The difference between the righteous and the wicked.
1 BLEST is the man who shuns the place,
Where sinners love to meet;
Who fears to tread their wicked ways,
And hates the scoffer's seat:-
2 But in the statutes of the Lord
Has placed his chief delight;
By day he reads or hears the word,
And meditates by night.
3 He, like a plant of generous kind
By living waters set,
Safe from the storms and blasting wind,
Enjoys a peaceful state.
4 Green as the leaf, and ever fair,
Shall his profession shine;
While fruits of holiness appear,
Like clusters on the vine.
5 Not so the impious and unjust:
What vain designs they form!
Their hopes are blown away like dust,
Or chaff before the storm.
6 Sinners in judgment shall not stand
Among the sons of grace,
When Christ, the Judge, at his right hand,
Appoints his saints a place.
SECOND VERSION.
1 THE man is ever blest,
Who shuns the sinners' ways;
Among their councils never stands,
Nor takes the scorner's place:
2 But makes the law of God
His study and delight,
Amid the labors of the day,
And watches of the night.
3 He like a tree shall thrive,
With waters near the root:
Fresh as the leaf his name shall live,
His works are heavenly fruit.
4 Not so th' ungodly race,
They no such blessings find;
Their hopes shall flee like empty chaff
Before the driving vind.
5 How will they bear to stand
Before that judgment-seat,
Where all the saints, at Christ's right hand,
In full assembly meet?
6 He knows, and he approves,
The way the righteous go;
But sinners and their works shall meet
A dreadful overthrow.
The difference between the righteous and the wicked.
1 HAPPY the man whose cautious feet
Shun the broad way that sinners go;
Who hates the place where atheists meet,
And fears to talk as scoffers do.
2 He loves t' employ the morning light
Among the statutes of the Lord;
And spends the wakeful hours of night
With pleasure pondering o'er his word.
3 He, like a plant by gentle streams,
Shall flourish in immortal green,
And heaven will shine, with kindest beams.
On every work his hands begin.
4 But sinners find their counsels crossed;
As chaff before the tempest flies,
So shall their hopes be blown and lost.
When the last trumpet shakes the skies.
FIRST VERSION.
Christ exalted above his enemies.
1 WHY did the nations join to slay
The Lord's anointed Son?
Why did they cast his laws away,
And tread his gospel down?
2 The Lord that sits above the skies,
Derides their rage below;
He speaks with vengeance in his eyes,
And strikes their spirits through.
3 'I call him my eternal Son,
And raise him from the dead;
I make my holy hill his throne,
And wide his kingdom spread.
4 'Ask me, my Son, and then enjoy
The utmost heathen lands;
Thy rod of iron shall destroy
The rebel that withstands.'
5 Be wise, ye rulers of the earth,
Obey th' anointed Lord,
Adore the King of heavenly birth,
And tremble at his word.
6 With humble love address his throne,
For if he frown, ye die;
Those are secure, and those alone,
Who on his grace rely.
SECOND VERSION. V. 8-12.
Christ interceding and reigning.
1 NOW Christ ascends on high,
And asks to rule the earth;
The merit of his blood he pleads,
And pleads his heavenly birth.
2 He asks, and God bestows
A large inheritance;
Far as the world's remotest ends
His kingdom shall advance.
3 The nations that rebel
Must feel his iron rod;
He'll vindicate those honors well
Which he received from God.
4 Be wise, ye rulers, now,
And worship at his throne;
With trembling joy, ye people, bow
To God's exalted Son.
5 If once his wrath arise,
Ye perish on the place;
Then blessed is the soul that flies
For refuge to his grace.
FIRST VERSION.
God our defence.
1 MY God, how many are my fears!
How fast my foes increase!
Conspiring my eternal death,
They break my present peace.
2 The lying tempter would persuade.
There's no relief in heaven;
And all my swelling sins appear
Too great to be forgiven.
3 But thou, my glory and my strength,
Shalt on the tempter tread,
Shalt silence all my threatening guilt.
And raise my drooping head.
4 I cried, and from his holy hill
He bowed a listening ear;
I called my Father and my God,
And he subdued my fear.
5 He shed soft slumbers on mine eyes,
In spite of all my foes;
I woke, and wondered at the grace
That guarded my repose.
6 What though the hosts of death and hell,
All armed, against me stood;
Terrors no more shall shake my soul-
My refuge is my God.
Salvation to the Lord belongs,
His arm alone can save;
Blessings attend thy people here,
And reach beyond the grave.
SECOND VERSION. V. 2-5, 8.
1 THE tempter to my soul hath said,--
'There is no help in God for thee:'
Lord, lift thou up thy servant's head;
My glory, shield and solace be.
2 Thus to the Lord I raised my cry,-
He heard me from his holy hill;
At his command the waves, rolled by ;
He beckoned, and the winds were still.
3 I laid me down and slept,-I woke;
Thou, Lord, my spirit didst sustain;
Bright from the east the morning broke,-
Thy comforts rose on me again.
4 I will not fear, though armed throngs
Surround my steps in all their wrath ;
Salvation to the Lord belongs;
His presence guards his people's path.
THIRD VERSION. V. 1-5, 8.
A morning Psalm.
1 O LORD, how many are my foes,
In this weak state of flesh and blood'
My peace they daily discompose;
But my defence and hope is God.
2 Tired with the burdens of the day,
To thee I raised an evening cry;
Thou heard'st when I began to pray,
And thine almighty help was nigh.
3 Supported by thy heavenly aid,
I laid me down, and slept secure ;
Not death should make my heart afraid,
Though I should wake and rise no more.
4 But God sustained me all the night;
Salvation doth to God belong;
He raised my head to see the light,
And make his praise my morning song.
FIRST VERSION. V. 3-5, 8.
An evening Psalm.
1 LORD, thou wilt hear me when I pray;
I am forever thine;
I fear before thee all the day,
Nor would I dare to sin.
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