11 Whilst pride's insulting foot would spurn, And wicked hands my life surprise, 12 Their mischiefs on themselves return;

Down, down they're fall'n, no more to rise. PSALM XXXVII.

T

HOUGH wicked men grow rich or great,
Yet let not their successful state

Thy anger or thy envy raise;
2 For they, cut down like tender grass,
Or like young flowers, away shall pass,
Whose blooming beauty soon decays.
3 Depend on God, and him obey,
So thou within the land shalt stay,

Secure from danger and from want: 4 Make his commands thy chief delight; And he, thy duty to requite,

Shall all thy earnest wishes grant. 5 In all thy ways trust thou the Lord, And he will needful help afford,

To perfect every just design;
6 He'll make, like light, serene and clear,
Thy clouded innocence appear,
And as a mid-day sun to shine.
7 With quiet mind on God depend,
And patiently for him attend;

Nor let thy anger fondly rise,
Though wicked men with wealth abound,
And with success the plots are crown'd,
Which they maliciously devise.
8 From anger cease, and wrath forsake;
Let no ungovern'd passion make

Like fat of lambs, their hopes, and they, Shall in an instant melt away,

And vanish into smoke and air.

PART III.

21 While sinners, brought to sad decay, Still borrow on, and never pay,

The just have will and power to give; 22 For such as God vouchsafes to bless, Shall peaceably the earth possess;

And those he curses shall not live. 23 The good man's way is God's delight; He orders all the steps aright

Of him that moves by his command; 24 Though he sometimes may be distress'd, Yet shall he ne'er be quite oppress'd;

For God upholds him with his hand. 25 From my first youth, till age prevail'd, I never saw the righteous fail'd,

Or want o'ertake his num'rous race; 26 Because compassion fill'd his heart, And he did cheerfully impart,

God made his offspring's wealth increase. 27 With caution shun each wicked deed, In virtue's ways with zeal proceed,

And so prolong your happy days; 28 For God, who judgment loves, does still Preserve his saints secure from ill,

While soon the wicked race decays. 29, 30, 31 The upright shall possess the land; His portion shall for ages stand;

His mouth with wisdom is supply'd; His tongue by rules of judgment moves; His heart the law of God approves; Therefore his footsteps never slide.

PART IV.

32 In wait the watchful sinner lies,
In vain the righteous to surprise;
In vain his ruin does decree:
33 God will not him defenceless leave,
To his revenge expos'd, but save;

And, when he's sentenc'd, set him free. 34 Wait still on God; keep his command, And thou, exalted in the land,

Thy bless'd possession ne'er shall quit:
The wicked soon destroy'd shall be,
And at his dismal tragedy

Thou shalt a safe spectator sit.
35 The wicked1 in power have seen,
And, like a bay tree, fresh and green,

That spreads its pleasant branches round: 36 But he was gone as swift as thought; And, though in every place I sought,

No sign or track of him I found. 87 Observe the perfect man with care, And mark all such as upright are;

Their roughest days in peace shall end. 38 While on the latter end of those Who dare God's sacred will oppose,

A common ruin shall attend. 39 God to the just will aid afford; Their only safeguard is the Lord;

Their strength in time of need is he: 40 Because on him they still depend, The Lord will timely succour send,

And from the wicked set them free.
PSALM XXXVIII.

9 But, Lord, before thy searching eyes All my desires appear;

And sure my groans have been too loud,

Not to have reach'd thine ear.

10 My heart's oppress'd, my strength decay'd,

My eyes depriv'd of light;

11 Friends, lovers, kinsmen gaze aloof

On such a dismal sight.

12 Meanwhile, the foes that seek my life

Their snares to take me set;

Vent slanders, and contrive all day

To forge some new deceit:

13 But I, as if both dear and dumb,

Nor heard, nor once reply'd;

13 My heart did glow with working thoughts, And no repose could take;

Till strong reflection fann'd the fire,

And thus at length I spake:

4 Lord, let me know my term of days,
How soon my life will end:
The num'rous train of ills disclose,
Which this frail state attend.

5 My life, thou know'st, is but a span;
A cypher sums my years;

And every man, in best estate,

But vanity appears.

6 Man, like a shadow, vainly walks, With fruitless cares oppress'd;

He heaps up wealth, but cannot tell

By whom 'twill be possess'd.

7 Why then should I on worthless toys

With anxious cares attend?

On thee alone my steadfast hope

Shall ever, Lord, depend.

8, 9 Forgive my sins; nor let me scorn'd

By foolish sinners be;

For Iwas dumb, and murmur'd not,

Because 'twas done by thee.

10 The dreadful burden of thy wrath

In mercy soon remove;

Lest my frail flesh, too weak to bear
The heavy load should prove.

11 For when thou chast'nest man for sin,

Thou mak'st his beauty fade,

(So vain a thing is he) like cloth

By fretting months decay'd.

12 Lord, hear my cry, accept my tears,

And listen to my prayer,

tongue

With conscious guilt is ty'd.

15 For, Lord, to thee I do appeal,

My innocence to clear;

Assur'd that thou, the righteous God,

My injur'd cause wilt hear.

16 "Hear me," said I, "lest my proud foes

"A spiteful joy display;

"Insulting, if they see my foot

"But once to go astray."

17 And, with continual grief oppress'd,

To sink I now begin;

18 To thee, O Lord, I will confess,

To thee bewail my sin.

19 But whilst I languish, my proud foes
Their strength and vigour boast;
And they that hate me without cause
Are grown a dreadful host.

20 Even they whom I oblig'd, return
My kindness with despite;
And are my enemies, because

I choose the path that's right.
21 Forsake me not, O Lord my God,
Nor far from me depart;

22 Make haste to my relief, O thou, Who my salvation art.

Who sojourn like a stranger here,

13 O! spare me yet a little time;

My wasted strength restore, Before I vanish quite from hence, And shall be seen no more.

PSALM XL.

I

Waited meekly for the Lord,

Nor did, thou know'st, my lips withhold
From uttering what thou gav'st in charge:
10 Nor kept within my breast confin'd
Thy faithfulness and saving grace;
But preach'd thy love, for all design'd,
That all might that, and truth, embrace.
11 Then let those mercies I declar'd
To others, Lord, extend to me;
Thy loving-kindness my reward,
Thy truth my safe protection be.
12 For I with troubles am distress'd,
Too numberless for me to bear;
Nor less with loads of guilt oppress'd,
That plunge and sink me to despair.
As soon, alas! may I recount

The hairs of this afflicted head;
My vanquish'd courage they surmount,
And fill my drooping soul with dread.
PART III.

13 But, Lord, to my relief draw near,
For never was more pressing need;
In my deliv'rance, Lord, appear,

And add to that deliv'rance speed. 14 Confusion on their heads return, Who to destroy my soul combine; Let them, defeated, blush and mourn, Ensnar'd in their own vile design. 15 Their doom let desolation be,

With shame their malice be repaid, Who mock'd my confidence in thee, And sport of my affliction made. 16 While those who humbly seek thy face, To joyful triumphs shall be rais'd; And all who prize thy saving grace,

With me resound, The Lord be prais'd. 17 Thus, wretched though I am and poor, Of me th' Almighty Lord takes care;

Thou God, who only can'st restore,
To my relief with speed repair.

PSALM XLI.

APPY the man whose tender care Relieves the poor distress'd!

Has me, whose daily guest he was,
With open scorn defy'd.

10 But thou my sad and wretched state,
In mercy, Lord, regard;
And raise me up, that all their crimes
May meet their just reward.
11 By this I know thy gracious ear
Is open, when I call;
Because thou suffer'st not my foes
To triumph in my fall.
12 Thy tender care secures my life
From danger and disgrace;
And thou vouchsaf'st to set me still

Before thy glorious face.

13 Let therefore Israel's Lord and God

From age to age be bless'd; And all the people's glad applause With loud Amens express'd. PSALM XLII.

A

S pants the hart for cooling streams, When heated in the chase; So longs my soul, O God, for thee, And thy refreshing grace. 2 For thee, my God, the living God, My thirsty soul doth pine; O! when shall I behold thy face, Thou Majesty Divine?

3 Tears are my constant food, while thus Insulting foes upbraid;

"Deluded wretch! where's now thy God? "And where his promis'd aid?" 4 I sigh, whene'er my musing thoughts Those happy days present, When I, with troops of pious friends Thy temple did frequent. When I advane'd with songs of praise, My solemn vows to pay, And led the joyful sacred throng, That kept the festal day.

5 Why restless, why east down, my soul? Trust God; who will employ

His aid for thee, and change these sighs
To thankful hymns of joy.

6 My soul's cast down, O God! but thinks On thee and Sion still;

From Jordan's bank, from Hermon's heights,

And Mizar's humbler hill.

7 One trouble calls another on,

And, gath'ring o'er my head,

Fall spouting down, till round my soul
A roaring sea is spread.

8 But when thy presence, Lord of life,
Has once dispell'd this storm,
To thee I'll midnight anthems sing,
And all my vows perform.

9 God of my strength, how long shall I,

Like one forgotten, mourn; Forlorn, forsaken, and expos'd To my oppressor's scorn?

10 My heart is pierc'd, as with a sword, While thus my foes upbraid:

"Vain boaster, where is now thy God? "And where his promis'd aid?"

11 Why restless, why cast down, my soul? Hope still; and thou shalt sing The praise of him who is thy God,

J

Thy health's eternal spring. PSALM XLIII.

UST Judge

of heav'n, against my foes

Do thou assert my injur'd right; O set me free, my God, from those That in deceit and wrong delight.

2 Since thou art still my only stay,
Why leav'st thou me in deep distress?
Why go I mourning all the day,

Whilst me insulting foes oppress?
3 Let me with light and truth be blest;
Be these my guides to lead the way,
Till on thy holy hill I rest,

And in thy sacred temple pray.
4 Then will I there fresh altars raise

To God, who is my only joy;

And well-tun'd harps, with songs of praise, Shall all my grateful hours employ.

5 Why then cast down, my soul? and why So much oppress'd with anxious care?

On God, thy God, for aid rely,

Who will thy ruin'd state repair.
PSALM XLIV.

O Lord, our fathers oft have told

our attentive ears,

Thy wonders, in their days perform'd,
And elder times than theirs:

2 How thou, to plant them here, didst drive

The heathen from this land,

Dispeopled by repeated strokes.

Of thy avenging hand.

3 For not their courage, nor their sword,
To them possession gave;

Nor strength, that from unequal force
Their fainting troops could save:
But thy right hand, and powerful arm,
Whose succour they implor'd;
Thy presence with the chosen race,
Who thy great name ador'd..

4 As thee their God our fathers own'd,
Thou art our sov'reign King;
O! therefore, as thou didst to them,

To us deliv'rance bring.

5 Through thy victorious name, our arms, The proudest foes shall quell;

And crush them with repeated strokes,
As oft as they rebel.

6 I'll neither trust my bow nor sword,
When I in fight engage;

17 On us this heap of woes is fall'n;

All this we have endur'd;

Yet have not, Lord, renoune'd thy name,

Or faith to thee abjur'd:

18 But in thy righteous paths have kept

Our hearts and steps with care;

19 Though thou hast broken all our strength,

And we almost despair.

20 Could we, forgetting thy great name,

On other gods rely,

21 And not the Seacher of all hearts

The treach'rous crime descry?

22 Thou see'st what suff"rings, for thy sake,

We every day sustain;

All slaughter'd, or reserv'd like sheep

Appointed to be slain.

23 Awake, arise; let seeming sleep

No longer thee detain;

Nor let us, Lord, who sue to thee,

For ever sue in vain..

24 O! wherefore hidest thou thy face From our afflicted state,

25 Whose souls and bodies sink to earth

With grief's oppressive weight.
26 Arise, O Lord, and timely haste
To our deliv'rance make;
Redeem us, Lord; if not for ours,

Yet for thy mercy's sake.

PSALM XLV.

THILE I the King's loud praise rehearse, Indited by my heart,

W

10 But thou, O royal bride, give ear,

And to my words attend;

Forget thy native country now,

And every former friend.

11 So shall thy beauty charm the King,

Nor shall his love decay;

For he is now become thy Lord;

To him due rev'rence pay.

12 The Tyrian matrons, rich and proud,

Shall humble presents make; And all the wealthy nations sue

Thy favour to partake.

13 The King's fair Daughter's fairer soul

All inward graces fill;

Her raiment is of purest gold,
Adorn'd with costly skill.

14 She in her nuptial garments dress'd,
With needles richly wrought,
Attended by her virgin train,
Shall to the King be brought.
15 With all the state of solemn joy

The triumph moves along;
Till, with wide gates, the royal court
Receives the pompous throng.
16 Thou, in thy royal Father's room,
Must princely sons expect;

Whom thou to diff'rent realms may'st send,
To govern and protect;

17 Whilst this my song to future times
Transmits thy glorious name;

And makes the world, with one consent,
Thy lasting praise proclaim.

G

PSALM XLVI.

OD is our refuge in distress;
A present help when dangers press;

In him, undaunted, we'll confide; 2,3 Though earth were from her centre tost, And mountains in the ocean lost,

Torn peace-meal by the roaring tide. 4 A gentler stream with gladness still The city of our Lord shall fill,

The royal seat of God most high : 5 God dwells in Sion, whose fair towers Shall mock th' assaults of earthly powers, While his Almighty aid is nigh. 6 In tumults when the heathen rag'd, And kingdoms war against us wag'd,

He thunder'd, and dispers'd their powers: 7 The Lord of hosts conducts our arms, Our tower of refuge in alarms,

Our fathers' Guardian-God and ours. 8 Come, see the wonders he hath wrought, On earth what desolation brought;

How he has calm'd the jarring world:
9 He broke the warlike spear and bow;
With them their thund'ring chariots too
Into devouring flames were hurl'd.
10 Submit to God's Almighty sway;
For him the heathen shall obey,

And earth her Sov'reign Lord confess:
11 The God of hosts conducts our arms,
Our tower of refuge in alarms,
As to our fathers in distress.

All ye people, And with triumphant voices sing; No force the mighty power withstands Of God, the universal King.

people, clap your hands,