11 Whilst pride's insulting foot would spurn, And wicked hands my life surprise, 12 Their mischiefs on themselves return; Down, down they're fall'n, no more to rise. PSALM XXXVII.

TH

HOUGH wicked men grow rich or great,
Yet let not their successful state
Thy anger or thy envy raise;

2 For they, cut down like tender grass,
Or like young flowers, away shall pass,
Whose blooming beauty soon decays.
3 Depend on God, and him obey,
So thou within the land shalt stay,

Secure from danger and from want: 4 Make his commands thy chief delight; And he, thy duty to requite,

Shall all thy earnest wishes grant. 5 In all thy ways trust thou the Lord, And he will needful help afford,

To perfect every just design;

6 He'll make, like light, serene and clear, Thy clouded innocence appear,

And as a mid-day sun to shine.

7 With quiet mind on God depend,
And patiently for him attend;

Nor let thy anger fondly rise,
Though wicked men with wealth abound,
And with success the plots are crown'd,
Which they maliciously devise.

8 From anger cease, and wrath forsake;
Let no ungovern'd passion make

Thy wav'ring heart espouse their crime; 9 For God shall sinful men destroy; Whilst only they the land enjoy,

Who trust on him, and wait his time. 10 How soon shall wicked men decay! Their place shall vanish quite away,

Nor by the strictest search be found;
11 Whilst humble souls possess the earth,
Rejoicing still with godly mirth,

With peace and plenty always crown'd.
PART II.

12 While sinful crowds, with false design,
Against the righteous few combine,

And gnash their teeth and threat'ning stand; 13 God shall their empty plots deride, And laugh at their defeated pride:

He sees their ruin near at hand.

14 They draw the sword, and bend the bow, The poor and needy to o'erthrow,

And men of upright lives to slay ;

15 But their strong bow shall soon be broke, Their sharpen'd weapon's mortal stroke

Through their own hearts shall force

its

19 They, when distress o'erwhelms the earth, Shall be unmov'd, and even in dearth,

The happy fruits of plenty taste. 20 Not so the wicked man, and those Who proudly dare God's will oppose;

Destruction is their hapless share:

Like fat of lambs, their hopes, and they,
Shall in an instant melt away,

And vanish into smoke and air.
PART III.

21 While sinners, brought to sad decay,
Still borrow on, and never pay,

The just have will and power to give; 22 For such as God vouchsafes to bless, Shall peaceably the earth possess

And those he curses shall not live. 23 The good man's way is God's delight; He orders all the steps aright

Of him that moves by his command; 24 Though he sometimes may be distress'd, Yet shall he ne'er be quite oppress'd;

For God upholds him with his hand. 25 From my first youth, till age prevail'd, I never saw the righteous fail'd,

Or want o'ertake his num'rous race; 26 Because compassion fill'd his heart, And he did cheerfully impart,

God made his offspring's wealth increase. 27 With caution shun each wicked deed, In virtue's ways with zeal proceed,

And so prolong your happy days; 28 For God, who judgment loves, does still Preserve his saints secure from ill,

While soon the wicked race decays. 29, 30, 31 The upright shall possess the land; His portion shall for ages stand;

His mouth with wisdom is supply'd; His tongue by rules of judgment moves; His heart the law of God approves; Therefore his footsteps never slide. PART IV.

32 In wait the watchful sinner lies, In vain the righteous to surprise;

In vain his ruin does decree: 33 God will not him defenceless leave, To his revenge expos'd, but save;

And, when he's sentenc'd, set him free. 34 Wait still on God; keep his command, And thou, exalted in the land,

Thy bless'd possession ne'er shall quit:
The wicked soon destroy'd shall be,
And at his dismal tragedy

Thou shalt a safe spectator sit.
35 The wicked1 in power have seen,
And, like a bay tree, fresh and green,

That spreads its pleasant branches round: 36 But he was gone as swift as thought; And, though in every place I sought, 1

No sign or track of him I found. 87 Observe the perfect man with care, And mark all such as upright are;

Their roughest days in peace shall end. 38 While on the latter end of those Who dare God's sacred will oppose, A common ruin shall attend. 39 God to the just will aid afford; Their only safeguard is the Lord;

Their strength in time of need is he: 40 Because on him they still depend, The Lord will timely succour send, And from the wicked set them free.

PSALM XXXVIII.

HY chast'ning wrath, O Lord, restrain,
Though I deserve it all;

Nor let at once on me the storm
Of thy displeasure fall.

2 In every wretched part of me
Thy arrows deep remain;
Thy heavy hand's afflicting weight
I can no more sustain.

3 My flesh is one continued wound,
Thy wrath so fiercely glows;
Betwixt my punishment and guil
My bones have no repose.

4 My sins, which to a deluge swell,
My sinking head o'erflow,
And, for my feeble strength to bear,
Too vast a burden grow.

tongue

With conscious guilt is ty❜d.

15 For, Lord, to thee I do appeal,

My innocence to clear;

Assur'd that thou, the righteous God,

My injur'd cause wilt hear.

16 "Hear me," said I, "lest my proud foes "A spiteful joy display; "Insulting, if they see my foot

"But once to go astray."

17 And, with continual grief oppress'd, To sink I now begin;

18 To thee, O Lord, I will confess,
To thee bewail my sin.

19 But whilst I languish, my proud foes
Their strength and vigour boast;
And they that hate me without cause
Are grown a dreadful host.

20 Even they whom I oblig'd, return
My kindness with despite;
And are my enemies, because

I choose the path that's right.
21 Forsake me not, O Lord my God,
Nor far from me depart;

22 Make haste to my relief, O thou, Who my salvation art.

PSALM XXXIX.

13 My heart did glow with working thoughts, And no repose could take;

Till strong reflection fann'd the fire,
And thus at length I spake :

4 Lord, let me know my term of days,
How soon my life will end:
The num'rous train of ills disclose,
Which this frail state attend.

5 My life, thou know'st, is but a span;
A cypher sums my years;
And every man, in best estate,
But vanity appears.

6 Man, like a shadow, vainly walks,
With fruitless cares oppress'd;
He heaps up wealth, but cannot tell
By whom 'twill be possess'd.

7 Why then should I on worthless toys
With anxious cares attend?

On thee alone my steadfast hope
Shall ever, Lord, depend.

8, 9 Forgive my sins; nor let me scorn'd
By foolish sinners be;

For Iwas dumb, and murmur'd not,
Because 'twas done by thee.

10 The dreadful burden of thy wrath
In mercy soon remove;

Lest my frail flesh, too weak to bear
The heavy load should prove.

11 For when thou chast'nest man for sin,
Thou mak'st his beauty fade,

(So vain a thing is he) like cloth By fretting months decay'd.

12 Lord, hear my cry, accept my tears,
And listen to my prayer,

Who sojourn like a stranger here,
As all my fathers were.

13 O! spare me yet a little time;
My wasted strength restore,
Before I vanish quite from hence,
And shall be seen no more.
PSALM XL.

Waited meekly for the Lord,

Till he vouchsaf'd a kind reply;
Who did his gracious ear afford,

And heard from heaven my humble cry.
2 He took me from the dismal pit,
When founder'd deep in miry clay;
On solid ground he plac'd my feet,

And suffer'd not my steps to stray,

3 The wonders he for me has wrought Shall fill my mouth with songs of praise; And others, to his worship brought,

To hopes of like deliv'rance raise.

4 For blessings shall that man reward,
Who on th' Almighty Lord relies;
Who treats the proud with disregard,
And hates the hypocrite's disguise.

5 Who can the wondrous works recount
Which thou, O God, for us has wrought?
The treasures of thy love surmount

The power of numbers, speech, and thought. 6 I've learnt that thou hast not desir'd Off'rings and sacrifice alone; Nor blood of guiltless beasts requir'd For man's transgression to atone. 7 I therefore come-come to fulfil The oracles thy books impart; 8 "Tis my delight to do thy will; Thy law is written in my heart. PART II.

9 In full assemblies I have told

Thy truth and righteousness at large;

Nor did, thou know'st, my lips withhold From uttering what thou gav'st in charge: 10 Nor kept within my breast confin'd

Thy faithfulness and saving grace;
But preach'd thy love, for all design'd,
That all might that, and truth, embrace.
11 Then let those mercies I declar'd

To others, Lord, extend to me;
Thy loving-kindness my reward,

Thy truth my safe protection be.
12 For I with troubles am distress'd,
Too numberless for me to bear;
Nor less with loads of guilt oppress'd,
That plunge and sink me to despair.
As soon, alas! may I recount

The hairs of this afflicted head;
My vanquish'd courage they surmount,
And fill my drooping soul with dread.
PART III.

13 But, Lord, to my relief draw near,
For never was more pressing need;
In my deliv'rance, Lord, appear,

And add to that deliv'rance speed. 14 Confusion on their heads return,

Who to destroy my soul combine; Let them, defeated, blush and mourn, Ensnar'd in their own vile design. 15 Their doom let desolation be,

With shame their malice be repaid, Who mock'd my confidence in thee, And sport of my affliction made.

16 While those who humbly seek thy face, To joyful triumphs shall be rais'd; And all who prize thy saving grace,

With me resound, The Lord be prais❜d. 17 Thus, wretched though I am and poor, Of me th' Almighty Lord takes care; Thou God, who only can'st restore, To my relief with speed repair. PSALM XLI.

APPY the man whose tender care

H Relieves the poor distress'd!

When troubles compass him around,
The Lord shall give him rest.

2 The Lord his life, with blessings crown'd, In safety shall prolong;

And disappoint the will of those
That seek to do him wrong.
3 If he in languishing estate,
Oppress'd with sickness lie;
The Lord will easy make his bed,
And inward strength supply.
4 Secure of this, to thee, my God,
I thus my prayer address'd;
"Lord, for thy mercy, heal my soul,
"Though I have much transgress'd."
5 My cruel foes, with sland'rous words,
Attempt to wound my fame;

"When shall he die," say they, "and men "Forget his very name?"

6 Suppose they formal visits make,
'Tis all but empty show;

They gather mischief in their hearts,
And vent it where they go.

7,8 With private whispers, such as these, To hurt me they devise:

"A sore disease afflicts him now; "He's fall'n, no more to rise." 9 My own familiar bosom-friend, On whom I most rely'd,

Has me, whose daily guest he was,

With open scorn defy'd.

10 But thou my sad and wretched state, In mercy, Lord, regard;

And raise me up, that all their crimes
May meet their just reward.
11 By this I know thy gracious ear
Is open, when I call;

Because thou suffer'st not my foes
To triumph in my fall.

12 Thy tender care secures my life
From danger and disgrace;
And thou vouchsaf'st to set me still
Before thy glorious face.

13 Let therefore Israel's Lord and God
From age to age be bless'd;
And all the people's glad applause
With loud Amens express'd.

PSALM XLII.

S pants the hart for cooling streams,
When heated in the chase;

So longs my soul, O God, for thee,
And thy refreshing grace.

2 For thee, my God, the living God,
My thirsty soul doth pine;
O! when shall I behold thy face,
Thou Majesty Divine?

3 Tears are my constant food, while thus Insulting foes upbraid;

"Deluded wretch! where's now thy God? "And where his promis'd aid?"

4 I sigh, whene'er my musing thoughts
Those happy days present,

When I, with troops of pious friends
Thy temple did frequent.

When I advanc'd with songs of praise,
My solemn vows to pay,

And led the joyful sacred throng,
That kept the festal day.

5 Why restless, why cast down, my soul? Trust God; who will employ

His aid for thee, and change these sighs
To thankful hymns of joy.

6 My soul's cast down, O God! but thinks On thee and Sion still;

From Jordan's bank, from Hermon's heights, And Mizar's humbler hill.

7 One trouble calls another on,

And, gath'ring o'er my head,

Fall spouting down, till round my soul
A roaring sea is spread.

8 But when thy presence, Lord of life,
Has once dispell'd this storm,
To thee I'll midnight anthems sing,
And all my vows perform.

9 God of my strength, how long shall I,
Like one forgotten, mourn;
Forlorn, forsaken, and expos'd

To my oppressor's scorn?

10 My heart is pierc'd, as with a sword, While thus my foes upbraid:

"Vain boaster, where is now thy God?
"And where his promis'd aid?"

11 Why restless, why cast down, my soul?
Hope still; and thou shalt sing
The praise of him who is thy God,
Thy health's eternal spring.

PSALM XLIII.

UST Judge of heav'n, against my foes
Do thou assert my injured right,

O set me free, my God, from those
That in deceit and wrong delight.

2 Since thou art still my only stay,
Why leav'st thou me in deep distress?
Why go 1 mourning all the day,

Whilst me insulting foes oppress?
3 Let me with light and truth be blest;
Be these my guides to lead the way,
Till on thy holy hill I rest,

And in thy sacred temple pray.
4 Then will I there fresh altars raise
To God, who is my only joy;

And well-tun'd harps, with songs of praise,
Shall all my grateful hours employ.

5 Why then cast down, my soul? and why
So much oppress'd with anxious care?
Qn God, thy God, for aid rely,
Who will thy ruin'd state repair.

PSALM XLIV.

Lord, our fathers oft have told
In our attentive ears,

Thy wonders, in their days perform❜d,
And elder times than theirs:

2 How thou, to plant them here, didst drive
The heathen from this land,
Dispeopled by repeated strokes.

Of thy avenging hand.

3 For not their courage, nor their sword,
To them possession gave;
Nor strength, that from unequal force
Their fainting troops could save:
But thy right hand, and powerful arm,
Whose succour they implor'd;
Thy presence with the chosen race,
Who thy great name ador'd,

4 As thee their God our fathers own'd,
Thou art our sov'reign King;

O! therefore, as thou didst to them,
To us deliv'rance bring.

5 Through thy victorious name, our arms, The proudest foes shall quell;

And crush them with repeated strokes,
As oft as they rebel.

6 I'll neither trust my bow nor sword,
When I in fight engage;

7 But thee, who hast our foes sulidu'd,
And sham'd their spiteful rage.
8 To thee the triumph we ascribe,
From whom the conquest came:
In God we will rejoice all day,
And ever bless his name.
PART II.

9 But thou hast cast us off; and now
Most shamefully we yield;

For thou no more vouchsaf'st to lead
Our armies to the field:

10 Since when, to every upstart foe
We turn our backs in fight;
And with our spoil their malice feast,
Who bear us ancient spite.

11 To slaughter doom'd, we fall, like sheep, Into their butch'ring hands;

Or (what's more wretched yet) survive,
Dispers'd through heathen lands.

12 Thy people thou hast sold for slaves,
And set their price so low,
That not thy treasure, by the sale,

But their disgrace, may grow.

13, 14 Reproach'd by all the nations round, The heathen's by-word grown;

Whose scorn of us is both in speech
And mocking gestures, shown.

PSALM XLV.

W Indited by my heart,

THILE I the King's loud praise rehearse,

My tongue is like the pen of him
That writes with ready art.

2 How matchless is thy form, O King!
Thy mouth with grace o'erflows:
Because fresh blessings God on thee
Eternally bestows.

5 Gird on thy sword, most mighty Prince; And clad in rich array,

With glorious ornaments of power,
Majestic pomp display.

4 Ride on in state, and still protect
The meek, the just, and true;

Whilst thy right hand, with swift revenge,
Does all thy foes pursue.

5 How sharp thy weapons are to them
That dare thy power despise!!

Down, down they fall, while through their heart

The feather'd arrow flies.

6 But thy firm throne, O God, is fix'd,
For ever to endure;

Thy sceptre's sway shall always last,
By righteous laws secure.

7 Because thy heart, by justice led,
Did upright ways approve,
And hated still the crooked paths,
Where wand'ring sinners rove;
Therefore did God, thy God, on thee
The oil of gladness shed;
And has, above thy fellows round,
Advanc'd thy lofty head.

8 With cassia, aloes, and myrrh,
Thy royal robes abound;

Which, from the stately wardrobe brought,
Spread grateful odours round.

9 Among the honourable train
Did princely virgins wait;
The queen was plac'd at thy right hand,
In golden robes of state.

PART II.

10 But thou, O royal bride, give ear,
And to my words attend;
Forget thy native country now,
And every former friend.

11 So shall thy beauty charm the King,
Nor shall his love decay;

For he is now become thy Lord;

To him due rev'rence pay.

12 The Tyrian matrons, rich and proud,
Shall humble presents make;
And all the wealthy nations sue
Thy favour to partake.

13 The King's fair Daughter's fairer soul
All inward graces fill;
Her raiment is of purest gold,

Adorn'd with costly skill.

14 She in her nuptial garments dress'd,
With needles richly wrought,
Attended by her virgin train,

Shall to the King be brought.
15 With all the state of solemn joy
The triumph moves along;
Till, with wide gates, the royal court
Receives the pompous throng.

16 Thou, in thy royal Father's room,
Must princely sons expect;

Whom thou to diff'rent realms may'st send, To govern and protect;

17 Whilst this my song to future times
Transmits thy glorious name;

And makes the world, with one consent,
Thy lasting praise proclaim.

G

PSALM XLVI.

OD is our refuge in distress;

A present help when dangers press;
In him, undaunted, we'll confide;

2, 3 Though earth were from her centre tost, And mountains in the ocean lost,

Torn peace-meal by the roaring tide. 4 A gentler stream with gladness still The city of our Lord shall fill,

The royal seat of God most high:
5 God dwells in Sion, whose fair towers
Shall mock th' assaults of earthly powers,
While his Almighty aid is nigh.

6 In tumults when the heathen rag'd,
And kingdoms war against us wag'd,

He thunder'd, and dispers'd their powers: 7 The Lord of hosts conducts our arms, Our tower of refuge in alarms,

Our fathers' Guardian-God and ours. 8 Come, see the wonders he hath wrought, On earth what desolation brought;

How he has calm'd the jarring world:
9 He broke the warlike spear and bow;
With them their thund'ring chariots too
Into devouring flames were hurl'd.
10 Submit to God's Almighty sway;
For him the heathen shall obey,

And earth her Sov'reign Lord confess :
11 The God of hosts conducts our arms,
Our tower of refuge in alarms,
As to our fathers in distress.

PSALM XLVII.

All ye people, clap your hands,
And with triumphant voices sing;
No force the mighty power withstands
Of God, the universal King.
3, 4 He shall opposing nations quell,
And with success our battles fight;
Shall fix the place where we must dwell,
The pride of Jacob his delight.

5, 6 God is gone up, our Lord and King, With shouts of joy, and trumpets' sound, To him repeated praises sing,

And let the cheerful song rebound. 7, 8 Your utmost skill in praise be shown, For him who all the world commands, Who sits upon his righteous throne,

And spreads his sway o'er heathen lands. 9 Our chiefs and tribes that far from hence To serve the God of Abr'am came, Found him their constant sure defence: How great and glorious is his name! PSALM XLVIII.

HE Lord, the only God, is great,
And greatly to be prais'd

In Sion, on whose happy mount,
His sacred throne is rais'd.

2 Her towers, the joy of all the earth,
With beauteous prospect rise;
On her north side th' Almighty King's
Imperial city lies.

3 God in her palaces is known;
His presence is her guard:

4 Confed'rate kings withdrew their siege, And of success despair'd.

5 They view'd her walls, admir'd, and fled, With grief and terror struck;

6 Like women, whom the sudden pangs Of travail had o'ertook.

7 No wretched crew of mariners Appear like them forlorn,

When fleets from Tarshish' wealthy coasts By eastern winds are torn.

8 In Sion we have seen perform'd

A work that was foretold,

In pledge that God, for times to come,
His city will uphold.

9 Not in our fortresses and walls

Did we, O God, confide;
But on the temple fix'd our hopes,

In which thou dost reside.
10 According to thy Sov'reign name,
Thy praise through earth extends;
Thy powerful arm, as justice guides,
Chastises or defends.

11 Let Sion's mount with joy resound;
Her daughters all be taught

In songs his judgments to extol,

Who this deliv'rance wrought.
12 Compass her walls in solemn pomp;
Your eyes quite round her cast;
Count all her towers, and see if there.
You find one stone displac'd.
13 Her forts and palaces survey;
Observe their order well;
That, with assurance, to your heirs
His wonders you may tell.

14 This God is ours, and will be ours,
Whilst we in him confide;
Who, as he has preserv'd us now,
Till death will be our guide..