The sun to rule by day, the moon and stars by night: For God, &c. 10, 11, 12 He struck the first-born dead of Egypt's stubborn land; And thence his people led with his resistless 'hand: For God, &c. 13, 14 By him the raging sea, through which his people went: 15 Where soon he overthrew 16, 17, 18 Thro' deserts vast and wild and made great monarchs bleed: 19, 20 Sihon, whose potent hand 21, 22 And, of his wondrous grace, their lands, whom he destroy'd, He gave to Israel's race, to be by them enjoy'd. For God, &c. 23, 24 He, in our depth of woes, on us with favour thought, And from our cruel foes in peace and safety brought: For God, &c. 25, 26 He does the food supply, on which all creatures live: To God, who reigns on high, eternal praises give: For God will prove PSALM 137. We wept, with doleful thoughts opprest, and Sion was our mournful theme. 2 Our harps, that when with joy we sung, were wont their tuneful parts to bear, With silent strings neglected hung on willow trees, that wither'd there. 3 Meanwhile our foes, who all conspired to triumph in our slavish wrongs, Music and mirth of us required, "Come, sing us one of Sion's songs." 4 How shall we tune our voice to sing, or touch our harps with skilful hands? Shall hymns of joy to God, our King, be sung by slaves in foreign lands? 50 Salem, our once happy seat! when I of thee forgetful prove, Let then my trembling hand forget the speaking strings with art to move! 6 If I to mention thee forbear, eternal silence seize my tongue; Or if I sing one cheerful air, till thy deliverance is my song. 7 Remember, Lord, how Edoni's race, in thy own city's fatal day, Cry'd out, "Her stately wails deface, "and with the ground quite level lay." 8 Proud Bahel's daughter, doom'd to be of grief and woe the wretched prey; Bless'd is the man who shall to thee the wrongs thou laid'st on us repay. 9 Thrice bless'd, who, with just rage pos sest and deaf to all the parent's moans, Shall snatch thy infants from the breast, and dash their heads against the stones. PSALM 138. WIT WITH my whole heart, my God and thy praise I will proclaim; Before the gods with joy I'll sing, and bless thy holy name. 2 I'll worship at thy sacred seat, and, with thy love inspired, The praises of thy truth repeat, o'er all thy works adinired. 3 Thou graciously inclinedst thine ear, when I to thee did cry; And when my soul was press'd with fear, didst inward strength supply. 4 Therefore shall every earthly prince thy name with praise pursue, Whom these admired events convince that all thy works are true. 5 They all thy wondrous ways, O Lord, with cheerful songs shall bless; And all thy glorious acts record, thy awful power confess. 6 For God, although enthroned on high, does thence the poor respect; The proud, far off, his scornful eye beholds with just neglect. 7 Though I with troubles am oppress'd, he shall my foes disarm, Relieve my soul when most distress'd, and keep me safe from harm. 8 The Lord, whose mercies ever last, shall fix my happy state; And, mindful of his favours past, shall his own work compiete. PSALM 139. THOU, Lord, by strictest search has known My rising up and lying down; My secret thoughts are known to thee, Known long before conceived by me. 3 Thine eye my bed and path surveys, My public haunts and private ways; 4 Thou know'st what 'tis my lips would My yet unutter'd words' intent." 5 Surrounded by thy power I stand; On every side I find thy hand: 6 O skill for human reach too high! Too dazzling bright for mortal eye! 7 O could I so perfidious be, To think of once deserting thee, Where, Lord, could I thy influence shun? Or whither from thy presence run? 8 If up to heaven I take my flight, 'Tis there thou dwell'st, enthroned in If down to hell's infernal plains, 'Tis there Almighty vengeance reigns. 9 If I the morning's wings could gain, And fly beyond the western main, 10 Thy swifter hand would first arrive, And there arrest thy fugitive. [light; 11 Or, should I try to shun thy sight 14 I'll praise thee, from whose hands I canie, A work of such a curious frame; The wonders thou in me hast shown, My soul with grateful joy must own. 15 Thine eyes my substance did survey, Whilst yet a lifeless mass it lay, In secret how exactly wrought, Ere from its dark enclosure brought. 16 Thou didst the shapeless embryo see, Its parts were register'd by thee; Thou saw'st the daily growth they took, Form'd by the model of thy book. 17 Let me acknowledge too, O God, That since this maze of life I trod, Thy thoughts of love to me surmount The power of numbers to recount. 18 Far sooner could I reckon o'er The sands upon the ocean's shore; Each morn revising what I've done, I find the account but new begun. 19 The wicked thou shalt slay, O God: Depart from me, ye men of blood, 20 Whose tongues heaven's Majesty profane, And take the Almighty's name in vain. 21 Lord, hate not I their impious crew, Who thee with enmity pursue? And does not grief my heart oppress, When reprobates thy laws transgress? 22 Who practise enmity to thee, Shall utmost hatred have from me; Such men I utterly detest, As if they were my foes profest. 23, 24 Search, try, O God, my thoughts and heart, aischief lurk in any part; intent; [foes, 2 And from the sons of violence, on open mischief bent. S Their slandering tongue the serpent's sting in sharpness does exceed; Between their lips the gall of asps ⚫ and adder's venom breed. 4 Preserve me, Lord, from wicked hands. nor leave my soul forlorn, A prey to sons of violence, who have my ruin sworn. 5 The proud for me have laid their snare, 6 But thus environ'd with distress, 7 O Lord, the God whose saving strength kind succour did convey, And cover'd my adventurous head 8 Permit not their unjust designs 9 Let first their chiefs the sad effects The blast of their envenom❜d breath upon themselves return. 10 Let them who kindle first the flame, its sacrifice become; The pit they digg'd for me be made their own untimely tomb. 11 Though slander's breath may raise a it quickly will decay; [storm, Their rage does but the torrent swell, that bears themselves away. 12 God will assert the poor man's cause, and speedy succour give; The just shall celebrate his praise, and in his presence live. PSALM 141. To thee, O Lord, my cries ascend, And with accustom'd pity hear 3 From basty language curb my tongue, with wary silence barr'd. 4 From wicked men's designs and deeds my heart and hands restrain; Nor let me in the booty share of their unrighteous gain. 5 Let upright men reprove my faults, 6 When skulking in Engedi's rock, 7 Yet us they persecute to death; As thick as from the hewer's axe 8 But, Lord, to thee I still direct whose trust on thee relies. 9 Do thou preserve me from the snares ΠΟ PSALM 142. TO God, with mournful voice, 2 Made him the umpire of my cause, when my grieved soul despair'd; to own me in distress; All refuge fail'd, no man vouchsafed his pity or redress. 5 To God at last I pray'd; Thou, Lord, my refuge art, My portion in the land of life, till life itself depart. 6 Reduced to greatest straits, to thee I make my moan; save me from oppressing foes, for me too powerful grown. 7 That I may praise thy name, my soul from prison bring; Whilst of thy kind regard to me assembled saints shall sing. PSALM 143. My mournful heart grows desolate, with heavy wees opprest. My soul for thy refreshment thirsts, Lest I become forlorn, like them 8 Thy kindness early let me hear, whose trust on thee depends; Teach me the way where I should go; my soul to thee ascends. 9 Do thou, O Lord, from all my foes A safe retreat against their rage, Let thy good spirit lead and keep 11 Ŏ! for the sake of thy great name, For thy truth's sake, to me, distress'd, 12 In pity to my sufferings, Lord, PSALM 144. OR ever bless'd be God the Lord, FOR who does his needful aid impart, At once both strength and skill afford, to wield my arms with warlike art. 2 His goodness is my fort and tower, my strong deliverance, and my shield; In him I trust, whose matchless power makes to my sway fierce nations yield. 3 Lord, what's in man, that thou should's love of him such tender care to take? What in his offspring could thee move such great account of him to make? 4 The life of man does quickly fade, his thoughts but empty are and vain, LORD, hear my prayer, and to my cry His days are like a flying shade, thy wonted audience lend; In thy accustom'd faith and truth 2 Nor at thy strict tribunal bring 3 The spiteful foe pursues my life, as mansions of the dead. 4 My spirit therefore is o'erwhelm', and sinks within my breast; of whose short stay no signs remain. 5 In solemn state, O God, descend, whilst heaven its lofty head inclines; The smoking hills asunder rend, of thy approach the awful signs. 6 Discharge thy awful lightnings round, and make thy scatter'd foes retreat; Then with thy pointed arrows wound, and their destruction soon complete. 7,8 Do thou, O Lord, from heaven engage thy boundless power my foes to quell, And snatch me from the stormy rage of threatening waves that proudlysweil Fight thou against my foreign foes, who utter speeches false and vain; Who, tho' in solemn leagues they close, their sworn engagements ne'er maintain. 9 So I to thee, O King of kings, in new-made hymns my voice shall raise, And instruments of many strings shall help me thus to sing thy praise: 10 "God does to kings his aid afford, "to them his sure salvation sends; "'Tis he that from the murdering sword "his servant David still defends." 11 Fight thou against my foreign foes, who utter speeches false and vain; Who, tho' in solemn leagues they close, their sworn engagements ne'er maintain. 12 Then our young sons like trees shall grow, well planted in some fruitful place; Our daughters shall like pillars show, design'd some royal court to grace. 13 Our garners,fill'd with various store, shall us and ours with plenty feed; Our sheep, increasing more and more, shall thousands and ten thousands breed. 14 Strong shall our labouring oxen grow, nor in their constant labour faint; Whilst we no war nor slavery know, and in our streets hear no complaint. 15 Thrice happy is that people's case, whose various blessings thus abound; Who God's true worship still embrace, and are with his protection crown'd. PSALM 145. IEE I will bless, my God and King, thy endless praise proclaim; This tribute daily I will bring, and ever bless thy name. 3 Thou, Lord, beyond compare art great, 4 Renown'd for mighty acts, thy fame 5,6 Whilst I thy glory and renown, 8 The Lord is good; fresh acts of grace his pity still supplies; His anger moves with slowest pace, his willing mercy flies. 9, 10 Thy love through earth extends its to ai thy works exprest; [fame, These show thy praise, whilst thy great is by thy servants blest. 11 They, with a glorious prospect fired, shall of thy kingdom speak; And thy great power, by all admired, their lofty subject make. 12 God's glorious works, of ancient date shall thus to all be known; And thus his kingdom's royal state with public splendour shown. 13 His steadfast throne, from changes shall stand for ever fast; [free, His boundless sway no end shall see, but time itself outlast. PART II. 14, 15 The Lord does them support tha and makes the prostrate rise; [fall For his kind aid all creatures call, who timely food supplies. 16 Whate'er their various wants require, with open hand he gives; And so fulfils the just desire of every thing that lives. 17, 18 How holy is the Lord, how just, how righteous all his ways! How nigh to him, who with firm trust for his assistance prays! 19 He grants the full desires of those who him with fear adore; And will their troubles soon compose, when they his aid implore. 20 The Lord preserves all those with care, 21 My time to come, in praises spent, Ο PSALM 146. PRAISE the Lord, and thou, my for ever bless his name: [soul, His wondrous love, while life shall last, my constant praise shall claim. 3 On kings, the greatest sons of men, let none for aid rely; They cannot save in dangerous times, nor timely help apply. 4 Deprived of breath, to dust they turn, and there neglected lie; And all their thoughts and vain designs together with them die. 5 Then happy he, who Jacob's God for his protector takes; Who still, with well-placed hope, th his constant refuge makes. [Lord 6 The Lord, who made both heaven and earth, and all that they contain, Will never quit his steadfast truth, nor make his promise vain. 7 The poor, opprest, from all their wrong are eased by his decree; He gives the hungry needful food, and sets the prisoners free. 8 [name By him the blind receive their sight, the weak and fallen he rears; PRAISE the Lord with hymns of and celebrate his fame; For pleasant, good, and comely 'tis to praise his holy name. 2 His holy city God will build, though levell'd with the ground; Bring back his people, though dispersed through all the nations round. 3, 4 He kindly heals the broken hearts, and all their wounds does close; He tells the number of the stars, their several names he knows. Ye Cherubim, And Seraphim, To sing his praise. 3,4 Thou moon, that rul'st the night, And sun, that guid'st the day, 5,6 Great is the Lord, and great his Ye glittering stars of light, power, his wisdom has no bound; The meek be raises, and throws down the wicked to the ground. 7 To God, the Lord, a hymn of praise with grateful voices sing; To songs of triumph tune the harp, and strike each warbling string. 8 He covers heaven with clouds, and refreshing rain bestows; [thence Through him, on mountain tops, the grass with wondrous plenty grows. 9 He savage beasts, that loosely range, with timely food supplies; Ile feeds the raven's tender brood, and stops their hungry cries. 10 He values not the warlike steed, but does his strength disdain; The nimble foot, that swiftly runs, no prize from him can gain. 11 But he to him that fears his name his tender love extends; To him that on his boundless grace with steadfast hope depends 12, 13 Let Sion and Jerusalem to God their praise address; Who fenced their gates with massy bars, and does their children bless. 14. 15 Through all their borders he gives peace, with finest wheat they're fed; He speaks the word, and what he wills is done as soon as said. 16 Large flakes of snow, like fleecy wool, descend at his command; And hoary frost, like ashes spread, is scatter'd o'er the land. 17 When, join'd to these, he does his bail in little morsels break, Who can against his piercing cold secure defences make? To him your homage pay: His praise declare, Ye heavens above, In liquid air. 5, 6 Let them adore the Lord, Stands ever fast. 7, 8 Let earth her tribute pay; And winds that, where He bids them, blow. 9, 10 By hills and mountains, all By every beast, His name be blest. With children join. |