8 4 I know what wicked men would do, 5 That I may still, in spite of wrongs, O guide me in thy righteous ways, 7 The wonders of thy truth and love 8,9 O! keep me in thy tend 'rest care; 10 O'ergrown with luxury, enclos'd 11 Well may they boast, for they have 13 Arise, O Lord, defeat their plots, From wicked men, who are thy sword, Deliver thou my soul 14 From worldly men, thy sharpest scourge. Whose portion's here below; 15 Their race is num'rous, that partake Their substance while they live: Their heirs survive, to whom they may The vast remainder give PSALM XVIII. No change of time shall ever shock My firm affection, Lord, to thee; For thou hast always been my rock. A fortress and defence to me Thou my deliv'rer art, my God; My trust is in thy mighty power; Thou art my shield from toes abroad, At home my safeguard and my tower. 3 To thee I will address my prayer, To whom all praise we justly owe; So shall 1, by thy watchful care. Be guarded from my treacherous foe. 4, 5 By floods of wicked men distress'd. With seas of sorrow compass'd round, With dire infernal pangs oppress'd, In death's unwieldy fetters bound; 6 To heaven I made my mournful prayer, To God address'd my humble moan; Who graciously inclin'd his ear, And heard me from his lofty throne. 7 When God arose my part to take, The conscious earth was struck with The hills did at his presence shake. [fear; Nor could his dreadful fury bear. 8 Thick clouds of smoke dispers'd abroad. Ensigns of wrath before him came; Devouring fire around him glow'd, That coals were kindled at its flame. 9 He left the beauteous realms of light, Whilst hearen bow'd down its awful Beneath his feet substantial night [head; Was like a sable carpet spread. 10 The chariot of the King of kings, Which active troops of angels drew, On a strong tempest's rapid wings, With most amazing swiftness flew. 11, 12 Black watery mists and clouds conspir'd, With thickest shades his face to veil; But at his brightness soon retir'd, And fell in showers of fire and hail. 13 Through heaven's wide arch a thun. d ring peal God's angry voice did loudly roar; While earth's sad face with heaps of hail And flakes of fire was cover'd o'er. 14 His sharpen'd arrows round he threw, Which made his scatter'd foes retreat; Like darts his nimble lightnings flew, And quickly finish'd their defeat. 15 The deep its secret stores disclos'd, The world's foundations naked lay; By his avenging wrath expos'd, Which fiercely rag'd that dreadful day. PART III. 16 The Lord did on any side engage; From heaven, his throne, my cause upheld; And snatch'd me from the furious rage Of threat'ning waves, that proudly swell'd. 17 God his resistless power eniploy'd My strongest foes' attempts to break; Who else with ease had soon destroy'd The weak defence that I could make. 18 Their subtle rage had near prevail'd, When I distress'd and friendless lay: But still, when other succours fail'd, God was my firm support and stay. 19 From dangers that enclos'd me round, He brought me forth and set me free; For some just cause his goodness found, That mov'd him to delight in me. 20 Because in me no guil remains, God does his gracious help extend; My hands are free from bloody stains; Therefore the Lord is still my friend. 21, 22 For 1 his judgments kept in sight In his just paths I always trod; I never did his statutes slight. Nor loosely wander'd from my God. 23, 24 But still my soul. sincere and pure, Did even from darling sins refrain: His favours therefore yet endure, Because my heart and hands are clean PART IV. 25, 26 Thou suit'st, O Lord, thy right eous ways To various paths of human-kind; They who for mercy merit praise, With thee shall wondrous mercy find. Thou to the just shalt justice show; The pure thy purity shall .ee: Such as perversely choose to go, Shall meet with due returns from thee. 27, 2 That he the humble soul will save, And crush the haughty's beasted might, In me the Lord an instance gave, Whose darkness he has turn'd to light. 29 On his firm succour I rely'd, And did o'er num'rous foes prevail; Nor fear'd, whilst he was on my side, The best defended walls to scale. 30 For God's design shall still succeed, His word will bear the utmost test; He's a strong shield to all that need, And on his sure protection rest. 31 Who then deserves to be ador'd, But God, on whom my hopes depend? Or who, except the mighty Lord, Can with resistless power defend? PART V. 32, 33 Tis God that girds my armour And all my just designs fulfils, [on, Through him my feet can swiftly run, And nimbly climb the steepest hills. 34 Lessons of war from him 1 take, And manly weapons learn to wield; Strong bows of steel with ease I break, Fore'd by my stronger arms to yield. 35 The buckler of his saving health Protects me from assaulting foes; His hand sustains me still; my wealth And greatness from his bounty flows. 36 My gongs he enlarg'd abroad. Till then to narrow paths confin'd; And, when in slippery ways I trod. The method of my steps design'd. 37 Through him I num'rous hosts defeat, And flying squadrons captive take; Nor from my fierce pursuit retreat, Till I a final conquest make. 38 Cover'd with wounds, in vain they try Their vanquish'd heads again to rear; Spite of their boasted strength. they lie Beneath my feet, and grovel there. 39 God, when fresh armies take the field, Recruits my strength, my courage Their slaughter'd bodies forth 1 threw, Like loathsome dirt, that clogs the ground. PART VI. 43 Our factious tribes, at strife till now By God's appointment me obey; The heathen to my sceptre bow, And foreign nations own my sway. 44 Remotest realms their homage send, When my successful name they hear; Strangers for my commands attend, Charm'd with respect, or aw'd by fear. 45 All to my summons tamely yield, Or soon in battle are dismay'd; For stronger holds they quit the field, And still in strongest holds afraid. 46 Let the eternal Lord be prais'd, The rock on whose defence I rest! To highest heavens his name be rais'd, Who me with his salvation blest! 47 "Tis God that still supports my right; His just revenge my foes pursues; 'Tis he, that, with resistless might, Fierce nations to my yoke subdues. 48 My universal safeguard he! From whom my lasting honours flow; He made me great, and set me free From my remorseless bloody foe. 49 Therefore, to celebrate his fame, My grateful voice to heaven I'll raise; And nations, strangers to his name, Shall thus be taught to sing his praise 50 God to his king deliv'rance sends; HE heavens declare thy glory, Lord, The firmament and stars express 3 Their powerful language to no realm Or region is confin'd;" 'Tis nature's voice, and understood Alike by all mankind. 4 Their doctrine does its sacred sense Through earth's extent display; Whose bright contents the circling sun Does round the world convey. 5 No bridegroom on his nuptial day Has such a cheerful face; No giant does like him rejoice To run his glorious race. 6 From east to west, from west to east, 9 His perfect worship here is fix'd, Of truth and justice weigh'd; 12 But what frail man observes how oft My strength and Saviour, rest. THE Lord to thy request attend, 4 To compass thy own heart's desire, 5 To thy salvation, Lord, for aid With banners in thy name display'd; 6 Our hopes are fix'd. that now the Lord, 7 Some rust in steeds for war design'd; The power of God most high. 8 But from their steeds and chariots thrown, Behold them through the plain,, Disorder'd, broke, and trampled down, Whilst firm our troops remain. 9 Still save us, Lord, and still proceed Our rightful cause to bless; Hear, King of heaven, in times of need, The prayers that we address. PSALM XXI. THE THE king, O Lord, with songs of praise Shall thy strength rejoice; With thy salvation crown'd, shall raise To heaven his cheerful voice. 2 For thon, whate'er his lips request, But hast, with thy acceptance, blest Thy goodness and thy tender care A crown of gold thou mad'st him wear, And sett'st it firmly on. 4 He pray'd for life: and thou, O Lord, Didst to his prayer attend, And graciously to him afford A life that ne'er shall end. 5 Thy sure defence through nations round 6 Eternal blessings thou bestow'st, PART 11. 7 Because the king on God alone His mercy still sup, orts his throne, 8 But, righteous Lord, thy stubborn foes Shall feel thy heavy hand; Thy vengeful arm shall find out those 9 When thou against them dost engage, But root out all their guilty race, 11 For all their thoughts were set on ill, Their hearts on malice bent; But thou with watchful care didst still 12 While they their swift retreat shall 13 Thus, Lord, thy wondrous strength PSALM XXII. MY God, my God, why leav'st then Of right to thee address d. But made the rabble's mirth. They shoot the lip, they shake the head, 8" In God he trusted, boasting oft "That he was heaven's delight; "Let God come down to save him now, "And own his favourite." PART II. 9 Thou mad'st my teeming nother's A living offspring bear; [womb When but a suckling at the breast, I was thy early care. 10 Thou, guardian-like, didst shield from wrongs My helpless infant days; And since hast been my God, and guide, O send me help! thy help, on which 12 High-pamper'd bulls, a frowning 13 They gape on me, and every mouth Less dreadful is than theirs. 14 My blood like water's spill'd, my My tongue cleaves to my jaws; And to the silent shades of death My fainting soul withdraws. 16 Like blood-hounds, to surround me, they In pack'd assemblies meet 17 My body's rack 'd, till all my bones Distinctly may be old; Yet such a spectacle of woe 18 As spoil, my garments they divide, Lots for my vesture cast; 19 Therefore approach, O Lord, my strength, And to my succour haste. 20 From their sharp swords protect thou Of all but life bereft Nor let my darling in the power (me, 21 To save me from the lion's jaws, Thy present succour send; As once. from goring unicorns, Thou didst my life defend. 22 Then to my brethren I'll declare The triumphs of thy name; In presence of assembled saints Thy glory thus proclaim. 23 Ye worshippers of Jacob's God, "All you of Israel's line, "O praise the Lord, and to your praise Sincere obedience join 24 He ne'er disdain'd on low distress To cast a gracious eye; Nor turn'd from poverty his face, But hears its humble cry." PART IV. 25 Thus, in thy sacred courts, will I My cheerful thanks express; In presence of thy saints perform 26 The meek companions of my grief The vows of my distress Shall find my table spread; And all that seek the Lord shall be With joys immortal ted. 27 Then shall the glad converted world To God their homage pay; And scatter'd nations of the earth One sov'reign Lord obey. 28 'Tis his supreme prerogative O'er subject kings to reign; "Tis just that he should rule the world, Who does the world sustain 29 The rich, who are with plenty fed, His bounty must confess; The sons of want, by him reliev'd, Their gen'rous Patron bless. With humble worship to his throne They all for aid resort; That power, which first their beings To their admiring heirs his truth, PSALM XXIII. THE Lord himself, the mighty Lord, Vouchsafes to be my guide; The Shepherd, by whose constant care My wants are all supply'd. 2 In tender grass he makes me feed, And gently there repose; Then leads me to cool shades, and where Refreshing water flows. 3 He does my wand'ring soul reclaim, In his most righteous ways. 5 In presence of my spiteful foes He crowns my cup with cheerful wine, 6 Since God doth thus his wondrous love Who honest poverty prefers To gainful perjury. [safe 5 This, this is he, on whom the Lord 7 Erect your heads, eternal gates; The King of Glory see! he comes 8 Who is the King of Glory? who? 9 Erect your heads. ye gates; unfold The King of Glory see he comes O let me not be put to shame, Let no disgrace attend; 4, 5 To me thy truth impart, For thou art he that brings me help; And, for thy wondrous goodness' sake, 8 His mercy, and his truth, The righteous Lord displays, 11 Since mercy is the grace, That most exalts thy fame, Shall find the Lord a faithful guide, And by his num'rous race the land 14 For God to all his saints And does his gracious cov'nant write 15 To him I hit my eyes, And wait his timely aid, Who breaks the strong and treach'rous Which for my feet was laid. [snare, 16 turn. and all my griefs. 18 Do thou, with tender eyes, Acquit me. Lord, and from my guilt Entirely set ine free. 19 Consider. Lord, my foes, How vast their numbers grow! What lawless force and rage they use. What boundless hate they show! 20 Protect, and set my soul From their fierce malice free; Nor let me be asham'd, who place My steadfast trust in thee. 21 Let all my righteous acts To full perfection rise; Because my firm and constant hope On thee alone relies 22 To israel's chosen race Continue ever kind; And, in the midst of all their wants, Let them thy succour find. PSALM XXVI Jof righteousness have trod; I cannot fail, who all my trust 2, 3 Search thou my heart, whose innoWill shine the more 'tis try'd; [cence For I have kept thy grace in view, And made thy truth my guide. 6 I'll wash my hands in innocence, 7,8 My thanks I'll publish there, and tell How thy renown excels; That seat affords me most delight, 9 Pass not on me the sinner's doom, 10 Who others' rights. by secret bribes, Or open force, invade. 11 But I will walk in paths of truth, And innocence pursue; |