H° THE PSALMS OF DAVID, IN METRE. PSALM I. "OW blest is he, who ne'er consents by ill advice to walk, Nor stands in sinner's ways, nor sits where men profanely talk; 2 But makes the perfect law of God his business and delight; Devoutly reads therein by day, and meditates by night. 9 "Thy threatening sceptre thou shalt shake, "and crush them every where; "As massy bars of iron break "the potter's brittle ware." 10 Learn then, ye princes; and give ear ye judges of the earth; 11 Worship the Lord with holy fear; rejoice with awful mirth. 3 Like some fair tree, which, fed by 12 Appease the Son, with due respect streams, with timely fruit does bend, He still shall flourish, and success all his designs attend. 4 Ungodly men, and their attempts, no lasting root shall find; Untimely blasted,and dispersed like chaff before the wind. your timely homage pay; Lest he revenge the bold neglect, incensed by your delay. 13 If but in part his anger rise, who can endure the flame? Then blest are they, whose hope relies on his most holy name. PSALM 3. 5 Their guilt shall strike the wicked dumb HOW many, Lord, of late are grown before their Judge's face: No formal hypocrite shall then among the saints have place. 6 For God approves the just man's ways; to happiness they tend: But sinners, and the paths they tread, shall both in ruin end. PSALM 2. WITH restless and ungovern'd rage, why do the heathen storm? Why in such rash attempts engage, as they can ne'er perform? 2 The great in council and in might 3" Must we submit to their commands?" presumptuously they say: "No, let us break their slavish bands, "and cast their chains away." 4 But God, who sits enthroned on high, and sees how they combine, Does their conspiring strength defy, and mocks their vain design. 5 Thick clouds of wrath divine shall break on his rebellious foes; And thus will he in thunder speak to all that dare oppose: 6 Though madly you dispute my will, "the King that I ordain, "Whose throne is fix'd on Sion's hill, shall there securely reign." 7 Attend, O earth, whilst I declare God's uncontroll'd decree: "Thou art my Son; this day, my heir, have I begotten thee. 8 "Ask, and receive thy full demands; the troublers of my peace! And as their numbers hourly rise, so does their rage increase. 2 Insulting, they my soul upbraid, and him whom I adore; "The God in whom he trusts," say they "shall rescue him no more." 3 But thou, O Lord, art my defence; 4 Since whensoe'er, in like distress, 5 Guarded by him, I laid me down 7 Arise, and save me, O my God, 8 Salvation to the Lord belongs; he only can defend: His blessings he extends to all that on his power depend. PSALM 4. LORD, thou art my righteous Judge, to my complaint give ear: Thou still redeem'st me from distress: have mercy, Lord, and hear. 2 How long will ye, O sons of men, 3 Consider that the rigateous man is God's peculiar choice; And when to him I make my prayer, he always hears my voice. 4 Then stand in awe of his commands, flee every thing that's ill, 12 To righteous men, the righteous Lord Commune in private with your hearts, dreadful anger, Lord, restrain, and bend them to his will. 5 The place of other sacrifice let righteousness supply; And let your hope, securely fix'd, on God alone rely. 6 While worldly minds impatient grow more prosperous times to see; Still let the glories of thy face shine brightly, Lord, on me. 7 So shall my heart o'erflow with joy, more lasting and more true Than theirs, who stores of corn and wine successively renew. 8 Then down in peace I'll lay my head, and take my needful rest; No other guard, O Lord, I crave, of thy defence possess'd. PSALM 5. ORD, hear the voice of my complaint, accept my secret prayer; 2 To thee alone, my King, my God, will I for help repair. 3 Thou in the morn my voice shalt hear, and with the dawning day To thee devoutly I'll look up, to thee devoutly pray. 4 For thou the wrongs that I sustain 5 Not long shall stubborn fools remain unpunish'd in thy view; All such as act unrighteous things thy vengeance shall pursue. 6 The slandering tongue, O God of truth, by thee shall be destroy'd, Who hat'st alike the man in blood and in deceit employ'd. and spare a wretch forlorn. Correct me not in thy fierce wrath, too heavy to be borne. 2 Have mercy, Lord; for I grow faint unable to endure The anguish of my aching bones, which thou alone canst cure. 3 My tortured flesh distracts my mind, 4 Thy wonted goodness, Lord, repea 5 For after death no more can 6 Quite tired with pain, with groaning no hope of ease I see; [faint, The night, that quiets common griefs, is spent in tears by me. 7 My beauty fades, my sight grows dim my eyes with weakness close; Old age o'ertakes me, whilst I think 8 Depart, ye wicked; in my wrong 9, 10 He hears, and grants my humble LORD my God, since I have placed my trust alone in thee, 7 But when thy boundless grace shall me From all my persecutors' rage to thy loved courts restore, On thee I'll fix my longing eyes, and humbly there adore. 8 Conduct me by thy righteous laws, for watchful is my foe; Therefore, O Lord, make plain the way wherein I ought to go. 9 Their mouth vents nothing but deceit; their heart is set on wrong; Their throat is a devouring grave; they flatter with their tongue. 10 By their own counsels let them fall, oppress'd with loads of sin; For they against thy righteous laws have harden'd rebels been. 11 But let all those who trust in thee, with shouts their joy proclaim; Let them rejoice whom thou preserv'st, and all that love thy naine. do thou deliver me. 2 To save me from my threatening foe, Lord, interpose thy power; Lest, like a savage lion, he my helpless soul devour. 8,4 If I am guilty, or did e'er against his peace combine; Nay, if I had not spared his life," who sought unjustly mine; 5 Let then to persecuting foes my soul become a prey; Let them to earth tread down my life, in dust my honour lay. 6 Arise, and let thine anger, Lord, and their insulting rage: Awake, awake, in my behalf, the judgment to dispense, Which thou hast righteously ordain'd for injured innocence. 7 So to thy throne, adoring crowds shall still for justice fly: Oh! therefore, for their sake, resume thy judgment-seat on high. 8 Impartial Judge of all the world, 9 Let wicked arts and wicked men But guard the just, thou God, to whom' the hearts of both are known. 10, 11 God me protects, not only me, but all of upright heart: And daily lays up wrath for those who from his laws depart. 12 If they persist, he whets his sword, his bow stands ready bent; 13 Ev'n now, with swift destruction his pointed shafts are sent. [wing'd, 14 The plots are fruitless which my foe unjustly did conceive; 15 The pit he digg'd for me, has prov'd his own untimely grave. 16 On his own head his spite returns, Whilst I from harm am free; On him the violence is fallen, which he design'd for me. 17 Therefore will I the righteous ways of Providence proclaim; I'll sing the praise of God most high, and celebrate his name. PSALM 8. THOU, to whom all creatures bow within this earthly frame, Through all the world how great art thou! how glorious is thy name! In heaven thy wondrous acts are sung, nor fully reckon'd there; 2 And yet thou mak'st the infant tongue thy boundless praise declare. Thro' thee the weak confound the strong, and crush their haughty foes; And so thou quell'st the wicked throng, that thee and thine oppose. 3 When heaven, thy beauteous work on employs my wondering sight; [high, The moon, that nightly rules the sky, with stars of feebler light; 4 What's man, say I,that,Lord,thou lov'st to keep him in thy mind? Or what his offspring, that thou prov'st to them so wondrous kind! 5 Him next in power thou didst create to thy celestial train; Through all the world how great art throu how glorious is thy name! PSALM 9. To celebrate thy praise, O Lord, To all the listening world, thy works 2 The thought of them shall to my sout exalted pleasures bring; Whilst to thy name, O thou Most High, triumphant praise I sing. 3 Thou mad'st my haughty foes to turn their backs in shameful flight: Struck with thy presence, down they fell they perish'd at thy sight. 5 4 Against insulting foes advanced, thou didst my cause maintain; My right asserting from thy throne, where truth and justice reign. The insolence of heathen pride thou hast reduced to shame; Their wicked offspring quite destroy'd, and blotted out their name. 6 Mistaken foes, your haughty threats] are to a period come; Our city stands, which you design'd 7, 8 The Lord for ever lives, who has 9 God is a constant sure defence As troubles rise, his needful aids! in our behalf engage. 10 All those who have his goodness prov'd will in his truth confide; Whose mercy ne'er forsook the man that on his help rely'd. 11 Sing praises therefore to the Lord, Proclaint his deeds, till all the world from Sion, his abode; confess no other God. PART II. 12 When he inquiry makes for blood, from death's devouring gate. to all that love thy name; And, with loud shouts of grateful joy, thy saving power proclaim. 15 Deep in the pit they digg'd for me,] . the heathen pride is laid; Their guilty feet to their own snare are heedlessly betray'd. 16 Thus, by the just return he makes, '. The mighty Lord is known; While wicked men, by their own plots,', are shamefully o'erthrown." 17 No single sinner shall escape, by privacy obscured; Nor nation, from his just revenge, And, by the greatness of thy power defend the poor from harm. 13 No longer let the wicked vaunt, and, proudly boasting, say, dis-"Tush, God regards not what we do; "he never will repay." by numbers be secured. 19 Arise, O Lord, assert thy power, 20 Strike terror thro' the nations round, They to each other, and themselves, but mortal men appear. PSALM 10. Y presence why withdraw'st thou, A Lord? why hid'st thou now thy face, When dismal times of deep distress call for thy wonted grace? 2 The wicked, swell'd with lawless pride, For straight they triumph, if success And sordic wretches, whom God hates, their thriving crimes attend; perversely they commend. 4 To own a power above themselves, 5 Oppressive methods they pursue, 6 They fondly think their prosperous state shall unmolested be; They think their vain designs shall thrive, from all misfortunes free. 7 Vain and deceitful is their speech, with curses fill'd, and lies; By which the mischief of their heart 8 Near public roads they lie conceal'd, 3 Not lions, couching in their dens, 10 Sometimes they act the harmless man, PART II. 11 For God, they think, no notice takes 12 But thou, O Lord, at length arise,* 14 But sure thou seest, and all their deeds impartially dost try; The orphan, therefore, and the poor 15 Defenceless let the wicked fall, 16 Assert thy just dominion, Lord Thou first prepar'st their hearts to pray, the fatherless and poor; PSALM 11. Saefuge always nigh, INCE I have placed my trust in God, Why should I, like a timorous bird, 2 Behold, the wicked bend their bow, 3 When once the firm assurance fails, 4 The Lord hath both a temple here, What must the sons of violence, 6 Snares, fire, and brimstone, on their into their cup shall pour. [heads 7 The righteous Lord will righteous deeds And to the upright man disclose Sdo then my cause defend; INCE godly men decay, O Lord, For scarce these wretched times afford 2 One neighbour now can scarce believe 3 But lips that with deceit abound can never prosper long; 5 For God, who hears the suffering poor, 6 The word of God shall still abide, 7 The promise of his aiding grace His servants from this faithless race 8 Then shall the wicked be perplex'd, How long wilt thou forget me, Lord? must I for ever mourn? How long wilt thou withdraw from me, oh! never to return? [soul, 2 How long shall anxious thoughts my 3 Oh! hear, and to my longing eyes 4 Restore me, lest they proudly boast 5 Since I have always placed my trust Thy saving health will come; and then [spired, SURE wicked fools must needs suppose and all the sons of men did view, That they, like bread, my people eat, For to the righteous,God is near, and never will their cause forsake. 6 Ill men, in vain, with scorn expose those methods which the good pursue, Since God a refuge is for those, whom his just eyes with favour view. 7 Would he his saving power employ to break his people's servile band, Then shouts of universal joy should loudly echo through the land. PSALM 15. LORD, who's the happy man that may to thy blest courts repair, Not stranger-like, to visit them, 2 'Tis he, whose every thought and deed by malice whisper'd round. 5 Who to his plighted vows and trust And though he promise to his loss, 7 The man, who by his steady course When earth's foundation shakes, shal PROTECT 2 My soul all help but thine does slight, the goodness thou hast shown. 4 How shall their sorrows be increased, 5 My lot is fallen in that blest land He fills my cup with liberal band, |