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7 God will not suffer me to fall,

But still prolongs my days;
That, by declaring all his works,
I may advance his praise.

8 When God had sorely me chastised,
'Till quite of hopes bereaved,
His mercy from the gates of death
My fainting life reprieved.

9 Then open wide the temple gates
To which the just repair,
That I may enter in, and praise
My great deliv'rer there.

10 Within those gates of God's abode

To which the righteous press,

Since thou hast heard, and set me safe,
Thy holy Name I'll bless.

11 That which the builders once refused
Is now the corner-stone:
This is the wondrous work of God,
The work of God alone.

12 This day is God's; let all the land

Exalt their cheerful voice: "Lord, we beseech thee, save us now, And make us still rejoice."

13 Him that approaches in God's name
Let all th' assembly bless;
"We that belong to God's own house
Have wish'd you good success."

14 God is the Lord, through whom we all
Both light and comfort find;
Fast to the altar's horns with cords
The chosen victim bind.

15 Thou art my Lord, O God, and still
I'll praise thy holy Name;
Because thou only art my God,
I'll celebrate thy fame.

16 O then with me give thanks to God,
Who still does gracious prove;
And let the tribute of our praise
Be endless as his love.

PSALM 97.

From the cxix. Psalm of David.

PART I. ALEPH. C. M

But in the path which he directs
With constant care proceed.

4 Thou strictly hast enjoin'd us, Lord,
To learn thy sacred will;
And all our diligence employ

Thy statutes to fulfil.

5 0 then that thy most holy will Might o'er my ways preside; And I the course of all my life

By thy direction guide.

6 Then with assurance should I walk,
From all confusion free;

Convinced, with joy, that all my ways
With thy commands agree.

7 My upright heart shall my glad mouth
With cheerful praises fill,

When, by thy righteous judgements taught,

I shall have learn'd thy will.

8 So to thy sacred laws shall I
Entire observance pay:

O then forsake me not, my God,
Nor cast me quite away.

PART II. BETH. C. M.

1 How shall the young preserve their ways From all pollution free?

By making still their course of life
With thy commands agree.

2 With hearty zeal for thee I seek,
To thee for succour pray;
O suffer not my careless steps
From thy right paths to stray.

2 Safe in my heart, and closely hid,
Thy word, my treasure, lies,
To succour me with timely aid
When sinful thoughts arise.

4 Secured by that, my grateful soul
Shall ever bless thy Name;
O teach me then by thy just laws
My future life to frame.

5 My lips, unlock'd by pious zeal,
To others have declared

How well the judgements of thy mouth Deserve our best regard.

DOW bless'd are they who always keep 6 Whilst in the way of thy commands,

The pure and perfect way;

Who never from the sacred paths

Of God's commandments stray

2 How bless'd, who to his righteous laws
Have still obedient been;

And have, with fervent, humble zeal,
His favour sought to win!

3 Such men their utmost caution use
To shun each wicked deed;

More solid joy I found,

Then had I been with vast increase

Of envied riches crown'd.

7 Therefore thy just and upright laws

Shall always fill my mind;

And those sound rules which thou prescrib❜st,

Entire respect shall find.

8 To keep thy statutes undefaced

Shall be my constant joy;

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The strict remembrance of thy word
Shall all my thoughts employ.

PART III. GIMEL. C. M.

1 BE gracious to thy servant, Lord;
Do thou my life defend,
That I according to thy word

My time to come may spend.

2 Enlighten both my eyes and mind, That so I may discern

The wondrous things which they behold,

Who thy just precepts learn.

3 My fainting soul is almost pined,

With earnest longing spent,
While always on the eager search

Of thy just will intent.

4 Thy sharp rebuke shall crush the proud,
Whom still thy curse pursues:
Since they to walk in thy right ways

Presumptuously refuse.

5 But far from me, do thou, O Lord, Contempt and shame remove; For I thy sacred law affect

With undissembled love.

6 For thy commands have always been
My comfort and delight;

By them I learn with prudent care
To guide my steps aright.

PART IV. DALETH. C. M.

1 My soul, oppress'd with deadly care,
Close to the dust doth cleave;
Revive me, Lord, and let me now
Thy promised aid receive.

2 To thee I still declared my ways,
And thou inclin'dst thine ear;
O teach me then my future life
By thy just laws to steer.

3 If thou wilt make me know thy laws,
And by their guidance walk,

The wondrous works which thou hast done
Shall be my constant talk.

4 But see, my soul within me sinks,
Press'd down with weighty care;
Do thou, according to thy word,
My wasted strength repair.

5 Far, far from me, be all false ways
And lying arts removed;

But kindly grant I still may keep
The path by thee approved.

6 Thy faithful ways, thou God of truth,
My happy choice I've made;
Thy judgements, as my rule of life,
Before me always laid.

7 My care has been to make my life
With thy commands agree:
5

O then preserve thy servant, Lord,
From shame and ruin free.

8 So in the way of thy commands
Shall I with pleasure run;

And, with a heart enlarged with joy,
Successfully go on.

PART V. HE. C. M.

1 INSTRUCT me in thy statutes, Lord,
Thy righteous paths display;
And I from them, through all my life,
Will never go astray.

2 If thou true wisdom from above
Wilt graciously impart,
To keep thy perfect laws I will
Devote my zealous heart.

3 Direct me in the sacred ways
To which thy precepts lead;
Because my chief delight has been
Thy righteous paths to tread.

4 Do thou to thy most just commands
Incline my willing heart;

Let no desire of worldly wealth

From thee my thoughts divert.

5 From those vain objects turn mine eyes,
Which this false world displays :
But give me lively power and strength
To keep thy righteous ways.

6 Confirm the promise of thy word,
And give thy servant aid,
Who to transgress thy sacred laws
Is awfully afraid.

7 The censure and reproach I fear,
In mercy, Lord, remove;

For all the judgements thou ordain'st,
Are full of grace and love.

8 Thou know'st how after thy commands My longing heart does pant;

O then make haste to raise me up,
And promised succour grant.

PART VI. VAU. C. M.

1 THY constant blessing, Lord, bestow,
To cheer my drooping heart;
To me, according to thy word,
Thy saving health impart.

2 So shall I, whosoe'er upbraids,
This ready answer make;
"In God I trust, who never will
His faithful promise break."

3 Then let not quite the word of truth
Be from my mouth removed;
Since still my ground of steadfast hope
Thy judgements, Lord, have proved.
4 So I to keep thy righteous laws
Will all my study bend;

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And constantly my time to come

In their observance spend.

5 My soul shall gladly walk at large, From all oppression free, Since I resolved to make my life

With thy commands agree.

6 My longing heart and ravish'd soul
Shall both o'erflow with joy,
When in thy loved commandments I
My happy hours employ.

7 Then will I to thy holy laws

Lift up my willing hands;

My care and business then shall be
To study thy commands.

PART VII. ZAIN. C. M.

1 ACCORDING to thy promised grace, Thy favour, Lord, extend;

Make good to me the word on which

Thy servant's hopes depend.

2 That only comfort in distress

Did all my griefs control;

Thy word, when troubles hemm'd me round, Revived my fainting soul.

3 Thy judgements then of ancient date I quickly call'd to mind,

Till, ravish'd with such thoughts, my soul Did speedy comfort find.

4 Thy name, that cheer'd my heart by day,
Has fill'd my thoughts by night:

I then resolved by thy just laws
To guide my steps aright.

5 That peace of mind, which has my soul

In deep distress sustain❜d,

By strict obedience to thy will

I happily obtain❜d.

PART VIII. CHETH. C. M.

1 O LORD, my God, my portion thou And sure possession art:

Thy words I steadfastly resolve

To treasure in my heart.

2 With all the strength of warm desire
I did thy grace implore;
Disclose, according to thy word,
Thy mercy's boundless store.

3 With deep reflection and strict care
On all my ways I thought;
And so, reclaim'd to thy just paths,
My wand'ring steps I brought.

4 Prolonging not the time, my soul
Resolved without delay

To watch, that I might never more
From thy commandments stray.

5 To such as fear thy holy Name
Myself I closely join;

To all who their obedient wills

To thy commands resign.

6 O'er all the earth thy mercy, Lord, Abundantly is shed;

O grant that I may truly learn
Thy sacred paths to tread.

PART IX. TETH. C. M.

1 WITH me, thy servant, thou hast dealt
Most graciously, O Lord;
Repeated benefits bestow'd,
According to thy word.

2 Teach me the sacred skill by which
Right judgement is attain'd,
Who in belief of thy commands
Have steadfastly remain❜d.

3 Before affliction stopp'd my course,
My footsteps went astray;
But I have since been disciplined
Thy precepts to obey.

4 Thou art, O Lord, supremely good,
And all thou dost is so;

On me, thy statutes to discern,
Thy saving skill bestow.

5 'Tis good for me that I have felt
Affliction's chastening rod,
That I may duly learn and keep
The statutes of my God.

6 The law that from thy mouth proceeds,
Of more esteem I hold

Than richest mines, than thousand mines
Of silver and of gold.

PART X. JOD. C. M.

1 To me, who am the workmanship
Of thy almighty hands,

The heavenly understanding give,
To learn thy just commands.

2 My preservation to thy saints
Strong comfort will afford,
To see success attend my hopes,
Who trusted in thy word.

3 That right thy judgements are, I now
By sure experience see;

And that in faithfulness, O Lord,
Thou hast afflicted me.

4 O let thy tender mercy now
Afford me needful aid;
According to thy promise, Lord,
To me, thy servant, made.

5 To me thy saving grace restore,
That I again may live;
Whose soul can relish no delight
But what thy precepts give.

6 In thy blest statutes let my heart
Continue always sound;

That guilt and shame, the sinner's lot,

May never me confound.

PART XI. CAPH. C. M.

1 My soul with long expectance faints
To see thy saving grace;
Yet still on thy unerring word
My confidence I place.

2 My very eyes consume and fail

With waiting for thy word;

O when wilt thou thy kind relief
And promised aid afford?

3 Thy wonted kindness, Lord, restore,
My drooping heart to cheer;
That by thy righteous statutes I
My life's whole course may steer.
PART XII. LAMED. C. M.

1 FOR ever and for ever, Lord,

Unchanged thou dost remain; Thy word, establish'd in the heav'ns, Does all their orbs sustain.

2 Through circling ages, Lord, thy truth Immoveable shall stand,

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For thou by them hast to new life

Restored my dying heart.

6 I've seen an end of what we call
Perfection here below;

But thy commandments, like thyself,
No change or period know.

PART XIII. MEM. C. M.
1 THE love that to thy laws I bear
No language can display;
They with fresh wonders entertain
My raptured thoughts all day.

2 My feet with care I have refrain'd
From every sinful way,

That to thy sacred word I might
Entire obedience pay.

3 I have not from thy judgements stray'd, By vain desires misled;

For, Lord, thou hast instructed me
Thy righteous paths to tread.

4 How sweet are all thy words to me!
O what divine repast!

How much more grateful to my soul
Than honey to my taste!

5 Taught by thy sacred precepts, I
With heav'nly skill am blest;

Through which the treach'rous ways of sin I utterly detest.

PART XIV. NUN. C. M.

1 THY word is to my feet a lamp,
The way of truth to show;

A watch-light, to point out the path
In which I ought to go.

2 I've vow'd, and from my covenant, Lord, Will never start aside,

That in thy righteous judgements I
Will steadfastly abide.

3 Let still my sacrifice of praise
With thee acceptance find;

And in thy righteous judgements, Lord,
Instruct my willing mind.

4 Thy testimonies I have made

My heritage and choice;

For they, when other comforts fail,

My drooping heart rejoice.

5 My heart with early zeal began
Thy statutes to obey;

And, till my course of life is done,
Shall keep thine upright way.

PART XV. SAMECH. C. M.
1 DECEITFUL thoughts and practices
I utterly detest;

But to thy law affection bear
Too great to be express'd.

2 My hiding-place, my refuge-tower,
And shield art thou, O Lord;
I firmly anchor all my hopes
On thy unerring word.

3 Away from me, ye wicked men,
Approach not my abode;

For firmly I resolve to keep
The precepts of my God.

4 According to thy gracious word,
From danger set me free;

Nor make me of those hopes ashamed,

That I repose on thee.

PART XVI. AIN. C. M.

1 MINE eyes, alas! begin to fail,
In long expectance held;
Till thy salvation they behold,
And righteous word fulfill'd.

2 To me, thy servant in distress,
Thy wonted grace display,
And discipline my willing heart
Thy statutes to obey.

3 On me, devoted to thy fear,
Thy sacred skill bestow,

That of thy testimonies I

The full extent may know.

4 Thy laws and precepts I account

In all respects divine;

They teach me to discern the right, And all false ways decline.

PART XVII. PE. C. M.

1 THE wonders which thy laws contain No words can represent;

Therefore to learn and practise them

My zealous heart is bent.

2 The very entrance to thy word
Celestial light displays,

And knowledge of true happiness
To simplest minds conveys.

3 With eager hopes I waiting stood,
And fainting with desire,

That of thy wise commands I might
The sacred skill acquire.

4 With favour, Lord, look down on me, Who thy relief implore;

As thou art wont to visit those
Who thy blest Name adore.

5 Directed by thy heavenly word
Let all my footsteps be;
Nor wickedness of any kind
Dominion have o'er me.

6 On me, devoted to thy fear,

Lord, make thy face to shine: Thy statutes both to know and keep My heart with zeal incline.

PART XVIII. TSADDI. C. M.

1 THOU art the righteous Judge, in whom
Wrong'd innocence may trust;
And, like thyself, thy judgements, Lord,
In all respects are just.

2 Most just and true those statutes were
Which thou didst first decree;
And all with faithfulness perform'd
Succeeding times shall see.

3 Lord, each neglected word of thine,
Howe'er by men despised,

Is pure, and for eternal truth

By me, thy servant, prized.

4 Thy righteousness shall then endure When time itself is past;

Thy law is truth itself, that truth

Which shall for ever last.

5 Though trouble, anguish, doubts, and dread,

To compass me unite;

Beset with danger, still I make

Thy precepts my delight.

6 Eternal and unerring rules

Thy testimonies give :

Teach me the wisdom that will make

My soul for ever live.

PART XIX. KOPH. C. M.

1 WITH my whole heart to God I call'd—
Lord, hear my earnest cry;
And I thy statutes to perform

Will all my care apply.

2 Again more fervently I pray'd—
O save me, that I may
Thy testimonies fully know,

And steadfastly obey.

3 My earlier prayer the dawning day
Prevented, while I cried

To him upon whose faithful word
My hope alone relied.

4 Lord, hear my supplicating voice,
And wonted favour show;

O quicken me, and so approve
Thy judgements ever true.

5 Concerning thy divine commands
My soul has known, of old,

That they were true, and shall their truth To endless ages hold.

PART XX. RESCH. C. M.

1 CONSIDER my affliction, Lord,
And me from bondage draw;
Think on thy servant in distress,
Who ne'er forgets thy law.

2 Defend my cause, and me to save
Thy timely aid afford;

With beams of mercy quicken me,
According to thy word.

3 From harden'd sinners thou remov'st
Salvation far away;

"Tis just thou should'st withdraw from them Who from thy statutes stray.

4 Since great thy tender mercies are
To all who thee adore;
According to thy judgements, Lord,
My fainting hopes restore.

5 Consider, O my gracious God,
How I thy precepts love;

O therefore quicken me with beams
Of mercy from above.

6 As from the birth of time thy truth
Has held through ages past,

So shall thy righteous judgements firm
To endless ages last.

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