2 I'll worship at thy sacred seat,
And, with thy love inspir'd,
The praises of thy truth repeat,
O'er all thy works admir'd.
3 Thou graciously inclin'dst 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 admir'd 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 enthron'd 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 complete.
PSALM CXXXIX.
THOU, Lord, by strictest search hast
My rising up and lying down;
My secret thoughts are known to thee,
Known long before conceiv'd 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 vent, 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 enthron'd in light;
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.
11 Or, should I try to shun thy sight
Beneath the sable wings of night;
One glance from thee, one piercing ray,
Would kindle darkness into day.
12 The veil of night is no disguise,
No screen from thy all-searching eyes;
Through midnight shades thou find'st thy way,
As in the blazing noon of day.
13 Thou know'st the texture of my heart,
My reins, and every vital part;
Each single thread in nature's loom,
By thee was cover'd in the womb.
14 I'll praise thee, from whose hands I came,
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 th' 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 th' 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,
If mischief lurks in any part;
Correct me where I go astray,
And guide me in thy perfect way.
RESERVE me, Lord, from crafty foes, Of treacherous intent;
2 And from the sons of violence, On open mischief bent.
3 Their sland'ring 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,
And spread their wily net;
With traps and gins, where'er I move,
I find my steps beset.
6 But thus environ'd with distress,
Thou art my God, I said;
Lord, hear my supplicating voice,
That calls to thee for aid.
7 O Lord, the God whose saving strength
Kind succour did convey,
And cover'd my advent'rous head
In battle's doubtful day;
8 Permit not their unjust designs
To answer their desire;
Lest they, encourag'd by success,
To bolder crimes aspire.
9 Let first their chiefs the sad effects
Of their injustice mourn;
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 storm, It quickly will decay;
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.
To thee, O Lord, my cries ascend,
O haste to my relief;
And with accustom'd pity hear
The accents of my grief.
2 Instead of off'rings, let my prayer
Like morning incense rise;
My lifted hand supply the place
Of evening sacrifice.
3 From hasty language curb my tongue,
And let a constant guard
Still keep the portal of my lips
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,
And I shall think them kind;
Like balm that heals a wounded head,
I their reproof shall find;
And, in return, my fervent prayer
I shall for them address,
When they are tempted and reduc'd,
Like me, to sore distress.
6 When skulking in Engedi's rock,
I to their chiefs appeal,
If one reproachful word I spoke,
Then I had power to kill.
7 Yet us they persecute to death;
Our scatter'd ruins lie
As thick as from the hewer's axe
The sever'd splinters fly.
8 But, Lord, to thee I still direct
My supplicating eyes,
O leave not destitute my soul,
Whose trust on thee relies.
9 Do thou preserve me from the snares
That wicked hands have laid;
Let them in their own nets be caught,
While my escape is made.
PSALM CXLII.
To God, with mournful voice,
In deep distress I pray'd;
2 Made him the umpire of my cause,
My wrongs before him laid.
3 Thou didst my steps direct,
When my griev'd soul despair'd;
For where I thought to walk secure,
They had their traps prepar'd.
4 I look'd, but found no friend
To own me in distress;
All refuge fail'd, no man vouchsaf'd
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 Reduc'd to greatest straits,
To thee I make my moan;
O 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.
Thy wonted audience lend; In thy accustom'd faith and truth A gracious answer send. 2 Nor at thy strict tribunal bring Thy servant to be try'd; For in thy sight no living man Can e'er be justified.
3 The spiteful foe pursues my life,
Whose comforts all are fled;
He drives me into caves as dark
As mansions of the dead.
4 My spirit therefore is o'erwhelm'd,
And sinks within my breast;
My mournful heart grows desolate,
With heavy woes opprest.
5 I call to mind the days of old,
And wonders thou hast wrought;
My former dangers and escapes
Employ my musing thought.
6 To thee my hands in humble prayer
I fervently stretch out;
My soul for thy refreshment thirsts,
Like land oppress'd with drought.
7 Hear me with speed; my spirit fails;
Thy face no longer hide,
Lest I become forlorn, like them
That in the grave reside.
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
Preserve and set me free;
A safe retreat against their rage
My soul implores from thee.
10 Thou art my God, thy righteous will Instruct me to obey;
Let thy good spirit lead and keep
My soul in thy right way.
11 0! for the sake of thy great name,
Revive my drooping heart;
For thy truth's sake, to me distress'd,
Thy promis'd aid impart.
12 In pity to my suff'rings, Lord,
Reduce my foes to shame;
Slay them that persecute a soul
Devoted to thy name.
'OR ever bless'd be God the Lord, Who does his needful aid impart, At once both strength and skill afford, To wield my arms with warlike art. 2 His goodness is ray fort and tower, My strong deliv'rance, 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 shouldst 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,
His days are like a flying shade,
Of whose short stay no signs remain.
5 In solemn state, O God, descend,
Whilst heaven its lofty head inclines;
The smoaking 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 threat'ning waves, that proudly swell.
Fight thou against my foreign foes,
Who utter speeches false and vain ; Who, though 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 murd'ring sword "His servant David still defends." 11 Fight thou against my foreign foes, Who utter speeches false and vain; Who, though 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 lab'ring oxen grow,
Nor in their constant labour faint;
Whilst we no war nor slav'ry 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 CXLV.
T Thy endless praise proclaim;
HEE I will bless, my God and King,
This tribute daily I will bring,
And ever bless thy name.
5 Thou, Lord, beyond compare art great,
And highly to be prais'd;
Thy Majesty, with boundless height,
Above our knowledge rais'd.
Renown'd for mighty acts, thy fame
To future time extends;
From age to age thy glorious name
Successively descends.
5, 6 Whilst I thy glory and renown,
And wondrous works express,
The world with me thy might shall own,
And thy great power confess.
7 The praise that to thy love belongs,
They shall with joy proclaim;
Thy truth of all their grateful songs
Shall be the constant theme.
8 The Lord is good; fresh acts of grace
His pity still supplies:
Ilis anger moves with slowest pace,
His willing mercy flies.
9, 10 Thy love through earth extends its fame, To all thy works exprest;
These show thy praise, whilst thy great name Is by thy servants blest.
11 They, with a glorious prospect fir'd Shall of thy kingdoms speak;
And thy great power, by all admir'd,
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 free, Shall stand for ever fast;
His boundless sway no end shall see,
But time itself outlast.
14, 15 The Lord does them support that fall, And makes the prostrate rise;
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,
Whom grateful love employs;
But sinners, who his vengeance dare,
With furious rage destroys.
21 My time to come, in praises spent,
Shall still advance his fame;
And all mankind, with one consent,
For ever bless his name.
PSALM CXLVI.
Praise the Lord, and thou, my soul,
For ever bless his name:
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 dang'rous times,
Nor timely help apply.
4 Depriv'd 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-plac'd hope, the Lord His constant refuge makes.
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 wrongs Are eas'd by his decree;
He gives the hungry needful food,
And sets the pris'ners free.
8 By him the blind receive their sight,
The weak and fall'n he rears;
With kind regard and tender love
He for the righteous cares.
9 The strangers he preserves from harm,
The orphan kindly treats;
Defends the widow, and the wiles
Of wicked men defeats.
10 The God that does in Sion dwell
Is our eternal King:
From age to age his reign endures:
Let all his praises sing.
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 dispers❜d
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.
5, 6 Great is the Lord, and great his power, His wisdom has no bound;
The meek he 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 thence Refreshing rain bestows;
Through him, on mountain tops, the grass
With wondrous plenty grows.
9 He savage beasts, that loosely range,
With timely food supplies;
He 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 fenc'd their gates with massy bars,
And does their children bless.
14, 15 Through all their borders he gives
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 hail . In little morsels break,
Who can against his piercing cold
Secure defences make?
18 He sends his word, which melts the ice; He makes his wind to blow;
And soon the streams, congeal'd before,
In plenteous currents flow.
19 By him his statutes and decrees
To Jacob's sons were shown;
And still to Israel's chosen seed
His righteous laws are known.
20 No other nation this can boast;
Nor did he e'er afford
To heathen lands his oracles,
And knowledge of his word.
7, 8 Let earth her tribute pay,
Praise him ye dreadful whales,
And fish that through the sea
Glide swift with glitt'ring scales;
Fire, hail, and snow,
And misty air,
And winds that, where
He bids them, blow.
9, 10 By hills and mountains, ali
In grateful concert join'd;
By cedars stately tall,
And trees for fruit design'd;
By every beast,
And creeping thing,
And fowl of wing,
His name be blest.
11, 12 Let all of royal birth,
With those of humbler frame,
And judges of the earth,
His matchless praise proclaim:
In this design,
Let youths with maids,
And boary heads
With children join.
13 United zeal be shown,
His wondrous fame to raise,
Whose glorious name alone
Deserves our endless praise:
Earth's utmost ends
His power obey;
His glorious sway
The sky transcends.
14 His chosen saints to grace,
He sets them up on high,
And favours Israel's race,
Who still to him are nigh:
O therefore raise
Your grateful voice,
And still rejoice
The Lord to praise.
3, 4 Let them his great name
Extol in the dance;
With timbrel and harp
His praises express;
Who always takes pleasure
His saints to advance,
And with his salvation
The humble to bless.
5, 6 With glory adorn'd,
His people shall sing
To God, who their beds
With safety does shield;
Their mouths fill'd with praises
Of him, their great King;
Whilst a two-edged sword
Their right hand shall wield;
7,8 Just vengeance to take
For injuries past;
To punish those lands
For ruin design'd;
With chains, as their captives,
To tie their kings fast,
With fetters of iron
Their nobles to bind.
9 Thus shall they make good, When them they destroy, The dreadful decree
Which God does proclaim:
Such honour and triumph
His saints shall enjoy:
O therefore for ever
Exalt his great name.
Fraise the Lord in that best plecy From whence his goodness largely flows; Praise him in heaven, where he his face, Unveil'd, in perfect glory shows.
2 Praise him for all the mighty acts
Which he in our behalf has done;
His kindness this return exacts,
With which our praise should equal run.
3 Let the shrill trumpet's warlike voice
Make rocks and hills his praise rebound;
Praise him with harp's melodious noise,
And gentle psalt'ry's silver sound.
4 Let virgin troops soft timbrels bring,
And some with graceful motion dance;
Let instruments of various string,
With organs join'd, his praise advance.
5 Let them who joyful hymns compose,
To cymbals set their songs of praise;
Cymbals of common use, and those
That loudly sound on solemn days.
16 Let all that vital breath enjoy,
The breath he does to them afford, In just returns of praise employ: Let every creature praise the Lord.
Common Measure.
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, The God whom we adore, Be glory, as it was, is now, And shall be evermore.
To God the Father, Son,
And Spirit, glory be;
As 'twas, and is, and shall be so
To all eternity.
To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
The God whom earth and heaven adore, Be glory, as it was of old,
Is now, and shall be evermore.
To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
The God whom heaven's triumphant host,
And suff'ring saints on earth adore,
Be glory, as in ages past,
As now it is, and so shall last,
When time itself shall be no more.
As Psalm 148.
To God the Father, Son,
And Spirit ever bless'd,
Eternal Three in One,
All worship be address'd;
As heretofore
It was, is now,
And shall be so
For evermore.
As Psalm 149.
By angels in heaven
Of every degree,
And saints upon earth,
All praise be address'd
To God in Three Persons,
One God ever bless'd;
As it has been, now is,
And always shall be.
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