob's right, rlas turn'd each adverle pow'r to flight. 16 At thy command, the wat'ry deeps Sufpended ftood, in liquid heaps ; And fafe, as o'er the fandy wafte, Th' admiring troops betwixt them pafs'd. 17 The proud Lev-at/nw, his head Low to thy ftroke fubmitted, bled, And, 'midtt returning- waves, his train Ground their mighty king are (lain. iS While Rapine waits upon the ftrand, And calls from far her hungry band, That fcatter'd range the delert wide, The promis'd banquet to divide. 19 Thy Ihoke the rock's dark entrails clave ; Forth from its depth the foaming wave Sprang inftant, and with lengthen'd train Iniguous lav'd the thirfty plain. xo Thy mandate Jordan's channel dried, And backward roll'd his wond'ring tide ; "While Ifrael's fons, by Thee, O God, Conducted, fafe the channel trod. •21 By Thee prepar'd. the night and day Alternate walk th' ethereal way ; Thv art the light's thin texture fpun, And with it cloth'd the jocund fun. 22 Thy hand the earth's vaft fabric rounds, Its balance fixes, marks its bounds, With fummer's fhow'rs its glebe unbinds, Or warps it with the wintry winds. 13 Parent of nature ! God fupreme '. While folly's fons thy acls blafpheme, O vindicate thy name from wrong, And filenee the reproachful tongue. 120 PSALM LXXV. 24 Let not the fangs of cruel pow'r Thy trembling turtle's life devour, Nor dark oblivion's fhade our pain For ever from thy thought detain. 25 O give the flock that bears thy name, Thy fed'ral mercy yet to claim ; Behold within each cavern'd cell Fraud, violence, and rapine dwell. 26 Behold ; and let th' afflicted poor, From terror and from fhame fecure, With grateful heart, and joyous tongue, Wake to thy praife the hallow'd fong. 27 Rife, mightieft Lord, thy caufe defend; Wide o'er a guilty race extend Thy rod, and let the needful blow Reprefs the licence of the foe. 28 O let thy hand correal: their fin, Whole hearts thy mercy fails to win, Whofe mad prefumption ev'ry hour With heighten'd rage infults thy pow'r. PSALM LXXV. j JL HY name, immortal God, thy name Out love and higheft praife (hall claim, Whofe acts atteft Thee ever near, And plant within each heart thy fear. 2 To me, to me the hour is known, When, feated on th' appointed throne,, My juftice fhall afi'ert its laws, And arbitrate each dubious caufe. 3 Though all the land before mine eye Diflblv'd in wide confufion lie, Secure from lapfe its pillars ftand, And reft on my fupporting hand. 4 Lift not the horn, ye fons of pride, (Aloud with fierce rebuke I cried,) Lift not the horn ; nor thus in vain With ftubborn neck oppofe my reign. 5 Shall pow'r, to eaft or weft inclin'd, Float cafual on the wafting wind, PSALM LXXVI. Or iflue from the climes, that blaze Beneath the fun's meridian rays ? 6 That God, who erft the heav'ns outfpread, The regal crown from head tG head Transfers ; wealth, honour, pow'r, his doorft At will fhall grant, at will relume. 7 His hand the full-charg'd cup prefents, While red with wrath its wine ferments, Whofe mixture earth's rebellious train Low to its utmoft dregs fhall drain. S But I, with facred tranfport fill'd, To Jacob's God my praife will yield ; Through life's continu'd round, my tongue Shall wake to him the joyous long. 9 Behold me, conqu'ring in his right, Now crufh the horn of impious might, Now bid the juft, that profirate lies, With lifted head triumphant rile. PSALM LXXVI. i 1 HY confines, Judah, God have known, His greatnefs 1/raePs offspring own, His glories Salem's temple fill, And reft on Sion's facred hill. 2 There broke his hand the fword and fhield, And caft them ufelefs on the field : There fnapp'd the arrows wing'd with fire, And bade the raging war expire. 3 O cloth'd with majeftv divine, O fay, what ftrength fhall equal thine ? Not fuch the mountains boaft, whofe feat To robbers yield a fafe retreat. 4 Each hoftile, each infulting pow'r, Thy faints impatient to devour, Who wont with fpoils the earth to heap, Now, fpoil'd themfelves, have flept their fleep-- 5 Amaz'd the chiefs were feen to ftand ; Nor knew the once refiftlefs hand Its talk, but, fummon'd to their aid, Shrunk trembling back, and difobey'd, M is* PSALM LXXVII. 6 The fteed, the car that o'er the plain Rufh'd headlong on, nor heard the rein, With horror ftruck confefs Thee nigh, And wrapt in iron {lumber lie. 7 Thou, Thou alone our fear (halt claim : O who, when, kindled to a flame, Thy vengeance (hall its debt demand, Shall dare within thy fight to ftand? * Earth heard, when God the judgment g^ve. And rofe, his injur'd faints to fave, In filent dread beheld his look, And inftant to her centre fhook. 9 While impious crouds oppofe thy reign, Thou, Lord, their fury (halt reftrain, Thy ftroke correct their ftubborn will, And teach them at thy fhrine to kneel. io Low to our God, ye nations, bow, Yield to his name the faithful vow, Him ferve with fear, and duteous bring Your prefents to the heav'nly King ; — 1 1 That King, whofe fword, in wrath applied, Lops in mid growth the tyrant's pride, And threatful bids each earthly throne His mightier fway fubmiffive own. PSALM LXXVII. i x O God my fuppliant voice 1 rear, With holy violence his ear Solicit, and expectant kneel, Till he my inward anguifh heal. ; To Him with fervent zeal I cried, In whom alone my hopes refide ; With ftretch'd-out hand, and reftlefs thought, Befet with woes, his aid I fought. 3 When night's dark (hades the earth invefi, And weary nature finks to reft, Still, deaf to comfort, I complain, And give my ftruggling griefs the rein. 4 Now f.x'd on God, to Him in pray'r My fainting fpirk pour'd its care> PSALM LXXVII. 121 And words in artlefs form compos'd, The tumult of my foul difclos'd : 5 Now, dumb with forrow while 1 weep, My eyes their ceafelefs vigils keep : Anon my mind its fearch began ; And back to diftant years I ran, — 6 The years, whofe wonders to my tongue Yield fruitful themes of joyous long, And deep inquiry to my bread At midnight's thoughtful hour fuggeft. T Will God a heart, opprels'd as mine, For ever to its griefs refign ? Has mercy from his bofom fled ? My hope his promife vainly fed ? 8 Forgets th' Almighty to be kind ? And fhall his love, in wrath connn'd> No more its wonted aid bellow, Or fix a meafure to my woe ? 9 Now reafon's pow'rs collected rife, And thus each anxious doubt chaftife ; Though preft with various ills I fland, And mourn the changes of his hand, — i 10 His worksj atchiev'd in ages paft, Shall fix'd in my remembrance laft ; His wonder9 on my thought fhall dwell, My tongue his acts unwearied tell. in For fanctity thy counfel guides, And o'er thy paths, bleft Sire, prefides ; Where finds, O where, the fearching eye A God, with IJraePs God to vie ? lx Maker of all! at thy command Revers'd the laws of nature Hand ; Stupendous fcenes thy acts afford, And bid the nations know their Lord. 13 Let Jacob andkt Joftph fay, How ftrong thy arm to chafe away Each woe, that waits thy people near, Each danger, that excites their fear. 14 The deeps beheld Thee, heav'nly King '. The deeps beheld Thee ; and each fpring* Biz 124 PSALM LXXVIII. That rofe from out their fandy bed, Tumultuous own'd its fudden dread. 15 lncefl'ant from the burfting cloud Down ftream'd the bidden rain ; aloud PeaFd the big thunder ; through the fky Thy flaming (hafts were feen to fly; — 16 And, as thy voice around the pole In awful threats was heard to roll, Earth trembling groan'd, while o'er her head Its livid fheet the lightning fpread. 17 Wide yawn'd the flood from fhore to fhore, And op'd a path unknown before, While l/raets guardian, and his God, With tracklefs ftep its channel trod. 18 As fheep to diftant paftures led, Secure thy people march'd, convey'd By Mofes' and by Aaron 's hand, To promis'd Canaan 's happy land. PSALM LXXVIII. 7 I E nations, to my law give ear, The dictates of my lips revere, While heav'n-taught parables they yield, And truths in myftic fong conceai'd ; — a Truths, which, from earlieft ages heard, To us in facred truft transferr'd, From fire to fon fucceffive flow, That lateft times our God may know ;— 3 That lateft times in thankful verfe His boundlefs mercies may rehearfe, And own the wonders of his hand, Whole pow'r prefides o'er Judah's land. 4 He, bounteous parent of mankind, His law to Jacob's race confign'd, (Fit theme ! — and worthy to engage Th' attention of each future age !) 5 That children, yet unborn, might learn That law, and yield the juft return ; Truft in his aid, his works record, And mask the precepts of his word:—* PSALM LXXV1II. 125 6 Unlike the fathers of their line, Who, rebels to the will divine, Turn'd from that word their flubborn ear, Nor fought his love, nor own'd his fear. 7 Lo, Ephraims ions ; a heartlel's train, That, arm'd for war, but arm'd in vain, With bows unbended from the fight In wild diforder urg'd their flight. 8 His (acred league, and juft decrees, By them forgot, th' Almighty fees, His wonders by their fires beheld, On Nile's wide banks, and Zoan's field, 9 What hand but His, from fide to fide Could bid the foaming deep divide, In liquid heaps iulpended (land, And fafe tranfmit the chofen band ? 10 That hand the cloud around them threw, Day's kindled fervours to fubdue ; And, lit by him, with friendly ray The fire nocturnal led their way. n To quench their thirft, the copious wave, Call'd from the rock, its waters gave, And onward pour'd with headlong hade, Luxuriant lav'd the burning wafte. 12 Strange to relate! yet, ftranger ftill, Their bands, rebellious to his will, In rafh and heighten'd fin confpire, And dare to wrath the heav'nly Sire. 13 As Ifraei's fons, by luft impell'd, Their courfe along the defert held, Each from th' Almighty's lib'ral hands Meat for his fancied wants demands. 14 " Will God, to give his people bread, •' A table in the defert fpread ? " Our eyes have own'd the flinty rock " Obfequious to his mighty ftroke, — 15 " Have l'een the ftreams, with lengthen'd train, " Run copious o'er the thirfty plain j " But can his (tores, exhauftlefs ftill, " With flefri our hung'ring myriads fill ?" ■ «3 ii5 PSALM LXXVIIL 1 6 He hears, and now, in kindling flames, His vengeance dire at Ifrael aims, Whole impious l'peech a heart betray'd Diftruftful of his promis'd aid. 17 God opes for men the doors of heav'n, Back to their wifh the clouds are driv'n, And, downward pour'd, th' ethereal grain. In wide profufion fills the plain. 18 Their wants attentive to fupply, He gives them manna from on high ; His fulleft bounties they have known, And angels food and theirs are one. 19 The winds, that o'er the defert fly, New paths, by Him directed, try, And onward, through th' aerial way, In flocks the vagrant fowls convey ; — 20 Till o'er their tents the cloud impends, And down the living fhow'r defcends, Thick as the duft, or as the land That lies upon the fea-beat ftrand. 21 Fed to the full, th' infenfate throng At will the joyous feaft prolong, No more their frenzy they reftrain, But give their wild defires the rein ; — 22 While o'er their heads the vengeful fword Hangs viewlefs, and but waits the word To match their princes to the tomb, And Ifrael's choiceft ftrength confume. 23 See fuff'rings ftill to fuff' rings join'd Correct not Jfrael's faithlefs mind, Though fhorten'd in duration flow Their years, and meafur'd out by woe. 24 When, ftruck by his refiftlefs hand, Their tribes lie fcatter'd o'er the land, Thus fcourg'd, his pow'r they humbly own, And early bow before his throne. t< With feeming gratitude poflefs'd, His arm each tongue their fhield confefs'd ; And, " who fo ftrong to lave," they cry, " As Thou, great ruler of the fky?" PSALM LXXVTfl. rgy i£ Diffemblirh; praife their lip?; prepare, Arrd lolemn mockery of pray'r, While, deep within, a mind they nurfe To truth and to his laws averfe. Sj Yet he their trefpais can forgive,. And bid th' obdurate fmners live ; Ofr arts of mild perfnafion tries, Bior lets his whole difpleafure rife, i* Indulgent he their frame furvey'd, Of flefh and frailty knew them made ;— A wind, that, life's fhort paflfage o'er, Flits tranfient, and returns no more. zy The conlcious wildernefs fhall tell How IfratVs thanklefs race rebel ; How oft, by mercies unfubdu'd, They grieve their Maker, juft and good. 3P Yea, frantic, to their will they bind The counfels of th' eternal Mind, And boldly challenge to the reft His pow'r, fo late their aid confeft, — 5,r "When Cham's proud offspring felt his hani DifTufing vengeance through their land,. And fceneS each hour, to nature new, In dreadful feries met their view, jx Their Nile corrupted now they mourn, And, though with ficrceft thirft they burn, Start back, affrighted, from the flood ; For ah ! its channel foams with blood. 53. Athirft for human gore, the fly- In countlefs legions fills the iky, And frogs, where'er th' Egyptians tread, With dire intrufion round them fpread. 54 The beetle, 7 cluft'ring on their trees, Now haftes the ripen' d fruit to feize, While locufts fell the tiller's toil Confume, and riot in the fpoil. 35 By furious blafts deftroy'd, and torn, Their fallen fhades the forefts mourn ; Their froft-burnt fig-trees fade and die, Their vines by hailltones ruin'd lie. U$ PSAL^I LXXVIII. 36 The fiurdy tenants of the ftall Beneath the rattling tempefts fall ; The flocks, by fire ethereal flam, In heaps promifcuous ftrew the plain. 57 Wrath, horror, trouble, at his word, Quick on the guilty race were pour'd, And angel-forms with dreadful hafte From door to door vindictive pafs'd. 38 With courfe direft his vengeance flew, Its path, by him inftructed, knew, And peftilence with noxious breath Sovv'd through the air the feeds of death. 3$ Now to the grave, with anguifh torn, Each mother yields her eldeit-horn, And Egypt, through her wafted mores, The firlt-fruits of her ftrength deplores. 40 Now, 1/rael, fhines the day to thee, That bids thy captive ions go free, Safe as beneath the fhepherd's care The flocks from wafte to wafte repair. 41 Each hoitile fear, by Him difpell'd, Their deftin'd courfe his people held, While deep beneath the whelming wave Their proud purfuers found a grave. 4a Behold them, borne to feats of reft, Seats by his hallow'd prefence bleft, With joyful ftep the mount afcend, By his victorious arm obtain'd. 43 Lo ! there, refiftlefs, Jacob's line The tribes whom Canaan's tents confine Ey heav'n's high doom appointed quell, And from their forfeit lands expel. 44 Yet, like their fires, perverfe they prove, Rejedt the offers of his love, And, led from wifdom's path aftray, Purfue the tenour of their way. 45 As darts aflant the bow of fteel, And faithlefs mocks the archer's fkili, They, rebels to his juft command, Elude the guidance of his hand. PSALM LXXVIII. z+$ 46. On interdicted hills uprais'd, With impious flame their altars blaz'd, While figures, by the artift made, Thy honours, mightieil Lord, invade- 47 See, urg'd to wrath, th' eternal Sire From Silos hallow'd tent retire, And quit the feat fo lov'd before, Refolv'd with man to dwell no more. 4? His ark, inviolated fhrine Of ftrength and majefty divine, Now wanders captive o'er the plains, Where guilt in all its horror reigns. 45 Prevailing foes, conven'd from far, On Ifrael ppur the tide of war, While God his houfhold from on high. Beholds with alienated eye. £a No virgins to the nuptial band Affenting give the plighted hand, While, fnatch'd by the devouring fire, Their fons in early youth expire. 51 The fword deftru&ion round them fpread, Nor fpar'd the prieft's anointed head ; Nor lives the widow to bemoan Her hufband's fate, but meets her own. £z His people's cry th' Eternal hears ; As, wak'd from ileep, his ftrength he rear;, Shouts like a giant cheer'd with wine, And wrathful lifts the arm divine. 53, Th' averted foe that arm confefs'd, With fhame and dire difeafe opprefs'd, Struck with furprife and wild affright. Inglorious backward urg'd their flight. 5«i But where, O Ifrael, fhall thy God Returning choofe his bleft abode? Not Ephraim'?, dwellings to his eyes, Nor thine, Manajfeh, grateful rife. 5£ On J/ulah's tribe he plac'd his care j Thy temple, Sion, founded there, From age to age his love demands, SU'd as the ground whereon it ftands. Uj PvSALM LXXIX, £6 That tribe his David's birth has known, Rais'd from a fheep-fold to a throne, O'er Jacob's realms to dretch the rod, And feed the heritage of God. 57 As o'er the wade the teeming ewes His eye with wakeful care puri'ues, A voice arrefls the youthful fwain, And calls him from the humble plain. 58 He hears, and, while each kingly art Thy fuccours to his bread impart, (All-potent Lord !) with faithful mind Ablblves the charge by Thee affign'd. PSALM LXXIX. I O IfraeFs Father, King, and God ! The heathen pow'rs thy lov'd abode Rapacious feize; the heathen pow'rs Thy fhrine profane ; and Salem's tow'rs, That ftruck with facred awe the eye, Now whelm'd in wide confufion lie. 3. Beads, and each bird that wings the air. Thy flaughter'd faints infatiate tear, "Whole blood beneath the vigor's fword In dreams round Salem's walls was pour'd \ None wept their falL, or pitying gave The cheap indulgence of a grave. 3 See on our heads each neighbour fee Reproach and fierce derifion throw ; See, Lord, and fay how long thine ire Shall blaze wkh unextinguifh'd fire, How long thy flock are dcom'd to prove The fad fuipenfion of thy love. 4 Gn nations, who thy laws difown, Nor yet, with humbled heart, have known Thy pow'r to fear, thy name invoke, ©n thefe, great God, inflift, thy droke ; On thefe, — who Jacob's drength devour, And ruin on his dwelling pour. c let not our tranfgreffions pad Within thy bread remember'd lad, PSALM LXXX. tji But hafte, whrle helplefs thus we grieve, Thy long-loft people to relieve, And, J/rael's trefpafs purg'd away, Thy boundlefs clemency difplay. ft Bleft Saviour ! let thy pow'r divine Conipicuous in our refcue fhine ; Say, why fhoald the reproaching foe His triumphs build on Julah's woe, And afk, while thus thy fcourge we bear,. " Where's now your God, ye outcafts, where?" J Behold, behold thy iervants flain ; Nor let their loud-tongued blood in vain The vengeance of thine arm demand, But give us o'er each hoftile land To fee thy wrath terrific rife, And folly's impious brood chaftffe. 2 O hear the wretched captive's groan ; The fouls, whom death has mark'd his own, Propitious fare ; the ceafelefs wrongs, By hands profane, and daring tongues, Repeated, in thy balance weigh, And fev'nfold to thy foes repay. 9 So fhall the flock acknowkdg'd thine To Thee in grateful homage join, To Thee their loudeft accents raife, With thankful voices fing thy praife ; And, long as Ifrael boafts a name, From lire to fon tran.fmit thy fame. PSALM LXXX. l SHEPHERD of Iftael, bow thine ear; O Thou our pray'r indulgent hear, Who Jofcph\ pallure haft prepar'd, His guide by day, by night his guard, z Betwixt the cherubs feated high, Glad with thy beams our longing eye; Thine aid, great God, intreated give, And teach our fainting hope to live. 3 With all, who from Manaffes claim Their birth, and all of Ephraim's nam(?> i}x PSALM LXXX. Each hoftile pow'r by Thee overthrown, Let Benjamin thy prefence own. 4 Leader of hofts, almighty Lord ! Extend thy fuccours oft implor'd ; Turn us again, thy face difplay, And grief and fear fhall fly away. | How long, my God, fhall Jfrael fee Thy wrath, while thus with bended knee Their fupplicating hands they i'pread, Smoke unextinguifh'd o'er their head? € Her food the bread of tears, her draught With forrow's largeft mixture fraught, Sad Sion fees deriding foes Her fons, their deftinM prey, inclofe. 7 Leader of hofts, almighty Lord ! Extend thy fuccours oft implor'd: Turn us again, thy face difplay, And grief and fear fhall fly away. 8 Each pow'r, O Lord, in league combin'd, To juft excifion firft confign'd, Behold a vine from Egypt's land, Tranfplanted by thy foft'ring hand, 9 Behold in Canaan's fhores her bed By Thee prepar'd, her root outfpread Far as the utmoft coaft extends, While o'er the hills her fhade afcends, ro Her branches, tow'ring to the fkies, With healthful ftem confpicuous rife, And round the cedar's lofcieft boughs Her cov'ring veil intwin'd fhe throws. i i Long cherifh'd by thy care fhe flood ; Here, verging tow'rd th' AJfyrian flood, In circuit wide the earth fhe crown'd, And there, the ocean mark'd her bound. 12 But now, in fad reverfe, (ah why?) By Thee o'erthrown the fences lie, The fruit expos'd befide the way, T» each rapacious hand a prey. 13 The favage boar with reftlei's toil Uproots it from the loofen'd foil, PSALM LXXXf. 133 And ev'ry monfter of the wood Crops from the branch his obvious food. 14 Leader of hofts, and Ifrael's Lord ! Return ; thy fuccours oft implor'd Extend: from heav'n's high feat incline Thy eyes, and vifit this thy vine. 15 See, Lord, the offspring of thy hand, The plant, which thou hadft bid to ftand, And ftrengthen'd by thy pow'r defy Each ftorm that rends the wintry fky. 16 The gath'iing flames its trunk furround, Its ruin'd honours drew the ground : Beneath the terrors of thine eye We tremble, Lord, we faint, we die. f 7 O let the man, whom, arm'd with might* Thy hand ordains our caufe to right, By Tine, great God, fupported ftand ; And fave, O lave, a finking land, j 8 So ne'er fhall fin our fouls cnflave ; O fnatch us from th' expecting grave, And ev'ry knee to Thee fhall bend, Thy praife from ev'ry tongue afcend. 19 Leader of hofts, almighty Lord! Extend thy i'uecours oft implor'd j Turn us again, thy face difplay, And grief and fear fhall fly away. PSALM LXXXI. i IO God our ftrength exalt the fong> To Jacob's Lord the note prolong ; Prepare, prepare with tuneful art Your fhares of harmony to part. - Come, take the hymn, the timbrel ring, Praife on the harp your heav'nly King ', Strike into life the trembling wire, With loudeft blafts the trump infpire. 3, For fee the moon with recent horn Lead joyous on the feftal morn, Whofe hallow'd mirth to Ifrael's tribes Thy mandate, mightieft Lord, prefwibes* N 134 PSALM LXXXI. A. Its iuft obfervance Jofeph learn'd, When, pleas'd, with parting ftep he fpum'd The ruthlefs foil, along whofe more A voice he heard unknown before. 5 Thus fpake th' Almighty, Jfrael's God, I from his moulders took the load ; I from the clav his toiling hands Releas'd, and burft his ftubborn bands. 6 O thou, the voice of whofe diitrefs From out the thunder's dark recefs, Propitious to thy pray'r, I heard ; In whofe defence my arm I rear'd ; — • 7 "Whofe faith my light inflictions tried Near Meribah's contentious tide, O Ifrael .V-i with attentive ear Thy Maker's juft injunction hear. 8 Let none thy homage claim but me, Nor bow to foreign gods the knee ; Jehovah only be thy dread ; Thy footfteps he from Egypt led. 9 He gracious bids thee wide extend Thy lap, while down his gifts defcend, And ftreaming copious from on high Yield to thy wifh the full fupply. io Lo, I th' Almighty fpake in vain ; For Jfrael's race, with fierce difdain, Refolv'd their error to purfue, Back from my yoke their neck withdrew. 1 1 No more their frenzy I reftrain, But give their wild defires the rein, And leave them guidelefs, to fulfil The dictates of a headlong will. iz O had my people in their breaft, By heav'nly difcipline imprefs'd, The leffons of my love retain'd, And trod the path by me ordain'd ; — j; When forth to war thy troops were led, Myfelf, O Ifrael, at their head Had met the battle on its way, Thy guide to time's remoteft day ; — PSALM LXXXII. LXXXIII. 135 14 Each humbled foe had own'd thy pow'r To eafe thy want, its pureft flour Th' augmented harveft had beftow'd, And honey from the rock had fiow'd. PSALM LXXXII. 1 WHILE cloth'd with pow'r divine, their bar Earth's lords have fix'd, a mightier far Amidft the coniiftory ftands, And juftice from their lips demands. 2 How long fhall your unequal fcale Thus bid the impious caul'e prevail ? Why are your thoughts by fallehood fway'd, And not in realbn's balance weigh'd? 3 Let law the orphan's claim l'ecure ; Lend to the helplels and the poor Your willing ear; afl'ert their right, And fave them from oppreffive might. 4 In vain I call : their ftubborn mind To blackeft darknefs is refign'd, While earth the dire confulion feels, And, groaning, to her centre reels. 5 Gods ye were nam'd ; earth's tribes in you The fons of heav'n's high Monarch view j But death your frailty mail betray, And mix with vulgar mould your clay. 6 Rife, mightieft King, to judgment rife, Th' opprefs'd redeem, the proud chafhle, Till man's whole offspring Thee alone Their Lord and juft pofleflbr own. PSALM LXXXIII. 1 My God, no longer filent ftand, No longer let thy pow'rful hand Withhold its oft-requefted aid, While thus thy foes our peace invade;— 2 While flufh'd with hope the impious band In. mingled tumult round us ftand, Exulting in our forrows rile, And brave with lifted head the flcies. Ni *3* PSALM LXXXIII. 3 Behold thrm, Lord, their arts employ, The heav'n-rais'd people to deftroy, The fouls, whom with thy favour crown'd Thy fecret prefence wraps around. 4 " Come," thus, by lawlefs fury led, Aloud they cry, "deftru&ion fpread " Along their defolated fhore, " Till l/rael's name be heard no more." 5 Their leagues, their plans, with frantic aim, Againft Omnipotence they frame ; And, fir'd to rage, with fierce alarms The headlong nations rufh to arms. 6 The tents of Edom o'er the plain Here vomit forth their impious train, While, Lord, the ions of I/hmael's line The harnefs'd Agar&ans join. 7 Here Gebal, Moab, Ammon ftand, With vengeance arm'd th' unconquer'd band Of Amalek in clofe array The triumphs of their heart betray. 8 See, fearlefs, with imperial Tyre Philiftia's habitants confpire ; See Ajfur draw the hoftile blade, And lend to Lot's vile race his aid. 9 But give them, Lord, thine arm to feel, That arm that made fierce Mldimn reel, And to th' expecting mother's pride Her Sifcrds return denied ; — io That Jabin's warlike troops fubdu'd Xear ancient Kifons purpled flood, While Endor l/rael's foes beheld Enrich with flaughter'd heaps her field. 1 1 As Oreb and as Zceb o'erthrown, Let l/rael's foes their crimes bemoan, And feel what wrath th' Almighty's fword On Zebah and Zalmunna pour'd. 12 Such let their princes, Lord, endure, Who vaunting to their arms infure The land, by holy patriarchs trcd. The heritage ©f Jacob's God. PSALM LXXXIV. 137 1 j Such let their princes ever find ; As thiftle-down before the wind, As chaff, as ftubble, let them fly, That driv'n in air obi'cure the fky. 14 Swift as the fiery deluge ftrays, And wraps the foreft in its blaze, Or, furious, onward as it pours, The mountains fhaggy wafte devours,— 15 Purfue them, mightiefl Lord, purfue, And let thy vengeance, to their view Prefented, whelm their fouls in dread, And burft in tempefts o'er their head. 16 With wild confufion clothe their cheek, And teach them, Lord, thy name to feek, While ruin, death, and fhame, they fee To each ordairi'd, that errs from Thee. 17 " Jehovah" (hall the rebels cry, " Jehovah only reigns on high, " And o'er the earth from day to day " Aflerts his everlafting fway." PSALM LXXXIV. 1 XlOW fweet thy dwellings, Lord, how fait! What peace, what blifs, inhabit there ! With ardent hope, with ftrong defire, My heart, my flefh, to Thee afpire ; I burn to tread thy courts, and Thee, My God, the living God, to fee. t Eternal King, within thy dome The fparrow finds her peaceful home ; V\ ith her the dove, a licens'd gueft, Affiduous tends her infant neft, And to thy altar's fure defence Commits th' unfeather'd innocence. 3 Bleft, who, like thefe, from day to day To praife Thee in thy temple ftay; Bleft, who, their ftrength on Thee reclin'd, Thy feat explore with conftant mind, And, Salem's diftant tow'rs in view, With a&ive zeal their way purfue. N3 i3« PSALM LXXXV. 4 Secure the thirfty vale they tread, While, call'd from out their fandy bed, As grateful fhow'rs from heav'n diftill'd, Which frefheft, kindlieft moifture yield, The copious fprings their fteps beguile, And bid the cheerlefs defert l'mile. 5 from ftage to ftage advancing ftill, Behold them reach fair Sion's hill, And proftrate at her hallow'd fhrine, Adore the Majefty divine, Where thy refulgent glory fpreads Its pureft fplendors o'er their heads. 6 O Thou, whom heav'n's high hofts revere, God of our fathers, bow thine ear ; Look down, our only hope ! look down, Behold us, but without a frown ; And let thy beams, in mercy fhed, Stream copious on th' anointed head. 7 One day if in thy courts 1 dwell, That day a thouland fhall excel ; Far happier lot on Thee to wait, And guard th' approaches of thy gate, Than with the impious fons of pride In rich pavilions to abide. 8 Thou, Lord, art l/raets fun and fhield ; Thy love fhall grace and glory yield, Nor e'er permit the pious train Thy gifts to afk, and afk in vain : Bleft, who in confidence of pray'r To Thee, great God, refign their care. PSALM LXXXV. 1 OUR eyes, great God, have feen thy grace- Its beams effufe on Jacob's PSALM CVI. 33 Froftrate they fall to fculpturM ftone, And frenzy's deepeft influence own, ' To daemons rear'd their altars ftand, And fcenes of blood pollute the land. 34 While with untrembling hands the fires Their ion, their daughter, to the fires A vi&im yield ; and, of their cry Regardlefs, fee their offspring die. 35 To images, to lifelefs gods, (Such, Canaan, fhame thy dire abodes;) Streams on the knife the filial gore, And, guiltlefs, ftains th' unhallow'd floor. 36 What, Ifrael, now (hall wafh thee clean, While lefions of inventive fin Have prompted thy adult'rous heart Thus from thy Maker to depart ? 37 Fierce o'er thy head his anger burns j From his own heritage he turns, Abhorrent : now let Jacob's foes At will th' abandon'd race inclofe. 38 Behold them by oppreffion torn, And fix'd the mark of hoftile fcorn, With flatt'ring lip their homage pay, And trembling own tyrannic fway. 3 9 Oft they were fav'd, and oft again Rebellious fpurn'd his equal reign, Again their ruin'd ftate deplor'd, -And bow'd beneath a foreign lord. 40 Vet He with pity from on high, True to his compact, heard their cry, His hand in their defence he' rear'd, And gracious in their caufe appear'd. 41 He faw them drag the fervile chain, And, ftudious to relieve their pain, Companion's tend'reft fenfe imprefs'd On the ftern vigor's iron breaft. 4Z O, ftill our father, ftill our friend, To IfraeFs woes, great God, attend ; From diftant climes, and hoftile lands, Collect once more our fcattcr'd bands ;— PSALM CVIL i&i 43 Tliat Sion with delighted ear '1 he hallow'd Arams again may hear ; Thy name the fubject of each long, Thy praife the boaft of ev'ry tongue. 44 O thankful hail th' Almighty Lord, The God by Jacob's fons adoi'd ; His fame, ere time its courfe began,. O'er heav'n's wide region echoing ran. 45 To him through endlei's ages raife One fong of oft-repeated praife j And let confenting nations join To blefs with us the pow'r divine. Hallelujah, PSALM CVII. 2 iO God above from all below Let hymns of praife afcend ; Whofe bleffings unexhauftcd flow, Whofe mercy knows no end. 2 But chief by thofe his name be bleft, To whom his aid he gave ; Beheld them by the foe opprefs'd, And reach'd his arm to lave. 3 To eaft, to weft, to fouth, to north, Condemn'd awhile to roam, His hand in pity brought them forth, And call'd the wand'rers home. 4 Behold them o'er the defert dray, A helplefs, hopelefs, train : Some city, where their fteps to (lay, They leek, but feek in vain. 5 Ah ! what fhall cheer their fainting mind, Or what their woes afluage, To thirft's afflictive pain confign'd, And famine's fierceft rage ? 6 Diftrefs'd, to God they make their pray'r ; He guides, directs their feet ; And, fafe in his protecting care, They reach their deftin'd feat. 7 O then that a,ll would blefs his name, Whofe mercy thu-s they prove, R i8* PSALM CVflf. And pleas'd from age to age proclaim The wonders of his love ! 8 That love, whofe gifts with thankful breaft The fens of want divide, And find their ev*ry grief redrefs'd, Their eVry wifh fupplied. 9 Ifraely by God'b avenging hand, Death's gloomy fhades detain ; To thefe he adds the iron band, And forrow's heavier chain. 10 Such is the doom to thofe affign'd, Who, frantic, durft withftand The ccunfels of th' Almighty Mind,, And fpurn his-juft command. 1 1 O'erwhelm'd \Vith ceepeft woe they lie, And finking to the grave ; No pitying ear attends' their cry, No hand is nigh to fave. 12 Diftrcfs'd, to God they make their pray'r ; He, inftant, near them ftands, Difpels theglOom of black defpair, And breaks their ftubborn band?. ?3 O then that all would blefs his name, "Whofe mercy thus they prove, ' ' And pleas'd from age to age proclaim ■ The wonders, of his love ! • 14 That love, that oft its fuccour'gives, ■ The captive's woes to heal, The gates of brafs in funder cleaves, And burfts the bars of fteel. j£ Beneath God's terrors bid to groan, Lo ! Judak's finful band The fruits of folly reap, and own The juftice of his hand. j6 EftrangM from food, their languid foul The needful meal foregoes ; Life feels its current faintly roll, And haftens to its clofe. -.1 Diftrcfs'd, to God they make their f I And nature, joyous, fees PSALM CVII. J*3 His word her ruin'd ftrength repair, Her fierceft tortures eal'e. 1 8 O then that all would blefs his name, Whofe mercy thus they prove, And pleas'd from age to age proclaim The wonders of his love ! 19 That realms of various tongue would fing His a£h in frequent lays, And yield to heav'n's eternal King The facrifice of praife ! so Who o'er the waves from fhore to fhore The gifts of commerce bear, The wonders of the deep explore, And own that God is there. 21 By thefe his works are feen ; his ways By thefe are understood ; He fpeaks the word ; the ftorm obeys, And rifmg lifts the flood, as Now high as heav'n the bark afcends, Now feeks the depth below ; Each heart beneath the terror bends, And melts with inward woe. 23 As gorg'd with wine, in wild amaze They reel from fide to fide ; Nor hope furvives, their fouls to raife, Nor reafon wakes to guide. 24 Diftrefs'd, to God they make their pray'r; Obedient to his will, The ftorms that rag'd their rage forbear, The feas that roar'd are ftill. 25 Each grief, each fear, at once refign'd, They fee their labour o'er ; Then, led by him, their haven find, And touch the wifhM-tor fhore. 2,6 O then that all would blefs his name, Whofe mercy thus they prove, And pleas'd from age to age proclaim The wonders of his love ! z) That Salem in her l'acred fhrine His pruil'e with thankful tongue i?* psalm crn. Would utter ; while her elders join To fwell the feftal fong ! xS God bids ; and lo ! a burning wafte, Where roll'd the floods before ; And, touch'd by the defcending blaft, The fprings are feen no more. 29 Sad witnefs of lbtne dire offence, Behold the fertile foil No more its wonted gifts difpenfe, But mock the tiller's toil. 30 He bids ; and o'er the defert wide The liquid lake is fpread ; New fprings the thirfty earth divide, And murm'ring lift the head. 31 There myriads, late with hunger wan, By him afTembled, meet ; There pleas'd the future city plan, And fix their fure retreat. 3Z And now th*y fow the foodful grain, The tender vine thev rear ; Now waves the harveft o'er the plain* And plenty crowns the year. 33 Blefrin his care, the fires with joy A num'rous race behold ; Nol dares difeafe their herds annoy, Or wafte the peopled fold. 34 If Jfrael, funk with heavieft woe, Endure opprefion's pow'r ; If civil rage, or conqu'ring fee, Their boafted ftrength devour ;— 35 Though, humbled from their ftate, awhil« Their princes feel his rod, And wander e'er a barren foil, By human ftep untrorl, — 36 His hand affords the wifh'd releafe, Collefls their lcatfer'd train, And bids them like the flecks increafe, That fill the verdant plain. 37 Such truths his fervants mail atteft, And, joyful, wake the fong ; Psalm cviii. 185 While fliame the impious (hall inveft, And chain their (peechlefs tongue. 38 His works attentive while it fees, The heav'n-inftructed mind Shall own, how equal his decrees, . His providence how kind. PSALM CVIII, t My heart is fix'd, eternal Sire ; My heart is fix'd ; to Thee afpire My thoughts, and dictate to my lays An argument of endlefs praife. 2 To Thee, great God, my joyous tongue Preluding forms the grateful fong; That tongue, whofe higheft praife (hall be The pow'r it boafts of praifing Thee. J Awake, my lute, and new-firung lyre; Inftinft, myfelf, with holy fire I wake ; and lo, the dawning, fun Already hears the {train begun. 4 From me afiembling crowds (hall bura The triumphs of thy love to learn, And, rapt with zeal, the nations round Catch from my lips the facred found. 5 Lo ! to the clouds thy truth extends, And heav'n's ftupendous height tranfcends j Far as to earth's extremeft bound Tn all thy works is mercy found. 6 Inthron'd thyfelf above the fkies, O, bid thy fulleft glory rife, And to the earth with cloudlefs ray The wonders of thy pow'r difplay. 7 The juft, bled objefts of thy love. Defend propitious from above ; Let me with them thy mercy (hare, And hear, O hear, my ceafelefs pray'r. 8 God's truth (hall ne'er forget to guard The promife by his lips declar'd ; And what th' Almighty Monarch wills. My ready hand with joy fulfils, R3 SS« PSALM CIX. 9 Behold mc Siehfm's plain divide ; My line, to Succoth's vale applied, Its bound defcribes ; thee mine I fee, O GileaJ, and, ManaJ/'es, thee. 10 Thou, Epkraim, ait my ftrong defence, Thou, Judah, (halt my law difpenfe } A diff rent lot fhall Moab find, A vafe to vilefl ufe affign'd. ii A doom like his mail KJom meet, And wipe the duft from oft' my feet ; Philiftia fhall her tribute bring, And own in me her future king. ii Who, as cur troops in clofe array To Edam's forts direft their way, Arm'd with refiftlefs ftrength fhall bid Her gates unfold, her bolts recede ? 13 Behold us, Lord, opprefs'J with woe, As exil'd from thy care we go ; Shall JfraePs hofts, thy aid withheld, Still unfuccefsful take the field ? 14 Our hope, 0- man repos'd in vain, O let thy ftrength, great God, fuftain ; And let us on thy help reclin'd In Thee our firm protector find. 15 Thus arm'd, each adverfe pow'r we-dare, And dauntlefs meet the rufhing war, "While from thy fword our foes retire, Or trampled in the duft expire. PSALM CIX. 1 (rOD of my praife, thy filence break ; Thy timelieft aid my woes befpeak, While tongues to falfehood train'd prepare To wrap me in the deathful fnare. i Now words of deepeft art they try ; Now hoftile threats around me fly ; And crowds, inflam'd with caufelefs rage, Wars, fierceft wars, againft me wage. 3 While thus, with enmity profeft, My fame they wound, my peace moleft, PSALM CIX. 187 While ftedfaft hate my love repays, To Thee my foul inceflant prays. 4 But O ! what anguifh rends my mind, What keen regret ! condemn'd to find, As gifts on gifts my hands beftow, In each expe&ed friend a foe. 5 On him, whofe heart, with malice fraught, Againft my peace has bent its thought, O let thy juftice, Lord, by me Aloud proclaim its fix'd decree. 6 Arraign'd at ftern oppreffion's bar, Some dread accufer let him fhare, That, planted on his right, may ftand, And vengeance from his judge demand. 7 Nor let his deprecation win The wifh'd for pardon to his fin, But witnels of his guilt become, And feal, beyond reverfe, his doom. 8 Let death's accelerated day ** To worthier hands his charge convey, His roof a weeping widow fee, Her orphans hanging at her knee. 9 While as from morn to eve they roam, Some ruin'd cell their cafual home, Let thefe, by pinching hunger led, Seek at the rich man's gate their bread. :o The finner's wealth let rapine fpoil j The gather'd harveft of his toil Let fell extortion's hand furprife, While each his woes unpitying eyes. 11 And let his race, no fuccour near, Corrected, leiTon in thy fear This age ; and, one fucceffion o'er, Be feen by human eye no more, iz Let what of fin his fires have done, What guilt his mother's lftart has known, In heav'n be noted, and their crime Recorded fland to endlefs time. • K3 Let wrath and horror at thy word Quick on th" abandon'd offspring pour'dj 188 PSALM CLK. The meafure of their fins fulfill'd, Their name to juft extinction yield. i+ Lord, on the wretch let vengeance reft, Who, when with heavieft woes opprefs'd The helplefs innocent he view'd, With murd'rous hate his foul purfu'd* 15 In curfes, for in them hlsJieart Delighted, let him bear his part* Dread fpettacle ! a foe profeft To bleffing, and himfelf unbleft. 16 Himfelf he veils in curlings dire, That, fprung from hell-enkindled fire> Like water fhall his bowels rend, Like oil into his bones defcend. 1 7 Faft as his vefture to his fide Still let them cleave, by Thee applied, And, o'er his loins for ever bound, In painful cincture wrap him round. 18 Such recompence my foe fhall claim, Such all who blaft with lies my fame ; But let thy grace on me beftow'd Thy name exalt, immortal God. 19 Thy love, O Lord, thy love reveal, And ftretch the hand my heart to heal, That fainting pours th' incefiant groan, And forrow's deepeft wounds has known. 20 To life's laft verge, impell'd by woe, Faft as the flitting fhade I go ; Chas'd as the locuft fee me roam, My ftrength by hunger's force o'ercorrro, 21 While thus within my wafted frame Sinks, half extinct, the vital flame, Reproaching foes, around me fpread, With haughtieft triumph fhake the head. 22 Thy wonted clemency beftow, And give them, mightieft Lord, to know, Thy care extended to my aid, Thy pow'r in their repulfe difplay'd. 23 Though curs'd by them, yet blefs me Thou 3 O teach their ftubborn hearts to bow j PSALM CX. 189 And let their rage, by Thee fupprefs'd, With grateful tranfport fill my breaft. 14 On each, who calls himfelf my foe, Let fhame its thitkeft mantle throw ; Let black difgrace their name o'erfpread, Who aim their curfes at my head. 25 While I, amid th' aflembled throng, Raife to my God the ceafelefs fong, Who, conftant at his fide, the poor From lawlefs judgment fhall fecure. PSALM CX. I XH' Almighty Lord, beneath whofe feat The ftarry orbs their courfe repeat, In awful majefty array'd, Thus to my Lord MeJ/tah faid — 1 Come feat thee at my own right hand, Till, at my word, the hoftile band, As low with proftrate necks they lie, A footftool to thy fteps fupply. 3 Thy God from Siott's lofty tow'r Shall bid thee ftretch the rod of pow'r; Victorious o'er the rebel train, Arife, and vindicate thy reign. 4 Behold the long-expefted day, When willing crowds their homage pay 5 To Thee their facred off' rings bring, And hail their Saviour and their King. 5 Thy future offspring view, a birth More num'rous than the dews, on earth, Beneath the twilight's dubious gloom, Diffus'd from morn's prolific womb. € Th' irrevocable oath is fworn ; '* My beft-belov'd, my eldeft-born, *' Charg'd with th* eternal priefthood fee, " And rank'd, Melchizxdec, with thee." 7 Thine arm th' anointed prince fhall fhield, Thou, Lord, befide him tread the field, While kings fhall feel th' inflifted wound, And hardieft warriors prefs the ground. I$0 PSALM CXL 8 His name the fubjeft -world (hall awe, His i'word to diftant lands give law ; By him their fcepter'd chiefs are (lain, And heaps of carnage load the plain. 9 The ftreams, that glide along the way, Shall to his heart new ftrength convey, And bid him, 'mid the fcene of dread, Secure of conqueft, lift the head. PSALM CXI. Hallelujah i JVlY foul, with facreu zeal infpir'd, Shall wake to God the thankful (train, In fecret with his faints retir'd, And 'midft fair Sioris crowded fane. a Great are his works : with ftudious aim Each faithful heart thofe works has trac'd; His aft (hall higheft honour claim, His equity for ever laft. % His wonders to the grateful fenfe In fweet memorial ftand confeft ; For boundlefs grace his hands difpenfe, And tend'reft pity warms his breaft. 4 His love the fouls to him allied With food of heav'nly growth has fUTd, Nor fuffers from his thought to Aide The promife to his people feal'd. 5 Thy pow'r that people, Lord, 'have known, Bleft heirs of Canaan's fertile land ; Thy precept truth and juftice own, And bid thy deeds reverfelefs ftand. 6 Salvation from our God defcends ; His faith (hall Jfrael's blifs ini'ure ; Majeftic awe his name attends, And fanftity from blemiih pure. *] His fear th* obedient heart refines, And wifdom's path to view difplays; In brighteft beams array'd it fhines, And prompts each tongue with endlefs praife. PSALM CXII. CXIII. 191 PSALM CXII. Hallelujah. 1 HOW bleft the man, his God who fears! Thy precept, on his thoughts imprefs'd, Eternal King, his fpirit chears, And peace perpetual fdls his bread. 2 His ions the reins of pow'r (hall hold, Tranfmiifive bleffings on their line Be pour'd, his treafures (well with gold, His righteoufnefs for ever (hine. 3 How to thy faints, juft, kind, and good, Has light amidft the gloom uplprung! Their hands have ampleft gifts beftow'd, And fair difcretion guides their tongue. 4 Secure from fall the juft (hall (land, Nor e'er from thy remembrance Aide ; No r.nmour'd ills his fear demand, Whofe hopes in Thee, great God, refide. 5 Without a dread (thy ftrength his truft,) He meets the battle on its way, Nor turns, till proftrate in the duft His eyes the vaunting foe furvey. 6 Inrich'd by what he gives, his hands Deal to the fons of want his bread ; His innocence unfullied (lands, And lading honours crown his head. 1 His blifs tranfgrefibrs (hall behold, And grind their teeth, and inly groan, Their impious toil by Thee controul'd, Their ev'ry wi(h by Thee o'erthrown, PSALM CXIII. Hallelujah, 1 IE faithful fervants of your God, On him be all your praiie beftow'd ; Through time's extended courfe his name Shall praife, and thanks, and homage claim, 2 Its circuit from the eaft begun, To fartheft weft his fame (hall run, His glory earth's wide realms o'erflowj Nor higheft heav'ns its limit know. X9* PSALM CXIV. 3 Great is the Lord, and great his praife ; What god like him our thoughts can raife ? O whom to him fhall mortals dare To equal, whom to him compare ? 4 He fits aloft, o'er gods a God, Eternity his dread abode, Yet ftoops to view, and, view'd, records The fcenes that earth's low feat affords. 5 He from the duft uplifts the poor, And gives the abjedt and obfcure, The dunghill for a throne exchang'd, To fit with mightieft monarchs rang'd. 6 'Tis his the barren houfe to blefs ; His gift let each the babes confefs, That, long to her requeft denied, The joyful mother's care divide. PSALM CXIV. Hallelujah. vv HEN Jacob's fons through paths unknown From Egypt took their way, In JudaWs tribe his prefence fhone, And Ifrael own' d his fway. 2 Old ocean law them as they came ; He faw, and backward fled ; Rf soiling Jordan turn'd his ftream, And fought his fountain-head. 3 The mountains feel the fudden fhock ; As rams, from off the ground They fpring; as younglings of the flock, The hills aftrighted bound, yj. Thou, ocean, fay, why, as they came, Thy billows backward fled ; And what, O Jordan, urg'd thy ftream To leek its fountain-head ? 5 Ye mountains, whence the fudden fhock ? Why leap ye from the ground A? rams ? as younglings of the flock, Say why, O hills, ye bound ? •6 Earth, in fiant, to thy loweft bafe Convuls'd, avow thy fear, PSALM CXV. 193 "While heavVs high Lord reveals his face, While Jacob's God is near. 7 Diflblv'd beneath whole potent ftroke The flint a torrent gave ; "Who fpake ; and from the yielding rock Gufh'd forth the bidden wave. PSALM CXV. 1 O LET not us, thou God of hofts, O let not us, with frantic boafts, The merit and the glory claim, Due only to thy hallow'd name. 2 To Thee, great God, to Thee alone, Thy truth and grace, to Ifrael known, Shall ceafelefs honour yield, and raife Each heart to love, each tongue to praife. 3 Why fhould the heathen tribes demand, " Where's now the God of Ifrael's land ?** In heav'n our God has fix'd his throne, That Lord, whofe will and a6l are one. 4 Not fuch the gods whom ye adore, That, once a mafs of fhapelefs ore, Now crown'd with furtive honours ftand, The creatures of the artift's hand. 5 Mouths have they, not for fpeech defign'd ; And ears and eyes, yet deaf and blind j Their noftrils, as along the fane It breathes, the inCenfe greets in vain. 6 Their hands th' imprinted kifs ne'er feel, While fuppliant crowds before them kneel ; Their feet have never ftep ed'ay'd ; Their throat has never found convey'd. 7 Unvifited by wiidom's ray Their bread ; nor lefs infenfate they, Who made their mimic forms, or, made 9 With fruitlefs pray'r invoke their aid. 8 Ye happieft Ions of I/raePs line, Conducted by the light divine, On God your firm reliance build ; Him own your refuge, him your fhicld, S 19+ PSALM CXVI. 9 Ye, who from vefted Aaron trace The honours of your chofen race, On God your firm reliance build, Him own your refuge, him your fhield, zo-Ye fouls, with pure devotion warm, Whofe lives to his decrees conform, On God your firm reliance build, Him own your refuge, him your fhield. 1 1 Behold God's beams around us thine } He, Jacob, he fhall blefs thy line ; You, whp from vefted Aaron trace The honours of your chofen race, — 12 And you, with pure devotion warm, Whofe lives to his decrees conform, From him, whofe hand the fceptre guides, To him who in the cot refides, — il To you, to yours, till time fhall end, His love its blefiings fhall extend, Heirs of the changelefs pro mi lie, giv'n By him who form'd the earth and heav'n ; — 14 That heav'n, within whofe awful bound Himfelf, with brighteft glory crown'd, His feat has rear'd ; while Adafns ions The earth (his gift) its tenants owns. 1 g Not thoi'e, whom death has ihatch'd away, The debt of haltow'd praife mail pay, Or wake his wondeis to difclofe, _ But lilent in the duft repofe. 1 6 'Tis ours, who ftill thole wonders view, The grateful labour to purfue ; Nor ever fhall our lips decline To crown with hymns the name divine. PSALM CXVI. 1 riOW glows with grateful love my breaft! For God the voice of my requeft Accepts, and, while my hands I rear, Bows to my plaint the willing ear ; For this, to life's cxtremeft hour, My lips to him the pray'r fhall pour. PSALM CXYL 195 i While death its fnares around me threw, The grave, its horrors to my view Preferring, prefs'd with heavicft grief, From Thee, great God, I fought relief ; " O fave me, heav'r.ly Sire," I cried, . " And turn th' impending ftroke afide." 3 Great is our God, beyond all bound I lis providence and pow'r are found ; Juft, good, and kind, is Ifrael's Lord, His breafl with tend'reft pity ftor'd, And prompt his arm, when ills invade, The guileleis and the meek to aid. 4 God's mercies, 'midft thy dcepeft woe, By bleft experience taught to know, Turn, turn thee to thy reft, my foul ; Tor he, who fits above the pole (Tremendous name) has o'er thy head The fulnefs of his bounty fhed. 5 Thou, mightieft Father, Thou wert nigh, To fave my foul from death, mine eye From tears, td guard from lapfe my feet, And bid me in this earthly feat (Life's wide dominion; (till refide, To Thee in filial fear allied. 6 To God my heart refign'd its care, To him my tongue addrefs'd its pray'r; While, ftruck with terrors as I ftood, A fea of follows round me fiow'd, " No more, my foul, no more," I cried, " In man's fallacious aid confide." 7 O, what reqmtal at my hand Shall mercies, Lord, like thine, demand ? By Thee from each diftrefs enlarg'd, The cup with benediction charg'd I take, and, touch'd with holy fiame, Invoke my great Deliv'rer's name. 8 Ev'n now, before th' affembled train,- Ev'n now, within thy facred fane, (That fane, whole vails, on firmtft bafc Uprear'd, fair Salem's confines grace,) Si r$6 PSALM CXVII. CXVIIL Behold me at thine altar bow, And, pleas'd, abl'olve my offer'd vow. 5» Who thy decrees, great God, obey, Secure on Thee their hope fhall flay ; Nor fraud nor rapine's iron hand Shall dare to touch the pious band, For facred is their blood, and high Its price in thy paternal eye. io In me thy fervant, Lord, in me The offspring of thy handmaid fee ; Releas'd by Thee, from day to day The facrifice of praife to pay I joy, and, touch'd with holy flame, Invoke my great Deliv'rer's name. 1 1 Ev'n now, before th' aflembled train, Ev'n now, within thy facred fane, (That fane, whofe walls, on firmeft bafft Uprear'd, fair Salem's confines grace,) Behold me at thine altar bow, And, pleas'd, abfolve my offer'd vow. PSALM CXVII. i .LET thy various realms, O earth, Praifes yield to heav'n's high Lord ; Praife him all of human birth, And his wondrous acls record. 2 See his mercy o'er our land Spread its ever-healing wing, And his truth through ages ftand ; Praife, O praife th' eternal King. PSALM CXVIII. I LvIFT your voice, and thankful fing Praifes to your heav'nly King ; For his mercies far extend, And his bounty knows no end. a Ifrael, thy Creator blefs, And with joyous tongue confefs, That his mercies far extend, And his bounty knows no end. PSALM CXVIII. t V 7 J Aaron, let thy chofen line Grateful in th' avowal join, That his mercies far extend, And his bounty knows no end. 4 Ye, who make his will your eare, With afl'enting voice declare, That his mercies far extend, And his bounty knows no end, 5 To my plaint propitious, he Bade my captive foul go free ; He (hull in my caufe appear; Let not man excite my fear. 6 lie amid my helpers ftands ; Struck by him, th' oppofing bands f nftant from before mine eye Bark in wild retreat fhall fly. 7 (), how fafe the man, whofe mind Refts on Jacob's God reclin'd ! Safer far than they who truit On the help of breathing dull. 8 O how fafe the man, whofe mind Refts on Jacob's God reclin'd 1 Safer far than they who deem Kings on earth their pow'r fupreme. «$ Gather'd from each riiftant coaft, Round me prels'd th* embattled hoft ; But my arm, by God upheld, Strew'd with flaughter'd heaps the field-. io Round me, thirfting for my blood, Round me adverfe myriads flood ; But my arm, by God upheld, Strew'd with flaughter'd heaps the field. ii Round me, fee I as bees they dwell, Bees, that, illuiug from their cell, Mix in fwarms, arid on the wing Arm'd with fury onward fpring. 12 See their rage at once expire Like the thorn-enkindled fire ; While my arm, by God upheld, S.rews' wan ilau^htei'd heaps the field. S3 ic,l PSALM CXVI1L 13 Soon thy ftroke, relentlefs foe, Soon thy ftroke had laid me low, Had not God's fupporting hand Bid my fault'ring feet to ftand. 14 He my ftrength, and he my fong, Lo ! my days I yet prolong, And, each hoftile force o'e'rthrown, Him my great falvation own. 15 Shouts of health, and hymns of praife, Wifdom's faithful followers raife, While, amid their peaceful feat, Thus the ear their accents greet : 16 " O how ftrong the hand divine ! " O what wonders, Lord, are thine '." See that hand, from heav'n reveal'd, Wonders yet on wonders yield. 17 Vaunt thy terrors, death, no more ; He, whom Ifrael'% fons adore, I le, each danger chas'd away, Bids me ftill his afts difplay. 1 8 He, indulgent, juft, and kind, Trials to my lot afTign'd ; Yet, amidft the doubtful ftrife, Refcu'd from the fword my life. 19 Ope the gates of righteoufnels ; Let my feet have full accefs ; There I'll praife my Saviour's name> And his boundlefs love proclaim. 20 Here the hallcw'd gate behold ; See its valves at once unfold, Pleas'd t* admit the chofen train, Pure from fin's infectious ftain. ai Thee, the God enthron'd above, Thee my lips fhall fing, whofe love To my voice attention gave, Prompt to hear, and ftrong to fave. az See the ftone, that, caft afide By the builders' erring pride, In the dome affumes its place, Own'd the angle's noblcft grace. FSAOf CXI*. *$ »j Thou the work, great God, haft wrought; In its fcenes our wond'ring thought Joys thy clemency to trace, Seal'd to Jacob's favour'd race. x-X Lit by thy aufpicrous ray Downward ftreams the wifti'd-for day, Big with afts, that (hall fuggeft Endlefs mirth to 1/raets breaft. 25 Save, O fave, eternal Lord, And thy profp'ring aid afford; Bleft the man, who, lent by Gcd, Vifits Salem's lov'd abode. 16 Come, ye faints, and in his train Tread with licens'd ftep her fane-, While from out her lacred tow'r Bleffings on your head we pour. xj Safe in JfraeVs Lord confide ; He is God, and none befide; See his fav'ring beams arife To his people's longing eyes. 28 Pair, and innocent of fpot, Let the victim lamb be brought. And befide his altar ftand, Fetter'd in the writhen band. 29 Thee, my God, in lengthen'd lays, Thee my raptur'dlips fhall prarfe; Thee, my God, aloud proclaim, Zealous to exalt thy fame. 30 Lift your voice, and thankful fing Praifes to your heav'nly King; For his mercies far extend, And his bounty knows no end. PSALM CXIX. ALEPH. 1 HOW bleft, who Thee, great God, obey* And ftedfaft walk th' all-perfect way ! How bleft, whole hearts with will intire., Thy prelence feek, Almighty Sire ; PSALM' CXIX. Whofe feet thy guidance own, whofe mind Has each nefarious act declin'd. . „ 2 Thy voice has charg'd us to fulfil. The dictates of thy heav'nly will ; Such, Lord, thy charge ; .and O may t. Attentive to the talk apply, Truft in thy aid, thy works record. And mark the precepts of.thy word. i, My fteps conform'd to thy decrees, Nor ihame nor dread my foul fh'all feizc ; Thy precepts on my mind imprei's'd Shall fwell with joy my faithful breaft, Thy juftice-prompt my tongue, to raife The long of gratitude and praife. 4 Thy law my love {hall claim : do Thou Thy ear to my petition bow ; . O treat me not with cold dlfdain, Let not my vows return in vain, Nor leave me, helplefs and forlorn, The abfence of thy grace to mourn. BETH. 1 HOW, early wife, mail youth, 6 fay, In innocence direct its way? Thy word its fteps, to Thee refign'd, The ever faithful guide {hall find. 2 Hail, beft Inftruftor ! Thee my thought With full defire, great God, has fought ; O let me not, by error's fway Impell'd, from thy direction ftray. 3 Thy precept, in my breaft conceal'd, From fin's atfault my heart fhall fhield; Bleft is thy name, eternal Lord ! write within my mind thy word ; — 4 That word, whofe rules from day to day My lips with grateful zeal difplay ; Thefe, my beft wealth, my trealur'd ftore^ 1 keep, and view them o'er and o'er. 5 Thy dictates ftill, my conftant joy, My foul's attention mail employ j *SALM CX1± Nor awght fha.ll fiom my fight Withdraw Thy path, or from my thought thy law. GIMEL. rlHY mercy let thy fervant f&e. ; Grant me to live conform'd to Thee, And let my foul, each mift away, The wonders of thy law i'urvey. z Beheld me, ibfent from my home, Through life's wild maze a pilgrim ro*m, Nor Thoa to my definng eye Thy word's direfting beams deny, 3 With ardent zeal, with fhong define, My thoughts to thy decrees afpire - y With fervent hope thy paths I tread. By mercy and by truth outfpread, 4 O Tbott, whofe threat the proud fubduei, Whofe wrath the finnw's fteps pursues, My foul, of each tranfjrjemon pure, From fcorn and fierce reproach fecurc, 5 While princes with malignant aim Aflembled wound my honeft fame,. My life, thy will its fix'd puri'uit, Shall each opprobrious tongue refute. i Thy laws my ev'ry thought controul, While, fill'd \\ith facred joy, my foul Its ever faithful friends in thefe And inmates of its counfel fees, DALETH. j LOW m tfie duft my foul is laid ; O' reach me, Lord, thy promis'd aid; Thou, as my heart its guilt avow'd, Thy pitying ear, great God, haft bow'd j Let thy commands my footfteps lead ; €) give me, Lord, thy paths to tread; And let me, leflbn'd in thy way, The wonders of thy grace furvey. z. While on my foul, that melts with woe. That grace its fuccours fhali beftovc, -; PSALM CXIX. (Such nope thy word h?.s bid me form}) Let me, with holy trauiport warm, And privileged thy law to learn, From error's path abhorrent turn; Averfe from each injurious art,- Let fallehood from my lips depart. 3 Truth, Lord, my iteady thoughts nurfue, Thy judgment; hVd befoie my \'uw Jn tuli difplay : exempt from fharne, O give me Thou by thele to frame My courfc ; and mark with what delight, (As onward thefe my fteps invite,) Its bands by Thee difTolv'd, my foul Anticipates the diftant goal. HE. i 1EACH me, O teach me, Lord, thy way.; So to my life's remoter! day, By thy unerring precepts led, My willing feet its paths fhall tread. 2 Inforrn'd by Thee, with facred awe My heart (hall meditate thy law, And, with celeflial wiidorn fill'd, To Thee its full obedience yield. 3 Give me to know thy words aright, (Thy words, my foui's fuprerne delight,) That, purg'd from thirft of gold, my mini In them its better wealth may find. 4 O turn from vanity mine eye, To me thy quick'ning ftrength fupply, And with thy promis'd mercy cheer A heart devoted to thy fear. 5 O vindicate my name from wrong, And lilence the reproachful tongue ; Mj dreaded fhame, great God, remove; Thv judgments, Lord, my thoughts approve. € Thy wile commands my bread inflame ; O hafte, and to my inmoft frame Permit thy jufticc to difpenfe Its all-reviving influence. PSALM CXiX, 203 VAU. t O LET me, Lord, thy mercy know ; Thy promis'd health, great God, bellow; So from my foul, on Thee reclin'd, Shall each reproach an anfwer find. 3 My truft thy judgments, mightieft Lord, Support : O let not then thy word (liiy word, by truth eternal feal'u.) Be ever from my lips withheld ; — 3 That word to life's extremert ftage M}' juft remembrance fhall engage, My foul to thy decrees incline, And make the paths of freedom mine. 4 The heav'n-taught truths, that warm my breafl, My tongue to monarchs mail fuggeft, And, rapt with zeal, each check difekim Of fervile dread, and infant fhame. 5 Thy didtatcs, on my thoughts imprefs'd, With fweet delight fhall fill my b«eaft - y Thy law, Jetovah, ftill fhall fharc My ardent love, my conftant cai c. 6 And, while from Thee with lifted hand:* Pleas'd I receive its juft command?, My life, fubmitted to its rein, Shall lpeak them not rectiv'd in vain, ZAIN. i 1 HY promifes, Almighty Sire, Accomplifh: thefe my hop^ infpi."- ■ Thel'e, when opprefs'd with ills I Rej With vital ftrength my foul fupply ; Kor loud reproach, nor hoftile fcorn My heart from thy obedience turn : Amid my woes, through ages pair. In long memorial backward trae'd, Thy judgments have my truft upheld, And forrow's heavier cloud difpeli'd. 3 How trembles, Lord, my heart to fee The fouls that err from thy decree 1 204 PSALM CXIX. Long as within this feat of clay, My houfe of pilgrimage, 1 flay, Thy ftatutes are my long ; thy name Wakes in my breaft the holy flame, That heav'n-ward lifts my thoughtful foul, When night's cfeik fhades inveft the pole: What hopes, greatXJod, are mine, what joy, While thy commands my care employ ! CHETH. i My heart's beft portion, Lord, art Thou ; To Thee my thoughts obedience vow ; To Thee with ardent zeal I pray ; Thy promis'd mercy, Lord, difplay. i While back my yet unfinifh'd race With fcrutiny fevere I trace, Thy law with full delight I greet, And turn to Thee my willing feet. 3 With ftudious hafte I ran, I flew, Intent thy dictates to purfue, Nor thefe forget, though troops of foes Amid their fnare my fteps indole. 4 Thy juft decrees within my breaft Fevolv'd, 1 quit my bed of reft, And pleas'd, at midnight's awful hour, In thanks to Thee my fpirit pour. $ I mark where'er the fouls I find To thy commands, great God, inclin'd ; I mark them, and with fuch refide In friendfliip's ftriaeft bands ally'd. 6 That meicy, Lord, whofe beams extend Far as to earth's remoteft end, That mercy to my foul impart, And grave thy precepts on my heart. TETH. i lYlY grateful heart thy love has known, O Thou, w.iofe words and deeds are one ; O ftill that love impart, and ftore My foul with thy celeftial lore, PSALM CXIX. a»$ Whofe thought its full affent refigas To what thy facred will injoins. z In devious paths awhile I trod, Ere yet corrected by thy rod ; But from thy juft and perfect law Fair virtue's leiion> now 1 draw, And, ditciplin'd, great Sire, by Thee, Obfequious bow to thy decree. 3 Thy merties, Lord, exhauftlefs flow ; O give my foul thy will to know ; While crowds, whofe hearts thy fear difclaim, With fludied falfehood blaft ray fame, Thee, Lord, I feek ; by thy command My acts, my thoughts, directed ftand. 4 Amidlt their rage, with joyful view My heart :hy piecepts can purfue, While felly theirs from truth withholds, And round them wraps its thickeft folds ; Behold them, Lord, in error loft, Thy law reject with impious boaft. < Bieft be thy hand, feverely kind, Whofe ftroke recall'd my erring mind, And urg'd me, as to Thee I turn, Thy hallcvv'd inftitutes to learn, And, taught their worth, to prize them more Than heaps of Qp&ir's richen ore. JOD. I X HY plaftic art, throughout my frame, Each limb, each nerve, great God, proclaim ; O give me Thou, w.\th mind fincere, To learn th' inftructiens of thy fear. 3 So fhall the fouls, that fear who know, With fecial joy, my God, o'erflow, And pleas'd my conftant heart approve, That waits, with them, thy plighted love. 3 Thy judgments praife eternal claim, Wife, juft, and good ; with friendlieft aim Thy faithful hand each woe I feel Inflicts, and wounds me but to heal. T :j6 PSALM CXIX* 4 O let thy promised mercy fhed Its quick'ning effluence on my head, And comfort to my foul inftil, That loves the dictates of thy will. 5 Let fhame th' aggreffbrs proud repay, Who leek my footfteps to betray : Thine aid I afk, eternal Lord, And treafure in my heart thy word, 6 With me in facred friendship join The fouls, that to thy fear incline, And from the well-fpring of thy law Exhauftlefs ftreams of knowledge draw. 7 O never from my conflant heart Let thy decrees, great God, depart ; So (hall I thence, by Thee renew'd, Guilt, and its offspring fhame, exclude. CAPH. i BEHOLD, while wearied with delay My foul, my fight, confume away, Thy fervant o'er th' ethereal plain Send the long look, but fend in vain. z O when, to my expecting eyes, When fhall thy wifh'd falvation rife, Through ftruggling clouds its promis'd ray Tranfmit, and o'er me pour the day ? 3 Faft as the wine-exhaufted hide Amid the circling fmoke is dried, I wafte ; yet never from my heart Shall thy commands, great God, depart. 4 How long fhall I my days, O fay, In fad fucceffion roll'd furvey ; How long to haughtieft infult yield, Thy vengeance from my foes withheld ? 5 The proud, thy precepts who defpife, (Thy precepts, Lord, how juft, how wife !) With caufelefs rage their pits prepare ; O hafte, and make my life thy care. 6 How nigh had conqueft crown'd their aim, And rooted from the earth my name I PSALM CXIX. While ftill thy paths, eternal God, With undiverted ftep I trod. ? O let thy mercy to my heart Its life-fuftainirtg pow'r impart ; So (hall my foul with facred awe, And juft obfervance, hear thy law. LAMED. s r IX'D in the heav'ns, eternal Lord, On firmed bafis refts thy word ; Thy truth, unconfcious of decay, Sees wafting ages roll away. a Pois'd on its centre by thy hand, Earth long has flood, and yet fhall ftand ; The whole creation, ev'ry hour, Subfervient owns thy fov'reign pow'r. 3 How had I perifh'd 'midft my woes, But that within my bofom rofe The joys, which thy injun&ions yield, And each invading grief difpelf'd ! 4 O never, never, fhall my heart, Forgetful, from thy law depart, Which, inftant, klndlieft fuccour gave, And wrought my refcue from the grave. 5 Behold me, Lord, behold me thine ; Thy ear to my requeft incline, And lave a foul, whofe wakeful thought With fervent zeal thy truths has fought. 6 And though with fecret art their frrare The impious for my life prepare, Thy precepts ftill, my conftant joy, My fix'd attention fhall employ. 7 Mine eyes perfe6tion's limit fee Through nature's works ; but thy decree No period, mightieft Monarch, knows, Nor bounds of fpace its breadth inclofe. MEM. i WlTH what defire, great God, I burn Thy facred oracles to learn ! T; act PSALM CXIX. Each day, each hour, with ftedfaft mind Thy truths I meditate, and find The knowledge, to my foes denied, To me in fulleft weight fupplied. a My teachers, while from out thy law The leftons of my life I draw, My guidance afk ; the aged me Their elder in difcretion fee, As, onward led, with fteady pace The heav'n-appointed paths I trace. 3 O with what zeal my bofom burn'd, With joy the heav'nly precept learn'd ! How have I kept my feet from ill, Intent thy mandate to fulfil, My ear to difcipline refign'd, Nor ever from its rules declin'd ! 4 In full fatiety of joy Abforpt, thy words my thought employ, And fweeter on my palate dwell Than honey dropping from its cell : My foul, by thy inftruftion wife, From error's path abhorrent flies, NUN. 1 1 HY law, from Sinai's mount reveal'd, A lantern to my feet fhall yield, A light, whofe beams fhall o'er me dwell, And night's incircling fhades difpel. 2 Thy precepts (t.hus my tongue has fworn, Nor aught my purpole, Lord, fhall turn j) Thy precepts, juft, and wife, and true, My fteps, unwearied, fhall purfue. 3 Beneath a weight of woes I bend ; Thy promis'd aid, my God, extend : My lips their willing off* rings pay ; Accept them, gracious Lord, 1 pray. 4 Thy judgments to my longing eyes Difplay ; while dangers round me rife, My foul juft ready to refign, To thele my thoughts I ftill incline. PSALM CXIX. 209 5 No impious force, or hoftild fnare, Shall alienate from thefe my care ; Nor e'er fhall fin my lteps betray From thefe in devious paths to ftray. 6 Thefe, while their worth my foul inflames, Its lading heritage it claims, And pleas'd the dictates of thy will To life's laft period fhall fulfil. SAMEGH. 1 PAR hence each fuperftition vain, Wild offspring of the human brain ; The truths, that fill thy hallow'd page. My happier choice, great God, engage 5 Safe on thy word my truft I build, O Thou, my refuge, and my fhield. z Ye impious, from my fight away ; My foul fhall God's behefts obey : ever faithful to thy word, Do Thou thy vital ftrength afford ; Thy help impart, eternal Sire, Nor let my hope in fhame expire. 3 Suftain'd by thy almighty aid, What danger fhall my foul invade? Nor error's cloud, nor arts of fin, My foul from thy obedience win ; In vain fhall thefe their force apply To turn from thy decrees mine eye. 4- Subverted by their own deceit, And fpurn'd beneath thy conqu'ring feet, Thy wrath the rebel tribes deplore ; Spurn'd, — as the drofs, that from the ore, Amid the glowing furnace caft, Is fever'd by the fiery blaft, g For this, with ardent love thy law 1 feek ; for this, while rev'rent awe And holy horror fhakc my frame, Thy dreaded judgments I proclaim ; And, wrapt in fear, moft mighty Lord, Thy pow'r, thy righteoufnefs record, no PSALM CXIX, AIN. 1 vvHILE juftice o'er my life prefides, Each aft, each word, each purpofe guides, Friend of the guiltlefs! nigh me ftand, And fave me from th' oppreflbr's hand. 2 O ftill thy wonted grace difclofe j Still in my quarrel interpofe Thine arm, nor let my haughty foe Exulting triumph in my woe. 3 My wafting eyes with earned view Thy promis'd health, my God, purfue : Thy mercies to thy fervant mow, Give me each hcav'n-taught rule to know. 4 Behold mc, Lord, behold me thine, And let thy influence on me mine, Till, each illufion purg'd away, My foul thy myftic truths furvey. | Thy wife injunctions caft afide, The fons of infolence and pride "With oft-repeated crimes demand Th' unwilling vengeance from thy hand. 6 Thy diftates on my thought imprefs'd With fweet delight mail fill my breaft ; Not gold like thefe my love mail claim, Gold fev'n times tortur'd in the flame. 7 Thefe, Lord, I keep, thy works record, And mark the precepts of thy word, Truft in thine aid, and, fix'd, decree To thun each path that leads from Thee, PE. i O HOW the wenders of thy law My heart to juft obedience awe ! What ftreams of pureft knowledge yield Thy woids in full difplay reveal'd! By thefe the fouls untaught before To heights of heav'nly fcience foar. 3, With earr.eft zeal and anxious thought Thy words my panting bofom fought j PSALM CXIX. With third, with facred thirft I burn'd ; To thefe my op'ning mouth I turn'd, And from thy precept wife and true Its life-imparting fpirit drew. 3 What grace thy faints are bleft to know, That grace on me, great God, beftow j Thy dictates to my foul convey, And level to my fteps thy way ; Redeem from error's growth my mind, Nor leave one baleful root behind. 4 O fave me from opprefiion's hand ; So fhall my foul thy wife command Obferve, and, leflbn'd in thy fear, The precepts of thy law revere ; Indulgent on thy fervant fhine, And make the paths of knowledge mine. 5 My tears, great God, my zeal difclofe, And down the copious torrent flows, As oft, with inward anguifh torn, Thy violated laws I mourn, By guilty fouls, whofe love of ill To rafh tranfgreflion prompts their will. TSADDI. i .H.AIL, Arbiter fupreme ! thy will Truth, equity, and juflice feal ; Truth, juftice, equity, thy voice Prefcribes to favour' d lfraeVs choice ; Thefe while my foe prefumptuous fpurns, With zeal confum'd my bofom burns. 2 O how thy precepts, in the fire Long prov'd, thy fervant's love infpire ! To indigence and fcorn ;efign'd, Thefe ftill I feek with ftudious mind ; Nor ceafe with conftant thought to trace The acts of thy ftupendous grace. 3 Eternal reftitude is thine ; Truth to thy laws adjufts its line ; Thy laws, my foul's bell comfort found, When pains and forrows wrapt me round : IX PSALM CXIX. Thy juft decrees fhall time furvive ; Them teach me,. and my foul fhall live KOPH. i O MAKER, Guide, and Judge of an '. With carneft \oice to Thee I call j To Thee I call ; propitious hear; So fhall the precepts of thy fear My foul inform, and, thou my aid, My ev'ry act by thefe be fway'd. 2 Ere yet the dawn has ftreak'd the fkv, God of my life, to Thee 1 cry ; My hope (tlot fhall that hope be vain,; Thy facred promifes fuftain: On thy decrees, great God, intent, My thoughts the early watch prevent. 3 O let thy mercy, while I pray, My night illumine, guide my day, Thy word within jny mmoft frame Awake the ever-living name, And, inftant, to my bread difpenfe Its all-reviving infL 4 Behold a crowd, from Thee eftrang'd, In dire alliance near me rang'd ; E'UThou, my God, art nearer ftill ; My foul the dictates of thy will d on eternal bafe has view'd, And owns them wife, and juft, and good, RESH. i DEHOLD my griefj ; my foul preferve ; For ne'er from th^ direction fwerve My thoughts : do Thou my caufe defend} O let thy word its aid extend. 2 In vain thy grace the fouls would heal, Whole crimes their juft rejection feil - } Who; bold each impious deed to try, Thy laws oppofe, thy pow'r defy. 3 O let thy mercy, Lord, (how great That mercy :_, en thy l'ervant wait; PSALM CXIX. Its beams in full effufion give, And teach my fainting heart to live. 4 While hoftile crowds around me ftand, My fteps I guide by thy command Unvarying, and indignant fee The fouls, whole will has err'd from Thee. 5 Behold what love, what full delight, Thy precepts in my breaft excite, And let thy favour o'er my head Its vital pow'r inceffant fried, 6 With truth thy Avord, great God, was crown'd, Ere time began its reitlefs round ; Thy laws through length of days extend, tirft, midft, and laft, and without end. SC1I1N. i WHILE princely pow'r, without a caufe. The threat'ning lword againft me draws, My mind, to thy commands applied, Them fears, nor owns a fear befide. 2 My heart with fecret tranfport fwells. While ftudious on thy word it dwells; Nor wealthieft fpoi'.s fuch joy beftow, New wrefted from the proftrate fee. 3 To lies averfe, thy laws 1 love ; Thy juft decrees my thoughts approve ; And fev'n times, each revolving day, To Thee my grateful vows I pay. 4 Great is the peace prepar'd for all, Whofe willing feet obey thy call ; Great is the peace for mch prepar'd, Nor aught their footfteps mail retard. 5 Thy health, my God, I wait, thy will With unremitted zeal fulfil, And, wrapt in love and filial fear, The heav'n-defcended truths revere. 6 Thy truths my foul reveres ; each day, Thy wife inftrudtions I obey, Afl'ur'd that to thy fearching eyes My life's whole path confpicuous lies, H4 PSALM CXX, TAU. i O LET my cries thy heav'nly feat Approach ; my pray'r indulgent meet", And give, for on thy word relies My hope; O give me to be wife. 2 Behold, for mercy lives in Thee ; Behold me fuppliant bend the knee, And let thy promis'd aid difpel The clouds of grief that o'er me dwell. 3 Thy facred precepts taught to know, How fhall my lips, great God, o'erflow "With praife, and, touch'd with holy flame, The juflice of thy laws proclaim ! 4 While pleas'd I bow to thy command, Reach, in my refcue, reach thy hand ; Do Thou, whofe diftates warm my heart, Thy long-expected health impart. 5 O let my foul, to life reftor'd, Thy love in lading hymns record, While o'er my head its beams fhall fhine, And make thy great falvation mine. 6 Thine eyes in me the fheep behold, Whofe feet have wander'd from the fold, That, guidelefs, helplefs, drives in vain To find its fafc retreat again ; — 7 Now liftens, if perchance its ear The fhepherd's well-known voice may hear, Now, as the tempefts round it blow, In plaintive accent vents its woe. S Great Ruler of this earthly ball, Do Thou my erring fteps recall ; O feek Thou him, who Thee has fought, Nor turns from thy decrees his thought, PSALM CXX. x 1 O God I cried, with anguifh flung, Nor form'd a fruklefs pray'r ; O fave me from the lying tongue, And lips that would infnare. PSALM CXXI. CXXIL »i$ a Thou child of guilt, to falfchood bred, Say, what (hall be thine end ? See keeneft arrows o'er thy head, And quenchlefs coals, impend. 3 Ah ! woe is me., to Mefech's feat And Kedar's tents cor.fin'd ; Perpetual infult doom'd to meet From men of reftlefs mind. 4 When offers mild of peace I make, And friendlieft terms prepare, My words their ilumb'ring rage awake, And arm them for the war. PSALM CXXI. i jLo ! from the hills my help defcends; To them I lift mine eyes ; My ftrength on him alone depends, Who form'd the earth and ikies. % He, ever watchful, ever nigh, Forbids thy feet to Aide ; Xor fleep nor (lumber feals the eye Of IfraeVs guard and guide. 3 He at thy hand, array'd in might, His fhield (hall o'er thee fpread ; Nor fun by day, nor moon by night, Shall hurt thy favour'd head. 4 Safe (halt thou go, and fafe return, While he thy life defends, Whole eyes thy ev'ry ftep difcern, Whofe mercy never ends. PSALM CXXIL i 1 HE feftal morn, my God, is come, That calls me to thy honour'd dome, Thy prefence to adore ; My feet the fummons (hall attend, With willing ftep thy courts afcend, And tread the hallow'd floor. a Ev'n now to our tranfported eyes Fair SWs tow'rs in prafpeft rife; i\6 PSAL'M CXXIII. Within her gates we ftand, And, loft in wonder and delight, Behold her happy tons unite In friendfhip's firmed band. 3 Hither from JudaVi utmoft end the heav'n- protected tribes ai'cend ; Their off "rings hither bring ; Here, eager to atteft their joy, In hymns of prait'e their tongues employ, And hail th' immortal King. 4 By his command impcll'd, to ber Contending crowds their caufe refer ;" While princes from her throne. With equal doom th' unerring law Difpenfe, who boaft their birth to draw From Jcjft'z favour' d~ Son. 5 Be peace by each implor'd on thee, O Salem, while with bended knee To Jucob'i God we pray : How bleft, who calls himfelf thy friend ! Succefs his labour ftiall attend, And fafety guard his way. 6 O may'ft thou, free from hoftile fear_. Nor the loud voice of tumult hear, NToi war's wild wades deplore : May plenty nigh thee take her ftand. And in thy courts with lavifh hand Diftribute all her dore ! y Seat of my friends and brethren, hail ! y " How can my tongue, O Si * fam T fail •***^1 9 To blefs thy lov'd abode ? How ceafe the zeal that in me glows Thy good to feck, whole walls inclofe The manfion of my God ? PSALM CXXIII. r 1 Thee, above the ftarry fpheres Inthron'd, his look thy fuppliant rears , As tow'rds their lord the menial band, As maidens tow'rds their miftrefc' hand PSALM CXXIV. 217 Obfervant caft th' expecting eye, So lift we ours, great God, on high, Till Thou thy mercy (halt display, And chafe thefe clouds of grief away. 2 Enough thy people, Lord, have borne Of infult keen, and holile fcorn ; O let thy clemency divine Confpicuous in our refcue fhine, And hear, in pity hear, the fighs From our full hearts inceflant rile, While, round us rang'd, the fons of pride Our name revile, our Avoes deride. PSALM CXXIV. 1 JhlAD God abandon'd from his care Our caufe, when adverfe hofts to war Uprofe; had God, may Ifracl fay, Our caufe abandon'd, in the day When o'er the plain their troops were pour'd, Our tribes their fury had devour'd ; — z Down we had funk ; and o'er our head The fwelling floods their waves had fpread: Down we had funk ; but bleft be God, Whole arm the timely help beftow'd, And, each invader chas'd away, Snatch'd from their jaws th' expected prey. 3 See ! as the bird with fudden fpung Exulting mounts upon the wing, Juft refcu'd from the fowler's art, So triumph we, with thankful heart, And, fav'd by his preventing care, Shake from our feet the broken fnare. 4 When woes, when dangers round us rife, On him alone our hope relies, To him our liberty we owe, And own his ftrength againft the foe, Whole hand thy centre fix d, O earth, And gave th' enduring heav'ns their birth. 2>ll PSALM CXXV. CXXVI. PSALM CXXV. J I HEY, who with holy conft- Truft in the Lord for tfadf defence, d by his protect- ng hand, Shall ftedtaft as mount 5/c« ftand, That, prcof to ages, meets the Ikies, And, fix'd, each adverfe (hock defies. 7. Behold fair Salem's hallow'd ground, By fhadowing hills encompals'd rami - prefence thus, great God, we trace :hofen race ; > - - - Rant times fhall fee thy lore Its bleffmgs from thy faints remove. a on the lot by thefe poffelVd impious pow'r its fceptre reft; 1 iblifh'd into law, Their hearts from thy obedience draw : : our Guardian, ftill our Friend, Thy mercies to the juft extend; x V. hfle all, whole heart from wifdom'a way Through paths perverle has lovd to ftray, . allied, the peace to them denied The mind lence (hed On happier Ifracl'i favourM head. PSALM CXXVL i IS this a dream ? amaz'd we cried, When, led by their celeftialG- Fair & Bene'.: erted plain ; a forth to laughter barft ea:h tongue, I ongs of loudeft triumph fung. 2 The nations round, with fecret awe, The mighty work admiring law ; icy cried; the gift beftow'd " On thefe, the favour'd of their God !" " O, great the gift!" our hearts rejoin, - joyful biefs the hand divine. PSALM CXXVII. CXXVIII. 319 3 Let thofe, whole exile ftill we mourn, Beneath thy condudt, Lord, return, Faft as the copious torrents glide, When, to its vacant bed their tide Reftoring, o'er the waftes they run, That burn beneath the louthern fun. 4 Let lcenes of hope our thought employ j Who fow in tears, fhall reap in joy ; The weeping hind, whole dubious hand . Now ftrews with grain the furrow'd land. Shall homeward loon exulting bear The bleifings of the loaded year. PSALM CXXVII. : A RACE by God unbleft who rear, A fruitlefs toil luftain ; If God to fhield the town forbear, The watchman wakes in vain. z Why rife ye early, late take reft, And eat the bread of care ? The balm of fleep, his gift confeft, His children only lhare. 3 Know too thy fons, that round thee ftand, A gift by him prepar'd ; Nor arrows in the giant's hand Can yield fo lure a guard. 4. Bleft, who his quiver ftores with thefe; When hoftile troops are near, His gate the ftorm approaching fees, Yet lees without a fear. PSALM CXXVIII. x XiOW bleft the fouls, their God who fear, His pow'r confefs, his law revere! Who ftedfaft walk th' all-perfect way, Nor loft in paths of folly ftray. 2 O happy thou ! ordain'd to fhare Thy Maker's ever conftant care ; Thou privileg'd from want (halt ftand, And eat the labour of thv hand. U i :io PSALM CXXIX. 3 The objeft of thy wedded love Prolific as the vine fhall prove, Whofe foliage, o'er thy walls difplay'd, Spreads wide its amicable (hade : — 4 While, as the olive-branches fair, Around thy board thy infant care Shall crowd, and bid thy heart o'erflow With joys that only parents know. 5 Such bleffings, Lord, thy hands provide For all who make thy fear their guide, And ftedfaft walk th' all-perfe6l way, Nor loft in paths of folly ftray. 6 Hail, favour'd man ! from Sion's tow't Thy God on thee his gifts fhall fhow'r; Thou, thankful, to thy lateft day Shalt Salem's, profp'ring ftate furvey. 7 With lengthen'd joy, thine aged eyes Shall fee thy children's children rife, And peace her healing wings expand O'er Judah's heav'n-diftinguifh'd land. PSALM CXXIX. I OFT from my youth, may Jfrael fay, Oft from my youth, in dole array Againft me rang'd, the hoftile train My ruin fought, but fought in \ain. z My back with ftripes the ploughers tore ; The lengthen'd furrows ftream'd with gore But Thou, juft God, haft burft their bands, And fav'd me from their ruthlefs hands. 3 Back let them fly in wild retreat, Whofe rage fair Siotis hallow'd feat Puifues : let fhame their guilt repay ; And let them like the grafs decay,— 4 That, on the houfe-top feen to rife, Stops in mid growth, and fades, and dies ; Nor fills the mower's hand, nor gives One grafp to him who binds the fheaves ;— 5 Nor prompts th' obferving pafienger To greet them with this friendly pray'r ; PSALM CXXX. CXXXI. asi " May heav'n's high Lord your lahours blefs, 14 And crown them with the wifh'd fuccefs'." PSALM CXXX. i 1 O Thee from out the deeps I pray, With heavieft woes opprels'd ; Lord, let thine ears attentive weigh The voice of my requeft. j If from the fons of human birth Thy wrath its debt demand, O who, throughout the peopled earth, Beneath that wrath fhall ftand? 3 But fin's worft wounds thy mercy heals ; As down its pow'rs defcend, The grateful foul their influence feels, And trembles to offend. 4 Thee, Lord, I feek, the wife, the juft ; My foul, by Thee upheld, Expectant waits (thy word its truft) Till Thou thy beams (halt yield, f Not thus intent their longing fight The wearied watchmen rear, Not thus intent the growing light Obferve, when morn is near. 6 O truft in God ; for love in him, And grace abundant reign ; He, Jacob, fhall thy fons redeem, And purge their ev'ry ftaln. PSALM CXXXI. i I HINE eyes, my God, nor lofty mind Nor haughty look in me fhall find, Nor earth's vain pomp attrafts my view, Nor honour's prize my thoughts purfue. J Behold me of affe&ions mild, Behold me humble as the child, That meek and filent finks to reft, Wean'd from the tender parent's breaft. } O, fonder than that parent, fee Thy Maker, I/rat I, cherifh thee : U i zx PSALM CXXXIL To lateft times on him depend, Thy guide, thy guardian, and thy friend. PSALM CXXXIL 1 GREAT Ruler of this earthly ball, Thy David to thy thought recall ; O hear my voice, all-potent Sire, Nor diftant from the pray'r retire. 2 O think what pangs his bofom tore, When to his God the oath he fwore, And thus, with various prefl'ure.s bow'd, To Jacob's Lord a manfion vow'd. 3 Be witnefs, if my floor I tread, Be witnefs, if my couch I fpread, If fleep thefe weary orbs fhall feal, Or {lumber o'er mine eyelids ftea!. — 4 Till to my fearch fair JudaJis land Some place preient, whereon may ftand, Through future age, thy fix'd abode, The feat of Jacob's mighty God. 5 To thee, O Ephrata, we came, Inquifitive, and, led by fame, The hallow'd tabernacL, found Within the foreft's ample bound. 6 Behold us, Lord, with willing feet The manfion of thy prefence greet, (Each heart infiani'd with grateful zeal,} And proftrate at thy footftool kneel. 7 Rife, IfraeVs Father, God, and Friend \ Pleas'd to thy place of reft alcend, Thou and thine ark, tremendous fhrine Of majefty and pow'r divine. 8 While iighfeouli;efs thy priefts arrays, O let, thy faints their thankful lays Prolong ; and in thy David's name Let Judah's king thy favour ciaim. 9 Thus to the prince of Jejfe born God the reverfelefs oath has fworn ; Thy throne, protected by my care, The off. spring of thy loins fhall heir PSALM CXXXIII. CXXXIV. 10 Through diftant times their hallow'd line, Long as to me their hearts incline, My compaft keep, my laws obey, Shall, uncontroul'd, extend their fway. 1 1 Thy walls, O Sion, to thy Lord His deftin'd refidence afford; Here will I reft, nor e'er my love From thy diftinguifh'd feat remove. i z Thy plenteous board my hand fhall fpread, Diftribute to thy poor their bread, Thy priefts with lafting health inveftr, And wake to mirth each faithful breaft. 13 Amid thy race, O David, here, Salvation fhall her ftandard rear, While copious on th' anointed head The heav'nly lamp its beams fhall fhed. 14. Thy foes, with fhame envelop'd o'er, Their blafted counfels fhall deplore, And fee the crown, that binds thy brow, With unextinguifh'd fplendours glow. PSALM CXXXIII. 1 HOW bleft the fight, the joy how {weet t When brothers join'd with brothers meet In bands of mutual love ! Lefs fweet the liquid fragrance, fned On Aaron's confecrated head, Ran trickling from above, — 2 And reach'd his beard, and reach'd his veft ; Lefs fweet the dews on Herman's breaft, Or Sion's hill deicend : That hill has God with blefiings crown'd, There promis'd grace that knows no bound, And life that knows no end. PSALM CXXXIV. 1 1 E fervants of th' eternal King, Your grateful hymns triumphant fing ; * To you I call, the chofen band, Who take amid his courts your ftand, Z24 PSALM CXXXV. While, gliding round the duflcy pole, The ftarry orbs in filence roll. 2 Within his temple's vaulted frame, With lifted hands, his praife proclaim ; And He, may He, whofe pow'r has made The earth, and heav'n's wide arch difplay'd, From facred Sion bid thee prove The blefiings of his boundlefs love 1 PSALM CXXXV. i 1 E faithful fervants of your God, To him be all your thanks beftow'd ; Through time's extended courfe, his fame In fongs of higheft praife proclaim. z Ye who, on his behefts intent, The courts of IfraeVs Lord frequent, And, pleas'd, within his hallow'd gate In regular fucceffion wait ; — 3 Him praife, the everlafting King, And mercy's unexhaufted fpring ; Halle, to his name your voices rear ; What name like his the heart can cheer ? 4 His love from out the num'rous birth, That crowns the wide-extended earth, Seletts the race of Ifaacs fons, And Jacob his pofieffion owns. 5 Thy greatnefs, Lord, my thoughts atteft, With awful gratitude imprefs'd, Nor know, among the feats divine, A pow'r that fhall contend with thine. 6 'Tis God, whofe all-difpofing fway The heav'ns, the earth, and feas obey; Whofe might through all extent extends, Sinks through all depth, all height tranfeends,— 1 From earth's low margin to the fkies Who bids the pregnant vapours rife, The lightning's pallid fheet expands, And glads with fhow'rs the furrow'd lands. 8 Now from his ftorehoufe built on high, He gives th' impiifon'd winds to fly, PSALM CXXXV. 225 And, guided by his will, to fweep The furface of the foaming deep. 9 By his refiftlei's ftroke afiaii'd, Her eldeft-born proud Egjrpt wail'd; Nor rag'd his fword on man alone ; Her flocks, her herds, its fury own. 10 New fcenes of dread her land furpris'd, When God the haughty chief chaftis'd, And each who lent th' affifting hand To execute his ftern command. 1 1 From Egypt's defolated more Its couri'e his vengeance onward bore To diftant realms, by juftice led ; And mightieft kings beneath \t bled. 12 Their monarch Hejbm's coafts deplor'd, And Bafan her gigantic Lord, While Canaan wept her forfeit lands Refign'd to J/raePs chofen bands. 13 Thy name ihall ever live, thy name,. O Lord, fhall ceafelefs honour claim; Thv works, atchiev'd in ages paft, To endiefs time reiuember'd laft. 14 From Thee our judge we wait our doom : Thou, Lord, the balance wilt afl'ume, And, prompt thy people's woes to heal, The fentence of thy wrath repeal. 15 Behold, on each polluted fhore The heathen tribes their gods adore ; Of gold and filver form'd, they ftand The creatures of the artift's hand. 16 Mouths have they, not for lpeech defign'd, And ears and eyes, yet deaf and blind ; Their lips, by nature's finger feal'd, Ne'er knew the vital breath to yield. 17 Unvifited by wildom's ray Their breaft; nor lefs inlenfate they, Who made their mimic forms, or, made, With fruitlefs pray'r invoke their aid. 18 Ye favour'd tribes, from Ifrael fprung, Jehovah's praife with grateful tongue aa<5 PSALM CXXXVI. A roclaim, and thankful jpin efs the majefty divine. , ye Ions of Aaron's race ; \ - ho your birth from Levi trace, And, all whole heart his laws delight, In thanks to him your fongs unite. 20 Let Sion with enraptur'd ear His fame throughout her precinfts hear, Who 'midft her walls, eternal gueft, Has fix'd the manfion of his reft. PSALM CXXXVI. 1 -LlFT up your voice, and thankful ling Praii'es to your heav'nly King ; For his blefiings far extend, And his mercy knows no endo 2 Be the Lord your only theme, Who of gods is God fupreme ; For his blefiings, &c. 3 He to whom all lords befide Bow the knee, and veil their pride ; For his blefiings, &c. 4 Who aliens his juft command By the wonders of his hand ; For his blefiings, &c. £ Praife the Lord, who, thron'd on high, By his wildom built the fky; For his blefiings, &c. 6 Him, who bade the watry deep Under earth's foundation deep ; For his blefiings, &c. 7 And the orbs that gild the pole Through the boundlefs aether roll ; For his blefiings, &c. 8 Thee, O fun, whofe pow'rful ray B.ules the empire of the day ; For his blefiings, &c. 9 You, O moon and ftars, whofe light Breaks the horrors of the night. For his mercies, &c. PSALM CXXXVI. 227 :o When God's vengeful wrath was fried, Egypt mourn'd her firft-born dead ; For his bleffings, &c. 1 1 Thence by him from bondage freed March'd all Ifrael's chofen feed ; For his bleffings, ..Vc. T2 While his mighty hand he rear'd, And his outftretch'd arm appear'd; For his blemngs, &x. 13 Aw'd by him, from fide to fide, Lo ! th' obedient deeps divide ; For his bleffings, &c. 14 At his word the billows flay, Part, and give his people way; For his bleffings, &c. 15 At his word again they clofe O'er the head of Jacobs foes. For his bleffings, &c. 16 Safe in God's almighty aid Jfracl o'er the delert ftray'd ; For his bleffings, &c. 17 Kings, unable to withftand, Felt the vengeance of his hand ; For his bleffings, &c. 18 Chiefs for hardieft deeds renown'd Proftrate fell, and bit the ground ; For his bleffings, &c. 19 Sihon fierce, who forth to fight Led the harnefs'd Amorite ; For his bleffings, &c. 20 Mightieft Og, beneath whofe fway Btifan's fertile region lay ; For his bleffings, &c. 21 Thefe he flew, and from their hands Took the forfeit of their lands ; For his bleffings, &c. 22 Lands, which erft by promife due, Sens of Jacob, fell to you. For his bleffings, &c. 228 PSALM CXXXVII. 23 On our farrows from on high God with pity caft an eye ; For his bleffings, &c. 24 In our battles o'er each head He the fhield of fafety fpread ; For his bleffings, &c. 25 He with food fuftains, O earth, All who claim from thee their birth. For his bleffings, &c. 26 Lift your voice, and thankful fing Praife to heav'n's eternal King ; For his bleffings far extend, And his mercy knows' no end. PSALM CXXXVII. 1 W HERE Babylon's proud water flows, We fate and wept, while in us rofe The dear remembrance of thy name, O fair, O loft Jerufalem ! Our filent harps the willows bore, Whole branches fhade th' extended fhore. 2 In haughty triumph thus the foe Intuiting aggravates our woe : " Come, tune to mirth your fullen tongue ; " Rife, Hebreiv flares, and give the fong ; " Such drains as wont your fane to fill " On captive Sions boafted hill." 3 How fhall we yield to the demand ? How, exiles in a heathen land, Prefume the heav'n-taught fong to raife, And defecrate the hallow'd lays ? Shall Ifrael's vanquifh'd tribes employ Their mournful voice in hymns of joy ? 4 If Sion from my breaft depart, Forget my hand its tuneful art : Faft to my palate cleave my tongue, If, when I form my fprightlieft long, Aught to my mirth fupply a theme, But thou, O lov'd Jerufalem. PSALM CXXXVIII. 225 5 Think, Lord, O think, when Sion lay Abandon'd to the dreadful day, How, as thy heavieft wrath fhe tried, *' Down, down, exulting Edorn cried, " Down let the hated city fall, " And level to the duft her wall." 6 Daughter of Babylon, that woe, Deprefs'd, confum'd, thyfelf fhalt know, Which we, dire murd'refs, found from thee: And bleft the man, whom God's decree Ordains to lead the {laughter on, And dafh thine infants on the ftone. PSALM CXXXVIII. i J. HEE, Lord, my harp's awaken'd firings Shall praife, and to the ear of kings, Whofe pow'rs thy facred imprefs bear, The ardour of my zeal declare, a In low proftration, tow'rd thy fhrine His knees thy fervant fhall incline, And thankful teach the rapt'rous lay Thy faith and mercy to dii'play. 3 Thy fanftity all height tranfcends ; Thy word eternal truth attends ; Thy pow'r, while Thee my pray'r addrefs'd, Has fill'd with heav'n-bom ftrength my breaft. 4 Earth's lords, by thy inftruclions led, With IfracVs fons thy path fhall tread, And, joyous, as they march along, Thy glory chaunt in grateful Cong. 5 Inthron'd above the loftieft Iky, Thou deign'ft the humble to defcry, And, from thy diftant feat, deride The frantic boafts of human pride. 6 When hoftile troops excite my fear, Thy quick'ning grace my heart fhall cheer, Thy hand compoie their furious ftrife, And refcue from the fword my life. 1 What blifs thy promife bids me fhare, Hafte, Lord, to yield j nor from thy care, X *3f PSALM CXXXIX- ever faithful, wife, and good, The creature of thy hands exclude. PSALM CXXXIX. i 1 IIOU, Lord, haft fearch'd me out ; thine ey< Mark when I lit, and when I rife ; By Thee my future thoughts are read ; Thou round my path and round my bed Attended vigilant ; each word, Ere yet I (peak, by Thee is heard. % Life's maze, before my view outfpread, Within thy preience wrapt I tread, And, touch'd with confcious horror, ftand Beneath the fhadow of thy hand ; Such knowledge, Lord, how deep ! in vain 1 leek its fummit to attain. j Where (hall I fhun thy wakeful eye, Or whither from thy fpirit fly ? Aloft to hea\'n my courfe 1 bear; In vain ; for thou, my God, art there : If prone to hell my feet delcend, Thou ftill my footfteps fhalt attend. 4 If now, on fwifteft wings upborne, I feek the regions of the morn, Or hafte me to the weftern fteep, Where eve fits brooding o'er the deep, Thy hand the fugitive (hall ftay, And dictate to my fteps their way. 5 Perchance within its thickeft veil The darknefs fhall mv head conceal ; But, inftant, thou haft chas'd away The gloom, that round me pour'd the day ; Darknefs, great God, to Thee there's none : Darknefs and light to Thee are one. 6 My reins, my fabrick's cv'ry part, O Lord, the wonders of thy art Proclaim, and prompt my willing tongue To meditate the grateful fong; With deepeft awe my thought their frame Surveys j — " I tremble that I am." PSALM CXXXIX, 231 7 While yet a ftranger to the dav Within the burthen'd womb I lay, My bones, familiar to thy view, By juft degrees to firmnef's grew : Thy pow'r my lineaments began, To fhapes prefcrib'd the texture ran. 8 Day to fucceeding day confign'd Th' unfinifh'd birth ; thy mighty mind Each limb, each nerve, ere yet they were, Contemplated diftinft and clear ; Thofe nerves thy curious finger fpun, Thole limbs it fafhion'd one by one ; — 9. And, as thy pen in fair defign Trac'd on thy book each fhadowy line, Thy handmaid Nature read them there, And made the growing work her care, Conform'd it to th' unerring plan, And gradual wrought me into man. ro With what delight, great God, 1 trace The acts of thy ftupendous grace ! To count them, were to count the fand, That lies upon the fea-beat ftrand: When from my temples fleep retires, Thy prefence, Lord, my heart infpires. 11 Shall impious men thy will withftand, Nor feel the vengeance of thy hand ? Shall not thy wrath terrific rife, The bold tranfgrefibrs to chaftife ? Hence, murd'rers, hence, nor near me flay; Ye fons of violence, away ! 12 When lawlefs crowds with inlult vain Thy works revile, thy name profane, Can I unmov'd thofe infults ice, Nor hate the wretch that hateth Thee ? Indignant, in thy caufe I join, And all thy foes, my God, are mine, 13 Searcher of hearts, my thoughts review ; With kind feverity purfue Through each difguife thy fervant's mind, Nor leave one itain of guilt behind 1 X 1 131 PSALM CXL. le through th' eternal path my feet, oring me to thy blifsful feat. PSALM CXL. mpious foes, great God, repel; rage by pow'r fuperioi quell ; ou fubdue the advetfe band, °.gu : d in guilt, againft me ftan-i. I. on fierce contention bent, of milchief to invent ; VV e the a!p, their tongues, and dip In death's worft gah th.-ir venom'd lip. 3 O fave me from the hand of wrong, And backward turn the frantic throng, That, pleas'd, in dire alliance meet, And tempt to fatal lapfe my feet. 4 The murd'rous trap, th' intwining fnare, The fons of violence prepare, And guileful, onward as I tread, Befide my path their net outfpread. 5 Thou art my God ; to Thee on high Thus proftrate at thy throne 1 cry; O let my pray'r by Thee be heard, From undiffembling lips prefer'd. 6 Strength of my health, indulgent Lord, Thy arm unfeen each advene fword, As o'er the field the battle burn'd, Preventive from my head has turn'd. 7 O let not the remorfelefs band (Each counfel by thy prolp ring hand Accomplifh'd, and each wifh fuppiied,) Their conquefts boaft with growing pride* 8 Do Thou, vindictive, on their heads (While round the hoftile circle fpreads, Intent my guiltlefs foul to flay,) The milchief of their lips repay. 9 Let rufhing flames their fin chaftife ; Prone tow'rd the pit (no more to rife,) Let each with fault'ring footfteps bend, And headlong to its depths defcend. PSALM CXLL 23? 10 The tongue, to wifdom unfubdu'd, From blil's its owner (hall exclude ; Detraction in the earth's domain No lafting heritage (hall gain. ii The feet to violence inclin'd, Deftruetion, following faft behind, Shall hunt, and with unwearied pace Through tin's dark maze their path mall tra..'-, 1 a My heart has known thee, Lord, prepar'd The helplels and the poor to guard, To fave them from oppremon's jaws, And vindicate their injur'd caufe. 13 The fouls fubjefted to thy fear To Thee the thankful voice fhall rear, And, ftudious of thy jufl command, Within thy light accepted ftand. PSALM CXLL r To Thee I call ; O hafte Thee near ; My voice, great God, indulgent hear ; With grateful odour to the fkies As incenfe let my pray'r arife, And let my hands, uplifted high, With full acceptance meet thine eye, As victims on thine altar laid, When eve extends its deep'ning (bade. 2 O let my mouth to guilt be barr'd, And o'er its portal plant a guard ; Turn, turn from fin's purluit my will, Nor let th' artificers of ill In me the wifh'd aflbciate greet, Or lee me to their path my feet Incline, and, caught in error's fnare, Their feaftful board luxurious (hare. 3 Let virtue's friends, feverely kind, With welcome chaftifement my mind Correft, and, by their precepts won, Let me each error learn to fhun ; But give not thefe, great God, to fhed The balm of fiatt'rv o'er my head, X3 234 PSALM CXL1I. Left fudden from thy wrath I feel The ftroke, that none (hall know to heal. 4 The pray'r, that from my lips proceeds, My horror of the finner's deeds Shall fpeak ; nor Thou that pray'r defpife, *■ But, while before their ftartled eyes From rocky heights their chiefs are thrown, Incline their ftubborn hearts to own How fweet my words, and, taught thy fear, The leflbns of thy truth to hear. 5 The beafts, the birds that wing the air, Thy flaughter'd faints infatiate tear, Behold the grave's wide mouth difplay'd, Our bones in heaps before it laid, As when beneath the woodman's ftroke From the tall afh, or fpreading oak, The branches fall, and, fcatter'd round # In wild diforder ftrew the ground. 6 Father of all ! to Thee mine eyes I lift ; on Thee my hope relies ; Do thou, as 'mid the toils 1 tread, By men of impious heart outfpread, My dangers, not regardlefs, fee, And let me, while by thy decree "Wrapt in the mare themfelves I view, With ftep fecure my path purfue. PSALM CXLII. 1 JL O God I cry ; to him my pray'r Addrefs ; to him my heart its care Shall pour, and to his ear difclofc, In fad recital, all its woes; To him, for he the pray'r can hear, To him my fuppliant voice I rear. 2 To Thee, great God, to Thee alone, The traces of my paths are known ; Thy fearching eyes, with fteady view, Through forrovv's gloom my fteps purfue, And fee my foes athwart my way The cover' d fnare infidious lay. PSALM CXLIIL F farn'd me, anxious, on the right, T turn'd, and round me caft my fight With fruitlefs fcarch ; no friend was nigh, Th' expected fuccour to fupply, With lenient tongue my griefs to cheer, Or pitying drop the focial tear. Forlorn of help, Thee, mightieft Lord., My foul with humble truft implor'd j In Thee, all-bounteous God, I cried, In Thee alone my hopes refide ; O, while beneath my woes I bend, To me thy kindlieft fuccour lend. While life along my veins fhall ftrearrr, Its portion Thee, and blifs fupreme, My heart fhall own ; O gracious hear. While worn with griefs my voice I rear, And let my foe's fuperior might Thy pity to my aid excite. Do Thou my prifon doors unbar ; So fhall my tongue thy love declare In hymns of praife, while, joy'd in me Th' event of pious hope to fee, The fouls that own thy juft command With thankful wonder round me ftand. PSALM CXLIIL .1. MINE ear, my God, propitious lend ; O, ever juft and true, extend Thy pity, while to Thee I pray, Nor Scrutinize with ftrift furvey Thy fervant's acts ; for who, 6 who Shall pure of guilt approach thy view ? Thou feeft the foe with furious ftrrfe My foul purfue ; to earth my life He treads, and in the horrid gloom, As thofe who 'mid the filent tomb Through ages fleep, from human eye Secluded far, has bid me lie. I feel mv vital ftrength depart, And wild amazement fills my heart ; i;S PSALM CXLIV. But, backward borne to periods paft, Thy mercies, Lord, my thoughts have.*rac'd ; And in my bread recorded ftand The wonders of thy mighty hand. 4 Aloft my fuppliant palms I lpread; Xor more the glebe, its moifture fled, Longs the deicending fhow'r to fee, Than thirfts my wearied foul for Thee; O hide not, Lord, thy face, but fave Thy fervant from the yawning grave. 5 O let the hour that wakes the day Thy mercy to my ear convey ; While, for on Thee my hope depends, In fervent thought my mind afcends, Expectant, tow'rd thy heav'nly feat Train to the paths of truth my feet. 6 To Thee, my refuge, Lord, 1 flv ; Do Thou the deaths that wait me n Repel ; my will to thine, for Thou, Thou art my God, corrective bow, And give me, by thy l'pirit led, The land of righteoufnefs to tread. 7 Thy wonted mercy, Lord, impart, O quicken with thy grace my heart, And let thy juflice interpofe, My forrows to relieve, my foes To crufh, and from their rage remove A foul devoted to thy love. PSALM CXLIV. i JJlEST be the Lord my ftrength, whofe aids, When lawlefe force my peace invades, My fingers for their talk prepare, And difcipline my hands to war. : My hope, my fhield, my ftrongeft tow'r, The friend that in the dang'rous hour My life protects, and bids each land Subjected own my juft command. 3 Lord, what is man, that in thy care His humble lot mould find a mare ? PSALM CXLIV. 237 Cr what the Ton of man, that Thou Thus to his wants thine ear fhouldft bow ? 4 What are his days ? — a fpan their line ; Or what his age, compar'd with thine ? Himl'elf, when in the balance weigh'd, A nothing, ana his life a fnade. 5 Defcend, from heav'n's vaft height defcendj Its wide-fpread arch beneath Thee bend; Touch the proud hills, eternal Sire ; And fee them quick in fmoke afpire! I Let fierceft lightnings through the air, Now rufhing, now reverting, tear Thy ftubborn foes ; and, edg'd with flame, Swift at their heads thy arrows aim. ^ Stretch to my aid thine arm, and fave My life from the devouring wave ; Back let the vengeful foe retire, "Whofe lips, whofe hands, in fraud confpire. 6 So fhall my finger's artful ftroke The harp and ten-ftring'd lute provoke New ftrains t' attempt, and with my tongue In fweet divifion form the fong. 9 Guardian of kings t thy fav'ring might Thy David through the thickeft fight "With watchful care vouchfafes to guide, And turns each threat'ning fword afide. 10 Stretch out thy arm, O Lord, and fave My life from the devouring wave; Back let the vengeful foe retire, "Whofe lips, whole hands in fraud confpire. ri So, nurs'd beneath indulgent ikies, Our fons with full increafe fhall rife, Like youngling plants in order rang'd, Of healthful ftem, and leaf unchang'd, — iz. Our daughters as the column fair, That, fafhion'd by the artift's care. Claims in the regal dome a place, The potifh'd angle's nobleft grace. 1$ So fhall the hind exulting bear The bleffings of the loaded year» i;S PSALM CXLV. And • i ftorc Load with: - tended floor. 14 Our oxer, ftrong for toil behold ! The teeming mothers of the fold See, fcatter'd o'er the rural fcene, Their thoufands and their myriads yean. 15 No more our ftreets the cries of fear Or fhouts of violence fhail hear ; Thcu, Lord, the tumults (halt aliuage Of hoftiie force, and civil rage. :5 O happy we, while thus our race The lignals of thy love fh-di! grace ! O bleft the people, that in Thee Their God and faithful Guardian fee! PSALM CXLV. 1 Thee win 1 bids, a Nor ceafe thy wondrous From earlieft morn to late Thy praifes on rav I To Thee my harp fhail wake each. Nor ceafe thy wondrous acts to I 2 Great is our God: in vain our praile His excellence in equal lays Would celebrate; in vain the mind Its height, its depths efiays to find ; . Age to fucceeding age thy m - Shall fpeak, thy works, bleft Lord, recite. tongue thy glory fhail proclaim, The faithful witnefs of thy fame, Bid contemplation's inmoft thought -vey the wonders thou haft wrooght, And with aflfenling myriads join To bleft the majefty divine. 4 Thy dreaded pow'r fhail each rehearfe, peatneft fhail my thankful verfe zoulhefs and leve Our hearts inflame, our fongs improve ; - :od and kind fhail rnor;. To anger flow, :: f ■ PSALM CXLV. 235 < Far as creation's bounds extend, Thy mercies, heav'nly Lord, deicend j One chorus of perpetual prail'e To Thee thy various works (hall raife, Thy faints to Thee in hymns impart The tranfports of a grateful heart ; — 6 The l'plendors of thy kingdom tell, Delighted on thy wonders dwell, And bid the world's wide realms admire The glories of th' Almighty Sire, Whofe throne {hall nature's wreck furvive, ■Whofe pow'r through endlefs ages live. * Thy promife truth eternal guides, And mercy o'er each a£t prelides ; The feet, whofe fteps to lapl'e incline, "With faithful care thv arm divine Shall prop ; the fpirit bow'd with woe Thy all-fupporting aid fhall know. 3 From thee, great God, while ev'ry eye Expe&aat waits the wifh'd fupply, rheii bread proportion'd to the day Thy op'ning hands to each convey ; Thy ways eternal iuftice guides, And mercy o'er thine act prelides. 3 "Who afk thine aid with heart fincere, Thee ever gracious, ever near, Shall own ; their pray'r, in each diflrefs, To Thee thy fervants, Lord, addreis, And find Thee (verging on the grave,) Nor flow to hear, nor weak to lave. 10 Ye fouls among his faints inroll'd, In God your lure defence behold, Who wakes your chofen train to guard ; While pride fhall meet its juft reward ; And fierce deftruftion at his word Shall bathe in impious blood its fword. x 1 Long as I breathe, my thankful tongue To I Jim fhall mediiate the long ; My willing lips with praiie o'erflow, My grateful foul with tranfport glow ; *40 PSALM CXLVI. From man's whole race his hallow'd name Shall thanks and emliefs honour claim. PSALM CXLVL Halldujak. I r RAISE, praife thy God, my foul ; his name To life's laft date my thanks fhall claim, And, long as I exift, my lyre Shall wake to ling th' eternal Sire, a O feek not, with prefumption vain, Your hope on princes to fuftain, Nor truft, when threat'ning ills invade, The ftrengtblefs prop of human aid. 3 His breath refign'd, on earth's low bed Behold the mortal reft his head ; Nor farther fhall his thoughts extend, But with him to the grave defcend. 4 Bleft, who their help in Thee alone, The God to Jacob's offspring known, Have found, and to the hand divine In each diftrefs their care refign ; — 5 That hand, that form'd the heav'ns and earth, And call'd the watry deep to birth, With all that in the ample round Of nature's utmoft reign is found. £ Tis God's, whofe truth, through ages paft Confirm'd, fhall time's extent outlaft; Tis his, the injur'd caufe to right, And crufh the arm of lawlefs might. 5 'Tis his to loofe the captive's chain, With bread the hungry to fuftain, The blind reftore, the weak uprear. And fave the fouls that own his fear. S Through diftant regions doom'd to ream, In him the ftranger finds a home ; ,'Tis his, the orphan's breaft to cheer, And wipe the heart-fwoln widow's tear. «> The impious fouls, whofe love of ill To rafti tranlgreliion prompts their will, Who dare from his decrees to ft ray, Shall reap the error of their way. PSALM CXLVII. 241 10 O Siott, in thy God confide, And know how fix'd his reign, how wide ; O'er fubje£t worlds his juft command To endleis age confirm'd mall ftand. PSALM CXLVII. Hallelujah. 1 O BLESS Jehovah : fweet the joy, When talks like thefe the voice employ j To him our higheft thanks belong, And praife fits comely on our tongue. 2 Tis he who builds fair Salem's walls, And Ifrael's exil'd fons recals; Yields to the contrite heart relief, And binds its wounds, and foothes its grief. 3 He to the ftars affigns their names, (As, fcatter'd wide, their vivid flames Adorn the bright ethereal plain,) And numbers with his eye their train. 4 Great is our God : beyond all bound His pow'r ; beyond all fearch is found His knowledge ; in his arm the meek With lure fuccefs their aid fhall feek j — 5 That arm, whole unrefifted ftroke, On each, who dares his wrath provoke, With fwift defcent its aim (hall guide, And level to the duft their pride. 6 Let ev'ry tongue, let ev'ry chord, Exalt the name of Jacob's Lord, Whofe hand with clouds the heav'n obfcuree, On earth the genial moifture pours. 7 He bids the herb its mantle fpread, Luxuriant o'er the mountain's head ; Gives to the beafts their wonted food, And ftills the raven's clam'rous brood. 2 If o'er the field the battle bleed, His watchful eye the ftrengthful fteed Regards not, nor the chiefs, whole feet Unmov'd the fhock of legions meet. 9 On you, in whom his fear refides, On you, whofe heart in him confides, Y A4= PSALM CXLVII. His grace its fignals fhall baftcw, His arm with conqueft bind your brow. 10 O Sofyma, his lov'd abode, Him praife unceafing ! blefs thy God, O Sion, who thy gates has barr'd, Whofe various gifts thy ions have fhar'd. 1 1 His vilits teach thy grateful foil To recompenfe the tiller's toil ; He crowns with peace thy happy plain ; Calls from thy glebe the pureft grain. 12 God's word, from heav'n in fwift career Convey'd, fuggefts to nature's ear The laws that regulate her frame, And gives her ev'ry aft its aim. 13 Flak'd by his art, the woolly fnow Falls filent on the ground below ; By him the froft, as afhes hoar, Lies fprinkled earth's wide furface o'er. 14 In harden'd fragments through the air, While man its rigours fhuns to bear, His hail defcends ; in icy chains His hand the gliding ftream detains,-^- 15 Till, at his word, th' inftructed wind With friendly breath the wave unbind, And bid it, onward borne, again With liquid lapfe its courfe maintain. 16 Such is the God, and fuch his might, Whofe precepts lfraefs love invite, And to his tribes in full difplay His life-directing truths convey. t" What realms through earth's extended coaflsj His care, like thine, O Judah, boafts, Or, taught, as thou, his fear to own, The dictates of his will has known ? 18 O come, your thankful voices join, And blefs the majefty divine : His praife, to time's remoteft day, His pow'r in facred notes difplay. PSALM CXLYIII. 243 PSALM CXLVIII. Hallelujah. 1 X E blefl inhabitants of hcav'n, To God be all your praifes giv'n ; O praife him from the realms that lie Above the reach of mortal eye ; Him praife, ye angels of his train, Him, all whom heav'n's vait hofts contain. 2 Praife him, thou glorious orb of light, And thou, pale ruler of the night ; Praife him, ye ftars ; his prail'e repeat, Thou heav'n of heav'ns, his awful feat ; And you, ye floods, that, heap'd on high, Prefs with your weight th' extended fky. 3 Let thefe to God their voices rear, Who bade them be ; and ftraight they were : Who bids them ftand ; and ftand they fhall : Nor aught the mandate (hall recal, That, fix'd by his almighty mind, To endlefs age their date affign'd. 4 Let not the heav'n God's praife confine ; O all of earth the chorus join ; Ye whales, ye deeps, in praife confpire, Snow, vapour, hail, and bick'ring fire, And ev'ry wind, and ev'ry ftorm, That duteous his behefts perform ;— 5 Ye lefl'er hills, ye mountains high, Ye trees, whofe fruits man's food fupply, Ye cedars, whofe expanded fhade, Nor ftorms nor ages teach to fade, Ye beads, that range th' uncultur'd foil, Or patient lend to man your toil. 6 Praife him, each bird that wings the air, Each reptile, nurtur'd by his care ; Ye kings and nations of the earth ; O praife him all of princely birth, And ye, whofe doom, as juftice guides, The long-contefted caufe decides. 7 Ye youthful bands and virgin choir, Each lifping.babe, and hoary fire, Y 2 *44 PSALM CXLIX. Wake to his name your grateful fongs; To him alone all praife belongs ; His glory earth's wide bounds o'erflows, Nor higheft heav'n its limit knows. <8 Ye tribes, exalted by his arm, You, chief, the heav'nly theme fhall warm, Bleft fons of If r ad's hallow'd land, Who neighb'ring to his prefence ftand ; O come, your thankful voices raife, And confecrate to him your praife. PSALM CXLIX. Hallelujah. i DING to our God the new-form'd lay, Ye fouls, who his commands obey, Affembling join your thankful tongues, And hallow with his praife your fongs. 3. O Ifrael, let thy Maker's name With joyous zeal thy breaft inflame, And Sion's fons exulting fing The. mercies of their heav'nly king. 3 Range in the dance the facred band, And urge the minftrel's well-taught hand To ftrike the loud-refounding lyre, While timbrels in his praife confpire. 4 With what delight, great God, behold Thine eyes the people of thy fold ! Thy ftrength the fouls of humble frame Their ever.prefent aid proclaim. 5 With conqueft crown'd, and wrapt in joy, Let all, whom thy decrees employ, Thy name exalt, and thankful raife The fong of gratitude and praife. 6 Let all unite with willing mind, Nor ceafe, when on their beds reclin'd, The filent midnight's lift'ning ear, With fongs of loudeft mirth to cheer. 7 Thy mercy let their lips record ; Give to their grafp the two-edg'd fword, And let them, guided by thy hand, Deal vengeance through each heathen land. PSALM CL. i+$ S Let them the guilty tribes chaftife, Whofe impious arm thy pow'r defies j Triumphant in the iron chain Their nobles and their kings detain, — 9 And while, infpir'd with active zeal Thy prefcript thus their hands fulfil, The glories wear for all prepar'd, "Whole hearts thy juft behefts regard. Hallelujah, PSALM CL. Hallelujah, i 1 RAISE, O praife the name divine ; Praife it at the hallow'd fhrine ; Let the firmament on high To its Maker's praife reply, i Let each tongue, and let each chord Praife the name of Jacob's Lord, Let his afts, and pow'r fupreme, To your fongs fuggeft a theme. 3 Be the harp no longer mute ; Sound the trumpet ; touch the lute ; "Wake to life each tuneful firing; Bring the pipe, the timbrel bring. 4. Let the organ in his praife Learn its loudeft note to raife, And the cymbal's varying found From the vaulted roof rebound. 5 All who vital breath enjoy, In his praife that breath employ, And in one great chorus join ; Praife, O praife the name divine. DOXOLOGIES; Or, Forms of afcribing Glory and Praife to the ever bleffed Trinity, from one Generation to another; — to God the Father for our Creation, to God the Son for our Redemption, and God the Holy Ghoft for our Sanctification. GLORIA PATRI. I. IN thee, O heav'n, O earth, in thee Be glory to th' eternal Three ; That glory, which through ages paft Was, is, and (hall for ever laft. OR THIS. II. To Father, Son, and Spirit bleft, Be praife in heav'n and earth addrefs'd, As was, and is, and yet (hall be. When time its lateft hour fhall fee. OR THIS. III. To Thee, one God, in Perfons three, As was, and is, and 3'et fhall be, One chorus let the nations raife, One fhout of univerfal praife. OR THIS. IV. To Father, Son, and Spirit bleft, Be praife, as was at firft, addrefs'd ; Such praife as from th' angelic choirs, And faints, whom zeal like theirs infpires, In heav'n above and earth below Still flows, and fhall for ever flow. [ 2 +7 3 OR THIS. V. To Father, Son, and Spirit bleft, Be praife in loudeft notes addrefs'd, Such as the ftars of morning fung, When earth was on its balance hung, Such praife as from th' angelic choirs, And faints, whom zeal like theirs infpires, In heav'n above and earth below Still flows, and fhall for ever flow. ANOTHER. VI. All glory to th' eternal Three ; Thee, Father ; thee, O Son ; and thee, The Spirit ever bleft : That glory, which through ages pad Unchang'd has ftood, and yet fhall laft, When time has funk to reft. ANOTHER. VII. All glory to th' eternal Three, As was, ere time began to roll, As is, nor yet fhall ceafe to be, When time has reach'd its deftin'd goal. ANOTHER. VIII. Be glory to th' eternal Three Afcrib'd, and higheft praife, As was, and is, and ftill fhall be Beyond the end of days. ANOTHER. IX. To th' eternal Three be giv'n Praife on earth, and praife in heav'n j Such as was through ages paft, Is, and fhall for ever laft.