"BY the Bishops, the Clergy, and the Laity of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, in Convention, this twenty-ninth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two; this book of Psalms in Metre, selected from the Psalms of David, with Hymns, is set forth, and allowed to be sung in all congregations of the said Church, before and after Morning and Evening Prayer, and also before and after Sermons, at the discretion of the Minister. "And it shall be the duty of every Minister of any church, either by standing directions, or from time to time, to appoint the portions of Psalms which are to be sung." "And further, it shall be the duty of every Minister, with such assistance as he can obtain from persons skilled in music, to give order concerning the tunes to be sung at any time in his church; and especially, it shall be his duty to suppress all light and unseemly music, and all indecency and irreverence in the performance, by which vain and ungodly persons profane the service of the Sanctuary." PSALM 1. C. M. OW blest is he, who ne'er consents By ill advice to walk, Nor stands in sinners' ways, nor sits Where men profanely talk; 2 But makes the perfect law of God Devoutly reads therein by day, And meditates by night. 3 Like some fair tree, which, fed by streams, With timely fruit does bend, He still shall flourish, and success All his designs attend. 4 Ungodly men, and their attempts, No lasting root shall find; Like chaff before the wind. 5 Their guilt shall strike the wicked dumb Before their Judge's face: No formal hypocrite shall then Among the saints have place. 6 For God approves the just man's ways; To happiness they tend: But sinners, and the paths they tread, Shall both in ruin end. PSALM 2. C. M. From the ii. Psalm of David. HUS God declares his sovereign will: "The King that I ordain, 2 Attend, O earth, whilst I declare 3 "Ask, and receive thy full demands; Shall be possess'd by thee." 4 Learn then, ye princes; and give ear, Worship the Lord with holy fear; 5 Appease the Son with due respect, Your timely homage pay: Lest he revenge the bold neglect, Incens'd by your delay. 6 If but in part his anger rise, Who can endure the flame? Then blest are they, whose hope relies PSALM 3. C. M. From the iii. Psalm of David. HOU, gracious God, art my defence; On thee my hopes rely; 2 Since whersoe'er, in my distress, 3 Guarded by him, I lay me down 4 Salvation to the Lord belongs; His blessings he extends to all PSALM 4. C. M. From the iv. Psalm of David. 2 Then stand in awe of his commands, 3 The sacrifice of righteousness And let your hope, securely fix'd, 4 While worldly minds impatient grow Shine brightly, Lord, on me. 5 So shall my heart o'erflow with joy, Than theirs, who stores of corn and wine 6 Then down in peace I'll lay my head, No other guard, O Lord, I crave, PSALM 5. L. M. From the v. Psalm of David. Accept my secret prayer; To thee alone, my King, my God, 2 Thou in the morn my voice shalt hear, To thee devoutly pray. 3 Lord, I within thy house will come, And I will worship in thy fear, 4 Let those, O Lord, who trust in thee, 5 To righteous men, the righteous Lord And with his favour all his saints, PSALM 6. S. M. From the vi. Psalm of David. SN mercy, not in wrath, Rebuke me, gracious God! Lest, if thy whole displeasure rise, I sink beneath thy rod. 2 Touch'd by thy quick'ning power, My load of guilt I feel; The wounds thy Spirit hath unclosed, O let that Spirit heal. 3 In trouble and in gloom, Must I for ever mourn? And wilt thou not, at length, O God, In pitying love return? 4 O come, ere life expire, Send down thy power to save; For who shall sing thy name in death, 5 Why should I doubt thy grace, Or yield to dread despair? PSALM 7. C. M. From the viii. Psalm of David. THOU, to whom all creatures bow Through all the world how great art How glorious is thy name! 2 In heaven thy wondrous acts are sung, And yet thou mak'st the infant tongue 3 When heaven, thy beauteous work on high, Employs my wondering sight; The moon, that nightly rules the sky, 4 O, what is man, that, Lord, thou lov'st Or what his offspring, that thou prov'st 5 Him next in power thou didst create O'er all thy works to reign. 6 They jointly own his powerful sway; The beasts that prey or graze; 70 thou, to whom all creatures bow Through all the world how great art thou! PSALM 8. C. M. From the ix. Psalm of David. O celebrate thy praise, O Lord, I will my heart prepare; To all the list'ning world, thy works, Thy wondrous works, declare. 2 The thought of them shall to my soul Exalted pleasures bring; Whilst to thy name, O thou Most High, Triumphant praise I sing. 3 The Lord for ever lives, who has His righteous throne prepared, Impartial justice to dispense, To punish or reward. 4 All those who have his goodness proved, Will in his truth confide; Whose mercy ne'er forsook the man That on his help relied. 5 Sing praises therefore to the Lord, Proclaim his deeds, till all the world PSALM 9. C. M. From the xi. Psalm of David. And righteous throne, above; 2 If God the righteous, whom he loves, What must the sons of violence, 3 Snares, fire, and brimstone, on their heads Shall in one tempest shower; This dreadful mixture his revenge 4 The righteous Lord will righteous deeds With signal favour grace, And to the upright man disclose PSALM 10. C. M. From the xiii. Psalm of David. Ow long wilt thou forget me, Lord? Must I for ever mourn? How long wilt thou withdraw from me, 2 O hear, and to my longing eyes 3 Since I have always plac'd my trust Beneath thy mercy's wing, Thy saving health will come, and then 4 Then shall my song, with praise inspir'd, Such bounty didst extend. PSALM 11. L. M. From the xiv. Psalm of David. HE Lord look'd down from heaven's And all the sons of men did view, 2 But all, he saw, were gone aside, All were degen'rate grown, and base; 3 How will they tremble then for fear, And never will their cause forsake. 4 O that from Sion he'd employ His might, and burst th' oppressive band! Then shouts of universal joy Should loudly echo through the land. PSALM 12. C. M. From the xv. Psalm of David. ORD, who's the happy man that may To thy blest courts repair, 2 'Tis he who walketh uprightly, Whom righteousness directs; Whose gen'rous tongue disdains to speak 3 Who never did a slander forge, By malice whisper'd round. 4 Who vice, in all its pomp and power, 5 Who to his plighted vows and trust And, though he promise to his loss, 6 Whose soul in usury disdains Whom no rewards can ever bribe The guiltless to destroy. 7 The man, who by this righteous course Has happiness insured, When earth's foundation shakes, shall stand, PSALM 13. C. M. 2 I strive each action to approve No danger shall my hopes remove, 3 Therefore my heart all grief defies, My flesh shall rest, in hope to rise, 4 Thou, Lord, when I resign my breath, The least corruption see. 5 Thou shalt the paths of life display, 1 THOU Suit'st, O Lord, thy righteous ways 2 Thou to the just shalt justice show; 3 That he the humble soul will save, 4 Who then deserves to be adored, 5 Let the eternal Lord be praised, The rock on whose defence I rest! To highest heavens his name be raised, Who me with his salvation bless'd! 6 My God, to celebrate thy fame, My grateful voice to heaven I'll raise; |