Do God's amazing works behold, and in the deep his wonders view. 25 No sooner his command is past, than forth the dreadful tempest flies, Which sweeps the sea with rapid haste, and makes the stormy billows rise. 26 Sometimes the ships, toss'd up to heaven, on tops of mountain waves appear; Then down the steep abyss are driven, whilst every soul dissolves with fear. 27 They reel and stagger to and fro, like men with fumes of wine oppress'd; Nor do the skilful seamen know which way to steer, what course is best. 28 Then straight to God's indulgent ear they do their mournful cry address; Who graciously vouchsafes to hear, and frees them from their deep distress. 29, 30 He does the raging storm appease, and makes the billows calm and still; With joy they see their fury cease, and their intended course fulfil. 31 O then that all the earth with me would God, for this his goodness, praise; And for the mighty works which he throughout the wondering world displays! 32 Let them, where all the tribes resort, advance to heaven his glorious name, And in the elder's sovereign court, with one consent his praise proclaim. 33, 34 A fruitful land, where streams abound, to punish those that dwell therein. 35, 36 The parch'd and desert heath he makes to flow with streams and springing wells, Which for his lot the hungry takes, and in strong cities safely dwells. 37, 38 He sows the field, the vineyard plants, which gratefully his toil repay; Nor can, whilst God his blessing grants, his fruitful seed or stock decay. 39 But when his sins heaven's wrath provoke,| his health and substance fade away; He feels the oppressor's galling yoke, and is of grief the wretched prey. Whilst I with early hymns of joy 3 To all the listening tribes, O Lord, And to those nations sing thy praise, 4 Because thy mercy's boundless height 5 Be thou, O God, exalted high 6 That all thy chosen people thee 7 Since God himself hath said the word, 8 Gilead is mine, Manasseh too, 9 Moab I'll make my servile drudge, through Edom's guarded plain? once more the guidance take? 12 O to thy servant in distress for safety to depend. 13 Then valiant acts shall we perform, if thou thy power disclose; For God it is, and God alone, That treads down all our foes. PSALM 109. GOD, whose former mercies make 40 The prince that slights what God commands, My constant praise thy due, exposed to scorn, must quit his throne; And over wild and desert lands, 42, 43 Then sinners shall have nought to say, Hold not thy peace, but my sad state 2 For sinful men, with lying lips, And with their study'd slander seek 3 Their restless hatred prompts them still And all against my life combine, 4 Those whom with tenderest love I used, resort to thee by prayer. 6 Since mischief, for the good I did, And hatred's the return they make for undissembled love: 6 Their guilty leaders shall be made to some ill man a slave; And, when he's try'd, his mortal foe for his accuser have. 7 His guilt, when sentence is pronounced, shall meet a dreadful fate, Whilst his rejected prayer but serves his crimes to aggravate. 8 He, snatch'd by some untimely fate, sha'n't live out half his days; Another, by divine decree, shall on his office seize. 9, 10 His seed shall orphans be, his wife a widow, plung'd in grief; His vagrant children beg their bread, where none can give relief. 11 His ill-got riches shall be made to usurers a prey; The fruit of all his toil shall be by strangers borne away. 12 None shall be found that to his wants their mercy will extend, Or to his helpless orphan seed the least assistance lend. 13 A swift destruction soon shall seize 14 The vengeance of his father's sins God on his mother's crimes shall think, 15 All these, in horrid order rank'd PART II. 16 Because he never mercy show'd, 17 Therefore the curse he loved to vent 18 Since he in cursing took such pride, like water it shall spread Through all his veins, and stick like oil, with which his bones are fed. 19 This, like a poison'd robe, shall still his constant covering be, Or an envenom❜d belt from which he never shall be free. 20 Thus shall the Lord reward all those that ill to me design; That with malicious false reports against my life combine. 21 But for thy glorious name, O God, do thou deliver me; And for thy plenteous mercy's sake, preserve and set me free. 22 For I, to utmost straits reduced, am void of all relief; My heart is wounded with distress, and quite pierced through with grief. 23 I like an evening shade decline, which vanishes apace; Like locusts, up and down I'm toss'd, and have no certain place. 24, 25 My knees with fasting are grown weak, my body lank and lean; All that behold me shake their heads, and treat me with disdain. 26, 27 But for thy mercy's sake, O Lord, do thou my foes withstand; That all may see 'tis thy own act, the work of thy right hand. 28 Then let them curse, so thou bat bless; let shame the portion be Of all that my destruction seek, while I rejoice in thee. 29 My foes shall with disgrace be clothed; and, spite of all his pride, His own confusion, like a cloak, 30 But I to God, in grateful thanks, 31 For him the poor shall always find PSALM 110. HE Lord unto my Lord thus spake, 2 "sit thou in state at my right hand : "and, when thy rising beams they view, "Shall all, redeem'd from error's night, "Appear as numberless and bright "as crystal drops of morning dew." 4 The Lord bath sworn, nor sworn in vain, That, like Melchisedech's, thy reign and priesthood shall no period know: 5 No proud competitor to sit At thy right hand will he permit, but in his wrath crown'd heads o'erthrow.. 6 The sentenced heathen he shall slay, And fill with carcases his way, till he hath struck earth's tyrants dead; 7 But in the highway brooks shall first, Like a poor pilgrim, slake his thirst, and then in triumph raise his head. His truth, confirm'd through ages past, 4 By precepts he hath us enjoin'd That good and gracious is our Lord. 7 Just are the dealings of his hands, 9 He set his saints from bondage free, 10 Who wisdom's sacred prize would win, HAT man is biess'd who stands in awe Tof God, and loves his sacred law; 2 His seed on earth shall be renown'd, 4 The soul that's fill'd with virtue's light 6 Beset with threatening dangers round, 7 Ill tidings never can surprise 9 His hands, while they his alms bestow'd, Whence he shall reap wealth, fame, renown, 10 The wicked shall his triumph see, YE saints and servants of the Lord, The triumphs of his name record; 2 his sacred name for ever bless: 3 Where'er the circling sun displays His rising beams, or setting rays, due praise to his great name address. 4 God through the world extends his sway; but shadows of his glory are: 5 With him whose majesty excels, 6 Though 'tis beneath his state to view yet he to earth vouchsafes his care: companion to the greatest there. to rescue their expiring name; WHEN Israel, by the Almighty led, enrich'd with their oppressor's spoil. 2 Jehovah, for his residence, chose out imperial Judah's tent, and from the Almighty's presence fled; 4 The taller mountains skipp'd like rams, 5 O sea! what made your tide withdraw, 6 Why, mountains, did ye skip, like rams when they their leader's flight behold? 7 Earth, tremble on; well may'st thou fear 8 To flee from God, who nature's law LORD, not to us, we claim no share, but to thy sacred name Give glory, for thy mercy's sake, and truth's eternal fame. 2 Why should the heathen cry, Where's now 3 Convince them that in heaven thou art, and uncontroll'd thy power. 4 Their gods but gold and silver are, 5 With speechless mouth and sightless eyes 6 The pageant has both ears and nose, 7 Its hands and feet nor feel nor move; 8 Such senseless stocks they are, that we can nothing like them find, But those who on their help rely, and them for gods design'd. 9 O Israel, make the Lord your trust, who is your help and shield; 10 Priests, Levites, trust in him alone, 11 Let all who truly fear the Lord, and all their wants supply. 12, 13 Of us he oft has mindful been, and Israel's house will bless: Priests, Levites, proselytes, even all who his great name confess. 14 On you, and on your heirs, he will increase of blessings bring; 15 Thrice happy you, who favourites are of this Almighty King! 16 Heaven's highest orb of glory he his empire's seat design'd; And gave this lower globe of earth a portion to mankind. 17 They who in death and silence sleep to him no praise afford; 18 But we will bless for evermore our ever-living Lord. PSALM 116. Y soul with grateful thoughts of love entirely is possest, Because the Lord vouchsafed to hear the voice of my request. 2 Since he has now his ear inclined, I never will despair; But still in all the straits of life to him address my prayer. 3 With deadly sorrows compass'd round, with pains of hell oppress'd; When trouble seized my aching heart, and anguish rack'd my breast; 4 On God's Almighty name I call'd, "Lord, I beseech thee, save my soul, 7 Then free from pensive cares, my soul, resume thy wonted rest; For God has wondrously to thee his bounteous love exprest. 8 When death alarmed me, he removed my dangers and my fears; My feet from falling he secured, and dry'd my eyes from tears. 9 Therefore my life's remaining years, 10, 11 In God I trusted, and of him 12, 13 Then what return to him shall I for all his goodness make? I'll praise his name, and with glad zeal the cup of blessing take. 14, 15 I'll pay my vows among his saints, whose blood, howe'er despised By wicked men, in God's account is always highly prized. 16 By various ties, O Lord, must I to thy dominion bow; Thy humble handmaid's son before, thy ransom'd captive now! 17, 18 To thee I'll offerings bring of praise; 19 They in Jerusalem shall meet, WITH cheerful notes let all the earth W to heaven their voices raise; Let all, inspired with godly mirth, sing solemn hymns of praise. 2 God's tender mercy knows no bound, his truth shall ne'er decay; Then let the willing nations round their grateful tribute pay. PSALM 118. PRAISE the Lord, for he is good, That his kind favours ever last, 3, 4 Their sense of his eternal love that fear the Lord confess. 5 To God I made my humble moan, 6 Since therefore God does on my side Why should the vain attempts of men possess my soul with fear? 7 Since God with those that aid my cause vouchsafes my part to take, To all my foes I need not doubt a just return to make. 8, 9 For better 'tis to trust in God, and have the Lord our friend, Than on the greatest human power for safety to depend. 10, 11 Though many nations closely leagued, did oft beset me round; Yet by his boundless power sustain'd, 12 They swarm'd like bees, and yet their rage was but a short-liv'd blaze ; For whilst on God I still rely'd, I vanquish'd them with ease. 13 When all united press'd me hard, in hopes to make me fall, The Lord vouchsafed to take my part, and save me from them all. 14 The honour of my strange escape to him alone belongs; He is my Saviour and my strength, he only claims my songs. 15 Joy fills the dwelling of the just, whom God has saved from harm; For wondrous things are brought to pass by his Almighty arm. 16 He, by his own resistless power, has endless honour won; The saving strength of his right hand amazing works has done. 17 God will not suffer me to fall, but still prolongs my days; That, by declaring all his works, I may advance his praise. 18 When God had sorely me chastised, till quite of hopes bereaved, His mercy from the gates of death my fainting life reprieved. 19 Then open wide the temple-gates, to which the just repair, That I may enter in, and praise my great Deliverer there. 20, 21 Within those gates of God's abode, to which the righteous press, Since thou hast heard, and set me safe, thy holy name I'll bless. 22, 23 That which the builders once refused, is now the corner stone; This is the wondrous work of God, the work of God alone. 24, 25 This day is God's; let all the land exalt their cheerful voice; Lord, we beseech thee, save us now, 26 Him that approaches in God's name, 27 God is the Lord, through whom we all Fast to the altar's horn, with cords, the chosen victim bind. 28 Thou art my Lord, O God, and still 29 O then with me give thanks to God, PSALM 119. ALEPH. OW bless'd are they, who always keep Hthe pure and perfect way! Who never from the sacred paths of God's commandments stray! 2 How bless'd, who to his righteous laws have still obedient been! And have with fervent humble zeal 3 Such men their utmost caution use 14 Thou strictly hast enjoin'd us, Lord, to learn thy sacred will; And all our diligence employ thy statutes to fulfil. 5 0 then that thy most holy will 6 Then with assurance should I walk, Convinced, with joy, that all my ways with thy commands agree. 7 My upright heart shall my glad mouth with cheerful praises fill; When, by thy righteous judgments taught, I shall have learnt thy will. 8 So to thy sacred laws shall I all due observance pay; O then forsake me not, my God, nor cast me quite away. BETH. 9 How shall the young preserve their ways from all pollution free? By making still their course of life with thy commands agree. 10 With hearty zeal for thee I seek, to thee for succour pray; O suffer not my careless steps from thy right paths to stray. 11 Safe in my heart, and closely hid, 12 Secured by that, my grateful soul O teach me then by thy just laws my future life to frame. 13 My lips, unlock'd by pious zeal, to others have declared How well the judgments of thy mouth deserve our best regard. 14 Whilst in the way of thy commands more solid joy I found, Than had I been with vast increase of envy'd riches crown'd. 15 Therefore thy just and upright laws shall always fill my mind; And those sound rules, which thou prescrib'st, all due respect shall find. 16 To keep thy statutes undefaced shall be my constant joy; The strict remembrance of thy word shall all my thoughts employ. GIMEL. 17 Be gracious to thy servant, Lord, 18 Enlighten both my eyes and mind, The wondrous work which they behold, who thy just precepts learn. 19 Though, like a stranger in the land, from place to place I stray, Thy righteous judgments from my sight remove not thou away. |