PSALM XC. LORD, Thou hast been thy people's rest, Their hope in tribulations; Thou, ere the mountains sprang to birth, Or ever Thou hadst form'd the earth, Art God from everlasting. The sons of men return to clay, When Thou the word hast spoken, As with a torrent borne away, Gone like a dream when broken: A thousand years are, in thy sight, But as a watch amid the night, Or yesterday departed. At morn, we flourish like the grass The rich array is blighted: Our life is like the transient breath And where is all our glory? Lo, thou hast set before thine eyes Lord, teach us so to mark our days, That we may prize them duly; There no tumult can alarm thee, From the sword at noon-day wasting, Only with thine eye, the anguish When they perish suddenly: Thee, though winds and waves be swelling, God, thine hope, shall bear through all; Plague shall not come nigh thy dwelling, Thee no evil shall befall. He shall charge his angel-legions, Watch and ward o'er thee to keep, Though thou walk through hostile regions, Though in desert-wilds thou sleep: On the lion vainly roaring, On his young, thy foot shall tread, And, the dragon's den exploring, Thou shalt bruise the serpent's head. Since, with pure and firm affection, Thou on God hast set thy love, With the wings of his protection, He will shield thee from above: Thou shalt call on Him in trouble, He will hearken, He will save, Here for grief reward thee double, Crown with life beyond the grave. PSALM XCIII. THE Lord is King;-upon his throne The world came forth at his command; They never can be shaken. The Lord was King ere time began, Their foam to heaven up-casting, He made the raging waves his path; -The sea is mighty in its wrath, But God on high is mightier. Thy testimonies, Lord, are sure: Thy realm fears no commotion, Firm as the earth, whose shores endure The eternal toil of ocean. And Thou with perfect peace wilt bless Thy faithful flock;-for holiness Becomes thine house for ever. PSALM XCV. O COME, let us sing to the Lord, His praise, with one spirit, one voice: The God of all gods, on his throne; The sea is Jehovah's-He made As Moses, the fathers of old, Through the sea and the wilderness led, His wonderful works to behold, With manna from heaven are fed: To-day, let us hearken, to-day, To the voice that yet speaks from above, And all his commandments obey, For all his commandments are love. His wrath let us fear to provoke, To dwell in his favor unite; His service is freedom, his yoke Is easy, his burden is light: But, oh! of rebellion beware, Rebellion, that hardens the breast, Lest God in his anger should swear That we shall not enter his rest. PSALM C. BE joyful in God, all ye lands of the earth, For Jehovah is God,-and Jehovah alone, And we are his people, his sceptre we own; O enter his gates with thanksgiving and song, For good is the Lord, inexpressibly good, PSALM CIII. O MY Soul, with all thy powers, Thine infirmities He heal'd; He with loving kindness crown'd thee, Rich in tender mercy He, He will not retain displeasure, As the heaven the earth transcends, Far as east and west are parted, For He knows our feeble frame, Mark the field-flower, where it groweth, From eternity, enduring Yea, with truth and righteousness, -Thou, God, for ever art the same; I AM is thine unchanging name. O that men would praise the Lord, PSALM CVII. No. 1. THANK and praise Jehovah's name, Let the ransom'd thus rejoice, In the wilderness astray, Hither, thither, while they roam, Hungry, fainting by the way, Far from refuge, shelter, home: Then unto the Lord they cry, He inclines a gracious ear, Sends deliverance from on high, Rescues them from all their fear. To a pleasant land He brings, Where the vine and olive grow, Where from flowery hills the springs Through luxuriant valleys flow. O that men would praise the Lord, PSALM CVII. No. 3. FOOLS, for their transgression, see Sharp disease their youth consume, And their beauty, like a tree, Withering o'er an early tomb. Food is loathsome to their taste, And the eye revolts from light; All their joys to ruin haste, As the sun-set into night. Then unto the Lord they cry: Rescues them from all their fear. He with health renews their frame, Lengthens out their number'd days; Let them glorify his name With the sacrifice of praise. O that men would praise the Lord, PSALM CVII. No. 2. THEY that mourn in dungeon-gloom, Than the pangs they suffer there ; Foes and rebels once to God, They disdain'd his high control; Now they feel his fiery rod Striking terrors through their soul. Wrung with agony they fall To the dust; and, gazing round, Call for help-in vain they call, Help, nor hope, nor friend are found. Then unto the Lord they cry: 1 He restores their forfeit-breath, Breaks in twain the gates of brass; From the bands and grasp of death, Forth to liberty they pass. PSALM CVII. No. 4. THEY that toil upon the deep, Mark what wonders God performs, In the chariots of the wind. Up to heaven their bark is whirl'd On the mountain of the wave; Down as suddenly 't is hurl'd To the abysses of the grave. To and fro they reel, they roll, Helm they quit, and hope resign. Then unto the Lord they cry, He inclines a gracious ear, Sends deliverance from on high, Rescues them from all their fear. Calm and smooth the surges flow, And, where deadly lightning ran, God's own reconciling bow Metes the ocean with a span. SERVANTS of God, in joyful lays, Blest be that name, supremely blest, Who is like God?-so great, so high, He hears the uncomplaining moan Servants of God, in joyful lays, Sing ye the Lord Jehovah's praise; His saving name let all adore, From age to age, for evermore. PSALM CXVII. ALL ye Gentiles, praise the Lord, For his truth and mercy stand, Past, and present, and to be, Like the years of his right hand, Like his own eternity. Praise Him, ye who know his love, Praise Him from the depths beneath, Praise Him in the heights above; Praise your Maker, all that breathe. PSALM CXXI. ENCOMPASS'D with ten thousand ills, I lift mine eyes unto the hills |