sought,

According to thy promise, Lord,

to me, thy servant, made. 77 To me thy saving grace restore, that I again may live:

, Whose soul can relish no delight,

but what thy precepts give. 78 Defeat the proud, who, unprovok'd,

to ruin me have Who only on thy sacred laws

employ my harmless thought. 79 Let those that fear thy name espouse

my cause, and those alone Who have, by strict and pious search,

thy sacred precepts known. 80 In thy blest statutes let my heart

continue always sound; That guilt and shame, the sinner's lot, may never me confound.

CAPH. 81 My soul with long expectance faints

to see thy saving grace; Yet still on thy unerring word my

confidence I place. 82 My very eyes consume and fail

with waiting for thy word; O! when wilt thou thy kind relief

and promis'd aid afford ? 83 My skin like shrivell?d parchment shows,

that long in smoke is set; Yet no affliction me can force

thy statutes to forget.
84 How many days must I endure

of sorrow and distress?
When wilt thou judgment execute
on them who me oppress

?
85 The proud have digg'd a pit for me,

that have no other foes,
But such as are averse to thee,

and thy just laws oppose.
86 With sacred truth's eternal laws

all thy commands agree;
Men persecute me without cause;

thou, Lord, my helper be.
87 With close designs against my life

they had almost prevail'd; But in obedience to thy will,

my duty never fail d. 88 Thy wonted kindness, Lord, restore,

my drooping heart to cheer; That by thy righteous statutes I .: my life's whole course may steer.

JE

LAMED. . 89 For ever and for ever, Lord,

unchang'd thou dost remain; Thy word, establish'd in the heavens,

does all their orbs sustain. 90 Through circling ages, Lord, thy truth

immoveable shall stand, As doth the earth, which thou uphold'st.

by thy Almighty hand. 91 All things the course by thee ordain'd

e'en to this day fulfil ; They are thy faithful subjects all,

and servants of thy will. 92 Unless thy sacred law had been

my comfort and delight, I must have fainted, and expir'd

in dark affliction's night. 93 Thy precepts, therefore, from my thoughts

shall never, Lord, depart; For thou by them hast to new life

restor'd my dying heart. 94 As I am thine, entirely thine,

protect me, Lord, from harm, Who have thy precepts sought to know,

and carefully perform. 95 The wicked have their ambush laid

my guiltless life to take; But in the midst of danger I

thy word my study make. 96 I've seen an end of what we call

perfection here below; But thy commandments, like thyself, no change or period know.

MEM. 97 The love that to thy laws I bear

no language can display; They with fresh wonders entertain

my ravish'd thoughts all day. 98 Through thy commands I wiser grow

than all my subtle foes; For thy sure word doth me direct,

and all my ways dispose. 99 From me my former teachers now

may abler counsel take; Because thy sacred precepts I

my constant study make. 100 In understanding I excel

the sages of our days; Because by thy unerring rules I order all my ways.

101 My feet with care I have refrain'd

from every sinful way, That to thy sacred word I might

entire obedience pay: 102 I have not from thy judgments stray'd,

by vain desires misled; For, Lord, thou hast instructed me

thy righteous paths to tread.
103 How sweet are all thy words to me!

O what divine repast !
How much more grateful to my soul

than honey to my taste!
104 Taught by thy sacred precepts, I

with heavenly skill am blest, Through which the treacherous ways of sin I utterly detest.

NUN.
105 Thy word is to my feet a lamp,

the way of truth to show;
A watch-light to point out the path

in which I ought to go.
106 I swear, and from my solemn oath

will never start aside,
That in thy righteous judgments I

will steadfastly abide.
107 Since I with griefs am so opprest,

that I can bear no more, According to thy word do thou

my fainting soul restore.
108 Let still my sacrifice of praise

with thee acceptance find;
And in thy righteous judgments, Lord,

instruct my willing mind.
109 Though ghastly dangers me surround,
my

soul they cannot awe, Nor with continual terrors keep

from thinking on thy law. 110 My wicked and invet'rate foes

for me their snares have laid ; Yet I have kept thy upright path,

nor from thy precepts stray'd. 111 Thy testimonies I have made

my heritage and choice ;
For they, when other comforts fail,

my drooping heart rejoice.
112 My heart with early zeal began

thy statutes to obey;
And till my course of life is done,

shall keep thy upright way.

SAMECH.
113 Deceitful thoughts and practices

I utterly detest;
But to thy law affection bear

too great to be exprest.
114 My hiding-place, my refuge-tower,

and shield art thou, O Lord; I firmly anchor all my hopes

on thy unerring word. 115 Hence, ye that trade in wickedness,

approach not my abode; For firmly I resolve to keep

the precepts of my God. . 116 According to thy gracious word,

from danger set me free; Nor make me of those hopes asham'd,

that I repose in thee. 117 Uphold me, so shall I be safe,

and rescu'd from distress; To thy decrees continually

my just respects address. 118 The wicked thou hast trod to earth,

who from thy statutes stray'd; Their vile deceit, the just reward

of their own falsehood made. 119 The wicked from thy holy land

thou dost like dross remove; I therefore, with such justice charm’d,

thy testimonies love. 120 Yet with that love they make me dread,

lest I should so offend, When on transgressors I behold thy judgments thus descend.

AIN. 121 Judgment and justice I have lov'd;

Otherefore, Lord, engage In my defence, nor give me up

to my oppressor's rage. 122 Do thou be surety, Lord, for me,

and so shall this distress Prove good for me; nor shall the proud

my guiltless'soul oppress. 123 My eyes, alas ! begin to fail,

in long expectance held; Till thy salvation they behold,

and righteous word fulfill'd. 124 To me, thy servant, in distress,

thy wonted grace display, And discipline my willing heart thy statutes to obey.

1

no

125 On me, devoted to thy fear,

thy sacred skill bestow, That of thy testimonies I

the full extent may know. 126 'Tis time, high time for thee, O Lord,

thy vengeance to employ ; When men with

open

violence thy sacred law destroy. 127 Yet their contempt of thy commands

but makes their value rise
In my esteem, who purest gold,

compar'd with them, despise.
128 Thy precepts therefore I account,

in all respects, divine;
They teach me to discern the right,
and all false ways decline.

PE. 129 The wonders which thy laws contain

words can represent;
Therefore to learn and practise them

my zealous heart is bent.
130 The very entrance to thy word

celestial light displays, And knowledge of true happiness

to simplest minds conveys. 131 With eager hopes I waiting stood,

and fainting with desire, That of thy wise commands I might

the sacred skill acquire. 132 With favour, Lord, look down on me,

who thy relief implore; As thou art wont to visit those

who thy blest name adore. 133 Directed by thy heavenly word

let all my footsteps be; Nor wickedness of any kind

dominion have o'er me. 134 Release, entirely set me free

from persecuting hands, That, unmolested, I may learn,

and practise thy commands. 135 On me, devoted to thy fear,

Lord, make thy face to shine; Thy statutes both to know and keep,

my heart with zeal incline. 136 My eyes to weeping fountains turn,

whence briny rivers flow, To see mankind against thy laws