30 Thy power with songs I'll then proclaim, And celebrate with thanks thy name. 31 Our God shall this more highly prize, Than herds or flocks in sacrifice; 32 Which humble saints with joy shall see, And hope for like redress with me. 33 For God regards the poor's complaint; 36 This blessing they shall, at their death, LORD, to my relief draw near; with shame their malice be repaid, Who mock'd my confidence in thee, and sport of my afflictions made. 4 While those who humbly seek thy face, to joyful triumphs shall be raised; And all who prize thy saving grace, with me shall sing, The Lord be praised. 5 Thus, wretched though I am and poor, the mighty Lord of me takes care: Thou, God, who only canst restore, to my relief with speed repair. PSALM 71. In thee & put my steadfast trust; defend me, Lord, from shame; Incline thine ear, and save my soul; for righteous is thy name. 3 Be thou my strong abiding-place, to which I may resort; 'Tis thy decree that keeps me safe; thou art my rock and fort. 4, 5 From cruel and ungodly men protect and set me free; For, from my earliest youth till now, my hope has been in thee. 6 Thy constant care did safely guard my tender infant days; Thou took'st me from my mother's womb, to singthy constant praise. 7,8 While some on me with wonder gaze, thy hand supports me still; Thy honour, therefore, and thy praise, my mouth shall always fill. 9 Reject not then, thy servant, Lord, when I with age decay; Forsake me not when, worn with years, my vigour fades away. 10 My foes against my fame and me with crafty malice speak; Against my soul they lay their snares, a and mutual counsel take: 11 "His God," say they, "forsakes him now "on whom he did rely; "Pursue and take him, whilst no hope "of timely aid is nigh." 12 But thou, my God, withdraw not far, for speedy help I call: 13 To shame and ruin bring my foes, 14 But as for me, my steadfast hope 15 Thy righteous acts, and saving health, Unable yet to count them all, though summ'd with utmost care. 16 While God vouchsafes me his support, I'll in his strength go on; All other righteousness disclaim, and mention his alone. 17 Thou, Lord, hast taught me from my youth to praise thy glorious name; And, ever since, thy wondrous works have been my constant theme. 18 Then now forsake me not, when I am grey and feeble grown; Till I to these and future times thy strength and power have shown, 20 Me, whom thy hand has sorely press'd, with tender care retrieve. 21 Through thee, my time to come shall be 22 Then I with psaltery and harp, my voice in anthems raise. 23 Then joy shall fill my mouth, and songs employ my cheerful voice; My grateful soul by thee redeem'd, shall in thy strength rejoice. 24 My tongue thy just and righteous acts ORD, let thy just decrees the king 2 So shall he still thy people judge with pure and upright mind; Whilst all the helpless poor shall him their just protector find. 3 Then hills and mountains shall bring forth the happy fruits of peace; Which all the land shall own to be the work of righteousness: 4 Whilst he the poor and needy race shall rule with gentle sway; And from their humble neck shall take oppressive yokes away. 5 In every heart thy awful fear shall then be rooted fast, As long as sun and moon endure, or time itself shall last. 6 He shall descend like rain, that cheers' the meadow's second birth; Or like warm showers whose gentle drops refresh the thirsty earth. 7 In his blest days the just and good 8 His uncontroll'd dominion shall 9 To him the savage nations round 10 The king of Tarshish, and the isles, 11 To him shall every king on earth 13 His providence for needy souls shall watch with tender care. 14 He shall preserve and keep their souls from fraud and rapine free; And, in his sight, their guiltless blood of mighty price shall be. 15 Therefore shall God his life and reign to many years extend; Whilst eastern princes tribute pay, For him shall constant prayers be made, a lasting theme of praise. 16 Of useful grain, through all the land, great plenty shall appear; A handful, sown on mountains top, Its fruits, like cedars shook by winds, 17 The memory of his glorious name Y 2, 3 Till this sustaining truth I knew," my staggering feet had almost fail'd;" I grieved the sinners' wealth to view, and envy'd when the fools prevail'd. 4, 5 They to the grave in peace descend, and, whilst they live, are hale and strong; No plagues or troubles them offend, which oft to other men belong. 6, 7 With pride, as with a chain, they're held, and rapine seems their robe of state; Their eyes stand out, with fatness swell'd;' they grow, beyond their wishes, great. 8, 9 With hearts corrupt, and lofty talk, oppressive methods they defend; Their tongue through all the earth does walk; their blasphemies to heaven ascend. 10 And yet admiring crouds are found, who servile visits duly make;" Because with plenty they abound, of which their flattering slaves partake 11 Their fond opinions these pursue, till they with them profanely cry, "How should the Lord our actions view? "can he perceive who dwells so high?" 12 Behold the wicked! these are they who openly their sins profess; 疆 And yet their wealth's increased each day, and all their actions meet success. 13, 14 "Then have I cleansed my heart," said I, "and washed my hands from guilt, in vain, "If all the day oppressed I lie, "and every morning suffer pain." 16, 17 To fathom this my thoughts I bent, then I their end did plainly see. 18 How high soe'er advanced, they all on slippery places loosely stand;" Thence into ruin headlong fall, cast down by thy avenging hand. 19, 20 How dreadful and how quick their fate! despised by thee, when they're destroy'd ; As waking men with scorn do treat who no reflecting thought retains. 25 Whom then in heaven, but thee alone, 26 My trembling flesh, and aching heart, 27 For they that far from thee remove If after other gods they rove, thy vengeance shall destroy them all. 28 But as for me, 'tis good and just that I should still to God repair; In him I always put my trust, and will his wondrous works declare. PSALM 74. WHY hast thou cast us off, O God?.. wilt thou no more return? O! why against thy chosen flock does thy fierce anger burn? 2 Think on thy ancient purchase, Lord, the land that is thy own, By thee redeem'd; and Zion's mount, where once thy glory shone. 3 0! come and view our ruin'd state; how long our troubles last; See how the foe, with wicked rage, has laid thy temple waste. 4 Thy foes blaspheme thy name; where late thy zealous servants pray'd, The heathen there, with haughty pomp, their banners have display'd. 5, 6 Those curious carvings, which did once advance the artist's fame, With axe and hammer they destroy, like works of vulgar frame. 7 Thy holy temple they have burn'd ; and what escaped the flame, Has been profaned, and quite defaced, though sacred to thy name. 8 Thy worship wholly to destroy maliciously they aim'd; And all the sacred places burn'd, where we thy praise proclaim'd. 9. Yet of thy presence thou vouchsafest no tender signs to send; We have no prophet now, that knows when this sad state shall end. PART II. 10 But, Lord, how long wilt thou permit the insulting foe to boast? Shall all the honour of thy name for evermore be lost? When vengeance calls to stretch, it forth, 12 Thou heretofore, with kingly power, For us, throughout the wondering world, 13 'Twas thou, O God, who didst the sea 15 Thou clavest the solid rock, and mad'st Again, thou mad'st through parted streams 16 Thine is the cheerful day, and thine 17 By thee the borders of the earth The summer's warmth, and winter's cold, PART III 18 Remember, Lord, how scornful foes 19 O! free thy mourning turtle-dove, 20 Thy ancient covenant, Lord, regard, 21 O! let not the oppress'd return 22 Arise, O God, in our behalf; each day thy name profane. 23 Make thou the boastings of thy foes for evermore to cease; Whose insolence, if unchastised, will more and more increase. PSALM 75. To thee, O God, we render praise, to thee, with thanks repair; For, that thy name to us is nigh, 2 In Israel when my throne is fix'd, with me shall justice reign: 3 The land with discord shakes; but I the sinking frame sustain. 4 Deluded wretches I advised their errors to redress; And warn'd bold sinners, that they should their swelling pride suppress. 11 Why hold'st thou back thy strong right hand, 5 Bear not yourselves so high, as if and on thy patient breast, no power could yours restrain; 13 Submit your stubborn necks, and learn 6 For that promotion, which to gain and sovereign Judge alone, 8 His hand holds forth a dreadful cup; Of this his saints sometimes may taste; 9 His prophet, I, to all the world 10 The wicked's pride I will reduce, Exalt the just, and seat him high above the reach of harm. PSALM 76. IN Judah the Almighty's known, 3 He brake the bow and arrows there, 4 Whence Sion's fame through earth is spread, than hills where robbers lodge their prey. 5 Their valiant chiefs, who came for spoil, Themselves met there a shameful foil: securely down to sleep they lay: But waked no more, their stoutest band Ne'er lifted one resisting hand 'gainst his, that did their legions slay. 6 When Jacob's God began to frown, Both horse and charioteers, o'erthrown, together slept in endless night: 7 When thou, whom earth and heaven revere, Dost once with wrathful look appear, what mortal power can stand thy sight? 8 Pronounced from heaven, earth heard its Grew hush'd with fear, when thou did'st come the triumphs of Almighty power. thus to his name due reverence pay, 12 Who proudest potentates can quell, To earthly kings more terrible, than to their trembling subjects they PSALM 77. TO God I cry'd, who to my help did graciously repair; 12 In trouble's dismal day I sought 3 I thought on God, and favours past; I found my spirit more oppress'd, 4 Through every watch of tedious night 5 I call'd to mind the days of old, 6 By night I recollect my songs, Then search, consult, and ask my heart, 7 Has God for ever cast us off? 8 Are both his inercy and his truth 9 Can his long practised love forget Has he in wrath shut up and seal'd 10 I said, my weakness hints these fears; but I'll my fears disband; I'll yet remember the Most High, and years of his right band. 11 I'll call to mind his works of old, 12 On them my heart shall meditate, 13 Safe lodged from human search on high, Who is so great a God as ours? who can with him compare? 14 Long since a God of wonders thee 15 Long since hast thou thy chosen seed 16 When thee, O God, the waters saw, 17 The clouds pour'd down, while rending Thy arrows all abroad were sent, 18 Heaven with thy thunder's voice was torn, whilst all the lower world With lightnings blazed; earth shook, and seem'd from her foundations hurl'd. 19 Through rolling streams thou find'st thy way, Thy wondrous passage, where no sight 20 Thou ledd'st thy people like a flock. By Moses, their meek skilful guide, PSALM 78. EAR, O my people, to my law H devout attention lend; Let the instruction of my mouth 2 My tongue, by inspiration taught, and own'd for truths of old: 3 Which we from sacred registers 4 We will not hide them from our sons; 7 To teach them that in God alone their hope securely stands; That they should ne'er his works forget, 8 Lest, like their fathers, they might prove 9 Such were revolting Ephraim's sons, And skilful archers, arm'd with bows, from field ignobly fled. 10, 11 They falsified their league with God, his orders disobey'd, Forgot his works and miracles before their eyes display'd. 12 Nor wonders, which their fathers saw, 13 He cut the sea to let them pass, 14 A wondrous pillar led them on, composed of shade and light; A sheltering cloud it proved by day, a leading fire by night. 15 When drought oppress'd them, where no the wilderness supply'd, He cleft the rock, whose flinty breast dissolved into a tide. [stream 16 Streams from the solid rock he brought, which down in rivers fell, That, travelling with their camp, each day renew'd the miracle. 17 Yet there they sinn'd against him more, provoking the Most High, In that same desert where he did their fainting souls supply. |18 They first incensed him in their hearts, And long'd for meat, not urged by want, 19 Then utter'd their blaspheming doubts; "A table in the wilderness, "set out with various fare? 20 "He smote the flinty rock, 'tis true, 21 The Lord with indignation heard: 22 Because their unbelieving hearts Nor trust his care, who bad from heaven 23 Though he had made his clouds discharge provisions down in showers; And when earth fail'd, relieved their needs from his celestial stores; 24 Though tasteful manna was rain'd down, their hunger to relieve; Though from the stores of heaven they did 25 Thus man with angels' sacred food, Not sparingly, for still they found a plenteous table spread. 26 From heaven he made an east wind blow, then did the south command 27 To rain down flesh like dust, and fowls 28 Within their trenches he let fall And all around their spreading camp 29 They fed, were fill'd; he gave them leave 30, 31 Yet still their wanton lust craved on, But whilst in their luxurious mouths The wrath of God smote down their chiefs, PART II. 32 Yet still they sinn'd, nor would afford his miracles belief: 33 Therefore through fruitless travels he consumed their lives in grief. 34 When some were slain, the rest return'd to God with early cry; 35 Own'd him the Rock of their defence, 36 But this was feign'd submission all; 37 Their heart was still perverse, nor would 38 Yet full of mercy he forgave, But turn'd his kindled wrath aside, |