BY the Bishops, the Clergy, and the Laity of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, in Convention, this 13th day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine This Translation of the Whole Book of Psalms into Metre, with Hymns, is set forth, and allowed to be sung in all Congregations of the said Church, before and after Morning and Evening Prayer, and also before and after Sermons, at the discretion of the Minister. And it shall be the duty of every Minister of any Church, either by standing directions, or from time to time, to appoint the Portions of Psalms which are to be sung. And further, it shall be the duty of every Minister, with such assistance as he can obtain from persons skilled in music, to give order concerning the Tunes to be sung, at any time, in his Church: And, especially, it shall be his duty, to suppress all light and unseemly music, and all indecency and irreverence in the performance; by which vain and ungodly persons profane the service of the Sanctuary. THE PSALMS OF DAVID, IN METRE. PSALM I. TOW blest is he, who ne'er consents By ill advice to walk, Nor stands in sinners' ways, nor sits 2 But makes the perfect law of God And meditates by night. 3 Like some fair tree, which, fed by streams, With timely fruit does bend, He still shall flourish, and success 4 Ungodly men, and their attempts, Untimely blasted and dispers'd Like chaff before the wind. 5 Their guilt shall strike the wicked dumb Before their Judge's face: No formal hypocrite shall then Among the saints have place. 6 For God approves the just man's ways; But sinners, and the paths they tread, PSALM II. WITH restless and ungovern'd rage, W Why do the heathen storm? Why in such rash attempts engage, 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, 4 But God, who sits enthron'd on high, 5 Thick clouds of wrath divine shall break On his rebellious foes; And thus will he in thunder speak To all that dare oppose: "Ask, and receive thy full demands; "The utmost limits of the lands "Shall be possess'd by thee. 111 Worship the Lord with holy fear; Rejoice with awful mirth. 12 Appease the Son with due respect, 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 III. HOW many, Lord, of late are grown The troublers of my peace! And as their numbers hourly rise, 2 Insulting, they my soul upbraid, "The God in whom he trusts," say they, "Shall rescue him no more." 3 But thou, O Lord, art my defence; Thou art my glory, and shall yet 4 Since whensoe'er, in like distress, That have beset me round. 7 Arise, and save me, O my God, His blessing he extends to all Lord, thou art my righteous Judge, 3 Consider that the righteous man 4 Then stand in awe of his commands, 9"Thy threat'ning sceptre thou shalt shake, Commune in private with your hearts, "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; And bend them to his will. 5 The place of other sacrifice Let righteousness supply; And let your hope, securely fix❜ð, On God alone rely. 6 While worldly minds impatient grow More prosp'rous 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 8 Then down in peace I'll lay my head, PSALM V. LORD, 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, 4 For thou the wrongs that I sustain 5 Not long shall stubborn fools remain All such as act unrighteous things Thy vengeance shall pursue. 6. The sland'ring tongue, O God of truth, By thee shall be destroy'd, Who hat'st alike the man in blood 7 But when thy boundless grace shall me To thy lov'd courts restore, On thee I'll fix my longing eyes, 8 Conduct me by thy righteous laws, Therefore, O Lord, make plain the way 9 Their mouth vents nothing but deceit; 10 By their own counsels let them fall, 11 But let all those who trust in thee, 12 To righteous men, the righteous Lord His blessing will extend; And with his favour all his saints, 14 Thy wonted goodness, Lord, repeat, 5 For after death no more can I 6 Quite tir'd with pain, with groaning faint, No hope of ease I see; The night, that quiets common griefs, 7 My beauty fades, my sight grows dim, 8 Depart, ye wicked; in my wrongs For God, I find, accepts my tears, 9, 10 He hears, and grants my humble prayer; And they that wish my fall, Shall blush and rage to see that God PSALM VII. Lord my God, since I have plac'd From all my persecutors' rage Do thou deliver me. 2 To save me from my threat'ning foe, 6 Arise, and let thine anger, Lord, 7 So to thy throne, adoring crowds Oh! therefore, for their sake, resume 8 Impartial Judge of all the world, 9 Let wicked arts and wicked men But guard the just, thou God, to whom 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 wing'd, His pointed shafts are sent. 14 The plots are fruitless which my foe Unjustly did conceive; 15 The pit he digg'd for me, has prov'd Which he design'd for me. 17 Therefore will I the righteous ways PSALM VIII. Thou, to whom all creatures bow Through all the world how great art thou! In heaven thy wondrous acts are sung, Nor fully reckon❜d there; 2 And yet thou mak'st the infant tongue Through thee the weak confound the strong, And so thou quell'st the wicked throng, That thee and thine oppose. 3 When heaven, thy beauteous work on high, The moon, that nightly rules the sky, 4 What's man, say I, that, Lord, thou lov'st Or what his offspring, that thou prov'st 5 Him next in power thou didst create 6 Ordain'd, with dignity and state, O'er all thy works to reign. 7 They jointly own his powerful sway; 9 O Thou, to whom all creatures bow Through all the world how great art thou! PSALM IX. To celebrate thy praise, O Lord, 2 The thought of them shall to my soul Whilst to thy name, O thou Most High, 3 Thou mad'st my haughty foes to turn Thou didst my cause maintain; Thou hast reduc'd to shame; 6 Mistaken foes, your haughty threats 7, 8 The Lord for ever lives, who has Impartial justice to dispense, 9 God is a constant sure defence As troubles rise, his needful aids 10 All those who have his goodness prov'd Whose mercy ne'er forsook the man 11 Sing praises therefore to the Lord, Proclaim his deeds, till all the world PART II. 12 When he inquiry makes for blood, 13 Take pity on my troubles, Lord, Thou that hast rescu'd me so oft 16 Thus, by the just returns he makes, 17 No single sinner shall escape, Nor nation, from his just revenge, 18 His suff'ring saints, when most distress'd, Their expectations shall be crown'd, 19 Arise, O Lord, assert thy power, Descend to judgment, and pronounce 20 Strike terror through the nations round, They to each other, and themselves, PSALM X. THY presence why withdraw'st thou, Why hid'st thou now thy face, 2 The wicked, swell'd with lawless pride, Which they for others lay. 3 For straight they triumph, if success 4 To own a power above themselves, 5 Oppressive methods they pursue, Because thy judgments unobserv'd, Are far above their sight. 6 They fondly think their prosp❜rous state They think their vain designs shall thrive, 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, The innocent and poor at once 9 Not lions, couching in their dens, More savage rage than they. 10 Sometimes they act the harmless man, That so deceiv'd, the poor may less PART II. 11 For God, they think, no notice takes He never minds the suff'ring poor, 12 But thou, O Lord, at length arise, "Tush, God regards not what we do; 99 14 But sure thou seest, and all their deeds The orphan, therefore, and the poor, 15 Defenceless let the wicked fall, 16 Assert thy just dominion, Lord, 17 Thou hear'st the humble supplicants Thou first prepar'st their hearts to pray, 18 Thou, in thy righteous judgment, weigh'st That so the tyrants of the earth PSALM XI. INCE I have plac'd my trust in God, Why should I, like a tim'rous bird, 2 Behold, the wicked bend their bow, 3 When once the firm assurance fails, From such deceitful arts. 4 The Lord hath both a temple here, 15 If God the righteous, whom he loves, What must the sons of violence, 6 Snares, fire, and brimstone, on their heads This dreadful mixture his revenge Into their cup shall pour. 7 The righteous Lord will righteous deeds With signal favour grace, And to the upright man disclose The brightness of his face. PSALM XII. INCE godly men decay, O Lord, Do thou my cause defend; For scarce these wretched times afford 2 One neighbour now can scarce believe 3 But lips that with deceit abound God's righteous vengeance will confound 4 In vain those foolish boasters say, 5 For God, who hears the suff'ring poor, 6 The word of God shall still abide, As is the silver, sev'n times try'd, 7 The promise of his aiding grace 8 Then shall the wicked be perplex'd, When those whom they despis'd and vex'd, How long wilt thou withdraw from me, 2 How long shall anxious thoughts my soul, How long my enemies insult, And I have no redress? 3 Oh! hear, and to my longing eyes And suddenly, or I shall sleep In everlasting night. 4 Restore me, lest they proudly boast 5 Since I have always plac'd my trust Thy saving health will come; and then 6 Then shall my song, with praise inspir'd, Who to thy servant in distress |