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3 Because to me thy wondrous love Than life itself does dearer prove,

My lips shall always speak thy praise. 4 My life, while I that life enjoy, In blessing God I will employ;

With lifted hands adore his name: 5 My soul's content shall be as great As theirs who choicest dainties eat,

While I with joy his praise proclaim. 6 When down I lie, sweet sleep to find, Thou, Lord, art present to my mind;

And when I wake in dead of night: 7 Because thou still dost succour bring, Beneath the shadow of thy wing

I rest with safety and delight.

8 My soul, when foes would me devour, Cleaves fast to thee, whose matchless power In her support is daily shown:

9 But those the righteous Lord shall slay, That my destruction wish; and they

That seek my life shall lose their own. 10 They by untimely ends shall die, Their flesh a prey to foxes lie;

But God shall fill the king with joy: 11 Who thee confess shall still rejoice; Whilst the false tongue, and lying voice, Thou, Lord, shalt silence and destroy. PSALM LXIV.

LORD, hear the voice of my complaint,

To my request give ear; Preserve my life from cruel foes, And free my soul from fear.

2 O! hide me with thy tend'rest care,
In some secure retreat,

From sinners that against me rise,
And all their plots defeat.

3 See how, intent to work my harm,
They whet their tongues like swords
And bend their bows to shoot their darts,
Sharp lies, and bitter words.

4 Lurking in private, at the just
They take their secret aim;

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And suddenly at him they shoot,
Quite void of fear and shame.

5 To carry on their ill designs
They mutually agree;
They speak of laying private snares,
And think that none shall see.
6 With utmost diligence and care
Their wicked plots they lay;
The deep designs of all their hearts
Are only to betray.

7 But God, to anger justly mov'd,
His dreadful bow shall bend,
And on his flying arrow's point

Shall swift destruction send.

8 Those slanders which their mouths did vent, Upon themselves shall fall;

Their crimes disclos'd, shall make them be
Despis'd, and shunn'd by all.

9 The world shall then God's power confess,
And nations trembling stand,
Convinc'd that 'tis the mighty work
Of his avenging hand:

10 Whilst righteous men, whom God secures, In him shall gladly trust;

And all the list ning earth shall hear
Loud triumphs of the just.

PSALM LXV.

OR thee, O God, our constant praise,

FIn Sion waits, thy chosen seat;

Our promis'd altars there we'll raise,

And all our zealous vows complete. 2 Othou, who to my humble prayer Didst always bend thy list'ning ear, To thee shall all mankind repair,

And at thy gracious throne appear. 3 Our sins, though numberless, in vain To stop thy flowing mercy try; Whilst thou o'erlook'st the guilty stain, And washest out the crimson dye. 4 Blest is the man, who near thee plac'd, Within thy sacred dwelling lives! Whilst we at humble distance taste The vast delights thy temple gives. 5 By wondrous acts, O God, most just, Have we thy gracious answer found: In thee remotest nations trust,

And those whom stormy waves surround. 6, 7 God, by his strength, sets fast the hills, And does his matchless power engage, With which the sea's loud waves he stills, And angry crowd's tumultuous rage. PART II.

8 Thou, Lord, dost barb'rous lands dismay, When they thy dreadful tokens view; With joy they see the night and day

Each other's track, by turns, pursue. 9 From out thy unexhausted store Thy reign relieves the thirsty ground; Makes lands, that barren were before, With corn and useful fruits abound. 10 On rising ridges down it pours, And every furrow'd valley fills; Thou mak'st them soft with gentle showers, In which a blest increase distils. 11 Thy goodness does the circling year With fresh returns of plenty crown; And where thy glorious paths appear,

The fruitful clouds drop fatness down.
12 They drop on barren forests, chang'd
By them to pastures fresh and green;
The hills about, in order rang'd,

In beauteous robes of joy are seen.
13 Large flocks with fleecy wool adorn
The cheerful downs; the vallies bring
A plenteous crop of full-ear'd corn,
And seem, for joy, to shout and sing.
PSALM LXVI.

LET all the lands, with shouts of joy,

To God their voices raise;

Sing psalms in honour of his name,
And spread his glorious praise.

3 And let them say, How dreadful, Lord, In all thy works, art thou!

To thy great power thy stubborn foes
Shall all be forc'd to bow.

4 Through all the earth the nations round Shall thee their God confess;

And, with glad hymns, their awful dread

Of thy great name express.
50! come, behold the works of God;
And then with me you'll own,
That he to all the sons of men

Has wondrous judgment shown.
6 He made the sea become dry land,
Through which our fathers walk'd;
Whilst to each other of his might
With joy his people talk'd.

7 He, by his power, 'for ever rules;
His eyes the world survey;
Let no presumptuous man rebel
Against his sov'reign sway.

PART II.

8, 9 O! all ye nations, bless our God,
And loudly speak his praise;
Who keeps our souls alive, and still
Confirms our steadfast ways.

10 For thou hast try'd us, Lord, as fire Does try the precious ore;

11 Thou brought'st us into straits, where we
Oppressing burdens bore.

12 Insulting foes did us, their slaves,
Through fire and water chase;
But yet, at last, thou brought'st us forth
Into a wealthy place.

13 Burnt-off'rings to thy house I'll bring,
And there my vows will pay,

14 Which I with solemn zeal did make In trouble's dismal day.

15 Then shall the richest incense smoke,
The fattest rams shall fall,

The choicest goats from out the fold,
And bullocks from the stall.

16 O! come all ye that fear the Lord,
Attend with heedful care,

Whilst I what God for me has done
With grateful joy declare.

17, 18 As I before his aid implor'd,
So now I praise his name;
1

Who, if my heart had harbour'd sin,
Would all my prayers disclaim.

19 But God to me, whene'er I cry'd,
His gracious ear did bend,
And to the voice of my request

With constant love attend.

20 Then bless'd for ever be my God,
Who never, when I pray,
Withholds his mercy from my soul,
Nor turns his face away.

Ti

PSALM LXVII.

bless thy chosen race,

In mercy, Lord, incline;

And cause the brightness of thy face
On all thy saints to shine:

2 That so thy wondrous way

May through the world be known; While distant lands their tribute pay, And thy salvation own.

3 Let diff'ring.nations join

To celebrate thy fame;

Let all the world, O Lord, combine
To praise thy glorious name.
4 O let them shout and sing

With joy and pious mirth;

For thou, the righteous Judge and King,
Shalt govern all the earth.
5 Let diff'ring nations join

To celebrate thy fame;

Let all the world, O Lord, combine
To praise thy glorious name.

6 Then shall the teeming ground
A large increase disclose;

And we with plenty shall be crown'd,
Which God, our God, bestows.

7 Then God upon our land

Shall constant blessings shower; And all the world in awe shall stand Of his resistless power.

L

PSALM LXVIII.

ET God, the God of battle, rise,
And scatter his presumptuous foes;
Let shameful rout their host surprise,
Who spitefully his power oppose.

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12 As smoke in tempest's rage is lost,
Or wax into the furnace cast;
So let their sacrilegious host

Before his wrathful presence waste.
3 But let the servants of his will
His favour's gentle beams enjoy;
Their upright hearts let gladness fill,
And cheerful songs their tongues employ.
4 To him your voice in anthems raise;
Jehovah's awful name he bears;

In him rejoice, extol his praise,

Who rides upon high-rolling spheres.
5 Him, from his empire of the skies,
To this low world compassion draws,
The orphan's claim to patronize,

And judge the injur'd widow's cause.
6 'Tis God, who from a foreign soil
Restores poor exiles to their home;
Makes captives free, and fruitless toil
Their proud oppressor's righteous doom.
7 'Twas so of old, when thou didst lead
In person, Lord, our armies forth;
Strange terrors through the desert spread,
Convulsions shook th' astonish'd earth.

8 The breaking clouds did rain distil,
And heaven's high arches shook with fear:
How then should Sinai's humble hill

Of Israel's God the presence bear?

9 Thy hand, at famish'd earth's complaint,
Reliev'd her from celestial stores,
And when thy heritage was faint,

Assuag'd the drought with plenteous
show'rs.

10 Where savages had rang'd before,
At ease thou mad'st our tribes reside;
And, in the desert, for the poor

Thy gen'rous bounty did provide.
PART II

11 Thou gav'st the word; we sally'd forth,
And in that powerful word o'ercame;
While virgin-troops, with songs of mirth,
In state our conquest did proclaim.
12 Vast armies, by such gen'rals led,
As yet had ne'er receiv'd a foil,
Forsook their camp with sudden dread,
And to our women left the spoil.
13 Though Egypt's drudges you have been,
Your army's wing shall shine as bright
As doves, in golden sun-shine seen,

Or silver'd o'er with paler light.
14 'Twas so, when God's almighty hand
O'er scatter'd kings the conquest won;
Our troops, drawn up on Jordan's strand,

High Salmon's glitt'ring snow outshone.
15 From thence to Jordan's farther coast,
And Bashan's hill we did advance;
No more her height shall Bashan boast,
But that she's God's inheritance.

16 But wherefore (though the honour's great)
Should this, O mountain, swell your pride?
For Sion is his chosen seat,

Where he for ever will reside.

17 His chariots numberless; his powers
Are heavenly hosts, that wait his will;
His presence now fills Sion's towers,

As once it honour'd Sinai's hill.
18 Ascending high, in triumph thou
Captivity hast captive led;
And on thy people didst bestow

The spoil of armies once their dread.
Ev'n rebels shall partake thy grace,
And humble proselytes repair

To worship at thy dwelling-place, And all the world pay homage there. 19 For benefits each day bestow'd,

Be daily his great name ador'd, 20 Who is our Saviour, and our God, Of life and death the sov'reign Lord. 21 But justice for his harden'd foes

Proportion'd vengeance hath decreed, To wound the hoary head of those

Who in presumptuous crimes proceed. 22 The Lord hath thus in thunder spoke: "As I subdu'd proud Bashan's king, "Once more I'll break my people's yoke, "And from the deep my servants bring. 23"Their feet shall with a crimson flood "Of slaughter'd foes be cover'd o'er; "Nor earth receive such impious blood, "But leave for dogs th' unhallow'd gore." PART III.

24 When, marching to thy blest abode,
The wond'ring multitude survey'd
The pompous state of thee, our God,
In robes of majesty array'd;
25 Sweet singing Levites led the van;
Loud instruments brought up the rear;
Between both troops, a virgin-train

With voice and timbrel charm'd the ear.
26 This was the burthen of their song;
"In full assemblies bless the Lord;
"All who to Israel's tribes belong,

"Of Israel's God the praise record." 27 Nor little Benjamin alone

From neighb'ring bounds did there attend, Nor only Judah's nearer throne

Her counsellors in state did send; But Zebulon's remoter seat,

And Napthali's more distant coast, The grand procession to complete,

Sent up their tribes, a princely host. 28 Thus God to strength and union brought Our tribes, at strife till that blest hour; This work, which thou, O God, hast wrought, Confirm with fresh recruits of power. 29 To visit Salem, Lord, descend,

And Sion, thy terrestrial throne; Where kings with presents shall attend, And thee with offer'd crowns atone. 30 Break down the Spearmen's ranks, threat

Like pamper'd herds of savage might;
Their silver-armour'd chiefs defeat,
Who in destructive war delight.
31 Egypt shall then to God stretch forth
Her hands, and Afric homage bring;
32 The scatter'd kingdoms of the earth
Their common Sov reign's praises sing;
33 Who, mounted on the loftiest sphere

Of ancient heaven, sublimely rides;
From whence his dreadful voice we hear,
Like that of warring winds and tides.
34 Ascribe the power to God most high:
Of humble Israel he takes care;
Whose strength, from out the dusky sky,
Darts shining terrors through the air.
35 How dreadful are the sacred courts,
Where God has fix'd his earthly throne!
His strength his feeble saints supports,
To give God praise, and him alone.
PSALM LXIX.

AVE me,

who

SAVE O God, from waves that roll,

And press to overwhelm my soul:

12 With painful steps in mire I tread,
And deluges o'erflow my head.
3 With restless cries my spirits faint,
My voice is hoarse with long complaint;
My sight decays with tedious pain,
Whilst for my God I wait in vain.

4 My hairs, though num'rous, are but few,
Compar'd with foes that me pursue
With groundless hate; grown now of might
To execute their lawless spite,
They force me, guiltless, to resign,
As rapine, what by right was mine:
5 Thou, Lord, my innocence doth see,
Nor are my sins conceal'd from thee.
6 Lord God of hosts, take timely care,
Lest, for my sake, thy saints despair;
7 Since I have suffer'd for thy name
Reproach, and hid my face in shame :
8 A stranger to my country grown,
Nor to my nearest kindred known;
A foreigner, expos'd to scorn
By brethren of my mother børn.
9 For zeal to thy lov'd house and name
Consumes me like devouring flame;
Concern'd at their affronts to thee,
More than at slanders cast on me.
10 My very tears and abstinence
They construe in a spiteful sense:

11 When cloath'd with sackcloth for their sake,
They me their common proverb make.
12 Their judges at my wrongs do jest,
Those wrongs they ought to have redress'd;
How should I then expect to be
From libels of lewd drunkards free?
13 But, Lord, to thee I will repair
For help, with humble, timely prayer;
Relieve me from thy mercy's store;
Display thy truth's preserving power.
14 From threat'ning dangers me relieve,
And from the mire my feet retrieve;
From spiteful foes in safety keep,
And snatch me from the raging deep.
15 Control the deluge, ere it spread,
And roll its waves above my head;
Nor deep destruction's open pit
To close her jaws on me permit.

16 Lord, hear the humble prayer I make,
For thy transcending goodness' sake;
Relieve thy supplicant once more
From thy abounding mercy's store.
17 Nor from thy servant hide thy face;
Make haste, for desperate is my case;
18 Thy timely succour interpose,
And shield me from remorseless foes.
19 Thou know'st what infamy and scorn

I from my enemies have borne;

Nor can their close dissembled spite,
Or darkest plots escape thy sight.

20 Reproach and grief have broke my heart;
I look'd for some to take my part,
To pity or relieve my pain;
But look'd, alas! for both in vain.
21 With hunger pin'd, for food I call;
Instead of food, they give me gall;
And when with thirst my spirits sink,
They give me vinegar to drink.

22 Their tables, therefore, to their health
Shall prove a snare, a trap their wealth;
23 Perpetual darkness seize their eyes,
And sudden blasts their hopes surprise.
24 On them thou shalt thy fury pour,
Till thy fierce wrath their race devour;

25 And make their house a dismal cell, Where none will e'er vouchsafe to dwell. 26 For new afflictions they procur'd For him who had thy stripes endur'd; And made the wound, thy scourge had torn, To bleed afresh, with sharper scorn. 27 Sin shall to sin their steps betray, Till they to truth have lost the way: 28 From life thou shalt exclude their soul, Nor with the just their names enrol. 29 But me, howe'er distress'd and poor, Thy strong salvation shall restore;

30 Thy power with songs I'll then proclaim, And celebrate with thanks thy name. 31 Our God shall this more highly prize, Than herds or flocks in sacrifice;

32 Which humble saints with joy shall see, And hope for like redress with me. 33 For God regards the poor's complaint; Sets pris'ners free from close restraint:

34 Let heaven, earth, sea, their voices raise,
And all the world resound his praise.
35 For God will Sion's walls erect;
Fair Judah's cities he'll protect;
Till all her scatter'd sons repair
To undisturb'd possession there.

36 This blessing they shall, at their death,
To their religious heirs bequeath;
And they to endless ages more
Of such as his blest name adore.
PSALM LXX.

Lord, to my relief draw near;
For never was more pressing need;
For my deliv'rance, Lord, appear,
And add to that deliv'rance speed.
2 Confusion on their heads return

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

With shame their malice be repaid,
Who mock'd my confidence in thee,
And sport of my afflictions made.
4 While those who humbly seek thy face,
To joy ful triumphs shall be rais'd;
And all who prize thy saving grace,

With me shall sing, The Lord be prais'd. 5 Thus, wretched though I am and poor, The mighty Lord of me takes care: Thou, God, who only can'st restore, To my relief with speed repair. PSALM LXXI.

IN

thee I put my steadfast trust;
Defend me, Lord, from shame;
Incline thine ear, and save my soul;
For righteous is thy name.
3 Be thou my strong abiding-place,
To which I may resort;
"Tis thy decree that keeps me safe;
Thou art my rock and fort.
4,5 From cruel and ungodly men
Protect and set me free;

For, from my earliest youth till now,
My hope has been in thee.

6 Thy constant care did safely guard
My tender infant days;

Thou took'st me from my mother's womb,
To sing thy constant praise.

7, 8 While some on me with wonder gaze,
Thy hand supports me still;
Thy honour, therefore, and thy praise,
My mouth shall always fill.

9 Reject not then thy servant, Lord,
When I with age decay ;
Forsake me not when, worn with years,
Mv vigour fades away.

10 My foes against my fame and me
With crafty malice speak;

Against my soul they lay their snares,
And mutual counsel take:

11 "His God," say they, "forsakes him now, "On whom he did rely;

"Pursue and take him, whilst no hope "Of timely aid is nigh."

12 But thou, my God, withdraw not far, For speedy help I call:

13 To shame and ruin bring my foes,
That seek to work my fall.

14 But as for me, my steadfast hope
Shall on thy power depend;
And I in grateful songs of praise
My time to come will spend.
PART II.

15 Thy righteous acts, and saving health,
My mouth shall still declare;
Unable yet to count them all,

Though summ'd with utmost care.
16 While God vouchsafes me his support,
I'll in his strength go on;

All other righteousness disclaim,

And mention his alone.

17 Thou, Lord, hast taught me from my youth To praise thy glorious name;

And, ever since, thy wondrous works
Have been my constant theme.
18 Then now forsake me not, when I
Am grey and feeble grown;
Till I to these and future times

Thy strength and power have shown. 19 How high thy justice soars, O God! How great and wondrous are

The mighty works which thou hast done!
Who may with thee compare!

20 Me, whom thy hand has sorely press'd,
Thy grace shall yet relieve;

And from the lowest depth of woe,

With tender care retrieve.

21 Through thee, my time to come shall be
With power and greatness crown'd;
And me, who dismal years have pass'd,
Thy comforts shall surround.

22 Then I with psaltery and harp,
Thy truth, O Lord, will praise;
To thee, the God of Jacob's race,
My voice in anthems raise.

23 Then joy shall fill my mouth, and songs Employ my cheerful voice;

My grateful soul by thee redeem'd,
Shall in thy strength rejoice.

24 My tongue thy just and righteous acts
Shall all the day proclaim;

Because thou didst confound my foes,
And brought'st them all to shame.
PSALM LXXII.

LORD, let thy just decrees the king

In all his ways direct;

And let his son, throughout his reign,
Thy righteous laws respect.

2 So shall he still thy people judge
With pure and upright mind;
Whilst all the helpless poor shall him.
Their just protector find.

8 Then hills and mountains shall bring forth The happy fruits of peace;

Which all the land shall own to be

The work of righteousness:

4 Whilst he the poor and needy race Shall rule with gentle sway;

And from their humble necks shall take
Oppressive yokes away.

5 In every heart thy awful fear
Shall then be rooted fast,
As long as sun and moon endure,

Or time itself shall last.

6 He shall descend like rain, that cheers The meadow's second birth;

Or like warm showers, whose gentle drops
Refresh the thirsty earth.

7 In his blest days the just and good
Shall be with favour crown'd;
The happy land shall every where
With endless peace abound.

8 His uncontrol'd dominion shall
From sea to sea extend;
Begin at proud Euphrates' streams,
At nature's limits end.

9 To him the savage nations round
Shall bow their servile beads;
His vanquish'd foes shall lick the dust,
Where he his conquests spreads.
10 The king of Tarshish, and the isles,
Shall costly presents bring;
From spicy Sheba gifts shall come,
And wealthy Saba's king.

11 To him shall every king on earth
His humble homage pay;
And diff'ring nations gladly join
To own his righteous sway.
12 For he shall set the needy free,
When they for succour cry;
Shall save the helpless and the poor,
And all their wants supply.
PART II.

13 His providence for needy souls
Shall due supplies prepare;
And over their defenceless lives

Shall watch with tender care.

14 He shall preserve and keep their souls From fraud and rapine free;

And, in his sight, their guiltless blood
Of mighty price shall be.

15 Therefore shall God his life and reign To many years extend;

Whilst eastern princes tribute pay,
And golden presents send.

For him shall constant prayers be made,
Through all his prosp'rous days;
His just dominion shall afford

A lasting theme of praise.

16 Of useful grain, through all the land,
Great plenty shall appear;

A handful, sown on mountains-top, ~
A mighty crop shall bear
Its fruits, like cedars shook by winds,
A rattling noise shall yield;
The city too shall thrive, and vie
For plenty with the field.

17 The mem'ry of his glorious name
Through endless years shall run;
His spotless fame shall shine as bright
And lasting as the sun.

In him the nations of the world
Shall be completely bless'd,
And his unbounded happiness
By every tongue confess'd.

18 Then bless'd be God, the mighty Lord,
The God whom Israel fears;
Who only wondrous in his works,
Beyond compare appears.

19 Let earth be with his glory fill'd;
For ever bless his name;

Whilst to his praise the list'ning world
Their glad assent proclaim.

PSALM LXXIII.

Alength, the saints be kind; T length, by certain proofs, 'tis plain

Ihat all whose hearts are pure and clean Shall his protecting favour find.

2, 3 Till this sustaining truth I knew, My stagg'ring feet had almost fail'd; griev'd the sinners' wealth to view, And envy'd when the fools prevail'd.` 4, 5 They to the grave in peace descend, And, whilst they live, are hale and strong; No plagues or troubles them offend,

Which oft to other men belong.

6,7 With pride, as with a chain they're held, And rapine seems their robe of state; Their eyes stand out, with fatness swell'd; They grow, beyond their wishes, great. 8, 9 With hearts corrupt, and lofty talk, Oppressive methods they defend; Their tongue through all the earth does walk; Their blasphemies to heaven ascend. 10 And yet admiring crowds are found, Who servile visits duly make; Because with plenty they abound,

Of which their flatt'ring slaves partake. 11 Their fond opinions these pursue, Till they with them profanely cry, "How should the Lord our actions view? "Can he perceive who dwells so high?" 12 Behold the wicked! these are they Who openly their sins profess; And yet their wealth's increas'd each day, And all their actions meet success. 13, 14 "Then have 1 cleans'd my heart," said I, "And wash'd my hands from guilt, in vain, "If all the day oppress'd I lie,

"And every morning suffer pain." 15 Thus did I once to speak intend; But, if such things 1 rashly say, Thy children, Lord, I must offend, And basely should their cause betray. PART II.

16, 17 To fathom this my thoughts 1 bent,
But found the case too hard for me;
Till to the house of God I went;

Then I their end did plainly see.
18 How high soe'er advanc'd, they all
On slipp'ry places loosely stand;
Thence into ruin headlong fall,

Cast down by thy avenging hand.

19, 20 How dreadful and how quick their fate! Despis'd by thee, when they're destroy'd; As waking men with scorn do treat

The fancies that their dreams employ'd.
21, 22 Thus was my heart with grief opprest,
My reins were rack'd with restless pains;
So stupid was I, like a beast,

Who no reflecting thought retains.
23, 24 Yet still thy presence me supply'd,
And thy right hand assistance gave;
Thou first shalt with thy counsel guide,
And then to glory me receive.

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