BY the Bishops, the Clergy, and the Laity of the Pro

testant Eliiscopal Church in the United States of America, in Convention, this 13th day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eightynine

This Translation of the IVhole 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 af any Church, either by standing directions or from time to time, to appoint the Portions 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 his duty, to supfiress all light and unseemly music, and all indecency and irreverence in the performance, by which vain and ungodly persons firofane the service of the Sanctuary.

PSALMS OF DAVID,

IN METRE.

H

PSALM I.
1 COW blest is he, who ne'er consents

By ill advice to walk,
Nor stands in sinners' ways, nor sits

Where men profanely talk ;
2 But makes the perfect law of God

His business and delight;
Devoutly reads therein by day,

And meditates by night. 3 Like some fair tree, which, fed by streams,

With timely fruit does bend,
He still shall flourish, and success

All his designs attend.
4 Ungodly men and their attemptsy

No lasting root shall find ;
Untimely blasted and dispers'd

Like chaff before the wind.
5 Their guilt shall strike the wicked dumb

Before their Judge's face : No formal hypocrite shall then

Among the saints have place.
6 For God approves the just man's ways;

To happiness they tend :
But sinners, and the paths they tread,
Shall both in ruin end.

PSALJI M.
i WITH restless and ungovern'd rage,

Why do the heathen storm? Why in such 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 “ Must we submit to their commands ?"

Presumptuously they say: "No, let us break their slavish hands,

* And cast their chains away.”

4. But God, who sits enthron'd on high,

And sees how they combine, Does their conspiring strength defy,

And mocks their vain design.
5 Thick clouds of wrath divine shall breaks

On his rebellious foes;
And thus will he in thunder speak

To all that dare oppose :
6 " Though madly you dispute my will,

“ The king that I ordain, 6 Whose throne is fix'd on Sion's hill,

“ Shall there securely reign." 7 Altend, ( earth, whilst I declare

God's uncontrould decree : " Thou art my Son; this day, my heir,

“ Have I begotten thee. 8 " Ask, and receive thy full demands;

“ Thine shall the heathen be ; “ The utmost limits of the lands

“ Shall be possess'd by thee. 9 “ Thy threat’ning sceptre thou shalt shake,

“ And crush them ev'ry where ; “ As massy 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 Appease the Son with due respect,

Your timely homage pay :
Lest he revenge the bold neglect,

Incens'd by your delay. 13 If but in part his anger rise,

Who can endure the flame?
Then blest are they, whose hope relies
On his most holy Name.

PSALM III.
1 OW many, Lord, of late are grown

The troublers of my peace ! And as their numbers hourly rise,

So does their rage increase. 2 Insulting, they my soul upbraid,

And him whom I adore; « The God in whom he trusts," say they,

!

3

3. But thou, O Lord art my defence ;

On thee my hopes rely ;
Thou art my glory, and shall yet

Lift up my head on high.
4 Since whensoe'er, in like distress,

To God I made my pray'r,
He lieard me from his holy hill ;

Why should I now despair ?
5 Guarded by him, I laid me down

My sweet repose to take ;
For I through him securely sleep,

Through him in safety wake.
& No force nor fury of my foes

My courage shall confound,
Were they as many hosts as men,

That have beset me round.
7 Arise, and save me, () my God,

Who oft hast own'd my cause,
And scatter'd oft these foes to me,

And to thy righteous laws.
& Salvation to the Lord belongs ;

He only can defend :
His blessings he extends to all
That on his power depend.

PSALM IV.
1 LORD, that art my righteous Judgen

To my complaint give ear:
Thou still redeem'st me from distress ;

Have mercy, Lord, and hear.
2 How long will ye, O sons of men,

To blot my fame devise ?
How long your vain designs pursue,

And spread malicious lies
3 Consider 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 sacrifice

Let righteousness supply;
And let your hope, securely fix!d,
On God alone rely.

O O

6 While worldly minds impatient grow

More prosp'rous times to see ;-
Still let the glories of thy face

Shine brightly, Lord, on me.
7 So shall my heart o'erflow with joys

More lasting and more true
Than theirs, who stores of corn and wine.

Successively renew.
8 Then down in peace I'll lay my head,

And take my needful rest ;
No other guard, O Lord, I crave,
Of thy defence possess'd.

PSALM V.
1
LORD, hear the voice of my complaint;

Accept my secret pray'r ; 2 To thee alone, my King, my God,

Will I for help repair.
3 Thou in the morn my voice shalt hcar,

And with the dawning day
To thee devoutly I'll look up,

To thee devoutly pray.
4 For thou the wrongs that I sustain

Canst never, Lord, approve,
Who from thy sacred dwelling place

All evil dost remove.
Not long shall stubborn fools remain

Unpunish'd in thy view ;
All such as act unrighteous things

Thy vengeance shall pursue.
6 The sland'ring tongue, O God of truth,

By thee shall be destroy'd,
Who hat'st alike the man in blood

Ard in deceit employ'd.
7 But when thy boundless grace shall me

To thy lov'd courts restore,
On thee I'll fix my longing eyes,

And humbly there adore.
Conduct me by thy righteous laws,

For watchful is my foe ;
Therefore, O Lord, make plain the way,

Wherein I ought to go.
9 Their mouth vents nothing but deceit;

Their heart is set on wrong;