4 On God's almighty name I call'd, And thus to him I pray'd; "Lord, I beseech thee save my soul, With sorrows quite dismay'd." 5 How just and merciful is God, How gracious is the Lord! Who saves the harmless, and to me Does timely help afford. 6 Then, free from pensive cares, my soul Resume thy wonted rest; My dangers and my fears; years, Which God to me shall lend, 10 O what return to God shall I The cup of blessing take. 11 I'll pay my vows among his saints, Whose blood (howe'er des- By wicked men) in God's account 12 To thee I'll offerings bring of And while I bless thy Name, The just performance of my vows To all thy saints proclaim. 13 They in Jerusalem shall meet, And in thy house shall join To bless thy name with one consent, And nix their songs with mine. From the cxvii. Psalm of David. X7ITH cheerful notes let all the earth W To heaven their voices raise; Let all, inspired with godly mirth, Sing solemn hymns of praise. 2 God's tender mercy knows no bound, His truth shall ne'er decay; Then let the willing nations round Their grateful tribute pay. PSALM 96. - (C. M.) From the cxviii. Psalm of David. PRAISE the Lord, for he is That his kind favours ever last, Let thankful Israel say. 2 Their sense of his eternal love Let Aaron's house express; And that it never fails, let all That fear the Lord confess. 3 Far better 'tis to trust in God, And have the Lord our friend, Than on the greatest human power For safety to depend. 4 The Lord has been my help; To him alone belongs; 5 Joy fills the dwelling of the Whom God has saved from harm; For wondrous things are brought to pass By his Almighty arm. 6 He, by his own resistless power, Has endless honour won; The saving strength of his right hand Amazing works has done. 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 deliverer 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; To shun each wicked deed; This is the wondrous work of But in the path which he directs 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 the assembly bless;"We that belong to God's own house Have wished 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. 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 O 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 PART II. BETH. (C. M.) 1 HOW shall the young preserve their ways From all pollution free life By making still their course of With thy commands agree. 2 With hearty zeal for thee 1 seek, To thee for succour pray; O suffer not my careless steps From thy right paths to stray. 3 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 judgments of thy mouth Shall always fill my mind; And those sound rules which thou prescribest Entire respect shall find. 8 To keep thy statutes undefaced Shall be my constant joy; 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 inay spend. 2 Enlighten both my eyes and That so I may discern [mind, Close to the dust doth cleave; Revive me, Lord, and let me now Thy promised aid receive. Do thou, according to thy word, 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 judgments, as my rule of life, Before me always laid. 7 My care has been to make my life With thy commands agree; 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. 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. 3 Direct me in the sacred ways To which thy precepts lead; Because my chief delight has been Thy righteous paths to tread. 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. For all the judgments thou or dain'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 judgments, Lord, have 4 So I to keep thy righteous laws 5 My soul shall gladly walk at large, From all oppression free, Since I resolve 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 command ments I My happy hours employ. 7 Then will I to thy holy laws grace, Thy favour, Lord, extend; 7 The censure and reproach I Make good to me the word on fear In mercy, Lord, remove; 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 judgments 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 wandering 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 Abundantly is shed; O grant that I may truly learn |
