13 Arise, O Lord, defeat their plots, 14 From worldly men, thy sharpest Scourge, Whose portion's here below; Who, fill'd with earthly stores, aspire No other bliss to know. 15 Their race is num'rous that partake 16 But I, in uprightness, thy face PSALM 18. NO change of time shall ever shock To whom all praise we justly owe; Be guarded from my treach'rous foe. 4,5 By floods of wicked men distress'd, With seas of sorrow compass'd round With dire infernal pangs oppress'd, In death's unwieldy fetters bound; 6 To heav'n I made my mournful pray'r, To God address'd my humble moan: Who graciously inclin'd his ear, And heard me from his lofty throne. PART IL When God arose my part to take, The conscious earth was struck with fear; The hills did at his presence shake, Nor could his dreadful fury bear. 8 Thick clouds of smoke dispers'd abroad, Ensigns of wrath before him came; Devouring fire around him glow'd, That coals were kindled at its flame. 9 He left the beauteous realms of light, Whilst heav'n bow'd down its awful head; Beneath his feet substantial night Was like a sable carpet spread. 10 The chariot of the King of kings, Which active troops of angels drew, On a strong tempest's rapid wings, With most amazing swiftness flew. 11. 12 Black wat'ry mists and clouds conspir'd, With thickest shades his face to veil; But at his brightness soon retir'd, And fell in show'rs of fire and hail. 13 Through heav'n's wide arch a thun d'ring peal God's angry voice did loudly roar; While earth's sad face with heaps of hail And flakes of fire was cover'd o'er. 14 His sharpen'd arrows round he threw, Which made his scatter'd foes retreats Like darts his nimble lightnings flew, And quickly finish'd their defeat. 15 The deep its secret stores disclos'd, The world's foundations naked lay; By his avenging wrath expos'd, Which fiercely rag'd that dreadful day. PART III. 16 The Lord did on my side engage; From heav'n, his throne, my cause upheld; And snatch'd me from the furious rage Of threat'ning waves, that proudly swell'd. 17 God his resistless pow'r employ'd My strongest foes' attempts to break; Who else with ease had soon destroy'd The weak defence that I could make. 18 Their subtle rage had near prevail'd, But still, when other succours fail'd, When I distress'd and friendless lay; God was my firm support and stay. 19 From dangers that enclos'd me round, For some just cause his goodness found, He brought me forth and set me free; That mov'd him to delight in me. 20 Because in me no guilt remains, God does his gracious help extend; My hands are free from bloody stains: Therefore the Lord is still my friend. 21, 22 For I his judgments keep in sight, In his just paths I always trod; I never did his statutes slight, Nor loosely wander'd from my God. 23, 24 But still my soul, sincere and pure, Did ev'n from darling sins refrain; His favours therefore yet endure, Because my heart and hands are clean. PART IV. 25, 26 Thou suit'st, O Lord, thy righte ous ways To various paths of human-kind; They who for mercy merit praise, With thee shall wondrous mercy find. Thou to the just shalt justice show; The pure thy purity shall see; Such as perversely choose to go, Shall meet with due returns from thee. 27, 28 That he the humble soul will save, And crush the haughty's boasted might, In me the Lord an instance gave, Whose darkness be has turned to light. 29 On his firm succour I rely'd, And did o'er num'rous foes prevail; Nor fear'd, whilst he was on my side, The best defended walls to scale Rr 30 For God's design shall still succeed, PART V. 32, 33 'Tis God that girds my armour on, And manly weapons learn to wield, Protects me from assaulting foes; His hand sustains me still; my wealth And greatness from his bounty flows. 36 My goings he enlarg'd abroad, Till then to narrow paths confin'd; The method of my steps design'd. 38 Cover'd with wounds, in vain they try warms; He makes my strong opposer's yield, 40 Through him the necks of prostrate My conq'ring feet in triumph press: Aided by him, I root out those Who hate and envy my success. 45 All to my summons tamely yield, Or soon in battle are dismayed; For stronger holds they quit the field, And still in strongest holds afraid. 46 Let the eternal Lord be prais'd, The rock on whose defence I rest! From whom my lasting honours flow; Shall thus be taught to sing his praise: "To David, and his promis'd race." PSALM 19. THE heav'ns declare thy glory, Lord, The firmament and stars express 2 The dawn of each returning day And from the dark returns of night. 3 Their pow'rful language to no realm 4 Their doctrine does its sacred sense 5 No bridegroom on his nuptial day 41 With loud complaints all friends they No giant does like him rejoice try'd; But none was able to defend; At length to God for help they cry'd; 42 Like flying dust, which winds pursue, To run his glorious race. 6 From east to west, from west to east, And, through his progress, cheerful light PART II. Like loathsome dirt that clogs they God's perfect law converts the soul; ground. PART VI. 43 Our factious tribes, at strife till now, And foreign nations own my sway. Charm'd with respect, or aw'd by fear. Reclaims from false desires; 8 The statutes of the Lord are just, His pure commands in search of truth 9 His perfect worship here is fix'd, 10 of more esteem than golden mines, 11 My trusty counsellors they are, Divine rewards attend on those 12 But what frail man observes how oft 5 Thy sure defence through nations He does from virtue fall? O cleanse me from my secret faults, 14 So shall my pray'r and praises be PSALM 20. THE Lord to thy request attend 4 To compass thy own heart's desire, 5 To thy salvation, Lord, for aid 6 Our hopes are fix'd, that now the Lord, And to his pray'r attend. 7 Some trust in steeds for war design'd; 8 But, from their steeds and chariots thrown, Behold them through the plain, Disorder'd, broke, and trampled down, Whilst firm our troops remain. 9 Still save us, Lord, and still proceed PSALM 21. THE king, O Lord, with songs of praise Shall in thy strength rejoice; With thy salvation crown'd, shall raise To heav'n his cheerful voice. 2 For thou, whate'er his lips request, But bast, with thy acceptance, blest round Has spread his glorious name; 6 Eternal blessings thou bestow'st, 7 Because the king on God alone. His mercy still supports his throne, 8 But, righteous Lord, thy stubborn foes Shall feel thy heavy hand; Thy vengeful arm shall find out those 9 When thou against them dost engage, Their hopes and them consume. 10 Nor shall thy furious anger cease, Or with their ruin end; But root out all their guilty race, And to their seed extend. 11 For all their thoughts were set on ill, Their hearts on malice bent; But thou with watchful care didst still The ill effects prevent. 12 While they their swift retreat shall make, To 'scape thy dreadful might, Thy swifter arrows shall o'ertake, And gall them in their flight. 13 Thus, Lord, thy wond rous strength disclose, And thus exalt thy fame; Whilst we glad songs of praise compose To thy Almighty name. 6 But I am treated like a worm; Like none of human birth; Not only by the great revil'd, But made the rabble's mirth. 7 With laughter all the gazing crowd They shoot the lip, they shake the head, 8"In God he trusted, boasting oft PART IL Nor let my darling in the pow'r 21 To save me from the lion's jaws, 22 Then to my brethren I'll declare 23 "Ye worshippers of Jacob's God, "O praise the Lord, and to your praise "Sincere obedience join. 9 Thou mad'st my teeming mother's 24 "He ne'er disdain'd on low distress womb A living offspring bear; When but a suckling at the breast, I was thy early care. 10 Thou, guardian-like, didst shield from wrongs My helpless infant days; And since hast been my God, and guide, 11 Withdraw not then so far from me, O send me help! thy help, on which 12 High-pamper'd bulls, a frowning herd, With strength proportion'd to their rage, 13 They gape on me, and every mouth 14 My blood like water's spill'd, Are rack'd and out of frame; 15 My strength like potter's earth My tongue cleaves to my jaws; And to the silent shades of death My fainting soul withdraws. "To cast a gracious eye; PART IV. 25 Thus, in thy sacred courts, will I 26 The meek companions of my grief 27 Then shall the glad converted world 28 'Tis his supreme prerogative O'er subject kings to reign; 'Tis just that he should rule the world, Who does the world sustain. 29 The rich, who are with plenty fed, my The sons of want, by him reliev'd, is With humble worship to his throne That power, which first their beings gave, Can only them support. 30, 31 Then shall a chosen spotless race, Devoted to his name, To their admiring heirs his truth, And glorious acts, proclaim. PSALM 23. THE Lord himself, the mighty Lord, The Shepherd, by whose constant care 2 In tender grass he makes me feed, Then leads me to cool shades, and where 3 He does my wand'ring soul reclaim, In his most righteous ways. 4 I pass the gloomy vale of death, For there his aiding rod and staff 5 In presence of my spiteful foes 6 Since God doth thus his wond'rous love PSALM 24. THE spacious earth is all the Lord's The Lord's her fulness is; The world, and they that dwell therein, 2 He fram'd and fix'd it on the seas; 3 But for himself, this Lord of all O! who shall to that sacred hill 4 The man, whose hands and heart are pure, Whose thoughts from pride are free; Who honest poverty prefers To gainful perjury. 5 This, this is he, on whom the Lord 6 Such is the race of saints, by whom 7 Erect your heads, eternal gates; The King of glory: see! he comes 8 Who is the King of glory? who? 9 Erect your heads, ye gates; unfold The King of glory: see! he comes 10 Who is the King of glory? who? Of glory he alone is King, PSALM 25. TO God, in whom I trust, I lift my heart and voice; O! let me not be put to shame : Nor let my foes rejoice. 3 Those who on thee rely, Let no disgrace attend; Be that the shameful lot of such As wilfully offend. 14, 5 To me thy truth impart, And lead me in thy way; For thou art he that brings me help; On thee I wait all day. 6 Thy mercies, and thy love, O Lord, recal to mind: And graciously continue still, As thou wert ever, kind. 7 Let all my youthful crimes Be blotted out by thee; And, for thy wond'rous goodness' sake In mercy think on me. 8 His mercy, and his truth, The righteous Lord displays, 9 He those in justice guides, 10 Through all the ways of God PART IL 11 Since mercy is the grace, Forgive my heinous sin, O Lord, 14 For God to all his saints And does his gracious cov'nant write 15 To him I lift my eyes, And wait his timely aid, Who breaks the strong and treach❜rous snare, Which for my feet was laid. 16 0! turn, and all my griefs, In mercy, Lord, redress; For I am compass'd round with woes, And plung'd in deep distress. 17 The sorrows of my heart To mighty sums increase; 01 from this dark and dismal state My troubled soul release! 18 Do thou, with tender eyes, Acquit me, Lord, and from my guiit 19 Consider, Lord, my foes, How vast their numbers grow; What lawless force and rage they use, What boundless hate they show. 20 Protect, and set my soul From their fierce malice free; |