2. Their feet shall never slide to fall
Whom He designs to keep;
His ear attends the softest call;
His eyes can never sleep.

3 He will sustain our weakest powers
With His almighty arm,

And watch our most unguarded hours
Against surprising harm.

4 Israel, rejoice and rest secure,
Thy keeper is the Lord;

His wakeful eyes employ His power
For thine eternal guard.

5 He guards thy soul, He keeps thy breath,
Where thickest dangers come;
Go and return, secure from death,
Till God commands thee home.

170

1

PSALM CXXI. L. M.

WATTS.

to the hills I lift mine eyes,
The eternal hills beyond the skies

Thence all her help my soul derives;
There my Almighty Refuge lives.

2 He lives, the everlasting God,

;

That built the world, that spread the flood; The heavens with all their hosts He made, And the dark regions of the dead.

3 He guides our feet, He guards our way;
His morning smiles bless all the day;
He spreads the evening veil, and keeps
The silent hours while Israel sleeps.

4 Israel, a name divinely bless'd,
May rise secure, securely rest;
Thy holy Guardian's wakeful eyes
Admit no slumber nor surprise.

5 Should earth and hell with malice burn,
Still thou shalt go, and still return,
Safe in the Lord; His heavenly care
Defends thy life from every snare.

171

1

PSALM CXXII. S. M. MONTGOMERY.

GLAD was my heart to hear

My old companions say,

Come, in the house of God appear,
For 'tis a holy day.

2 Our willing feet shall stand

3

Within the temple-door;

While young and old, in many a band,
Shall throng the sacred floor.

Thither the tribes repair,

Where all are wont to meet,
And, joyful in the house of prayer,

Bend at the mercy-seat.

4

Pray for Jerusalem,

5

6

The city of our God:

The Lord from heaven be kind to them
That love the dear abode !*

Within these walls may peace

And harmony be found:
Zion, in all thy palaces,
Prosperity abound!

For friends and brethren dear,
Our prayer shall never cease:

Oft as they meet for worship here,
God send His people peace!

172

1

PSALM CXXII. C. M.

WATTS.

OW did my heart rejoice to hear

H My friends devoutly say,

"In Zion let us all appear,

"And keep the solemn day."

2 I love her gates, I love the road;
The church adorn'd with grace,
Stands like a palace built for God,
To shew His milder face.

3 Up to her courts with joys unknown
The holy tribes repair:

The Son of David holds His throne,
And sits in judgment there.

4 He hears our praises and complaints;
And while His awful voice
Divides the sinners from the saints,
We tremble and rejoice.

5 Peace be within this sacred place,
And joy a constant guest!
With holy gifts and heavenly grace
Be her attendants bless'd!

6 My soul shall pray for Zion still,
While life or breath remains;

There my best friends, my kindred dwell,
There God my Saviour reigns.

173

1

PSALM CXXII. 8.8.6.

MERRICK

THE festal morn, my God, is come,

That calls me to Thy hallow'd dome,
Thy presence to adore;

My feet the summons shall attend,
With willing steps Thy courts ascend,
And tread the sacred floor.

2 What joy while thus I view the day,
That warns my thirsting soul away!
What transports fill my breast!
For lo! my great Redeemer's power
Unfolds the everlasting door,

And leads me to His rest.

3 E'en now, to my expecting eyes,
The heaven-built towers of Salem rise;
E'en now, with glad survey,

I view her mansions, that contain
The angelic forms, an awful train,
And shine with cloudless day.

4 Hither from earth's remotest end,
Lo! the redeem'd of God ascend,
Their tribute hither bring:
Here crown'd with everlasting joy,

In hymns of praise their tongues employ,
And hail the Immortal King.

174

1

2

3

PSALM CXXV.

148th M.

HEIR hearts shall not be mov'd

Who in the Lord confide;

But firm as Zion's hill,

They ever shall abide;

As mountains shield Jerusalem,

The Lord shall be a shield to them.

His blessing on them rests,

Like freshening dew from heaven;
And succour from His throne

In all their need is given;

Omnipotence shall guard them well,
And peace remain on Israel.

One like the Son of God,

Is walking at their side,
When by the fervid flame
And fiery furnace tried ;

And 'tis enough that He is near,
To strengthen them in every fear.

175

1

WE

PSALM CXXVI. C. M.

WATTS.

HEN God reveal'd His gracious name.
And chang'd my mournful state,

My rapture seem'd a pleasing dream,
The grace appear'd so great.

2 The Lord can clear the darkest skies,
Can give us day for night;
Make drops of sacred sorrow rise
To rivers of delight.

3 Let those that sow in sadness wait,
Till the fair harvest come;

They shall confess their sheaves are great,
And shout the blessings home.

4 The seed, though buried long in dust,
Shall not deceive their hope;
The precious grain can ne'er be lost,
For grace ensures the crop.

176

PSALM CXXX. S. M. KEBLE.

1 Fi call Thee, Lord, most high:

OM deeps so wild and drear,

2

3

4

5

Lord, hear my prayer, unseal Thine ear,
Receive my mournful cry.

If Thou, Lord, bear in mind
All evil deeds, O Lord,

Who might abide? But Thou art kind,
With Thee is pardon stor'd:

With Thee is pardon stor❜d,
Thine holy fear to aid;

I stay'd for mine Almighty Lord,
My soul in quiet stay'd.

Even for His word and will

I waited patiently;

Mine heavenward soul is seeking still

My sovereign Lord on high.

My soul is heavenward borne ;

Less eagerly they wait

Who watch the morning,-watch till morn

Unbar the glorious gate.