PSALM LVIII.—(N.V.)

The origin, progress, and punishment of impenitent sinners.

1 STRANGER to virtue from the womb,

The infant's steps go wrong;
Nurtur'd in sin, deceit and lies
Employ the lisping tongue.

2 Deaf to advice, unmov'd alike
By godly fear or love,

Soon do his practis'd crimes and guilt
His desp❜rate error prove.

3 No serpent of parch'd Afric's breed
Does deadlier poison bear;
The drowsy adder will as soon
Unlock his sullen ear.

4 But rous'd at last, the sinful man
Just vengeance shall obtain,
And own a God, whose justice will
The guilty earth arraign.

PSALM LIX.-(N.V.)

The power and mercy of God the Christian's ground of confidence and subject of praise.

1 ON Thee I wait; 'tis on thy strength For succour I depend:

'Tis Thou, O God, art my defence, Who only canst defend.

2 Thy mercy, Lord, which hast so oft
From danger set me free,

Shall still my wants and wishes crown
With goodness plenteously.

3 Early will I thy mercy sing,
Thy wondrous pow'r confess;
For Thou, and only Thou, hast been
My refuge in distress.

4 To Thee, with never-ceasing praise,
O God, to Thee I'll sing;

Thou art my strength, the rock from whence
My health and safety spring.

PSALM LX.-(N.V.)

A penitential Psalm under national calamity.

10 Gon, who hast our strength dispers'd,
Forsaking those who left Thee first;
As we thy just displeasure mourn,
To us, in mercy, Lord, return.

2 The power that firm as earth did stand,
Is rent by thy avenging hand :

O! heal the wounds which Thou hast made;
We shake, we fall, without thy aid!

3 Do Thou, O God, who hast dispers'd
Our strength, when we forsook Thee first;
Those whom Thou didst in wrath forsake,
Repentant now, victorious make.

Do Thou our fainting cause sustain,
For human succours are but vain.

PSALM LXI.—(N.V.)

A prayer for the safety of the King's person, and a blessing on his reign.

1 BLESS, Lord, with long and prosp'rous life,
The King Thou dost ordain;
Long o'er thy chosen heritage
May he in glory reign.

20 let thy truth and

mercy

both

In his defence unite;

Confirm his throne, and make his rule

Accepted in thy sight.

3 So shall we ever sing thy praise,
Thy name for ever bless;

Devote our prosp'rous days to pay
The vows of our distress.

PSALM LXII.-(N.V.)

A resolution to trust in God alone, and an exhortation to all people to do the same.

1 Do thou, my soul, on God rely,
From whom alone thy safety flows:
On Him who doth thy strength supply,
On Him alone thy trust repose.

2 God will his saving health dispense; God will his promis'd blessings send : He is my fortress and defence,

On whom my soul shall still depend.

3 In Him, ye people, always trust;
Before his throne pour out your hearts;
For God, the merciful and just,
To all his timely aid imparts.

4 Though boundless mercy is the grace In which He chiefly takes delight; Yet God will all the human race

According to their works requite,

PSALM LXIII.—(N.V.)

God the object of the Christian's desire both by night and by day, both in sorrow and in joy.

1 0 GOD, my gracious God, to Thee
My morning prayers shall offer'd be ;
For Thee, like one who thirsts, I pant:
My fainting soul implores thy grace,
As in a dry and barren place,

Where I refreshing waters want.

2 My life, while I that life enjoy,
In blessing God will I employ,

With lifted hands adore his name;
My soul's content shall be as great
As their's, who feast in costliest state,
While I with joy his praise proclaim.

3 When down I lie sweet sleep to find,
Thou, Lord, art present to my mind ;

And when I wake in dead of night,
Because Thou still dost succour bring,
Beneath the shadow of thy wing

I rest with safety and delight.