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; O therefore, 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.

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 no 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 in bold defiance go.

TSADDI.

137 Thou art the righteous Judge, in whom wrong'd innocence may trust;

And, like thyself, thy judgments, Lord,
in all respects are just.

138 Most just and true those statutes were,
which thou didst first decree;
And all with faithfulness perform'd,
succeeding times shall see.

139 With zeal my flesh consumes away,
my soul with anguish frets,
To see my foes contemn at once
thy promises and threats.
140 Yet each neglected word of thine,
howe'er by them despis'd,

Is pure, and for eternal truth
by me thy servant, priz'd.

141 Brought, for thy sake, to low estate, contempt from all I find;

Yet no affronts or wrongs can drive thy precepts from my mind. 142 Thy righteousness shall then endure, when time itself is past;

Thy law is truth itself, that truth

which shall for ever last.

143 Though trouble, anguish, doubts, and dread,

to compass me unite;

Beset with danger, still I make

thy precepts my delight.

144 Eternal and unerring rules

thy testimonies give:

Teach me the wisdom that will make

my soul for ever live.

KOPH.

145 With my whole heart to God I call'd,
Lord, hear my earnest cry;
And I thy statutes to perform
will all my care apply.

146 Again more fervently I pray'd,
O save me, that I may

Thy testimonies throughly know, and steadfastly obey.

147 My earlier prayer the dawning day prevented, while I cry'd

To him, on whose engaging word my hope alone rely'd.

148 With zeal have I awak'd before the midnight watch was set, That I of thy mysterious word might perfect knowledge get.