Br the Bishops, the Clergy, and the Laity of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, in Convention, this thirteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine

This Translation of the Whole Book of Psalms into Metre, with Hymns, is set forth, and allowed to be sung in all Congregations of the said Church, before and after Morning and Evening Prayer, and also before and after Sermons, at the discretion of the Minister.

And it shall be the duty of every Minister of any Church, either by standing directions, or from time to time, to appoint the Portion of Psalms which are to be

sung.

And further, it shall be the duty of every Minister, with such assistance as he can obtain from persons skilled in music, to give order concerning the Tunes to be sung, at any time, in his Church: And, especially, it shall be bis duty, to suppress all light and unseemly music; and all indecency and irreverence in the performance; by which, vain and ungodly persons profane the service of the Sanctuary.

I

PSALM 1.

OW bleft is he; who ne'er confents by ill advice to walk,

HOW

Nor ftands in finners' ways, nor fits

where men profanely talk;

2 But makes the perfect law of God his bus'nefs and delight;

3

Devoutly reads therein by day,
and meditates by night.

Like fome fair tree, which, fed by ftreams,

with timely fruit does bend,

He ftill fhall flourish, and success

all his defigns attend.

4 Ungodly men, and their attempts, no lasting root shall find; Untimely blafted, and difpers'd

like chaff before the wind.

5 Their guilt fhall ftrike the wicked dumb. before their Judge's face:

No formal hypocrite fhall then
among the faints have place.

6 For God approves the juft man's ways;
to happiness they tend :

1

But finners, and the paths they tread, fhall both in ruin end.

PSALM II.

ITH reftlefs and ungovern'd rage,

Wwhy do the heathen storm?

Why in fuch rash attempts engage, as they can ne'er perform? 2 The great in council and in might their various forces bring;

Against the Lord they all unite, and his anointed King.

3 "Muft we fubmit to their commands ?" prefumptuously they fay:

66

No, let us break their flavish bands,
"and caft their chains away.'

4 But God, who fits enthron'd on high, and fees how they combine,

Does their confpiring ftrength defy,
and mocks their vain defign.

5 Thick clouds of wrath divine fhall break on his rebellious foes;

6"

And thus will he in thunder fpeak
to all that dare oppose:

Though madly you difpute my will,
"the king that I ordain,

"Whose throne is fix'd on Zion's hill,
"fhall there fecurely reign.'

7 Attend, O earth, whilft I declare
God's uncontroul'd decree :

"Thou art my fon; this day, my heir,
"have I begotten thee.

8" Afk, and receive thy full demands;
"thine fhall the heathen be;

9

"The utmoft limits of the lands

"fhall be poffefs'd by thee.

Thy threat'ning fceptre thou fhalt shake, "and crush them ev'ry where;

"As maffy bars of iron break

"the potter's brittle ware."

10 Learn then, ye princes; and give ear, ye judges of the earth;

11 Worship the Lord with holy fear;
rejoice with awful mirth.

12 Appeafe the Son with due refpect,
your timely homage pay :
Left he revenge the bold neglect,
incens'd by your delay.

13 If but in part his anger rife,

1

who can endure the flame?

Then bleft are they, whofe hope relies
on his most holy Name.

PSALM III.

OW many, Lord, of late are grown
the troublers of my peace!

HOW

And as their numbers hourly rise, fo does their rage increase.

2 Infulting, they my foul upbraid,

and him whom I adore;

"The God in whom he trufts," say they,

"fhall rescue him no more.'

4

;

3 But thou, O Lord, art my defence ; on thee my hopes rely; Thou art my glory, and thall yet lift up my head on high. Since whenfoe'er, in like diftrefs, to God I made my pray❜r, He heard me from his holy hill why should I now despair? 5 Guarded by him, I laid me down my sweet repofe to take; For I through him fecurely fleep, through him in fafety wake. 6 No force nor fury of my foes my courage fhall confound, Were they as many hofts as men, that have befet me round.

7 Arife, and fave me, O my God, who oft haft own'd my caufe, And fcatter'd oft these foes to me, and to thy righteous laws.

8 Salvation to the Lord belongs; he only can defend :

I

His bleffing he extends to all
that on his pow'r depend.

PSALM IV.

LORD, that art my righteous Judge,
to my complaint give ear:

Thou ftill redeem'ft me from distress;
have mercy, Lord, and hear.

2 How long will ye, O fons of men,
to blot my fame devife?

How long your vain defigns pursue,
and fpread malicious lies?

3 Confider that the righteous man
is God's peculiar choice;

And when to him I make my pray'r, he always hears my voice.

4 Then stand in awe of his commands,
flee ev'ry thing that's ill,

Commune in private with your hearts,
And bend them to his will.

5 The place of other facrifice

let righteousness supply;