11 Whate'er the mighty Lord decrees The Second Part. 12 How happy then are they, to whom The Lord for God is known; Whom he from all the world besides 13, 14, 15 He all the nations of the earth From heav'n, his throne, survey'd ; He saw their works, and view'd their thoughts, By him their hearts were made. 16, 17 No king is safe by num'rous hosts, Their strength the strong deceives; No manag'd horse, by force or speed, His warlike rider saves. 18, 19 'Tis God, who those that trust in him Beholds with gracious eyes; He frees their soul from death, their want In time of dearth supplies. 20,21Our soul on God with patience waits, Our help and shield is he; Then, Lord, let still our hearts rejoice, 22 The riches of thy mercy, Lord, Since we for all we want or wish PSALM XXXIV. THRO' all the changing scenes of life, From my example comfort take, 4 When in distress to him I call'd, He to my rescue came. 5 Their drooping hearts were soon refresh'd, Who look'd to him for aid; 6 Behold, say they, behold the man 7 The hosts of God encamp around 8 0 make but trial of his love, How bless'd they are, and only they, 9 Fear him, ye saints, and you will then Have nothing else to fear; Make you his service your delight, 10 While hungry lions lack their prey, 11 Approach, ye piously dispos'd, 12 Let him, who length of life desires, His lips from falsehood free. 14 The crooked paths of vice decline, 15 The Lord from heaven beholds the just With favourable eyes; And, when distress'd, his gracious ear 16 But turns his wrathful look on those Whom mercy can't reclaim, To cut them off, and from the earth 17 Deliv'rance to his saints he gives, 19 The wicked oft, but still in vain, 20 For under their affliction's weight He keeps their bones entire. 21 The wicked from their wicked arts Their ruin shall derive; Whilst righteous men, whom they detest, Shall them and theirs survive. 22 For God preserves the souls of those 5 Then shall they fly, dispers'd like chaff 6 And when thro' dark and slipp'ry ways 8 Surpris'd by mischiefs unforeseen, 9 Whilst my glad soul shall God's great 11 False witnesses, with forg'd complaints, 12 The good which I to them had done, With evil they repaid; And did, by malice undeserv'd, 13 But as for me, when they were sick, 14 Had they my friends or brethren been, I could have done no more; Nor with more decent signs of grief 19 Lord, suffer not my causeless foes, With open joy, or secret signs, 20 For they, with hearts averse from peace, Industriously devise Against the men of quiet minds 21 Nor with these private arts content, And say, At last we found him out, 22 But thou, who dost both them and me 23 Stir up thyself, in my behalf Thy righteous servant's cause, O God, 24 Lord, as my heart has upright been, Let me thy justice find; Nor let my cruel foes obtain At length our wishes are complete, 26 Let such as in my harm rejoic'd And foul dishonour wait on those 27 Whilst they with cheerful voices shout, Who my just cause befriend; And bless the Lord, who loves to make 28 So shall my tongue thy judgments sing, Inspir'd with grateful joy; And cheerful hymns in praise of thee PSALM XXXVI. 15 How diff'rent did their carriage prove My crafty foe, with flatt'ring art, In times of my distress; When they, in crowds together met, The rabble too, in num'rous throngs, And ceas'd not, with reviling words, 16 Scoffers, that noble tables haunt, And earn their bread with lies, Did gnash their teeth, and sland'ring jests Maliciously devise. His wicked purpose would dis- But reason whispers to my heart, 2 He soothes himself, retir'd from sight, Secure he thinks his treach'rous Thy sacred truth's unmeasur'd scope Beyond the spreading sky extends. 6 Thy justice, like the hills, remains; Unfathom'd depths thy judgments are; Thy providence the world sustains; The whole creation is thy care. 7 Since of thy goodness all partake, With what assurance should the just Thy shelt'ring wings their refuge make, And saints to thy protection trust. 8 Such guests shall to thy courts be led To banquet on thy love's repast; And drink, as from a fountain's head, Of joys that shall for ever last. 9 With thee the springs of life remain; Thy presence is eternal day: 10 0 let thy saints thy favour gain; To upright hearts thy truth display. 11 Whilst pride's insulting foot would spurn, And wicked hand my life surprise; 12 Their mischiefs on themselves return; Down, down they're fall'n, no more to rise. PSALM XXXVII. THOUGH wicked men grow rich or great, Yet let not their successful state Thy anger or thy envy raise : 2 For they, cut down like tender grass, Or like young flow'rs, away shall pass, Whose blooming beauty soon decays. 3 Depend on God, and him obey; So thou within the land shalt stay, Secure from danger and from want: 4 Make his commands thy chief delight; And he, thy duty to requite, Shall all thy earnest wishes grant. 6 He'll make, like light, serene and clear, Nor let thy anger fondly rise: 8 From anger cease, and wrath forsake; 9 For God shall sinful men destroy ; Whilst only they the land enjoy, Who trust on him, and wait his time. 10 How soon shall wicked men decay! Their place shall vanish quite away, Nor by the strictest search be found, 11 Whilst humble souls possess the earth, Rejoicing still with godly mirth, With peace and plenty always crown'd. The Second Part. 12 While sinful crowds, with false design, Against the righteous few combine, And gnash their teeth, and threat'ning stand; 13 God shall their empty plots deride, And laugh at their defeated pride; He sees their ruin near at hand. 14 They draw the sword, and bend the bow, The poor and needy to o'erthrow, And men of upright lives to slay; 15 But their strong bows shall soon be broke, Their sharpen'd weapon's mortal stroke Through their own hearts shall force its way. 16 A little, with God's favour bless'd, Shall be unmov'd, and e'en in dearth 20 Not so the wicked men, and those And vanish into smoke and air. The Third Part. 21 While sinners, brought to sad decay, Still borrow on and never pay, The just have will and pow'r to give : 22 For such as God vouchsafes to bless, Shall peaceably the earth possess ; And those he curses shall not live. 23 The good man's way is God's delight, He orders all the steps aright Of him that moves by his command; 24 Tho' he sometimes may be distress'd, Yet shall he ne'er be quite oppress'd, For God upholds him with his hand. 25 From my first youth, till age prevail'd, I never saw the righteous fail'd, 26 Or want o'ertake his num'rous race; Because compassion fill'd his heart, And he did cheerfully impart, God made his offspring's wealth in His mouth with wisdom is supplied; His tongue by rules of judginent moves, His heart the law of God approves, 32 In wait the watchful sinner lies, 34 Wait still on God, keep his command, And thou, exalted in the land, Thy bless'd possession ne'er shall The wicked soon destroy'd shall be, Thou shalt a safe spectator sit. 35 The wicked I in power have seen, And, like a bay tree, fresh and green, That spreads its pleasant branches round; 36 But he was gone as swift as thought, And, though in ev'ry place I sought, No sign or track of him I found. 37 Observe the perfect man with care, And mark all such as upright are; Their roughest days in peace shall end: 38 While on the latter end of those, Their only safeguard is the Lord; PSALM XXXVIII. The Second Part. 9 But, Lord, before thy searching eyes All my desires appear; And sure my groans have been too loud Not to have reach'd thine ear. 10 My heart's opprest, my strength decay'd, 11 My eyes depriv'd of light; 12 Meanwhile the foes that seek my life 13 But I, as if both deaf and dumb, 14 Quite deaf and dumb, like one whose tongue With conscious guilt is tied. 15 For, Lord, to thee I do appeal, My innocence to clear; Assur'd that thou, the righteous God, My injur'd cause wilt hear. 16 Hear me, said I, lest my proud foes A spiteful joy display, Insulting if they see my foot But once to go astray. 17 And, with continual grief opprest, 19 But whilst I languish, my proud foes 20 E'en they, whom I oblig'd, return THY chast'ning wrath, O Lord, re- 21 Forsake me not, O Lord my God, strain, Though I deserve it all; Nor let at once on me the storm Of thy displeasure fall. 2 In ev'ry wretched part of me Thy arrows deep remain; Thy heavy hand's afflicting weight 3 My flesh is one continued wound, 4 My sins, that to a deluge swell, 5 Stench and corruption fill my wounds, My folly's just return; 6 With trouble I am warp'd and bow'd, And all day long I mourn. 7 A loath'd disease afflicts my loins, Infecting ev'ry part, 8 With sickness worn, I groan and roar, Through anguish of my heart. Nor far from me depart; 22 Make haste to my relief, O thou, Who my salvation art. 5 My life, thou know'st, is but a span, 6 Man like a shadow vainly walks, 7 Why then should I on worthless toys With anxious care attend? On thee alone my steadfast hope 8, 9 Forgive my sins, nor let me scorn'd By foolish sinners be; For I was dumb, and murmur'd not, 10 The dreadful burden of thy wrath Lest my frail flesh too weak to bear 11 For when thou chasten'st man for sin 12 Lord, hear my cry, accept my tears, 13 0 spare me yet a little time, I My wasted strength restore; Before I vanish quite from hence, And shall be seen no more. PSALM XL. WAITED meekly for the Lord, Till he vouchsaf'd a kind reply; Who did his gracious ear afford, And heard from heav'n my humble cry. 2 He took me from the dismal pit, When founder'd deep in miry clay; On solid ground he plac'd my feet, And suffer'd not my steps to stray. 3 The wonders he for me has wrought Shall fill my mouth with songs of praise; And others, to his worship brought, To hopes of like deliv'rance raise. 4 For blessings shall that man reward, Who on th' Almighty Lord relies; Who treats the proud with disregard, And hates the hypocrite's disguise. 5 Who can the wondrous works recount, Which thou, O God, for us hast wrought! The treasures of thy love surmount The pow'r of numbers, speech, and thought. 6 I've learnt, that thou hast not desir'd Off'rings and sacrifice alone; Nor blood of guiltless beasts requir'd For man's transgression to atone. 7 I therefore come-come to fulfil The oracles thy books impart : 8 'Tis my delight to do thy will; Thy law is written in my heart. The Second Part. 9 In full assemblies I have told Thy truth and righteousness at large; Nor did, thou know'st, my lips withhold From utt'ring what thou gav'st in charge. 10 Nor kept within my breast confin'd Thy faithfulness and saving grace; But preach'd thy love, for all design'd, That all might that and truth embrace. 11 Then let those mercies I declar'd The hairs on this afflicted head: The Third Part. 13 But, Lord, to my relief draw near, For never was more pressing need; In my deliv'rance, Lord, appear, And add to that deliv'rance speed. 14 Confusion on their heads return, Who to destroy my soul combine; Let them, defeated, blush and mourn, Ensnar'd in their own vile design. 15 Their doom let desolation be, With shame their malice be repaid, Who mock'd my confidence in thee, And sport of my afiliction made: 16 While those, who humbly seek thy face, To joyful triumphs shall be rais'd; And all who prize thy saving grace With me resound, The Lord be prais'd. 17 Thus, wretched tho' I am and poor, Of me th' Almighty Lord takes care; Thou, God, who only canst restore, To my relief with speed repair. PSALM XLI. HAPPY the man whose tender care Relieves the poor distrest; 2 The Lord his life, with blessings crown'd, In safety shall prolong; 3 If he, in languishing estate, |