Page images
PDF
EPUB

Which in my filent breaft I bear,

from nations of licentious might." 51 How they, reproaching thy great Name, have made thy fervant's hope their jeft; 52 Yet thy juft praises we'll proclaim, and ever fing, The Lord be bleft.

I

[ocr errors]

PSALM XC.

LORD, the Saviour and defence
of us thy chofen race,

From age to age thou ftill haft been
our fure abiding place.

2 Before thou brought'ft the mountains forth,
or th' earth and world didft frame,
Thou always waft the mighty God,
and ever art the fame.

3 Thou turneft man, O Lord, to dust, of which he first was made;

And when thou speak'ft the word, Return, 'tis inftantly obey'd.

4 For in thy fight a thousand years are like a day that's past,

Or like a watch in dead of night, whofe hours unminded waste. 5 Thou sweep'ft us off as with a flood, we vanish hence like dreams; At first we grow like grafs, that feels the fun's reviving beams;

6 But howfoever fresh and fair

its morning beauty fhows;
'Tis all cut down and wither'd quite,
before the ev❜ning clofe.

7, 8 We by thine anger are confum'd,
and by thy wrath dismay'd;
Our public crimes and fecret fins
before thy fight are laid.

9 Beneath thy anger's fad effects
our drooping days we fpend;
Our unregarded years break off,
like tales that quickly end.

10 Our term of time is fev'nty years, an age that few furvive;

But if, with more than common ftrength, to eighty we arrive,

[ocr errors]

Yet then our boafted ftrength decays,
to forrow turn'd and pain;
So foon the flender thread is cut,
and we no more remain.

[graphic]

4 He over thee his wings shall spread, And cover thy unguarded head;

his truth fhall be thy ftrong defence. 5 No terrors that surprise by night Shall thy undaunted courage fright, nor deadly fhafts that fly by day; 6 Nor plague, of unknown rife, that kills In darkness, nor infectious ills that in the hottest season flay. 7 A thousand at thy fide shall die, At thy right-hand ten thousand lie, while thy firm health untouch'd remains 8 Thou only fhalt look on and fee The wicked's difmal tragedy,

and count the finner's mournful gains. 9 Because, with well-plac'd confidence, Thou mak'ft the Lord thy fure defence, and on the Higheft doth rely; 10 Therefore no ill fhall thee befal, Nor to thy healthful dwelling shall any infectious plagues draw nigh. 11 For he throughout thy happy days, To keep thee safe in all thy ways,

fhall give his angels ftrict commands; 12 And they, left thou should'ft chance to meet With fome rough ftone to wound thy feet, fhall bear thee fafely in their hands. 13 Dragons and afps that thirst for blood, And lions roaring for their food,

beneath his conqu'ring feet fhall lie : 14 Because he lov'd and honour'd me, Therefore, fays God, I'll fet him free, and fix his glorious throne on high. 15 He'll call; I'll anfwer when he calls, And rescue him when ill befalls;

increase his honour and his wealth: 16 And when, with undisturb'd content, His long and happy life is spent, his end I'll crown with faving health.

I

1 HOW

PSALM XCII.

OW good and pleasant muft it be
to thank the Lord most high;

;

And with repeated hymns of praise
his Name to magnify!

2 With ev'ry morning's early dawn
his goodness to relate;

And of his conftant truth, each night, the glad effects repeat!

3 To ten-ftring'd inftruments we'll fing, with tuneful pfalt'ries join'd;

And to the harp, with folemn founds, for facred ufe defign'd.

4 For through thy wond'rous works, O Lord, thou mak'ft my heart rejoice;

The thoughts of them fhall make me glad, and fhout with cheerful voice.

5, 6 How wond'rous are thy works, O Lord! how deep are thy decrees!

Whofe winding tracks, in fecret laid, no ftupid finner fees.

7 He little thinks, when wicked men, like grafs, look fresh and gay,

How foon their fhort-liv'd fplendour must for ever pafs away.

8, 9 But thou, my God, art ftill most high; and all thy lofty foes,

Who thought they might fecurely fin, fhall be o'erwhelm'd with woes. 10 Whilft thou exalt'ft my fov'reign pow'r, and mak'ft it largely fpread;

And with refreshing oil anoint'ft

my confecrated head.

11 I foon fhall fee my ftubborn foes to utter ruin brought;

And hear the dismal end of those who have againft me fought.

12 But righteous men like fruitful palms, fhall make a glorious show;

As cedars that on Lebanon

in ftately order grow.

13, 14 Thefe, planted in the house of God, within his courts fhall thrive;

Their vigour and their luftre both
fhall in old age revive.

BARY

15 Thus will the Lord his justice show;
and God, my strong defence,
Shall due rewards to all the world
impartially dispense.

I

WITH

PSALM XCIII.

ITH glory clad, with strength array'd,
the Lord, that o'er all nature reigns,
The world's foundation strongly laid,
and the vast fabric ftill fuftains.
2 How surely 'stablish'd is thy throne,
which fhall no change or period see!
For thou, O Lord, and thou alone,
art God from all eternity!

3, 4 The floods, O Lord, lift up their voice,
and tofs the troubled waves on high;
But God above can still their noise,
and make the angry fea comply.

5 Thy promife, Lord, is ever fure;
and they that in thy houfe would dwell,
That happy station to fecure,

1, 2

muft ftill in holiness excel.

PSALM XCIV.

GOD, to whom revenge belongs,
thy vengeance now disclose;

Arife, thou Judge of all the earth,
and crush thy haughty foes.

3, 4 How long, O Lord, thall finful men
their folemn triumphs make?

How long their wicked actions boast,
and infolently speak?

5,6 Not only they thy faints oppress,
but, unprovok'd, they spill

7

The widow's and the ftranger's blood,
and helpless orphans kill.

[ocr errors]

"And yet the Lord fhall ne'er perceive,"

profanely thus they speak,

"Nor any notice of our deeds

"The God of Jacob take."

At length, ye ftupid fools, your wants

endeavour to discern:

In folly will you ftill proceed,

and wisdom never learn?

« PreviousContinue »