And, for thy wondrous goodness' sake, In merey think on me. 8 His mercy, and his truth, The righteous Lord displays, In bringing wand'ring sinners home, And teaching them his ways. 9 He those in justice guides, Who his direction seek; And in his sacred paths shall lead The humble and the meek. 10 Through all the ways of God Both truth and mercy shine, To such as, with religious hearts, To his blest will incline. PART II. 11 Since mercy is the grace, That most exalts thy fame, Forgive my heinous sin, O Lord, And so advance thy name. 12 Whoe'er, with humble fear, To God his duty pays, Shall find the Lord a faithful guide, In all his righteous ways. 13 His quiet soul with peace Shall be for ever bless'd; And by his num'rous race the land Successively possess'd. 14 For God to all his saints His secret will imparts, And does his gracious cov'nant write In their obedient hearts. 15 To him I lift my eyes, And wait his timely aid, Who breaks the strong and treach❜rous snare, For I am compass'd round with woes, O! from this dark and dismal state Acquit me, Lord, and from my guilt 19 Consider, Lord, my foes, How vast their numbers grow! What lawless force and rage they use, Because my firm and constant hope 22 To Israel's chosen race And, in the midst of all their wants, J UDGE me, O Lord, for I the paths I cannot fail, who all my trust Repose on thee, my God. 4 I never for companions took 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, In which thy honour dwells. 9 Pass not on me the sinner's doom, Who murder make their trade; 2, 3 Search thou my heart, whose innocence Will shine the more 'tis try'd; For I have kept thy grace in view, And made thy truth my guide. 10 Who others' rights, by secret bribes, Or open force, invade. 11 But I will walk in paths of truth, PSALM XXVII. Wls saving health and light? THOM should I fear, since God to me Since strongly he my life supports, 2 With fierce intent my flesh to tear, They stumbled, and their haughty crests 3 Through him my heart, undaunted, dares With mighty hosts to cope; Through him, in doubtful straits of war, 4 Henceforth, within his house to dwell His wondrous beauty there to view, 5 For there I may with comfort rest, In that secure recess : 6 Whilst God o'er all my haughty foes And I my joyful tribute bring, PART II. 7 Continue, Lord, to hear my voice, In mercy my complaints receive, 8 When us to seek thy glorious face "Thy glorious face I'll always seek," My grateful heart replies. 9 Then hide not thou thy face, O Lord, My God and Saviour, leave not him 10 Though all my friends, and kindred too, Their helpless charge forsake, Yet thou, whose love excels them all, 11 Instruct me in thy paths, O Lord, My ways directly guide; 12 Lord, disappoint my cruel foes; Should with thy love be crown'd; With sorrow compass'd round. 14 God's time with patient faith expect, Who will inspire thy breast With inward strength: do thou thy part, And leave to him the rest. PSALM XXVIII. Lord, my rock, to thee I cry, In sighs consume my breath; O! answer, or I shall become Like those that sleep in death. 2 Regard my supplication, Lord, The cries that I repeat, With weeping eyes, and lifted hands, 3 Let me escape the sinner's doom, 4 According to their crimes' extent, 5 Since they the works of God despise, And build them up no more. From whom the cries of my distress Triumphant from the field. 8 "His aiding power supports the troops, 9 Preserve thy chosen, and proceed With plenty prosper them, in peace; PSALM XXIX. YE princes, that in might excel, Your grateful sacrifice prepare; Where he's with solemn state ador'd. When he from heaven in thunder speaks, 4, 5 How full of power his voice appears! With what majestic terror crown'd! Which from their roots tall cedars tears, And strews their scatter'd branches round. 6 They, and the hills on which they grow, Are sometimes hurry'd far away, And leap, like hinds that bounding go, Or unicorns in youthful play. 7, 8 When God in thunder loudly speaks, And scatter'd flames of lightning sends, The forest nods, the desert quakes, And stubborn Kadesh lowly bends. 9 He makes the hinds to cast their young, I'LL celebrate thy praises, Lord, 2, 3 In my distress I cry'd to thee, And from the grave's expecting jaws 4 Thus to his courts, ye saints of his, 5 His wrath has but a moment's reign, Your night of grief is recompens'd 6 But I, in prosp'rous days presum❜d; 7 But soon I found thy favour, Lord, For when thou hid'st thy face, I saw 8 Then, as I vainly had presum'd, And thus with supplicating voice, Congeal'd by death's cold night? "Can silent ashes speak thy praise, "Thy wondrous truth recite? 10"Hear me, O Lord, in mercy hear; 66 Thy wonted aid extend; "Do thou send help, on whom alone "I can for help depend." 11 'Tis done! thou hast my mournful scene Who late in sackcloth mourn'd. D' 2 Bow down thy gracious ear, And speedy succour send; 3 Since thou, when foes oppress, To guide me forth from this distress, 5 To thee, the God of truth, My life, and all that's mine, (For thou preserv'dst me from my youth,) I willingly resign. 6 All vain designs I hate Of those that trust in lies; And still my soul, in every state, 7 Those mercies thou hast shown, I'll cheerfully express; For thou hast seen my straits, and known 8 When Keilah's treach'rous race My sins have made my strength decrease, My friends, at sight of me, were shock'd, 12 Forsook by all am I, As dead, and out of mind; And like a shatter'd vessel lie, Whose parts can ne'er be join'd. That thou, my God, art good and just, PART III. 15 Whate'er events betide, Who still have call'd on thee; 18 Do thou their tongues restrain, 19 How great thy mercies are To such as fear thy name, 20 Thou keep'st them in thy sight, Whose love, in Keilah's well-fenc'd town, "I'm banish'd from thine eyes;" Yet still thou keep'st me in thy sight, Courageously proceed; For he will still your hearts supply HE's best whose sins have pardon gain'd, No more in judgment to appear; 2 Whose guilt remission has obtain'd, But no complaints assuag'd my grief. Like land with summer's drought oppress'd. 5 No sooner I my wound disclos'd, The guilt that tortur'd me within, But thy forgiveness interpos'd, And mercy's healing balm pour'd in. 6 True penitents shall thus succeed, Who seek thee whilst thou may'st be found; And, from the common deluge freed, Shall see remorseless sinners drown'd. 17 Thy favour, Lord, in all distress, My tower of refuge I must own; Thou shalt my haughty foes suppress, And me with songs of triumph crown. 8 In my instruction then confide, Ye that would truth's safe path descry; Your progress I'll securely guide, And keep you in my watchful eye. The harden'd sinner shall confound; to joy, Their cheerful voices raise; For well the righteous it becomes 2, 3 Let harps, and psalteries, and lutes, 4,5 For faithful is the word of God; 7 The swelling floods, together roll'd, 8, 9 Let earth, and all that dwell therein, For, when he spake the word, 'twas made; 10 He, when the heathen closely plot, The people's rash designs. 11 Whate'er the mighty Lord decrees PART II. 12 How happy then are they, to whom The Lord for God is known! Whom he, from all the world besides, Has chosen for his own. 13, 14, 15 He all the nations of the earth, He saw their works, and view'd their thoughts; 18, 19 'Tis God, who those that trust in him He frees their soul from death; their want, 20, 21 Our soul on God with patience waits; Then, Lord, let still our hearts rejoice, 22 The riches of thy mercy, Lord, Do thou to us extend; Since we, for all we want or wish, On thee alone depend. Τ PSALM XXXIV. 6 "Behold," say they, "behold the man, Who on his succour trust. How blest they are, and only they, 9 Fear him, ye saints; and you will then 11 Approach, ye piously dispos'd, 12 Let him who length of life desires, And prosp'rous days would see, 13 From sland'ring language keep his tongue, 14 The crooked paths of vice decline, 15 The Lord from heaven beholds the just And, when distress'd, his gracious ear Is open to their cries; 16 But turns his wrathful look on those To cut them off, and from the earth 17 Deliv❜rance to his saints he gives, 18 He's nigh to heal the broken heart, 19 The wicked oft, but still in vain, 20 For under their affliction's weight 21 The wicked, from their wicked arts, Whilst righteous men, whom they detest, 22 For God preserves the souls of those HROUGH all the changing scenes of life, To them and their posterity, In trouble and in joy, The praises of my God shall still 4 When in distress to him I call'd, He to my rescue came. 5 Their drooping hearts were soon refresh'd, Who look'd to him for aid; Desir'd success in every face A cheerful air display'd. His blessings shall descend. PSALM XXXV. AGAINST all those that strive with me, Lord, assert my right; With such as war unjustly wage, Do thou my battles fight. 2 Thy buckler take, and bind thy shield Stand up, O God, in my defence, And keep me safe from harm. 3 Bring forth thy spear; and stop their course, Say to my soul, "I am thy health, Let them with shame be cover'd o'er, Who my destruction sought; And such as did my harm devise, Be to confusion brought. 5 Then shall they fly, dispers'd like chaff Before the driving wind; God's vengeful minister of wrath Against the men of quiet minds, 21 Nor with these private arts content, 22 But thou, who dost both them and me 6 And when, through dark and slipp'ry ways, Assert my innocence, O Lord, They strive his rage to shun, His vengeful ministers of wrath Shall goad them as they run. 7 Since, unprovok'd by any wrong, They hid their treach'rous snare; And, for my harmless soul, a pit Did, without cause, prepare; 8 Surpris'd by mischiefs unforeseen, By their own arts betray'd, Their feet shall fall into the net, Which they for me had laid: And keep not far away. 23 Stir up thyself in my behalf; Thy righteous servant's cause, O God, 24 Lord, as my heart has upright been, Nor let my cruel foes obtain The triumph they design'd. 25 O! let them not, amongst themselves, In boasting language say, 9 Whilst my glad soul shall God's great name" At length our wishes are complete; For this deliv'rance bless, And, by his saving health secur'd, 10 My very bones shall say, "O Lord, "Who sett'st the poor and helpless man "From strong oppressors free." PART II. 11 False witnesses, with forg'd complaints, Against my truth combin'd; And to my charge such things they laid, 12 The good which I to them had done, And did, by malice undeserv'd, 13 But as for me, when they were sick, I pray'd and fasted, and my prayer 14 Had they my friends or brethren been, I could have done no more; Nor with more decent signs of grief 15 How diff'rent did their carriage prove, In times of my distress! When they, in crowds, together met, The rabble too, in num'rous throngs, And ceas'd not, with reviling words, 17 But, Lord, how long wilt thou look on? On my behalf appear; And save my guiltless soul, which they, 18 So I, before the list'ning world, 19 Lord, suffer not my causeless foes, To mock my sad estate. 20 For they, with hearts averse to peace, Industriously devise, "At last he's made our prey?? 26 Let such as in my harm rejoic'd, 27 Whilst they with cheerful voices shout, Who my just cause befriend; And bless the Lord, who loves to make 28 So shall my tongue thy judgments sing, Inspir'd with grateful joy; And cheerful hymns, in praise of thee, PSALM XXXVI. MY crafty foe, with flatt'ring art, His wicked purpose would disguise; But reason whispers to my heart, He ne'er sets God before his eyes. 2 He soothes himself, retir'd from sight; Secure he thinks his treach'rous game; Till his dark plots, expos'd to light, Their false contriver brand with shame. 4 His wakeful malice spends the night No execrable means declines. 5 But, Lord, thy merey, my sure hope, The whole creation is thy care. 8 Such guests shall to thy courts be led, Of joys that shall for ever last. 9 With thee the springs of life remain; Thy presence is eternal day: 10 O let thy saints thy favour gain; To upright hearts thy truth display. |