Page images
PDF
EPUB

4 That GOD is great, we often have
By glad experience found:
And seen how he, with wondrous power,
Above all gods is crown'd.

5 For he, with unresisted strength,
Performs his sov'reign will,

In heaven and earth, and wat❜ry stores
That earth's deep caverns fill.

6 Their just returns of thanks to GOD
Let grateful Israel pay;
Nor let anointed Aaron's race

To bless the LORD delay.

7 Their sense of his unbounded love
Let Levi's house express;

And let all those who fear the LORD,
His Name for ever bless.

8 Let all with thanks his wondrous works In Sion's courts proclaim;

Let them in Salem, where he dwells,
Exalt his holy Name.

[blocks in formation]

1 TO GOD, the mighty LORD,

Your joyful thanks repeat;

To him due praise afford,
As good as he is great:
For GOD does prove
Our constant friend;
His boundless love
Shall never end.

2 To him, whose wondrous power
All other gods obey,
Whom earthly kings adore,
Your grateful homage pay:
For GOD &c.

3 By his almighty hand
Amazing works are wrought;
The heavens by his command
Were to perfection brought:
For GOD &c.

4 He spread the ocean round
About the spacious land;
And bade the rising ground
Above the waters stand:
For GOD &c.

5 By him the heavens display
Their num'rous hosts of light,
The sun to rule by day,

The moon and stars, by night:
For GOD &c.

6 He, in our depth of woes,
On us with favor thought;
And from our cruel foes
In peace and safety brought:
For GOD &c.

7 He does the food supply
On which all creatures live:
Te GOD, who reigns on high,
Eternal praises give:
For GoD will prove
Our constant friend;
His boundless love
Shall never end.

[blocks in formation]

From the cxxxvii. Psalm of David
1 WHEN we, our weary limbs to rest,
Sat down by proud Euphrates' stream,
We wept, with doleful thoughts oppress'd,
And Sion was our mornful theme.

2 Our harps, that, when with joy we sung
Were wont their tuueful parts to bear,
With silent strings neglected hung
On willow trees that wither'd there.
3 O Salem, our once happy seat,
When I of thee forgetful prove,
Let then my trembling hand forget
The speaking strings with art to move!
4 If I to mention thee forbear,
Perpetual silence be my doom;
Or if my chiefest joy compare
With thee, Jerusalem, iny home!

PSALM 112.

C. M.
From the cxxxviii. Psalm of David.

1 WITH my whole heart, my GoD and

King,

Thy praise I will proclaim;
Before the mighty I will sing,
And bless thy holy Name.
2 I'll worship at thy sacred seat,
And, with thy love inspired,
The praises of thy truth repeat,
O'er all thy works admired.

3 Thou graciously inclin'dst thine ear,
When I to thee did cry;

And, when my soul was press'd with fear
Didst inward strength supply.

4 For GOD, although enthroned on high,
Does thence the poor respect;
The proud, far off, his scornful eye
Beholds with just neglect.

5 Though I with troubles am oppress'd, He shall my foes disarm,

Relievd my soul when most distress'd,
And keep me safe from harm.

6 The LORD, whose mercies ever last,
Shall fix my happy state;

And mindful of his favors past,
Shall his own work complete.

[blocks in formation]

4 From thy all-seeing Spirit, LORD,
What hiding place does earth afford?
O where can I thy influence shun,
Or whither from thy presence run?
5 If up to heaven I take my flight,
"T is there thou dwell'st enthroned in light;
If to the world unseen, my GOD,
There also hast thou thine abode.
6 If I the morning's wings could gain,
And fly beyond the western main;
E'en there, in earth's remotest land,
I still should find thy guiding hand.
7 Or, should I try to shun thy sight
Beneath the sable wings of night,
One glance from thee, one piercing ray,
Would kindle darkness into day.
8 The veil of night is no disguise, .
No screen from thy all-searching eyes;
Through midnight shades thou find'st thy

way.

As in the blazing noon of day.

9 Thou know'st the texture of my heart,
My reins and every vital part:

I'll praise thee, from whose hands I came
A work of such a wondrous frame.
10 Let me acknowledge too, O GOD,
That since this maze of life I trod,
Thy thoughts of love to me surmount
The power of numbers to recount.
11 Far sooner could I reckon o'er
The sands upon the ocean's shore;
Each morn, revising what I've done,
I find th' account but new begun.

[heart,

12 Search, try. O GOD, my thoughts and
If mischief lurk in any part;
Correct me where I go astray,
And guide me in thy perfect way.

[blocks in formation]

12 Nor at thy strict tribunal bring
Thy servant to be tried;
For in thy sight no living man
Can e'er be justified.

3 To thee my hands in humble prayer
I fervently stretch out;

My soul for thy refreshment thirsts,
Like land oppress'd with drought.
4 Hear me with speed, my spirit fails;
Thy face no longer hide,
Lest I become forlorn, like them
'That in the grave reside.

5 Thy kindness early let me hear,
Whose trust on thee depends;
Teach me the way where I should go,
My soul to thee ascends.

6 Do thou, O LORD, from all my foes
Preserve and set me free;

A safe retreat, a hiding-place,

My soul implores from thee.

7 Thou art my GOD, thy righteous will
Instruct me to obey;

Let thy good spirit lead and keep
My soul in thy right way.

8 O, for the sake of thy great Name,
Revive my drooping heart;

For thy truth's sake, to me distress'd
Thy saving health impart.

[blocks in formation]

1 LORD, what's in man. that thou should'st
Of him such tender care to take? [love
What in his offspring could thee move
Such great account of him to make?
2 The life of man does quickly fade,
His thoughts but empty are and vain,
His days are like a flying shade,

Of whose short stay no signs remain.
3 To thee, almighty King of kings,
In new-made hymns my voice I'll raise;
And instruments of many strings
Shall help me to adore and praise.

PSALM 117.

From the cxlv. Psalm of David.

PART I.

C. M.

1 THEE I will bless, my GoD and King,
Thy endless praise proclaim;
This tribute daily I will bring,
And ever bless thy Name.

2 Thou, LORD, beyond compare art great,
And highly to be praised;

Thy majesty, with boundless height,
Above our knowledge raised.

3 Renown'd for mighty acts, thy fame
To future time extends;

From age to age thy glorious Name
Successively descends.

4 Whilst I thy glory, and renown,
And wondrous works express,
The world with me thy might shall own,
And thy great power confess.

5 The praise that to thy love belongs They shall with joy proclaim; Thy truth of all their grateful songs Shall be the constant theme.

6 The LORD is good; fresh acts of grace His pity still supplies;

His anger moves with slowest pace,
His willing mercy flies.

7 Thy love through earth extends its fame,
To all thy works express'd;
These show thy praise, whilst thy great
Name

Is by thy servants bless'd.

8 They, with a glorious prospect fired,
Shall of thy kingdom speak;
And thy great power, by all admired,
Their lofty subject make.

9 GOD's nighty works of ancient date
Shall thus to all be known;
And thus his kingdom's glorious state
In all its splendor shown.

10 His steadfast throne, from changes free, Shall stand for ever fast;

His boundless sway no end shall see,
But time itself outlast.

[blocks in formation]

1 THE LORD does them support that fall, And makes the prostrate rise;

For his kind aid all creatures call,
Who timely food supplies.

2 Whate'er their various wants require
With open hand he gives;
And so fulfils the just desire
Of every thing that lives.

3 How holy is the LORD, how just,
How righteous all his ways!
How nigh to him, who with firm trust
For his assistance prays!

4 He grants the full desires of those
Who him with fear adore;
And will their troubles soon compose,
When they his aid implore.

5 The LORD preserves all those with care
Whom grateful love employs;
But sinners, who his vengeance dare,
In justice he destroys.

6 My time to come, in praises spent,
Shall still advance his fame;
And all mankind, with one consent,
For ever bless his Name.

[blocks in formation]

13 They shall talk of all thy glory,
On thy might and greatness dwell,
Speak of thy dread acts the story,
And thy deeds of wonder tell.
4 Nor shall fail from mem'ry's treasur
Works by love and mercy wrought;
Works of love surpassing measure,
Works of mercy passing thought.

5 Fult of kindness and compassion,
Slow to anger, vast in love,
GOD is good to all creation;

All his works his goodness prove.

6 All thy works, O LORD, shall bless the
Thee shall all thy saints adore;
King supreme shall they confess thee,
Aud proclaim thy sov'reign power.
7 They thy might, all might excelling,
Shall to all mankind make known,
And the brightness of thy dwelling,
And the glories of thy throne.
8 Ever, GOD of endless praises,
Shall thy royal might remain;
Everinore thy brightness blazes,
Ever lasts thy righteous reign.

9 Them that fall the LORD protectein,
He sustains the bow'd and bent;
Every eye from thee expecteth,

Fix'd on thee, its nourishment.

10 Thou to all, great GOD of nature,
Giv❜st in season due their food;
Spread'st thy hand, and every creature
Satisfiest still with good.

11 GOD is just in all he doeth,
Kind is he in all his ways;
He his ready presence showeth,
When a faithful servant prays.
12 Who sincerely seek and fear him,
He to them their wish will give;
When they call, the LORD will hear them,
He will hear them, and relieve.

13 From JEHOVAH all who prize him
Shall his saving health enjoy;
All the wicked, who despise him,
He will in their sin destroy.
14 Still JEHOVAH, thee confessing,
Shall my tongue thy praise proclaim;
And may all mankind with blessing
Ever hail thy holy Name.

[blocks in formation]

From the cxlvi. Psalm of David.

10 PRAISE the LORD, and thou, my soul, For ever bless his Name:

His wondrous love, while life shall last,
My constant praise shall claim.

2 On princes, on the sons of men,
Let none for aid rely;

They cannot help, they turn to dust,
And all their counsels die.

8 Then happy he, who Jacob's GOD
For his protector takes;

Who still, with well-placed hope, the LORD His constant refuge makes.

4 The LORD, who made both heaven and | 2 His holy city GOD will build,

earth,

And all that they contain,

Will never quit his steadfast truth,
Nor make his promise vain.

5 The poor, oppress'd, from all their wrongs Are eased by his decree;

He gives the hungry needful food,
And sets the prisoners free.

6 By him the blind receive their sight,
The weak and fall'n he rears;
With kind regard and tender love
He for the righteous cares.

7 The strangers he preserves from harm,
The orphan kindly treats;
Defends the widow, and the wiles
Of wicked men defeats.

8 The GOD that does in Sion dwell

13 our eternal King: From age to age his reign endures; Let all his praises sing.

[blocks in formation]

power,

And thoughts, all vanish in an hour,

Nor can they make their promise good. 8 Happy the man whose hopes rely On Israel's GOD: he made the sky, And earth, and seas, with all their train; He saves th' oppress'd, he feeds the poor; His truth for ever stands secure,

And none shall find his promise vain.
4 The LORD gives eye-sight to the blind,
The LORD supports the sinking mind,
He sends the righteous strength and peace,
He helps the stranger in distress,
The widow, and the fatherless,

And to the prisoner grants release.
5 GOD shall the wicked overturn,
On them his wrath shall ever burn,
Sinners shall perish in their ways;
Sion! the GOD thy sons adore,
He, he is king for evermore;
The LORD thy GOD for ever praise!
PSALM 121.

From the cxlvii. Psalm of David.

[blocks in formation]

Though levell'd with the ground; Bring back his people, though dispersed Through all the nations round.

3 He kindly heals the broken hearts, And all their wounds does close; He tells the number of the stars,

Their several names he knows.

4 Great is the LORD, and great his power, His wisdom has no bound;

The meek he raises, and throws down
The wicked to the ground.

5 To GOD the LORD, a hymn of praise
With grateful voices sing;

To songs of triumph tune the harp,
And strike each warbling string.

6 He covers heaven with clouds, and thence Refreshing rain bestows,

And on the mountains, through his care,
The grass in plenty grows.

7 His care the beasts that loosely range
With timely food supplies;

He feeds the ravens' tender brood,

And stops their hungry cries.

8 The LORD to him that fears his name
His, tender love extends;
To him that on his boundless grace
With steadfast hope depends.

9 Let Sion and Jerusalem

To GOD their praise address; Whose strength secures their lasting gates, Who does their children bless.

[blocks in formation]

1 JEHOVAH speaks: swift from the skies
To earth the sov'reign mandate flies;
The elements confess their LORD,
With prompt obedience to his word:
2 The thick descending flakes of snow
O'er earth a fleecy mantle throw;
And glittering frost o'er all the plains
Binds nature fast in icy chains,

3 He speaks: the ice and snow obey,
Softly the vernal breezes blow,
And nature's fetters melt away;
And murm'ring waters freely flow.
4 But nobler works his grace record:
To Israel he reveals his word;
To them, his chosen flock, alone,
He makes his sacred precepts known.

5 Such bliss no heathen nation shares,
His oracles are only theirs:
Let Israel then their voices raise,
And bless their GOD in songs of praise.

[blocks in formation]

1 O PRAISE the LORD with hymns of joy, 1 YE boundless realms of joy,

And celebrate his fame;

For pleasant, good, and comely 't is To praise his holy Name.

29

Exalt your Maker's fame; His praise your song employ Above the starry frame:

Your voices raise,

Ye Cherubim

And Seraphim,

To sing his praise.

2 Thou moon, that rul'st the night,
And sun, that guid'st the day,
Ye glitt'ring stars of light,
To him your homage pay:
His praise declare,
Ye heavens above,
And clouds that move
In liquid air.

8 Let them adore the LORD,
And praise his holy Name,
By whose almighty word
They all from nothing came;
And all shall last,
From changes free;
His firm decree

Stands ever fast.

4 Let earth her tribute pay:
Praise him ye dreadful whales,
And fish that through the sea
Glide swift with glitt'ring scales
Fire, hail, and snow,

And misty air,

And winds that where

He bids them blow.

5 By hills and mountains, all
In grateful concert join'd;
By cedars stately tall,

And trees for fruit design'd;
By every beast,
And creeping thing,
And fowl of wing,

His name be blest.

6 Let all of highest birth,
With those of humbler name,
And judges of the earth,

His matchless praise proclaim.
In this design,
Let youths with maids,
And hoary heads

With children, join.

7 United zeal be shown

His wondrous fame to raise,
Whose glorious Name alone
Deserves our endless praise:
Earth's utmost ends
His power obey;
His glorious sway

The sky transcends.

8 His chosen saints to grace,
He sets them up on high;
And favors Israel's race,
Who still to him are nigh.

[blocks in formation]

From the cxlix, Psalm of David.

1 O PRAISE ye the LORD,
Prepare your glad voice
His praise in the great
Assembly to sing:
In their great Creator
Let Israel rejoice;
And children of Sion
Be glad in their King.

2 Let them his great Name
Extol in their songs,
With hearts well attuned
His praises express;
Who always takes pleasure
To hear their glad tongues,
And waits with salvation
The humble to bless.

3 With glory adorn'd,
His people shall sing
To GOD, who their heads
With safety doth shield;
Such honor and triumph
His favor shall bring:
O therefore, for ever
All praise to hun yield'

[blocks in formation]

From the cl. Psalm of David.

1 O PRAISE the LORD in that blest place From whence his goodness largely fws: Praise him in heaven, where he his tace,

Unveil'd, in perfect glory shows.

2 Praise him for all the mighty acts Which he in our behalf has done; His kindness this return exacts,

With which our praise should equal run. S Let the shrill trumpet's warlike voice Make rocks and hills his praise rebound Praise him with harp's melodious noise And gentle psalt ry's silver sound.

4 Let them who joyful hytans compose,
To cymbals set their songs of praise;
To well-tuned cymbals, and to those
That loudly sound on solemn days.
5 et all, that vital breath enjoy,
The breath he does to them afford
In just returns of praise employ:
Let every creature praise the LORD!

« PreviousContinue »