A just return to make. 8 When death alarm'd me, he removed To all my foes I need not doubt My dangers and my fears; My feet from falling he secured, And dry'd my eyes from tears. 9 Therefore my life's remaining years, 10, 11 In God I trusted, and of him Whose blood, howe'er despised 16 By various ties, O Lord, must I And whilst I bless thy name. of ITH cheerful notes let all the WITH earth To heaven their voices raise; 2 God's tender mercy knows no bound, PSALM CXVIII. Praise the Lord, for he is good, Let thankful Israel say. 3. 4 Their sense of his eternal love 5 To God I made my humble moan, With troubles quite oppress'd; And he released me from my straits, And granted my request. 76 Since therefore God does on my side So graciously appear; Why should the vain attempts of men 7 Since God with those that aid my cause 8, 9 For better 'tis to trust in God, And have the Lord our friend, Than on the greatest human power For safety to depend. 10, 11 Though many nations, closely leagued, Did oft beset me round; Yet, by his boundless power sustain'd, I did their strength confound. 12 They swarm'd like bees, and yet their rage Was but a short-lived blaze; He is my Saviour and my strength, 15 Joy fills the dwelling of the just, 16 He, by his own resistless power, The saving strength of his right hand 17 God will not suffer me to fall, 18 When God had sorely me chastised, 19 Then open wide the temple-gates, My great Deliv're there. 20, 21 Within those gates of God's abode, 22, 23 That which the builders once re fused, Is now the corner stone; The work of God alone. 24, 25 This day is God's; let all the land Exalt their cheerful voice; Lord, we beseech thee, save us now, And make us still rejoice. 26 Him that approaches in God's name, Let all th' assembly bless; We that belong to God's own house, 'Have wish'd you good success.' 27 God is the Lord, through whom we all Both light and comfort find; Fast to the altar's horn, with cords, The chosen victim bind. 112 Secured by that, my grateful soul Shall ever bless thy name; 28 Thou art my Lord, O God, and O teach me then by thy just laws still I'll praise thy holy name; Because thou only art my God, I'll celebrate thy fame. 29 0 then with me give thanks to God, How PSALM CXIX. ALEPH. [OW bless'd are they, who always keep The pure and perfect way! Who never from the sacred paths Of God's commandments stray! 2 How bless'd, who to his righteous laws Have still obedient been! 3 Such men their utmost caution use O then that thy most holy will Then with assurance should I walk, 7 My upright heart shall my glad mouth With cheerful praises fill; When, by thy righteous judgments taught, I shall have learnt thy will. 8 So to thy sacred laws shall I O then forsake me not, my God, 9 How shall the young preserve their ways From all pollution free? By making still their course of life From thy right paths to stray. My future life to frame. 13 My lips, unlock'd by pious zeal, To others have declared How well the judgments of thy mouth Deserve our best regard. 14 Whilst in the way of thy commands More solid joy I found, Than had I been with vast increase 15 Therefore thy just and upright laws Shall always fill my mind; And those sound rules, which thou prescrib'st, All due respect shall find. 16 To keep thy statutes undefaced Shall be my constant joy; The strict remembrance of thy word Shall all my thoughts employ. GIMEL. 17 Be gracious to thy servant, Lord, Do thou my life defend, That I, according to thy word, My future time may spend. 18 Enlighten both my eyes and mind, That so I may discern The wondrous works which they behold, 19 Though, like a stranger in the land, 20 My fainting soul is almost pined, 21 Thy sharp rebuke shall crush the proud, Whom still thy curse pursues; Since they to walk in thy right ways Presumptuously refuse. 22 But far from me do thou, O Lord, Contempt and shame remove; For thy sacred laws affect With undissembled love. 23 Though princes oft, in council met, Against thy servant spake; Yet I thy statutes to observe My constant business make. 24 For thy commands have always been My comfort and delight; 25 My soul, oppress'd with deadly care 26 To thee I still declared my ways, O teach me then my future life By thy just laws to steer. 27 If thou wilt make me know thy laws, And by their guidance walk, The wondrous works which thou hast done Shall be my constant talk. 30 Thy faithful ways, thou God of truth, 31 My care has been to make my life 32 So in the way of thy commands HE. 33 Instruct me in thy statutes, Lord, 34 If thou true wisdom from above From thee my thoughts divert. 37 From those vain objects turn my eyes, Which this false world displays; But give me lively power and strength To keep thy righteous ways. 38 Confirm the promise which thou mad'st, And give thy servant aid, 39 The foul disgrace I justly fear, For all the judgments thou ordain'st 40 Thou know'st how after thy commands My longing heart does pant; VAU. 41 Thy constant blessing, Lord, bestow, 42 So shail I, when my foes upbraid 43 Then let not quite the word of truth 45 Ere long I trust to walk at large, Since I resolve to make my life 46 Thy laws shall be my constant talk; And princes shall attend, Whilst I the justice of thy ways With confidence defend. 47 My longing heart and ravish'd soul 48 Then will I to thy just decrees ZAIN. 49 According to thy promised grace, Thy word, when troubles hemm'd me round, Revived my fainting soul. 51 Insulting foes did proudly mock, And all my hopes deride; Yet from thy law not all their scoffs Could make me turn aside. 52 Thy judgments then, of ancient date, I quickly call to mind, Till, ravish'd with such thoughts, my soul Did speedy comfort find. 53 Sometimes I stand amazed, like one With deadly horror struck, To think how all my sinful foes Have thy just laws forsook. 54 But I thy statutes and decrees My cheerful anthems made; Whilst through strange lands and desert wilds I like a pilgrim stray'd. 55 Thy name, that cheer'd my heart by 69 The proud have forged malicious lies, day, Has fill'd my thoughts by night: I then resolved by thy just laws 56 That peace of mind, which has my soul, In deep distress sustain'd, By strict obedience to thy will I happily obtain❜d. CHETH. 57 O Lord, my God, my portion thou 58 With all the strength of warm desire 59 With due reflection and strict care 60 I lost no time, but made great haste, Resolved, without delay, To watch, that I might never more From thy commandments stray. 61 Though num'rous troops of sinful men To rob me have combined, To all who their obedient wills 64 O'er all the earth thy mercy, Lord, Abundantly is shed; O make me then exactly learn Thy sacred paths to tread. TETH. My spotless fame to stain; 70 While pamper'd, they, with pros p'rous ills, In sensual pleasures live, That I might duly learn and keep 72 The law that from thy mouth proceeds, Of more esteem I hold Than untouch'd mines, than thousand mines Of silver and of gold. JOD. 73 To me, who am the workmanship 75 That right thy judgments are, I now Thou hast afflicted me. 76 O let thy tender mercy now Whose soul can relish no delight 79 Let those that fear thy name espouse My cause, and those alone 65 With me, thy servant, thou hast dealt Who have, by strict and pious search, Most graciously, O Lord; Repeated benefits bestow'd, 66 Teach me the sacred skill, by which Have steadfastly remain'd. 67 Before affliction stopp'd my course, 68 Thou art, O Lord, supremely good, Thy sacred precepts known. 80 In thy blest statutes let my heart Continue always sound; That guilt and shame, the sinner's lot, May never me confound. CAPH. 81 My soul with long expectance faints 82 My very eyes consume and fail 33 My skin like shrivell'd parchment They with fresh wonders entertain shows, That long in smoke is set; 84 How many days must I endure 85 The proud have digg d a pit for me, 86 With sacred truth's eternal laws 87 With close designs against my life 88 Thy wonted kindness, Lord, restore, 89 For ever and for ever, Lord, Unchanged thou dost remain; Thy word, establish'd in the heav'ns, Does all their orbs sustain. 90 Thro' circling ages, Lord, thy truth Immoveable shall stand, As doth the earth, which thou uphold'st 91 All things the course by thee ordain'd 92 Unless thy sacred law had been I must have fainted, and expired 93 Thy precepts, therefore, from my thoughts Shall never, Lord, depart; For thou by them hast to new life 95 The wicked have their ambush laid Thy word my study make. 96 I've seen an end of what we call 97 The love that to thy laws I bear My ravish'd thoughts all day. 98 Through thy commands I wiser grow Than all my subtile foes'; For thy sure word doth me direct, 99 From me my former teachers now 101 My feet with care I have refrain'd From every sinful way, That to thy sacred word I might 102 I have not from thy judgments stray'd, By vain desires misled; For, Lord, thou hast instructed me 103 How sweet-are all thy words to me! O what divine repast! How much more grateful to my soul 104 Taught by thy sacred precepts, I With heav'nly skill am blest, Through which the treach'rous ways of sin I utterly detest. NUN. 105 Thy word is to my feet a lamp, 106 I swear, and from my solemn oath Will never start aside, That in thy righteous judgments I 107 Since I with griefs am so opprest, My soul they cannot awe, Nor from thy precepts stray'd. |