2, 3 Let harps, and psalteries, and lutes
In joyful concert meet,

And new-made songs of loud applause
The harmony complete.

4,5 For faithful is the word of God,
His works with truth abound;
He justice loves, and all the earth

Is with his goodness crown'd. 6 By his Almighty word at first

Heav'n's glorious arch was rear'd,
And all the beauteous hosts of light
At his command appear'd.

7 The swelling floods, together roll'd,
He makes in heaps to lie;
And lays, as in a storehouse safe,
The wat'ry treasures by.

8, 9 Let earth and all that dwell therein
Before him trembling stand;

For when he spake the word 'twas made,
'Twas fix'd at his command.

10 He, when the heathen closely plot,
Their counsels undermines;
His wisdom ineffectual makes
The people's rash designs.
11 Whate'er the mighty Lord decrees
Shall stand for ever sure;
The settled purpose of his heart
To ages shall endure.

The Second Parl.

12 How happy then are they, to whom The Lord for God is known!

Whom he from all the world besides
Has chosen for his own!

13, 14, 15 He all the nations of the earth
From heav'n, his throne, survey'd ;

He saw their works, and view'd their thoughts,
By him their hearts were made.

16, 17 No king is safe by num'rous hosts,
Their strength the strong deceives;
No manag'd horse, by force or speed,
His warlike rider saves.

15, 19 'Tis God, who those that trust in him
Beholds with gracious eyes;

He frees their soul from death, their want
In time of dearth supplies.

20, 21 Our soul on God with patience waits,
Our help and shield is he;
Then, Lord, let still our hearts rejoice,
Because we trust in thee.

Lord,

22 The riches of thy mercy,
Do thou to us extend;
Since we for all we want or wish
On thee alone depend.

PSALM XXXIV

THROUGH all the changing scenes of life, In trouble and in joy, The praises of my God shall still My heart and tongue employ. ? Of his deliv'rance I will boast, Till all that are distrest, From my example comfort take,

And charm their griefs to rest.

30 magnify the Lord with me, With me exalt his Name;

4 When in distress to him I call'd,

He to my rescue came.

5 Their drooping hearts were soon refresh'd, Who look'd to him for aid;

Desir'd success in ev'ry face
A cheerful air display'd.

6 "Behold," say they," behold the man
"Whom Providence reliev'd;
"So dang'rously with woes beset,
"So wondrously retriev'd."
7 The hosts of God encamp around
The dwellings of the just;
Deliv'rance he affords to all

Who on his succour trust.

& O make but trial of his love,
Experience will decide,

How bless'd are they, and only they,
Who in his truth confide.

9 Fear him, ye saints, and you will then
Have nothing else to fear;
Make you his service your delight,
Your wants shall be his care.

10 While hungry lions lack their prey,
The Lord will food provide
For such as put their trust in him,
And see their wants supplied.
The Second Part.

11 Approach, ye piously dispos'd,
And my instruction hear:
I'll teach you the true discipline
Of his religious fear.

12 Let him, who length of life desires,

And prosp'rous days would see,

13 From sland'ring language keep his tongue,

His lips from falsehood free.

14 The crooked paths of vice decline,
And virtue's ways pursue;
Establish peace where 'tis begun,
And where 'tis lost renew.

15 The Lord from heaven beholds the just
With favourable eyes;

And, when distress'd, his gracious ear
Is open to their cries:

16 But turns his wrathful look on those,
Whom mercy can't reclaim,
To cut them off, and from the earth
Blot out their hated name.

17 Deliv'rance to his saints he gives,
When his relief they crave;
18 He's nigh to heal the broken heart,
And contrite spirit save.

19 The wicked oft, but still in vain, Against the just conspire;

20 For under their affliction's weight He keeps their bones entire.

21 The wicked from their wicked arts
Their ruin shall derive;

Whilst righteous men, whom they detest,
Shall them and theirs survive.

PSALM XXXV.

AGAINST all those that strive with me,
O Lord, assert my right;
With such as war unjustly wage

Do thou my battles fight.

2 Thy buckler take, and bind thy shield Upon thy warlike arm;

Stand up, my God, in my defence,

And keep me safe from harm.

3 Bring forth thy spear, and stop their course, That haste my blood to spill;

Say to my soul, "I am thy health, "And will preserve thee still." 4 Let them with shame be cover'd o'er, Who my destruction sought; And such as did my harm devise Be to confusion brought,

5 Then shall they fly, dispers'd like chaff
Before the driving wind;
God's vengeful minister of wrath
Shall follow close behind.

6 And when through dark and slipp'ry ways They strive his rage to shun, His vengeful ministers of wrath Shall goad them as they run. 7 Since, unprovok'd by any wrong, They hid their treach'rous snare; And for my harmless soul a pit

Did without cause prepare.
& Surpris'd by mischiefs unforeseen,
By their own arts betray'd;
Their feet shall fall into the net
Which they for me had laid.

9 Whilst my glad soul shall God's great Name For this deliv'rance bless,

And, by his saving health secur'd,
Its grateful joy express;

10 My very bones shall say, O Lord,
Who can compare with thee,
Who sett the poor helpless man
From strong oppressors free?

The Second Part.

11 False witnesses, with forg'd complaints,
Against my truth combin'd;

And to my charge such things they laid
As I had ne'er design'd.

12 The good which I to them had done,
With evil they repaid;

And did, by malice undeserv'd,
My harmless life invade.

13 But as for me, when they were sick, I still in sackcloth mourn'd;

I pray'd and fasted, and my pray'r
my own

14 Had they my friends or brethren been,
I could have done no more;

Nor with more decent signs of grief
A mother's loss deplore.

15 How diff'rent did their carriage prove
In times of my distress;
When they, in crowds together met,
Did savage joy express.
The rabble too, in num'rous throngs,
By their example came,
And ceas'd not, with reviling words,
To wound my spotless fame.

16 Scoffers, that noble tables haunt,
And earn their bread with lies,
Did gnash their teeth, and sland'ring jests
Maliciously devise.

17 But, Lord, how long wilt thou look on? On my behalf appear:

And save my guiltless soul, which they,
Like rav'ning beasts, would tear.

The Third Part.

18 So I, before the list'ning world,
Shall grateful thanks express;
And, where the great assembly meets,
Thy Name with praises bless.
19 Lord, suffer not my causeless foes,
Who me unjustly hate,
With open joy, or secret signs,
To mock my sad estate.

20 For they, with hearts averse from peace, Industriously devise

Against the men of quiet minds
To forge malicious lies.

21 Nor with these private arts content,
Aloud they vent their spite;

And say, "At last we found him out,
"He did it in our sight."

22 But thou, who dost both them and me
With righteous eyes survey,
Assert my innocence, O Lord,
And keep not far away.
23 Stir up thyself, in my behalf
To judgment, Lord, awake;

Thy righteous servant's cause, O God,
To thy decision take.

24 Lord, as my heart has upright been, Let me thy justice find;

Nor let my cruel foes obtain The triumph they design'd. 25 O let them not amongst themselves In boasting language say, "At length our wishes are complete, "At last he's made our prey."

26 Let such as in my harm rejoic'd
For shame their faces hide;

And foul dishonour wait on those
That proudly me defied.

27 Whilst they with cheerful voices shout,
Who my just cause befriend;
And bless the Lord, who loves to make
Success his saints attend.

28 So shall my tongue thy judgments sing,
Inspir'd with grateful joy;
And cheerful hymns in praise of thee
Shall all my days employ.