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8 The statutes of the Lord are just,
And bring sincere delight;

His pure commands, in search of truth,
Assist the feeblest sight.

9 His perfect worship here is fix'd,
On sure foundations laid;
His equal laws are in the scales
Of truth and justice weigh'd.
10 Of more esteem than golden mines,
Or gold refin'd with skill;
More sweet than honey, or the drop
That from the comb distil.

11 My trusty counsellors they are,
And friendly warnings give;
Divine rewards attend on those
Who by thy precepts live.

12 But what frail man observes how oft
He does from virtue fall?

O cleanse me from my secret faults,
Thou God that know'st them all.
13 Let no presumptuous sin, O Lord,
Dominion have o'er me;

That, by thy grace preserv'd, I may
The great transgression flee.
14 So shall my pray'r and praises be
With thy acceptance blest;
And I, secure on thy defence,
My strength and saviour, rest.

PSALM XX.

1 THE Lord to thy request attend,

And hear thee in distress: The Name of Jacob's God defend, And grant thy arms success. 2 To aid thee from on high repair, And strength from Sion give; 3 Remember all thy off'rings there, Thy sacrifice receive."

4 To compass thy own heart's desire,
Thy counsels still direct;

Make kindly all events conspire
To bring them to effect.

5 To thy salvation, Lord, for aid
We cheerfully repair,

With banners in thy Name display'd,
"The Lord accept thy pray'r."

6 Our hopes are fix'd, that now the Lord. Our sov'reign will defend ;

From heav'n resistless aid afford,
And to his pray'r attend. t

7 Some trust in steeds for war design'd,
On chariots some rely;
Against them all we'll call to mind
The pow'r of God most high.

But from their steeds and chariots thrown,
Behold them through the plain,
Disorder'd, broke, and trampled down,
Whilst firm our troops remain.

9 Still save us, Lord, and still proceed
Our rightful cause to bless;
Hear, King of heav'n, in times of need,
The pray'rs that we address.

PSALM XXI.

1 THE king, O Lord, with songs of praise
Shall in thy strength rejoice;
With thy salvation crown'd, shall raise
To heav'n his cheerful voice.

2 For thou, whate'er his lips request,
Not only didst impart;

But hast with thy acceptance blest
The wishes of his heart.

3 Thy goodness and thy tender care
Have all his hopes outgone;

A crown of gold thou mad'st him wear,
And sett'st it firmly on.

4 He pray'd for life, and thou, O Lord,
Did'st his short span extend;

And graciously to him afford

A life that ne'er shall end.

5 Thy sure defence through nations round
Has spread his glorious name;
And his successful actions crown'd
With majesty and fame.

6 Eternal blessings thou bestow'st,
And mak'st his joys increase;
Whilst thou to him unclouded show'st
The brightness of thy face.

The Second Part.

7 Because the king on God alone
For timely aid relies;

His mercy still supports his throne,
And all his wants supplies.

8 But, righteous Lord, thy stubborn foes
Shall feel thy heavy hand;

Thy vengeful arm shall find out those
That hate thy mild command.

9 When thou against them dost engage,
Thy just but dreadful doom

Shall, like a glowing oven's rage,
Their hopes and them consume.

10 Nor shall thy furious anger cease,
Or with their ruin end;

But root out all their guilty race,
And to their seed extend.

11 For all their thoughts were set on ill,
Their hearts on malice bent;

But thou, with watchful care, didst still
The ill effects prevent.

12 In vain, by shameful flight, they'll try
To 'scape thy dreadful might,
While thy swift darts shall faster fly,
And gall them in their flight.

13 Thus, Lord, thy wondrous strength disclose, And thus exalt thy fame;

Whilst we glad songs of praise compose
To thy Almighty Name.

PSALM XXII.

MY God, my God, why leav'st thon me
When I with anguish faint?

O why so far from me remov'd,
And from my loud complaint?

2 All day, but all the day unheard,
To thee do I complain;

With cries implore relief all night,,
But cry all night in vain.

3 Yet thou art still the righteous Judge
Of innocence oppress'd;
And therefore Israel's praises are
Of right to thee address'd.
4,5 On thee our ancestors relied,
And thy deliv'rance found;
With pious confidence they pray'd,
And with success were crown'd.

6 But I am treated like a worm,
Like none of human birth;
Not only by the great revil'd,
But made the rabble's mirth.

7 With laughter all the gazing crowd

My agonies survey;

They shoot the lip, they shake the head,

And thus deriding say:

"In God he trusted, boasting oft

"That he was Heav'n's delight:

"Let God come down to save him now,
"And own his favourite."

The Second Part.

9 Thou mad'st my teeming mother's womh A living offspring bear;

When but a suckling at the breast
I was thy early care.

10 Thou, guardian-like, didst shield from wrong My helpless infant days;

And since hast been my God and guide
Through life's bewilder'd ways.

11 Withdraw not then so far from me,
When trouble is so nigh;

O send me help! thy help, on which
I only can rely.

12 High-pamper'd bulls, a frowning herd,
From Basan's forest met,

With strength proportion'd to their rage,
Have me around beset.

13 They gape on me, and ev'ry mouth
A yawning grave appears;
The desert lion's savage roar

Less dreadful is than their's.

The Third Part.

14 My blood like water's spill'd, my joints
Are rack'd and out of frame;

My heart dissolves within my breast,
Like wax before the flame.

15 My strength like potter's earth is parch'd,
My tongue cleaves to my jaws;

And to the silent shades of death
My fainting soul withdraws.

16 Like blood-hounds, to surround me, they
In pack'd assemblies meet;
They pierc'd my inoffensive hands,
They pierc'd my harmless feet.

17 My body's rack'd, till all my bones
Distinctly may be told:

Yet such a spectacle of woe

As pastime they behold.

18 As spoil, my garments they divide, Lots for my vesture cast:

19 Therefore approach, O Lord, my strength,
And to my succour haste.

20 From their sharp sword protect thou me,
Of all but life bereft;
Nor let my darling in the pow'r
Of cruel dogs be left.

21 To save me from the lion's jaws
Thy present succour send;

As once from goring unicorns
Thou didst my life defend.

22 Then to my brethren I'll declare
The triumphs of thy Name;
In presence of assembled saints
Thy glory thus proclaim:

23 "Ye worshippers of Jacob's God, "All you of Israel's line,

"O praise the Lord, and to your praise
"Sincere obedience join.

21" He ne'er disdain'd on low distress
"To cast a gracious eye;
"Nor turn'd from poverty his face,
"But hears its humble cry."

The Fourth Part.

25 Thus in thy sacred courts will I
My cheerful thanks express;
In presence of thy saints perform
The vows of my distress.

26 The meek companions of my grief
Shall find my table spread;

And all that seek the Lord shall be
With joys immortal fed.

27 Then shall the glad converted world
To God their homage pay;
And scatter'd nations of the earth
One sov'reign Lord obey.

28 'Tis his supreme prerogative

O'er subject kings to reign;
'Tis just that he should rule the world,
Who does the world sustain.

29 The rich, who are with plenty fed,
His bounty must confess;
The sons of want, by him reliev'd,
Their gen'rous patron bless.
With humble worship to his throne
They all for aid resort;

That pow'r, which first their beings gave,
Can only them support.

30, 31 Then shall a chosen spotless race,
Devoted to his Name,

To their admiring heirs his truth
And glorious acts proclaim.

PSALM XXIII.

1 THE Lord himself, the mighty Lord,
Vouchsafes to be my guide;
The shepherd, by whose constant care
My wants are all supplied.

2 In tender grass he makes me feed,
And gently there repose;

Then leads me to cool shades, and where
Refreshing water flows.

3 He does my wand'ring soul reclaim,
And, to his endless praise,

Instruct with humble zeal to walk
In his most righteous ways.

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