FROM THE LIBRARY OF 
 
 REV. LOUIS FITZGERALD BENSON, D. D. 
 
 BEQUEATHED BY HIM TO 
 
 THE LIBRARY OF 
 
 PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 
 
 Section V57&? 
 
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 specimens^ SEP 1 9 1936 
 
 OF AN 
 
 IMPROVED METRICAL TRANSLATION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 PSALMS OF DAVID, 
 
 INTENDED FOR THE USE OF THE PRESBYTERIAN 
 CHURCH IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND. 
 
 PRELIMINARY DISSERTATION, 
 
 AND 
 
 NOTES, CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY. 
 
 BY JOHN DUNMORE LANG, D.D. 
 
 Senior Minister of the Presbyterian Church, in communion 
 with the Church of Scotland, in New South Wales. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 
 PRINTED BY ADAM WALDIE. 
 1840. 
 
PRELIMINARY DISSERTATION. 
 
 Psalmody, or the singing of" Psalms and Hymns and 
 Spiritual songs" to the praise of God, has doubtless form- 
 ed a part of the public worship of God in all ages. In 
 Genesis iv. 26, we read, that in the days of Enos, the 
 grandson of Adam in the line of Seth, u men began to 
 call upon the name of the Lord," i. e. to assemble regu- 
 larly for the public worship of God every Sabbath, to pre- 
 fer their united supplications to that throne of grace 
 which was even then visible to the eye of faith, and to 
 sing the praises of the Most High Gcd, perhaps in some 
 of those songs of Paradise which the aged parents of 
 mankind had been accustomed to sing in the days of 
 their innocence, and which had probably survived the 
 loss of Eden, and the misery and degradation of the fall. 
 We have reason to believe also that this earliest psal- 
 mody of the antediluvian church was entirely vocal, or, 
 in other words, unaccompanied with instrumental music 
 of any kind. For it was not till the era cf Jubal, the 
 seventh from Adam, in the family of Cain, 'Genesis iv. 
 21.) that either wind or stringed instruments of music 
 were invented. " The sons of God" — for such was 
 Adam {Luke iii. 38.) and all those of his fallen posterity 
 who had turned with him to the strong hold as prisoners 
 of hope — sung the high praises of Jehovah with the 
 understanding and with the spirit, and with their voices 
 alone, though attuned, doubtless, to the melodies of Para- 
 dise. "The harp and the organ" were ever and anon 
 heard in the tents of " the daughters of men." We know, 
 indeed, that these inventions of Jubal were at one time 
 consecrated to the worship of the true God, and were 
 employed by divine appointment in the temple service on 
 Mount Zion. But we know also that the outward ser- 
 
4 PRELIMINARY DISSERTATION. 
 
 vices of that typical mountain have long- since been su- 
 perseded by the same divine authority, and that all 
 mankind are now commanded "to worship the Father/' 
 as he was doubtless worshipped by •' the sons of God" 
 in the antediluvian church, " in spirit and in truth." 
 
 There is direct evidence of the continuance of psal- 
 mody as a part of the public worship of God in the 
 patriarchal ages; for otherwise, how could " Moses and 
 the children of Israel," before the delivery of the law 
 from Mount Sinai, or the organization of the Jewish 
 church, have " sung this song unto the Lord," after their 
 deliverance from the power of Pharaoh; "I will sing 
 unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously : the 
 horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea," &c. ? 
 E.xod. xv. 1. 
 
 That psalmody also continued to be a part of the ta- 
 bernacle service in the wilderness, and of the public 
 worship of the lsraelitish church in general till the 
 reign of David, there is no reason to doubt. The ascrip- 
 tion of the ninetieth'psalm to Moses, by the concurrent 
 voice of antiquity, is a proof of the universal belief of 
 the fact by the ancient church. 
 
 The era of David, however, is the most interesting in 
 the history of psalmody. That sweet singer of Israel 
 not only composed the greater number of the psalms 
 himself, but had them set to music in the most skilful 
 manner, and made effectual provision for their being 
 regularly sung in the public worship of God in succeed- 
 ing ages. For of the sons of Korah, whose " children 
 died not" in the rebellion of their father, (Numb. xxvi. 
 11.) " David and Samuel the Seer did ordain" singers, 
 who, in after ages, "remaining in the chambers" of the 
 temple of Solomon, " were Crce^ from the other services 
 of the Levites, •* for they were employed in that work 
 day and night." 1 Chron. ix. 22. 33. Of these sons of 
 Korah, the only family that survived the Babylonish 
 captivity, and returned with Ezra, the scribe, to re- 
 establish the worship of the Lord God of Isra ' on the 
 
PRELIMINARY DISSERTATION. 5 
 
 hill ofZion, was that of Asaph, an illustrious descendant 
 of Korah, who was himself not only the chief musician 
 cf his day, but the author also of several of the most 
 beautiful and affecting- of the psalms. Of the sons of Asaph, 
 there returned not fewer than ** one hundred and twenty- 
 eight," who, with their wives and children, amounted to 
 " two hundred singing men and sinking women." Ezra 
 ii. 41. 65. 
 
 There is reason to believe, moreover, that, after the 
 Babylonish captivity, the Psalms of David were regu- 
 larly sung, not only in the temp'e-service, but also in all 
 the synagogues throughout the land every Sabbath, as 
 well as by all the devout families of Judah in their more 
 private devotions. For we read in Matth. xxvi. 30. that 
 our blessed Saviour and his disciples, immediately after 
 the institution of the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, 
 " sung an hymn" — probably either the greater or lesser 
 Kallel, as the series of psalms uniformly sung by the 
 Jews at the celebration of the passovcr were usually de- 
 nominated. 
 
 Psalmody constituted a part of the divinely appointed 
 worship of God in the primitive Christian church. For 
 the Apostle Paul gives the following apostolic directions 
 on the subject to the church of Ephesos. " Be filled 
 with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and 
 hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody 
 in your heart to the Lord." Eph. v. 18. 19. To the 
 Colossians also the same apostle writes, u Let the word 
 of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching 
 and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and 
 spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the 
 Lord." Coloss. iii. 1G. And the Apostle James intimates 
 in his general epistle, that the business of praising God, 
 in such psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, is not to 
 he confined to the church only, or the public worship of 
 God, but ought to constitute a part of the more private 
 devotions of every Christian man. " Is any merry," 
 says the apostle, u let him einrr psalms." James v. 13. 
 a 2 
 
6 PRELIMINARY DISSERTATION. 
 
 Nay, an ancient heathen historian, (Suetonius,) in briefly 
 describing the Christians of his day, who were then a 
 new and despised sect, characterises them as persons 
 who met together at certain stated times, "Christum 
 quasi Deum celebra ntes," to sing the praises of one 
 Christ, whom th»y callid God. 
 
 Whether the apostolic phrase, " psalms and hymns 
 and spiritual songs," denotes three different species of 
 composition, and whether the word M psalms" refers ex- 
 clusively to the Psalms of David, may admit of doubt. 
 That the Psalms of David were indiscriminately called 
 either " psalms or hymns" by the Christian Greeks, is 
 evident from the passage already quoted, (Matth. xxvi. 
 30.) and the appellation " songs" is one which is often 
 given them by the psalmist himself. On the other hand, 
 the following passage, in which the word occurs in the 
 singular number, would seem to indicate a composition 
 of which the person who proposed to sing it in the 
 church was himself the author. "How is it then, 
 brethren? When ye come together, everyone of you 
 hath a psalm — hath a doctrine — hath a tongue — hath a 
 revelation — hath an interpretation. Let all tilings be 
 done unto edifying." 1 Cor. xiv. 26. 
 
 It is undeniable, however, that the Psalms of David 
 were sung in the public worship of God by the primi- 
 tive Christians; but it is equally undeniable that hymns 
 or spiritual songs, of merely human composition, were 
 also used in the public Fcnrices of the Christian church 
 from the apostolic age. For the earlier ecclesiastical his- 
 torians inform us, that several of the Christian fathers, 
 among whom Nonnus and Gregory, of Nazianzum, held 
 a distinguished place, obtained considerable celebrity 
 among their cotemporaries. from the composition of such 
 hymns and spiritual songs. 
 
 It is allowed, however, on all hands, that the psalmody 
 of the primitive church was exclusively vocal. No 
 Christian emperor ever obtained the surname of Organo- 
 clastes, or Organ breaker — as one of them obtained that 
 
PRELIMINARY DISSERTATION. < 
 
 of Iconoclastcs, or Image-breaker — just because there 
 were DO organs to break. Indeed, instrumental music 
 vas utterly unknown to the Christian church, until ages 
 alter the era of Conslanline ; lender whose successors 
 she gradually lost the native energies that enabled her to 
 stand erect under the tyranny of Nero and Diodes. n, 
 and became more and more enfeebled by leaning on the 
 crutch of temporal power. Then it was, when the glory 
 of her youthful beauty had departed, and the voice of 
 her sing'mg men and her singing women was heard no 
 more — when her eyes were so dim that she could no 
 longer behold tiie heavenly Jerusalem, or see u the land 
 that is afar ofT' — that she seems to have groped her way 
 back to the earthly Palestine, in the train of tl e ignorant 
 ^ers, and stumbled on the old harps and timbrels 
 and organs of Solomon 
 
 We learn from ancient ecclesiastical history, that 
 the celebrated Ambrose, of Milan, the author of the beau- 
 tiful hymn Te Deum, which lias been so grossly prosti- 
 tuted in the Romish church, introduced the practice of 
 alternate or responsive singing into the churches of Italy, 
 from whence it very speedily spread over the western 
 empire. 
 
 At the glorious era of the Reformation, when Europe 
 awoke from her sleep of ages, and so many of her na- 
 tions received life from the dead, it is not to be wondered 
 at that the Psalms of David should almost every where 
 bate, been exclusively received, as the only compositions 
 that were worthy to be used by the church of God, in 
 singing the high praises of Jehovah. There were a few 
 olher compositions doubtless, of superior merit, in the 
 Latin services of the Romish church ; but, besides their 
 being in an unknown tongue, they ladled the image 
 and supersciiption of the Spirit of God — they had been 
 profaned, like the brazen serpent of Moses, to idolatrous 
 purposes — and they were therefore left, not unworthi.y, to 
 share the common lot of those Babylonish abominations 
 which the reformation swept away. Besides, the Psalms 
 
8 PRELIMINARY DISSERTATION. 
 
 of David were found to be peculiarly appropriate to the 
 circumstances of the Protestant people, in those troublous 
 times that followed the second rising of the Sun of 
 Righteousness in the west. Applicable to the state, and 
 suited to the wants of every Christian man, they were 
 found to be peculiarly so to those of men who were hunt- 
 ed, like the Psalmist David, M as a partridge on the 
 mountains" — M who looked on their right hand, but there 
 was no man that would know them — no man that cared 
 for their Boul." For whether, in the ever-varying scenes 
 through which they passed, they required a penitential 
 psalm or a song of triumph — whether they required to 
 recount the mercies of the Lord, or u to speak of the 
 might of his terrible acts" — whether they required to 
 bewail the desolations of the church, or to exult in the 
 prospect of her promised glory; they were always sure 
 to find some one of these ancient melodies suited to their 
 state and ready to their hand. The harp of the son of 
 Jesse had been found effectual of old, in soothing the 
 dark spirit of Saul when the fit of madness was on him ; 
 so was it found equally effectual, in these times of suffer- 
 ing and sorrow, in soothing the spirit of God's people in 
 the midst of their afflictions, and in speaking peace to 
 their troubled souls. 
 
 We find, accordingly, that metrical versions of the 
 Psalms of David were published in the vernacular lan- 
 guages of all the Protestant countries of Europe, imme- 
 diately after the Reformation. Clement Marot, a French 
 Protestant, of no small celebrity in Ins day, assisted by 
 the celebrated Theodore Beza, of Geneva, published a 
 metrical version of the Psalms of David in the language 
 of his country, which was long highly acceptable to the 
 Protestants of France. In the German language a simi- 
 lar version was also published by some of the associates 
 of Luther, to which, I believe, Luther himself contribu- 
 ted. And I happen to possess a metrical version of 
 about fifty of the psalms in the Italian language, written 
 shortly after the Reformation for the Protestants of Italy. 
 
PRELIMINARY DISSERTATION. 9 
 
 In the English language, the version of Sternhold and 
 Hopkins, which was written towards the close of the 
 sixteenth century, and the name of which lias long been 
 synonymous with barbarism itself, became current in 
 Great Britain during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and 
 continued in general use, both in England and Scotland, 
 till it was superseded by a mm h superior version, exe- 
 cuted chiefly by an English Presbyterian of the name of 
 Rous, at the instance of the Westminster Assembly 
 during the long Parliament. That version having been 
 adopted at the time by the church of Scotland, has ever 
 since been in general use among the Presbyterians of 
 that country, and of the North of Ireland. The version 
 generally used in the Church of England, since the reign 
 of Queen Anne, is that of Tate and Brady. 
 
 As the European dialects became gradually more and 
 more polished, and the principles of poetical, or rather 
 rhythmical composition, better understood, the earlier 
 metrical versions of trie psalms were generally found, as 
 in the case of that of Sternhold and Hopkins, to be harsh 
 and barbarous in the extreme. In the earlier part of 
 last century, Gellcrt, a German professor at Leipsic, la- 
 ments, in the preface to a small collection of German 
 hymns which he wrote and published, that the old version 
 of the psalms, which was then still generally used by 
 the Protestants of Germany, was so harsh and barbarous 
 as to be no longer fit for the use of the German people. 
 And it is much to the credit of the puritans of New 
 England, that so early as the year 1640, before either of 
 the later English versions was published, the printing 
 press of Harvard College, in the state of Massachusetts, 
 should have issued, as one of its earliest publications, u A 
 New Version of David's Psalms." The following ac- 
 count of the origin and character of that version, which 
 I extract from Neal's History of New England, will 
 doubtless be interesting to the reader. 
 
 44 The ministers, it seems, were not satisfied with 
 Sternhold and Hopkins, not so much on the account of 
 
10 PRELIMINARY DISSERTATION. 
 
 their poetry, as because they had perverted the text in a 
 great many places; they resolved, therefore, on a new 
 version, and committed the care of it to some of the 
 chief divines in the country, among- whom were the 
 Reverend Mr. Eliot, of Roxbury, Mr. Mather, of Dor- 
 chester, and Mr. Welds ; who, having compared their 
 several performances together, printed the whole at 
 Cambridge in the year 1640. When the book was pub- 
 lished it did not satisfy the expectations of judicious 
 men, for, being composed by persons of a different genius 
 and capacity, it was far from being of a piece ; and was 
 there r ore, after some time, committed to one hand, to be 
 corrected, and made a little more uniform; ?»Ir. Henry 
 Dunstar, president of the college, was the man chosen 
 to this worfc, who, with the assistance of Mr. Richard 
 Lyon, tutor to Sir Henry Mildmay's son, then boarding 
 in his house, reduced it to the form in which it appears 
 at present; but, after all, if we compare the New Eng- 
 land version of the psalms with those that have since 
 been published to the world, it must be acknowledged to 
 be but a mean performance; it keeps pretty close indeed 
 to the English prose, but has very little beauty or ele- 
 gance in it, the lines being frequently eked out, with a 
 great many insignificant particles for the sake of the 
 rhyme; and 'tis but a weak- apology that the translators 
 offer for themselves, w'jen they say, that ice must con- 
 sider thai God's altar needs not uur polishing* : as if it 
 were more eligible to sing the praises of God in barba- 
 rous verse, than in more exact and elegant composures; 
 so that, how commendable soever this performance 
 might be, in the time when it first appeared, I think, 
 with the leave of the learned men of that country, it 
 wants now to be revised and corrected by the more 
 beautiful versions of Dr. Patrick, Tate and Brady. 
 And I heartily wish that some judicious person among 
 them would attempt it." — JSeaVs Hist, of New England, 
 vol. i. pp. 183, 189. 
 
 The Version of the Psalms of David, by the celebrated 
 
PRELIMINARY DISSERTATION. 11 
 
 Dr. Watt*, was not published at the time Ncnl wrote his 
 history, (1719,) otherwise, he would neither have for- 
 gotten to refer his readers to that far more beautiful ver- 
 sion, nor hire wasted so much praise on men of such 
 inferior name as those he has specified. The new ver- 
 sion of Tate and Brady is sufficiently smooth ; but it is 
 generally exceedingly tame, and it by no means adheres 
 to the sense nf the original ; lhe*scntimcnts it conveys 
 being often directly at variance with those inculcated in 
 the word of God. The chief fault of this version, however, 
 — and it is one that ought neither to be tolerated nor ex- 
 cused in the Christian church, — is, that it bears the marks 
 of having been written much nearer Mount Parnassus than 
 Mount Zion. and that its ornaments are borrowed rather 
 from the Pantheon of Athens, than from the sanctuary 
 of the living God. For so cold and lifeless is its theolo- 
 gy, that methioka it might have been entitled with pro- 
 prietv, " The Psalms of David frozen into English 
 Rhyme." 
 
 Of the version of Dr. Watts, the taste and the elegance 
 of which are equal to the orthodoxy of its sentiments 
 and the warmth of its devotion, it is sufficient to inform 
 the Presbyterian reader, that it is rather a paraphrase 
 than a translation. It is the Psalms of David accommo- 
 dated (as the term implies they require to bc^ to the 
 circumstances of a Christian congregation, by the intro- 
 duction of language which they do not contain, and of 
 sentiments which they rather imply than express. That 
 there is anything improper in this method of giving the 
 Psalms of David to an English congregation, I should 
 be lo'.h to affirm. If the primitive Christians were allowed 
 to form their hymns and spiritual songs on whatever scrip- 
 tural models they chose, retaining as much or as little of 
 the language of scripture as they pleased, why should their 
 successors, the Christians of the present day, be disallowed 
 the same liberty ? This is not one of the matters at issue 
 between Presbyterians and other denominations of 
 Christians. But it is a point fixed and settled among 
 
12 PRELIMINARY DISSERTATION. 
 
 Presbyterians themselves — settled, I conceive, wisely, 
 and approved by the practice of three centuries — that 
 the Psalms of David shall be translated and not para- 
 phrased ; that they shall be presented to the Christian 
 people, unmixed with any human compositions, whether 
 in the way of addition or embellishment ; and that no 
 inferior musician shall presume to play a second harp, 
 when the chief of the inspired musicians of Israel 
 strikes his heavenly strings. 
 
 But, surely, in the middle of the nineteenth century, 
 there is just as much reason for the Presbyterians of 
 Scotland and the British colonies to discontinue to sing 
 the Psalms of David in barbarous verse, as there was for 
 the Puritans of New England to discontinue the use of 
 the old version of Sternhold and Hopkins in the year 
 1610. The Scotish version — the one authorized by the 
 Westminster Assembly — is, of all the versions ot the 
 psalms in the English language, the truest to the origi- 
 nal ; having been formed directly from the Hebrew, 
 without the intervention of a prose translation. It is 
 hallowed, moreover, in the estimation of the Scotish 
 people, from having been used by their persecuted fore- 
 fathers in the days of the Covenant, and from having often 
 afforded sweet consolation to many of these sons and 
 daughters of affliction under the tyranny of the Stuarts. 
 And it doubtless contains many passages, the beauty 
 and simplicity of which would be but ill exchanged for 
 the more ambitious ornaments of modern rhyme. Still, 
 however, as a whole, it is confessedly far below the 
 intellect of the present age; its harshness gives positive 
 offence to many, and acts as a repellent to many more ; 
 and, constituted as we are intellectually, it is quite im- 
 possible for the men of the present generation uniformly 
 to associate with it the same feelings of devotion which 
 it doubtless never failed to excite in the breasts of our 
 forefathers. 
 
 But if this is true even in Scotland, where the popu- 
 larity of the present version depends on a variety of ad- 
 
PKELIMINAHY DIS0UTATIOH. 13 
 
 vcntitious circumstances that cannot operate elsewhere, 
 how much more so must it not be in the British colo- 
 nies, where Presbyterians come in contact with Chris- 
 tians of other denominations, and make comparisons, in 
 the matter in question, that are not unfrequently to their 
 own disadvantage ? 
 
 It is mere sophistry to allege, with the old Puritans 
 of New England, that God's ultar needs not our polish- 
 ings. God's altar (I mean the Psalms of David, as the 
 phrase is intended to signify in such a connection) was 
 originally a highly polished altar — " polished after the 
 similitude of a palace" by one of the most skilful of the 
 workmen of Israel. And if dust has gathered over it in 
 the lapse of ages, and rust tarnished its polishing, it can 
 only have been through the inattention and neglect of 
 those who stand daily in the courts of God's house, and 
 whose duty it is to clear that dust and that rust away, 
 and to keep it brightly burnished and beautiful as at 
 first. 
 
 Besides, it cannot be denied that the very fidelity of 
 the Scotish version constitutes, in many instances, one 
 of its greatest blemishes. For it is so slavish a transla- 
 tion, word for word, of the original Hebrew, that, in 
 consequence of the totally different idiomatical charac- 
 ter of the two languages, and the extremely delicate 
 and evanescent nature of many of the allusions, especi- 
 ally in psalms of the higher order of poetical composi- 
 tion, it is often scarcely less unintelligible to a mere 
 English reader than the Hebrew original. 
 
 Conceiving, therefore, that a reform of t'.ie Scotish 
 psalmody ought, — especially with a view to the spiritual 
 welfare and advancement of the Presbyterian church in 
 the British colonies, — to be effected as speedily as possi- 
 ble, it appeared to me that I could not occupy a portion, at 
 least,of the leisure of the long voyages I have unfortunately 
 been obliged to undertake to and from the mother country 
 during the last ten years, more advantageously than in 
 contributing my quota towards effecting so desirable an 
 
14 PRELIMINARY DISSERTATION. 
 
 object — hoping and trusting that my labours in this 
 way, during the period of my involuntary absence from 
 an affectionate people, might eventually prove not alto- 
 gether unserviceable to the colonial church, of which 
 Divine Providence had made me the humble instru- 
 ment of laying the foundations on the far distant shores 
 of the Southern Pacific. With this view, after doubling 
 the north east cape of New Zealand, on my second voy- 
 age to England from New South Wales, in the year 
 1830, I attempted a new metrical version of one or two 
 of the psalms by way of experiment, and continuing the 
 work thereafter during the run to Cape Horn, and down 
 the South Atlantic, I had completed a new version of 
 fifty-one psalms altogether, before crossing the Southern 
 Tropic. The psalms I refer to were those from the 1st 
 to the 20th, and from the 120th to the 150th inclusive. 
 
 Having experienced some discouragement, however, 
 from a clerical friend, whom I consulted on the subject 
 on my arrival in Great Britain, I did not resume the oc- 
 cupation till the year 1834, when proceeding to New 
 South Wales from England for the fourth time. In the 
 course of that voyage I translated the psalms from the 
 21st to the 50th inclusive ; and during my fifth voyage 
 to the colony in the the year 1837, I added a version of 
 the following sixteen. The 67th to the 70th inclusive 
 were written in crossing the North Atlantic from Liver- 
 pool to New York a few weeks ago. Whether I shall 
 ever translate the remaining psalms, from the 71st to the 
 119th inclusive, will depend, under the blessing of God, 
 on the judgment that may be passed, by my clerical 
 brethren in the mother country and in America, on the 
 translations I have already completed. 
 
 The incidents of a sea voyage, especially in the high 
 stormy latitudes of the great Southern Ocean, are by no 
 means favourable to literary labour of any kind. It is 
 very probable that the reader may discover many eviden- 
 ces of bo undesirable a situation, in the manner in which 
 
PRELIMINARY DISSERTATION. 15 
 
 some, if not most, of the following translations have been 
 brought to their compl.tion. 
 
 The usual appliances of a well furnished library, or of 
 a comfortable study on shore, are not to be thought of in 
 such circumstances. The stock of books on board ship, 
 must necessarily be very limited. The writing desk, 
 moreover, must be lashed to its proper fixture, otherwise 
 it will, ever and anon, run the most imminent hazard of 
 being thrown down and broken in pieces. And the* 
 writer's foot must be firmly planted against some trunk 
 or beam, to enable him to maintain something like a 
 suitable posture, while the ship rolls and pitches violently 
 and incessantly. In such circumstances, it is not to be 
 greatly wondered at if it should be found occasionally 
 that " The line loo labours, and the words move slow.*' 
 
 Of the very few works of any kind to which I had 
 access in translating the first twenty, and the last thirty 
 of the psalms, the one to which I was chiefly indebted 
 was the German version of the Holy Scriptures, by 
 Martin Luther; of which I happened to have a pocket 
 edition of the New Testament, on board, with the Psalter 
 annexed. Of all the versions of the Holy Scriptures that 
 have ever been given to the nations, perhaps the English 
 and the German authorized versions are the very best. 
 If there is any difference in the comparative degrees of 
 excellence of these two versions themselves, I would say, 
 that while the English translators have, in general, aimed 
 too exclusively at rendering the original, word for word, 
 without sufficiently considering the bearing of each word 
 on the whole passage in which it occurs, the German 
 translators seem to have generally taken a more extended 
 view of the whole passage they were about to translate, 
 and have therefore been more judicious and more suc- 
 cessful in their use of those connecting particles, on 
 which the sense of a passage often materially depends. 
 This is especially apparent in the argumentative parts of 
 the epistles of Paul. 
 
16 PRELIMINARY DISSERTATION. 
 
 There are comparatively only a few cases in the book 
 of Psalms, in which the English and the German trans- 
 lators have differed from each other in their views of the 
 original. In these cases, I have generally adhered to the 
 English version, unless there appeared very strong rea- 
 sons for preferring the German. But in every instance 
 in which J have felt myself constrained to adopt Luther's 
 version in preference to our own, I have stated my reasons 
 for doing so in the notes. If I have thus been enabled to 
 exhibit to the English reader several interesting passages 
 in the Psalms of David in a still more interesting light, 
 and to elucidate other passages really dark and difficult, 
 the reader will have the satisfaction of knowing, that the 
 version I have given, in all such cases, does not rest on 
 my individual authority, but on that of men at least 
 equally eminent with the authors of the English au- 
 thorized version of the Holy Scriptures — I mean Lu- 
 ther and the other fathers of the Reformation in Ger- 
 many. 
 
 In the translations extending from the twenty-first to 
 the fiftieth inclusive, I had access to various critical 
 works of superior merit, and wherever I deemed it ad- 
 visable, in any of these psalms, to adopt a different ver- 
 sion from that of our own prose translation, I have in- 
 dicated my authority at the bottom of the page. In the 
 remaining translations I have relied, next to our own 
 version, on a critical work of superior character, entitled 
 11 A New Translation of the Book of Psalms, from the 
 original Hebrew, with Explanatory Notes, by William 
 French, D. D., and George Skinner, M. A.," both of the 
 University of Cambridge. I have also carefully com- 
 pared the whole of my own previous translations with 
 this version, and adopted various elucidations which it 
 suggested ; and in those passages in which I had pre- 
 viously deviated from the common version, I have gene- 
 rally found these deviations warranted by additional 
 authority. 
 
 In regard to the style in which an improved metrical 
 
PRELIMINARY DISSERTATION. 17 
 
 version of the Psalms of David for the use of the Pres- 
 byterian church in the British colonies should be com- 
 posed, and the general pitch of its language, I would 
 observe, that as a great proportion of that part of the 
 English language which is available for purposes of 
 literature, is of foreign manufacture, i. e. of Latin and 
 French origin, and consequently unintelligible, in a 
 much greater degree than is generally supposed, to the 
 great bulk of the nation ; it is a matter of imperious ne- 
 cessity that, in any English composition, which is de- 
 signed to serve as a manual of devotion to the unlearned, 
 as well as to persons of liberal education, there ought, if 
 possible, to be a rigid exclusion of all words that are not 
 universally intelligible, and in all cases of synonymous 
 words, a decided preference of these which are of Saxon or 
 Teutonic origin. While, for instance, we have such unob- 
 jectionable English words as heivenly, earthly, endless, 
 everlasting, Sec, why should such interlopers as celestial, 
 terrestrial, interminable, Sec, which are ever and anon 
 recurring in the lyrical effusions of modern rhythmical 
 devotion, be permitted to occupy a place in an English 
 psalm or hymn ? Something, indeed, in the way of 
 sound may often be gained by the use of such high- 
 sounding and lengthy words; but surely every thing in 
 the way of sense and propriety is wantonly sacrificed 
 and needlessly lost. The knowledge of foreign tongues 
 will never surely make a man of sense unmindful of the 
 proprieties of his own. Paul, the apostle, speke icith 
 tongues more than all his cotemporarics. M Yet, in the 
 church of God," he tells us, " I had rather speak five 
 words with my understanding, that by my voice I might 
 teach others also, than ten thousand words in an un- 
 known tongue." 1 Corinth, xiv. 19. 
 
 I will not take upon me to maintain that the language 
 employed in the following specimens is uniformly ac- 
 cordant with this apostolic example ; though, in various 
 instances, I have substituted a rougher for a more sono- 
 rous expression, to guard against the evil which it repro- 
 b 2 
 
18 PRELIMINARY DISSERTATION. 
 
 bates. If particular words should be alleged as not 
 generally intelligible, I would remind the reader that 
 the habit of using such words is almost unavoidably 
 acquired in the course of a liberal education, and of 
 consequence often insensibly exercised, and that it is 
 much easier to propose a good rule, or a good resolution, 
 than uniformly to follow it. Language a little antiquated, 
 in accordance with that of the common prose version of 
 the Holy Scriptures, is perhaps not altogether to be repu- 
 diated in a metrical translation of the psalms for public 
 worship. Such language I have used occasionally. 
 
 In such a translation, it is scarcely possible, from the 
 very elliptical character of Hebrew poetry, to obviate the 
 necessity for using occasional supplementary words and 
 supplementary expressions. If these are in evident ac- 
 cordance with the context, and merely amplify the idea 
 which the Psalmist more darkly expresses, I do not think 
 that the use of them can at all come within the case con- 
 templated by the inspired writer, when he says, " Every 
 word of God is pure: add not thou unto his words, lest 
 he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar." Prov. xxx. 
 5, 6. Such words and expressions are occasionally used, 
 even in the old Scotish authorized metrical version, and 
 it would surely have been better to have used them more 
 frequently, than to have the word of God presented to 
 the humble worshipper in so unintelligible a form as it 
 frequently assumes in that version. 
 
 I trust the psalmody of the Presbyterian church will 
 never exhibit any traces of that grossness of language, 
 and of that intolerable affectation of familiarity with 
 all that is called God, which, in certain quarters, are 
 often mistaken for the warmth of Christian devotion. 
 Such expressions as "dear Lord,'' u dear Jesus," "my 
 Jesus," which are ever and anon recurring in the places 
 I allude to, may perhaps be tolerated, but surely they 
 are not to be commended. But what shall we say of 
 my dear God, and my dear Almighty, which Dr. Watts 
 himself (who stands so much higher in this respect than 
 
TRI-LIMIXARY DISSERTATION. 19 
 
 so many of his followers) is so far forgetful of propriety 
 as to use? See Hymns 14 and 165, Book ii. Language 
 of this kind has surely no precedent either in the Psalms 
 of David, or in the speech of the apostles. When the 
 king of Israel — that man after God's own heart — ap- 
 proached the Majesty of Heaven, and of Earth, it was 
 always with the feelings of reverential awe, and in the 
 language of self-abasement. When Peter, the tenderest 
 and the warmest-hearted of all the apostles, expressed to 
 his risen Redeemer all the fulness of his affection, it was 
 sufficient for him to say, M Lord, thou knowest all 
 things; thou knowest that I love thee." How beauti- 
 fully affecting, how deeply pathetic, how strongly expres- 
 sive of self-abasement on the one hand, and of ardent 
 love and devout gratitude on the other, is the language 
 of the psalmist in the following passages, so totally 
 different from the affected familiariiy and offensive gross- 
 ness of many modern hymns! u Have mercy upon me, 
 O God, according to thy loving kindness; according 
 unto the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my 
 transgressions." Psalm li. 1. 
 
 " Is this the manner of man, O Lord God ? And what 
 Can David say more unto thee, for thou, Lord God, 
 knowest thy servant? For thy word's sake, and accord- 
 ing to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great 
 things, to make thy servant know them." 2 Sam. vii. 
 19. -21. 
 
 In regard to the measures or kinds of verse which it 
 would be expedient to adopt in a new version of the 
 psalms, there is surely nothing, in the high example of 
 David himself, to authorize that dull monotonous unifor- 
 mity of measure which the old Scottish version exhibits. 
 Some of the Psalms o:" David are addressed to the Cliff 
 Musician, or as it is translated in the old Genevan Bible, 
 to him that rxcclieth on Xeginoth ; others to the Chief 
 Musician on Shoshannim ; others to the Chief Musician 
 upon Mahalath ; and others again to the (Thief Musician 
 upon Jonatlian-elem-rechokim. Whether these exprcs- 
 
20 PRELIMINARY DISSERTATION. 
 
 eions, which it would be hazardous to translate, indicate 
 a variety of musical instruments, as some suppose, or a 
 variety of tunes merely, as is thought by others, it is 
 undeniable that they indicate a much greater variety of 
 measure than any thing exhibited in the old monotonous 
 Scotch version. 
 
 Of the three measures in most frequent use, in devo- 
 tional compositions for public worship, common metre 
 appears well adapted for all psalms of a didactic cha- 
 racter. Short metre, from its abruptness, and the want 
 of the two additional syllables in the first line of the 
 stanza, to which the ear is accustomed in the other two, 
 is evidently well suited for the language of strong pas- 
 sion, whether of grief or joy. Long metre, on the 
 other hand, is, ceteris paribus, unquestionably more of a 
 majestic character than either of these, and is therefore 
 better adapted for the language of lofty praise, while the 
 same measure, with alternate rhymes, is a species of 
 elegiac verse, and is consequently well suited for plain- 
 tive psalms. It will greatly depend, however, on the 
 taste and feelings of the versifier, and perhaps even on 
 the impressions of the moment, which of these species 
 of verse he shall employ in any given instance; and 
 when he has made his selection, he may doubtless, in 
 general, defend it with the maxim of a great master in 
 the art of poetry, 
 
 Quern penes arbitrium est, aut jus, aut norma loquendi 1 
 
 There are psalms, however, in which any of these 
 three species of verse would be obviously unsuitable — 
 those, I mean, which resemble in their composition the 
 ode or the choruses of the ancient Greek tragedies, with 
 their Strophes and Antistrophes. To endeavour to ac- 
 commodate such compositions to the procrustean bed of 
 a common four line stanza, is a sort of literary barbarism 
 equally preposterous and indefensible. Such psalms, es- 
 pecially, were addressed by their inspired authors to the 
 Chief Musician of their day ; and it was doubtless the 
 
PRELIMINARY DISSERTATION. 21 
 
 duty of that personage, when he found that there were no 
 old tunes to which they c->uld be sung with propriety, to 
 make new ones; for surely the psalms were not made 
 for the tunes, as they evidently are in the common 
 English metrical versions, but the tunes for the psalms. 
 
 Psalms of the kind I allude to are divisible i nto a 
 variety of parts, each of which embraces a distinct sub- 
 ject, and forms a unique whole, the transition from any 
 one of these paits to the one that immediately follows 
 it, being more or less rapid, and the connection between 
 them more or less obvious, according to circumstances.* 
 Common sen^e therefore dictates that each of these parts 
 should be carefully ascertained in the first place, and then 
 embodied in a separate stanza ; and that the stanza should 
 be long or short, as the case may require. I have acted 
 in conformity with this maxim in several of the following 
 translations, without however introducing any description 
 of stanza unknown to modern devotional poetry. 
 
 Of the translations comprised in the following speci- 
 mens, 4'2 are in common metre, including second versions 
 of several of the psalms; 127 in long metre; 15 in short; 
 7 in sevens; 6 in sixes and eights; and a few others in 
 metres not unusual in collections of hymns. 
 
 In regard to the use of rhymes, I believe I have not 
 taken greater liberty than is usually taken by Watts and 
 Cowper — men of so high a name as writers of devotional 
 poetry. Extreme fastidiousness in this respect would, I 
 conceive, be unwarrantable in a manual of devotion for 
 public and private worship, as it might perhaps tempt the 
 writer to sacrifice the sense for the sound. At the same 
 time, I would not consider such rhymes as the following, 
 in Dr. Watts's Hymns, either eligible or justifiable. 
 
 * The rapid transitions in psalms of the higher description of 
 poetical composition which oft^n appear forced and unnatural 
 to the English reader, were probably accompanied, when 
 chanted in the original, with corresponding changes in the 
 music, which, in all likelihood, \^ould render them peculiarly 
 striking and appropriate in the estimation of the ancient Jew*. 
 
22 PRELI3IINARY DISSERTATION. 
 
 Salvation to the name 
 
 OK our adored Christ: 
 Through the wide earth his praise proclaim, 
 
 His glory in the highest. — Book iii. 17. 
 
 The Tree of Life adorns the board 
 
 With rich immortal fruit, 
 And ne'er an angry flaming sword 
 
 To guard the passage toH. — Book iii. 20. 
 
 A few of the titles I have prefixed to the first twenty 
 and the last thirty-one psalms are copied from Luther: 
 for the rest I am personally responsible. 
 
 In regard to the literary character of the following 
 translations, while I am not vain enough to suppose that 
 they are all fit to occupy a permanent place in a new 
 metrical version of the psalms, for the use of that portion 
 of the Presbyterian communion for which they are in- 
 tended, I would remind the reader that it is not a series 
 of poems I have submitted to his consideration — each 
 professing to exhibit, in the lofty language and splendid 
 imagery of an English ode, something not unworthy the 
 divine majesty and beauty of the Hebrew original — but 
 a plain unambitious translation of that original, in the 
 monotonous uniformity of an English stanza, adapted for 
 the use of plain Christian men in the public worship of 
 God. For the former of these attempts, I willingly 
 acknowledge that my right hand has no cunning ; for 
 the latter, I may have miscalculated my own abilities, 
 but the attempt is not blameworthy, and if it should only 
 stimulate others of superior ability to undertake the task, 
 I shall have gained my end. 
 
 At the same time, if the feeling that dictated the Xon 
 omnis moriar, of the poet, is at all allowable in any in- 
 stance, surely it is so when connected with the humble 
 attempt to re-attune the harp of David, when it has be- 
 come discordant through the lapse of ages, and to elicit 
 from its silver chords that sweetest melody which has 
 ever delighted and enraptured the church in all past 
 
PRELIMINARY DISSERTATION. 23 
 
 generations. I acknowledge, 1 do cherish that feeling 
 in so far as not to be without hope, that the work 
 which has thus, through the divine blessing, been car- 
 ried on a considerable length towards its completion, 
 in circumstances so unusual, may yet prove useful to 
 many in the church of God, in those remote regions 
 of the globe, to the welfare and advancement of which 
 I have dedicated my life. And I confess it would afford 
 me the highest pleasure to think that I had been ho- 
 noured to clothe any of the songs of Zion id language 
 that should be generally used by the people of God in 
 those distant regions, in singing the high praises of Je- 
 hovah when I am dead and gone. 
 
 But although such anticipations should never bo real- 
 ized, I cannot say with another of the ancients, Perdidi 
 operam ct oleum. Xo ! When the voice of the tempest 
 has been loud and terrifically overpowering — when the 
 vast ocean waves have been towering both before and 
 behind us, far above the deck of our frail vessel, and the 
 ship's violent motion has made my lamp swing vehe- 
 mently athwart my cabin, and rendered it impossible to 
 guide my pen — in such circumstances, I have listened 
 again and again at midnight, to the still small voice of 
 the harp of David, till I almost ceased to be conscious of 
 the war of the elements around me. The Lord was not 
 in the tempest, nor in the vast billows of the sea; but 
 the Lord was in that still small voice; and where the 
 Lord is, there assuredly there is peace and pleasure, and 
 fulness of joy. 
 
the 
 
 PSALMS OF DAVID. 
 
 PSALM I. L. M. 
 
 The righteous and the ivicked % contrasted in their 
 characters and in their end. 
 
 * 1 XJLEST is the man who walks not in 
 The counsel of th' ungodly race, 
 Who stands not in the paths of si:i, 
 Xor sitteth in the scoffer's place. 
 
 2 But whose supreme and great delight 
 
 Are the pure precepts of the Lord, 
 Who meditates both day and night 
 Upon Jehovah's holy word. 
 
 3 Like a tall verdant tree, whose root 
 
 Drinks moisture from some water-stream, 
 And yearly yields abundant fruit; 
 So shall it ever be with him. 
 
 4 Far different are th' ungodly race: 
 
 Whatever hopes they vainly form, 
 They shall be driven from their place 
 Like chaff before the driving storm. 
 
 5 For when th* assembled just shall stand 
 
 Before the Judge in dread array, 
 
 To take their portion from his hand, 
 
 The wicked then shall fade away, 
 
 6 For all his people's paths the Lord 
 
 Beholds with an approving eye, 
 But all who scorn his laws and word 
 Shall perish everlastingly. 
 
26 PSALMS. 
 
 PSALM I. C. M. 
 
 ( Old version modernized.) 
 
 1 Q HAPPY is the man and blest, 
 
 Who walketh not astray, 
 In counsel of ungodly men, 
 Nor stands in sinners' way ; 
 
 2 Nor sitteth in the scorner's chair ; 
 
 But placeth his delight 
 Upon God's law, and meditates 
 Thereon both day and night. 
 
 3 He shall be like a tree that grows 
 
 In some well-watered scene, 
 Which yearly yields abundant fruit, 
 Whose leaf is ever green. 
 
 4 For all he doth shall prosper still : 
 
 Not so th' ungodly race ; 
 They, like the chaff before the storm, 
 Are driven from their place. 
 
 5 The ungodly therefore shall not stand 
 
 In the great judgment day, 
 Nor mingle with th' assembled just 
 In glorified array. 
 
 6 For why ? the Lord knows and approves 
 
 The way the righteous go : 
 But sinners and their works shall meet 
 A dreadful overthrow. 
 
 PSALM II. P. M. 
 
 The firm establishment, universal extent, and eternal 
 duration of the glorious kingdom of Messiah. A 
 prophetic ode. 
 
 1 \\T HY do the heathen rage 1 
 
 Their princes and their kings 
 
TSAL3IS. 27 
 
 With Judah's sons engage 
 
 In vain imaginings,* 
 Against the High and Holy One, 
 The Lord and his anointed Son. 
 
 2 Combining hearts and hands, 
 
 They blasphemously say « 
 "Come, let us break their bands, 
 
 And cast their cords away." 
 The Lord who sits enthroned on high 
 Laughs at their wild impiety. 
 
 3 Yea, God looks down in scorn 
 
 On their assembled strength ; 
 Soon shall his anger burn, 
 
 And he will speak at length : 
 And in the fury of his wrath 
 Confound his enemies in their path. 
 
 4 " Declare the sure decree," 
 
 So speaks th' Almighty One, 
 "I have begotten thee 
 
 This day, my only Son. 
 Thee Zion's king, lo ! I ordain, 
 On Zion's holy mountain reign. 
 
 5 "Ask, and thy power advance 
 
 O'er all the heathen round ; 
 For thine inheritance 
 
 Is earth's remotest bound. 
 With iron rod crush thou them all, 
 And as a potsherd break them small." 
 
 6 Now, therefore, kings, attend, 
 
 Ye rulers of the earth, 
 Before Jehovah bend, 
 
 Join trembling with your mirth. 
 
 * fee note A, Ps. & 
 
28 PSALMS. 
 
 Be wise betimes ; kiss ye the Son, 
 Lest in his wrath ye be undone. 
 
 7 For soon his furious wrath 
 
 Shall like a furnace blaze, 
 Consuming in their path 
 
 The scorners of his grace. 
 Blest then is each right-hearted one, 
 Who puts his trust in him alone. 
 
 PSALM III. C. M. 
 
 Deliverance from temporal enemies celebrated. 
 
 * f\ LORD, how numerous are my foes ! 
 Where'er I look abroad, 
 Many against me rise, and say, 
 "He has no hope in God." 
 
 2 Yet thou my shield and glory art, 
 
 Thine hand upholds me still ; 
 I cried, yea, and the Lord replied 
 Even from his holy hill. 
 
 3 I laid me down and slept and waked, 
 
 God kept me safe and sound ; 
 
 I will not fear ten thousand men 
 
 Ranged all against me round. 
 
 4 Arise, O Lord ; save me, my God ; 
 
 Even as in former woes, 
 Thou brak'st the cheek-bone and the teeth 
 Of my malicious foes. 
 
 5 Salvation to the Lord belongs. 
 
 Lord, let thy blessing rest 
 On us, thy people, and we shall 
 For evermore be blest. 
 
PSALMS. 29 
 
 PSALM IV. L. Iff. 
 Goifs favour man's felicity. 
 
 1 T7NLARGE me, lord, in my distress, 
 
 Thou witness of my righteousness; 
 Be merciful to me, and hear 
 The breathings of my lowly prayer. 
 
 2 How long, ye sons of men, *ill yo 
 Deride my royal dignity ! 
 
 How long, ye great and worldly wise, 
 Will ye love vanity and lies]* 
 
 3 Know that the high and holy One 
 The godly man marks for his own ; 
 Jehovah hears me when I call, 
 Hears and delivers me from thrall. 
 
 4 fear his name; from sin depart; 
 In silence commune with your heart; 
 Offer the fruits of righteousness, 
 And trust ye in Jehovah's grace. 
 
 5 Lord, while so many seek in vain 
 For earthly good and earthly gain, 
 O let thy light and love divine 
 Cheer and possess this heart of mine. 
 
 6 So shall I still be happier far 
 
 Than prosperous worldlings ever are : 
 So shall my life be peace; the Lord 
 My joy by day, by night my guard. 
 
 PSALM V. C. Iff. 
 
 .1 prayer for the morning of the Sabbath. 
 
 1 C\ LORD, my God, in mercy hear 
 My sorrowful complaints; 
 
 * See note A, Ps. 4. 
 c 2 
 
30 PSALMS. 
 
 Give ear unto my lowly prayer, 
 Thou glorious king of saints. 
 
 2 Lord, thou shalt early hear my voice ; 
 
 A suppliant at thy gate, 
 Early to thee I'll lift my eyes, 
 And for thy blessing wait. 
 
 3 For thou art holy, and with thee 
 
 No wickedness can dwell; 
 Sinners shall from thy presence flee 
 Down to the lowest hell. 
 
 4 Thou hatest all unrighteousness, 
 
 Destroy est every liar; 
 The bloody and deceitful race 
 Shall know thy fiercest ire. 
 
 5 But I into thy house will go, 
 
 Through thine abundant grace, 
 And praying thus devoutly bow 
 Within thy holy place.* 
 
 6 " Lord, from the paths of righteousness 
 
 Permit me not to stray; 
 
 For watchful are my enemies : 
 
 Show me thy holy way. 
 
 7 For false and treacherous they are ; 
 
 Polluted is their heart; 
 Their throat's an open sepulchre; 
 They ply the flatterer's art. 
 
 8 Lord, let their every art be vain, 
 
 Confound their wickedness; 
 Let ruin seize the sinful men 
 And the rebellious race. 
 
 * See note A, Ps. 5. 
 
PSALMS. 31 
 
 9 But let all those who trust in thee 
 
 And know thy saving grace, 
 Let them rejoice exultingly, 
 And shouts of triumph raise. 
 
 10 For to the righteous man the Lord 
 
 Will choicest blessings yield ; 
 
 His grace protection shall aftbrd, 
 
 And guard him like ashielfl." 
 
 PSALM VI. L. M. 
 
 A prayer for a time of sickness. 
 
 1 T ORD, in thy mercy chasten me, 
 
 Nor let thy wrath so fiercely burn ! 
 Heal me, O Lord, and set me free ; 
 O, in thy love to me return ! 
 
 2 My bones are vexed, my flesh is weak ; 
 
 My spirit's also vexed sore ; 
 O save me for thy mercies' sake, 
 
 Nor bruise a suppliant sinner more ! 
 
 3 To all around I seem to die ; 
 
 But still from death in pity save ! 
 For all the dead in silence lie ; 
 
 How can they praise thee in the grave ? 
 
 4 In weariness by day F groan, 
 
 "Watering my pillow with my tears; 
 And sleepless all the night I moan, 
 Until the morning light appears. 
 
 5. Consumed with grief, my wasted frame 
 Looks old, and all my foes rejoice.* 
 Ye wicked, cease your envious dream, 
 For God hath heard my suppliant voice. 
 
 * See note A, Ps. 6. 
 
32 PSALMS. 
 
 6 Yea ! God hath heard my lowly prayer, 
 And filled my enemies with shame, 
 And sore vexation and despair: 
 For ever blessed be his name. 
 
 PSALM VII. L. M. 
 
 Deliverance from enemies implored, -with a prophetic 
 view of the destruction of the -wicked. 
 
 1 Q LORD, my God, I trust in thee ; 
 
 O save me from mine enemy ; 
 Lest, like a lion, he should tear 
 My soul, and no deliverer near ! 
 
 2 Lord, my God, if artful guile 
 My sin-polluted hands defile; 
 
 If I have wronged my friend, or low, 
 Through dire oppression, brought my foe ; 
 
 3 Then let that foe pursue and slay; 
 Yea, let my life the forfeit pay : 
 Let foul dishonour blot my name, 
 And all my glory turn to shame ! 
 
 4 Rise, in thine anger, Lord, arise 
 Against thy wrathful enemies. 
 Rise in thy justice, and decree 
 A righteous award to me. 
 
 5 So shall th' assembled saints surround 
 Thy throne on Zion's holy ground ; 
 For them resume thine awful throne 
 As judge supreme, Almighty One. 
 
 6 The Lord is judge; before his seat 
 All nations shall submissive meet ; 
 Then mercifully judge thou me, 
 Even after mine integrity. 
 
psalms. 33 
 
 7 Lord, let the wicked's malice end, 
 But bless the righteous and defend. 
 God sounds the heart and tries the reins, 
 And judgment righteously ordains. 
 
 8 The Saviour of th' upright in heart, 
 Lord, thou my shield and buckler art ; 
 God will the just approve and own, 
 But on the wicked rests his frown. 
 
 9 If he repent not, then the Lord 
 Will sharpen his avenging sword; 
 And fix his shafts upon his bow, 
 Even flaming shafts to lay him low. 
 
 10 The mischief-plotting sinner see, 
 All pregnant with iniquity ! 
 The offspring of his malice still 
 Is shame and self-requited ill.* 
 
 1 1 The pitfal he prepares alone, 
 
 For other's grave, becomes his own : 
 His \iolence, inspiring dread, 
 Descends on his own guilty head. 
 
 12 Then O, my soul, Jehovah bless, 
 According to his righteousness ; 
 Yea, joyful anthems I will sing 
 To God, my holy, heavenly king ! 
 
 PSALM VIII. S. M. 
 
 The glory of God in the -works of creation. 
 
 1 JEHOVAH, Lord of all, 
 
 How glorious is thy name! 
 Thy glory shines through all the earth, 
 And in the starry frame. 
 
 I Bee note A. P-: 
 
34 PSALMS. 
 
 2 Even by the mouth of babes 
 
 Thy strength thou didst ordain 
 
 '1 o still the wrath of vengeful foes, 
 
 And their fierce rage restrain. 
 
 3 When I behold the heavens, 
 
 Thy work of matchless might, 
 The moon and stars which thou hast formed 
 To cheer the gloom of night: 
 
 4 Then say I, " What is man, 
 
 To think of him, O Lord ! 
 Or what the son of man that thou 
 Shouldst view him with regard ! 
 
 5 " For next the angel hosts 
 
 Thou hast assigned his place; 
 And thou hast crowned his honoured head 
 With majesty and grace." 
 
 6 Lord over all thy works, 
 
 By thy divine decree, 
 Whatever lives obeys his power, 
 And owns his sovereignty : 
 
 7 All sheep and oxen tame, 
 
 The beasts that roam the fields, 
 Birds of the air, and all the tribes 
 The teeming ocean yields. 
 
 8 Jehovah, Lord of all, 
 
 How glorious is thy name ; 
 Thy glory shines through all the earth, 
 And in the starry frame ! 
 
PSALMS. 35 
 
 PSALM DL" C. M. 
 
 God the deliverer of his people from all their enemies. 
 
 1 ^HEE will I praise with all my heart, 
 
 O God, thou mighty Lord, 
 The wonders which thy hands have wrought 
 I'll gratefully record. 
 
 2 In thee, Most High, I'll greatly joy, 
 
 And celebrate thy name ; 
 For thou hast vanquished all my foes, 
 And put their hosts to shame. 
 
 3 They stumbled underneath thy frown, 
 
 They perished at thy sight ; 
 A righteous Judge enthroned on high, 
 Thou hast maintained ray right. 
 
 4 The heathen lands thou hast rebuked, 
 
 The wicked overthrown, 
 And their names blotted out, that they 
 May never more be known. 
 
 5 O enemy, thy cruel swords 
 
 No longer bring dismay ; 
 Thy cities overthrown, thy name 
 Has perished now for aye.y 
 
 6 But God for ever lives and reigns ; 
 
 He, on his awful throne, 
 Shall judge the world in righteousness, 
 And justice give each one. 
 
 7 God will a tower of refuge be 
 
 To those that are oppressed ; 
 A refuge sure in troublous times 
 To all that are distressed. 
 
 * See note A, Ps 9. ] See note B, Ts. 9. 
 
36 P8ALM8. 
 
 8 And they that know thy name, in thee 
 
 Their confidence will place; 
 
 For thou hast not forsaken them 
 
 That seek thy Messed face. 
 
 9 0, ye his people, sing ye praise 
 
 To Zion's mighty Lord ; 
 In every nation, every land, 
 His glorious works record. 
 
 10 When searching into deeds of blood, 
 
 He pities the oppressed, 
 And with a gracious ear he hears 
 The cry of the distressed. 
 
 11 Lord, pity me; look on the wrongs 
 
 I from my foes sustain, 
 Even thou, who from the gates of death 
 Upliftest me again ; 
 
 12 That I in Zion's blessed courts 
 
 May celebrate thy praise ;• 
 And in thy great salvation still 
 Be joyful all my days. 
 
 13 Sinners have sunk into the pit 
 
 They had themselves prepared ; 
 
 And in the net they spread unseen, 
 
 Lo ! their own feet are snared ! 
 
 14 The Lord Jehovah is revealed ! 
 
 Judgment our God hath wrought! 
 For in the snares themselves had laid, 
 The sinners' feet are caught ! 
 
 15 Yea, all the race of wicked men 
 
 On all the earth that dwell, 
 
 * See note C, Ps. 9. 
 
MALMS. 37 
 
 All who forget the living God, 
 Shall be turned into hell. 
 
 16 For yet the need) 7 and oppressed 
 
 Who suffer grief and pain, 
 Shall be remembered by the Lord, 
 Nor shall their hopes be vain. 
 
 17 Arise, Lord, nor let men prevail; 
 
 Judge all the world abroad; 
 That men may know themselves but dust, 
 And thee the mighty God. 
 
 PSALM X.* 8. M. 
 
 Description of the -wicked, -with a prophetic view of the 
 ivorhVs entire deliverance from their power in the 
 glorious reign of the ^Messiah. 
 
 1 "VI^HY standest thou afar] 
 
 Why turn thy face away! 
 Why hidest thou thyself, O Lord, 
 In this distressful day 1 
 
 2 Relentless, proud and fierce, 
 
 The wicked reign secure, 
 Combining, with malignant arts, 
 To persecute the poor.-j- 
 
 3 Boasting their great success, 
 
 And doating on their hoard, 
 They bless their own prosperity- 
 While they blaspheme the Lord.^ 
 
 4 A proud, ungodly race, 
 
 On God they do not call ; 
 For they have said within their hearts 
 "There is no God at all." 
 
 • See note A, Ps. 10. | ?ee note B. Ps W 
 
 ; See note C, Ts. 10. 
 
38 PSALMS. 
 
 5 Crooked are all their ways; 
 
 Unmindful of thy wrath, 
 They treat their enemies with scorn, 
 And turn not from their path. 
 
 6 Within their hearts they say, 
 
 " Lo ! we have grown so great, 
 Adversity shall never reach 
 Our prosperous estate.' , 
 
 7 Their mouth is ever filled 
 
 With cursing, fraud and lies ; 
 Vain is their language, and their hearts 
 Malicious schemes devise. 
 
 8 They lurk in secret paths, 
 
 On deeds of darkness bent, 
 To circumvent the helpless poor. 
 And slay the innocent. 
 
 9 Like lions in their dens, 
 
 They lie from day to day, 
 To watch the needy and the poor, 
 And snare them for their prey. 
 
 10 To meanest arts they stoop, 
 
 And crouch even to the dust, 
 That so their victims may be snared, 
 And multitudes oppressed. 
 
 1 1 And thus they madly say, 
 
 " Sure, God forgets it all ; 
 He hides his face and sees it not, 
 Nor hears the suppliants' calL" 
 
 12 Arise, O mighty God ! 
 
 O Lord, lift up thine hand ; 
 Forget not thine afflicted ones 
 In this ungodly land. 
 
rauLUt* :^9 
 
 i .1 Why should the wicked scorn 
 Thy justice and thy might ] 
 Or say, "The Lord will not require, 
 The Lord will not requite •" 
 
 14 Sure, thou hast seen, and shalt 
 
 Their cruel wrongs repay; 
 To thee the poor commits his»cause, 
 Thou art the orphan's stay. 
 
 15 Crush thou the wicked's power, 
 
 And let their empire cease, 
 Till men shall search for them in vain 
 Amid the reign of peace ! 
 
 16 Behold, this reign begins ! 
 
 The Lord is king for aye ! 
 And all the wicked from his land 
 Have melted quite away ! 
 
 17 Lord, thou hast surely heard 
 
 The humble's lowly prayer; 
 Thou wilt prepare their hearts to pray, 
 And bend thine ear to hear ; 
 
 18 Th' afflicted to relieve, 
 
 The orphan race to bless ; 
 That earth-born and ungodly men 
 May never more oppress. 
 
 PSALM XI. C. M. 
 Confidence in God amid the machinations of the -wicked. 
 
 1 TX God alone I put my trust ; 
 How is it then ye say, 
 M Flee as a bird to some high hill 
 Or mountain far away ! 
 
 *2 For, lo ! the wicked bend their bow, 
 And take their deadly aim 
 
4U PSALMS. 
 
 At all the righteous in the land 
 Who fear Jehovah's name. 
 
 3 And if confusion and misrule 
 
 Prevail on every hand, 
 What can the righleous do hut flee 
 From an unhappy land !" 
 
 4 God in his holy mansion dwells ; 
 
 Heaven is his lofty throne ; 
 There he beholds and knows full well 
 Whatever men have done. 
 
 5 These dark events are only meant 
 
 His saints on earth to try; 
 For violent and wicked men 
 He hates, and will destroy. 
 
 6 Snares, fire and brimstone, furious storms 
 
 On sinners he shall rain ; 
 This is the portion of their cup, 
 Even everlasting pain. 
 
 7 For God is righteous, and delights 
 
 In righteousness alone ; 
 He ever bends a gracious eye 
 On each pure-hearted one. 
 
 PSALM XII. C. M. 
 
 God's preservation of the righteous, notwithstanding the 
 prevalence of ungodliness. 
 
 1 XJELP us, O God ! for godly men 
 
 Grow fewer every day, 
 And from amongst the sons of men 
 The faithful fade away. 
 
 2 Vain and unprofitable talk 
 
 Delights both old and young : 
 
mi MM 41 
 
 Deceit is ever in their heart, 
 And flattery on their tongue. 
 
 9 God shall destroy the flattering race 
 Who proudly thus declaim, 
 •• Our tongues are ours; we know no lord, 
 And own no master's name/' 
 i 
 I •• Now," saith the Lord, u I will arise 
 To succour the oppressed, 
 To wipe the godly's tears away. 
 And give them peace and rest/' 
 
 5 How precious are thy words, God ! 
 
 More comfort they inspire, 
 Than heaps of silver puriried 
 In the refiner's fire.* 
 
 6 Lord, thou shalt safely keep thy saints 
 
 From this ungodly race ; 
 Though sinners swarm, and vilest men 
 Hold an exalted place. 
 
 PSALM XIII. S. ftf. 
 
 Prayer for a time of mental despondencv. 
 
 1 T ORD, wilt thou still forget, 
 Nor show thy blessed face ! 
 Lord, wilt thou leave my soul for aye 
 To darkness and distress 7 
 
 3 Oh, shall I still be left 
 In bitterness to mourn, 
 And my fierce enemy exult 
 While I am all forlorn ! 
 
 3 O Lord, my God. give ear, 
 And let thy light divine. 
 
 • Bei miU A tv 12 
 
 D 2 
 
42 PSALMS. 
 
 Ere I have slept the sleep of death, 
 Cheer this sad soul of mine ! 
 
 4 Lest my malignant foe 
 
 Say, " Lo ! I have prevailed !" 
 
 And those that trouble me rejoice 
 
 When all my hope has failed ! 
 
 6 Lord, in thy grace I trust ; 
 To thee 1 lift my voice, 
 For in thy great salvation, Lord, 
 My heart shall still rejoice. 
 
 6 Yea, I will bless the Lord, 
 And celebrate his praise; 
 For he has made me feel his love, 
 And know his saving grace. 
 
 PSALM XIV. C. M. 
 
 The universal depravity of man. 
 
 1 " rPHERE is no God at all," the fool 
 
 Thinks in his heart and says, — 
 A corrupt race, their works are vile, 
 And hateful are their ways. 
 
 2 The Lord looked down from Heaven to view 
 
 Mankind the world abroad, 
 
 To see if even one were good, 
 
 And sought the living God. 
 
 3 But the whole race of men were vile ; 
 
 Astray they all had gone ; 
 And not one righteous man was found 
 In the wide world — not one ! 
 
 4 Shall not God mark those wicked men, 
 
 Who greedily devour 
 
PSALM-. 43 
 
 His people M their daily food, 
 Nor fear his mighty power ! 
 
 5 Yea, they shall fear Him ; for God loves 
 And dwells among the just, 
 For though they scorn his people's hope, 
 
 Jehovah is their trust. 
 
 « 
 
 fi O that from Zion's holy hill 
 Salvation soon might come 
 To Israel's race — that God w T ould bring 
 His captive people home ! 
 
 7 Then should his saints in gladsome strains 
 Sound the loud anthem high; 
 O, Jacob, thou would'st triumph then, 
 And Israel shout for joy ! 
 
 PSALM XV. C. If. 
 
 The citizen of Zion described. 
 
 1 A\^HO shall abide within the place 
 
 Where thou abidest, God of grace ? 
 And who shall have his dwelling still 
 On Zion's high and holy hill ? 
 
 2 The man whose conduct is upright; 
 Whose actions ever just and right; 
 Who speaks the language of his heart, 
 And scorns to act the liar's part. 
 
 3 Who never slanders with his tongue, 
 Nor does his neighbour wilful wrong; 
 Who neither frames an ill report, 
 Nor spreads it to his neighbour's hurt. 
 
 4 Who with abhorrence would behold 
 The vile man tho' bedecked with gold. 
 
44 FSALM>. 
 
 But honours men of piety, 
 Although of mean and low degree. 
 
 5 Who, when he promises or swears, 
 Performs, whatever loss he bears ; 
 And ne'er receives usurious gain, 
 Or bribe to give the guiltless pain. 
 
 6 Such is the man whose firm abode 
 Shall ever be with Jacob's God ; 
 Yea, he shall have his dwelling still 
 On Zion's high and holy bill. 
 
 PSALM XVI.* C. M. 
 
 The sufferings and glory of Christ. 
 
 1 " pRESERVE me, Thou Eternal Lord, 
 
 I cast me on thy care :" 
 To God I thus addressed the word 
 Of supplicating prayer. 
 
 2 O God, Thou High and Holy One, 
 
 Thou source of lasting peace, 
 On thy benignity alone 
 Rests all my happiness. 
 
 3 For all the gods the sons of men 
 
 With blinded zeal adore, 
 And worship with oblations vain, 
 I utterly abhor. 
 
 4 Though many an eager worshipper 
 
 Their fancied power proclaims, 
 Their bloody rites I will not share, 
 Nor call upon their names. 
 
 * See Note A, Pa. 16. 
 
I»JSALM.S. 1") 
 
 5 Jthovah is my portion sure, 
 
 My cup of chiefest joy, 
 He keeps my heritage secure 
 From all who would destroy. 
 
 6 Surely where streams of pleasure join, 
 
 My happy lot is cast ! 
 A goodly heritage is mine, * 
 That ne'er can be surpassed. 
 
 7 O, I will ever bless the Lord, 
 
 Whose counsel guides my way ; 
 For in the night my reins afford 
 Instruction for the day. 
 
 S I set the Lord before my face ; 
 Nought shall my scul annoy : 
 His blessed presence and his grace 
 Ensure my peace and joy. 
 
 9 Therefore I'll bear my spirit up, 
 In sorrow's deepest gloom : 
 My rlesh &hall also rest in hope, 
 Even in the silent tomb. 
 
 10 For sure thou wilt not leave my soul 
 
 In the dark grave for aye : 
 Not give thine Holy One to foul 
 Corruption and decay. 
 
 11 Thou wilt me raise to life divine ; 
 
 And in the heavenly land 
 Joy everlasting shall be mine, 
 Lord, at thine own right hand. 
 
46 PSALMS. 
 
 PSALM XVII. C. M. 
 
 The future happiness of the righteous contrasted with 
 the worldly prosperity of the ivicked. 
 
 * T ORD, vindicate my righteous cause, 
 And lend a gracious ear 
 Unto my cry ; be pleased to hear 
 My undissembled prayer: 
 
 2 And grant me from thy heavenly courts 
 
 A merciful award ; 
 Yea, let thine own all-seeing eye 
 Discern the right, O Lord. 
 
 3 Lord, thou hast searched and tried my heart. 
 
 But no deceit hast found, 
 Though thou hast tried me in the night 
 When darkness reigned around. 
 
 4 Whate'er the sons of men may do, 
 
 My tongue shall not transgress; 
 Thy word shall keep me from the works 
 And ways of wickedness. 
 
 5 Uphold me in thy paths, O God, 
 
 Xor suffer me to fall ; 
 Incline thine ear, as thou ait wont, 
 And hear me when I call. 
 
 6 Thy wondrous mercies, Lord, display, 
 
 Thou, whose Almighty power 
 Preserves all those who trust in thee 
 In every evil hour, 
 
 7 Even as the apple of thine eye 
 
 Keep me, O King of kings; 
 Hide me from all my foes beneath 
 The shadow of thy wings. 
 
11 
 
 8 For wicked men their deadly hate 
 
 Display on every side, 
 Men who are swelled with luxury, 
 Whose words are full of pride. 
 
 9 With watchful malice they beset 
 
 My steps where'er I go ; 
 They follow me with artful guile 
 To work my overthrow.* « 
 
 10 Even as a hungry lion lurks 
 
 To spring upon his prey. 
 Or a young lion crouching down 
 In secret by the way. 
 
 1 1 Arise and disappoint their hopes ; 
 
 Humble their pride, O Loid ; 
 
 And rescue me from wicked men 
 
 With thine avenging sword.f 
 
 12 Save me, O God, from worldly men. 
 
 To whom thine hand has given 
 
 The portion of their choice on earth. 
 
 Without one thought of heaven. 
 
 13 Thou fillest them with treasures here, 
 
 Even all their hearts love best: 
 
 Their children have abundance too, 
 
 And leave their heirs the rest.} 
 
 14 But mine's a happier lot by far, 
 
 For I shall see thy face, 
 And stand before thee, O my God, 
 In perfect righteousness. 
 
 15 Yea, when uprising from the grave, 
 
 I see thy glory bright, 
 
 1 See note A, Fs. IT. | See ncte B. P= 1" 
 
 : See note C. Ps. 17. 
 
48 PSALMS. 
 
 O, I shall evermore enjoy 
 Unspeakable delight. 
 
 PSALM XVIII. P. M. 
 
 A Triumphal Ode, descriptive of the victories of David, 
 and prophetical of the triumphs of Christ. 
 
 1 C\ LORD, my strength, my grateful heart 
 
 Will love thee till my dying day; 
 My Fortress and my Rock, Thou art, 
 My strong Deliverer and my Stay ; 
 My God, my Shield, my lofty Tower, 
 My Saviour in my evil hour ! 
 
 2 1 will call upon the Lord, 
 
 To whom alone be endless praise ; 
 So shall his mighty arm afford 
 
 Salvation from my enemies. 
 O I will ever gladly sing 
 The praises of my God and king. 
 
 3 Death and his terrors stood around ! 
 
 Fearful I saw the rising wave 
 Of wicked men ! Already bound 
 
 In the firm fetters of the grave, 
 My soul had almost sunk beneath 
 The overpowering shafts of death.* 
 
 4 Then, in my great extremity, 
 
 I called upon the Lord alone ; 
 Yea, O my God, I cried to thee, 
 
 When other helpers there were none. 
 He, from his temple, heard my voice, 
 And listened to my mournful cries. 
 
 * See note A, Ps. ]?. 
 
5 Then the earth shook and quaked for fear : 
 
 The mountains trembled to their base, 
 And, firm though their foundations were, 
 
 Started in terror from their place: 
 For God was wroth, and his right arm 
 Uplifted, caused the dread alarm. 
 
 6 Dense volumes of sulphureous smoke 
 
 He breathed around him;«fiery flame 
 Out from his mouth incessant broke, 
 
 Devouring wheresoe'er it came.* 
 He bowed the arch of heaven on high, 
 When He descended from the sky. 
 
 ? Thick darkness was beneath his feet : 
 On flaming cherubim he rode; 
 And on the whirlwind's wings so fleet, 
 
 Flew all athwart the world abroad. 
 Thick clouds and darkness most profound, 
 Tent-like, pavilioned him around. 
 
 8 But at the brightness of his face 
 
 The clouds dissolved in hail and fire: 
 God thundered in his heavenly place, 
 
 The Highest spake in hottest ire: 
 He shot his shafts and routed them 
 With lightnings, hail and fiery flame. 
 
 9 The ocean then forsook its bed, 
 
 And all its billows rolled away : 
 Then were the earth's foundations laid 
 
 All open to the gaze of day : 
 At thy rebuke the floods fled fast, 
 Lord, at thy nostrils' fiery blast If 
 
 ' ^r note B, T^ 18. • .See note I . P> 18. 
 
50 PSALMS. 
 
 10 From heaven above the Lord sent down 
 
 And drew me from the raging flood ; 
 From powerful foes, whose wrathful frown 
 
 And power I ne'er had else withstood : 
 They had o'erwhelmed me utterly, 
 But God, my succour, then was nigh. 
 
 1 1 'Twas He alone who set me free, 
 
 And brought me to a spacious place, 
 For he had set his love on me. 
 
 According to my righteousness 
 And mine integrity, the Lord 
 Has blessed me with a rich reward. 
 
 12 For I have kept his holy ways, 
 
 Nor in the sinner's footsteps trod: 
 His judgments were before my face, 
 
 Nor have I scorned the laws of God. 
 I ever lived, as in his sight, 
 In action pure, in heart upright. 
 
 13 For this, the all-discerning Lord, 
 
 To whom be everlasting praise, 
 Has granted me a rich reward, 
 
 According to my righteousness: 
 Because he saw my hands were clean, 
 Yea, and my heart sincere within. 
 
 14 For God is ever kind to those 
 
 Who bear a kind and tender heart ; 
 And his uprightness daily shows 
 
 To those who act an upright part; 
 Pure to the pure, his furious wrath 
 Pursues the perverse in their path. 
 
 15 For thou th' afflicted wilt advance, 
 
 And to eternal glory raise ; 
 
PSALMS. 51 
 
 But all the proud and lofty ones, 
 
 O thou wilt mightily abase: 
 Yea, thou hast made my lamp burn bright, 
 And turned my darkness into light. 
 
 16 With thine assistance I have run 
 
 Through thickest foes, nor suffered thrall ; 
 Yea, strengthened by my God alone, 
 
 I've safely scaled the highest wall : 
 Nor sword nor spear could do me harm, 
 When shielded by Jehovah's arm. 
 
 17 O God, all-perfect are thy ways; 
 
 Thy words are pure, and tried, and true; 
 To all that trust thy heavenly grace, 
 
 A buckler of defence art thou. 
 Who is a God but thou, O Lord \ 
 Who else salvation can afford T 
 
 18 'Tis God who girds my armour on, 
 
 And crowns my efforts with success; 
 Like the swift hind he makes me run, 
 
 And sets me on a lofty place: 
 He gives me strength to meet my foe, 
 And bend the stoutest iron bow.* 
 
 19 Yea, thou hast given me the shield 
 
 Of thy salvation for defence; 
 And I am evermore upheld, 
 
 O God, by thine Omnipotence : 
 Thy loving-kindness made me great,-)- 
 And firmly fixed my royal state. 
 
 20 Yea, I pursued my enemies, 
 
 And quickly seized them and destroyed ; 
 I wounded them, nor could they rise ; 
 Low at my feet they fell and died. 
 * See note D, Ps. 18. \ See note E, Ps. 18, 
 
52 PSALMS. 
 
 For thou didst arm me for the fight, 
 And vanquish all these men of might. 
 
 21 And thou hast struck fear and dismay 
 
 Into the hearts of all my foes; 
 And overthrown the thick array 
 
 Of those who hate me and oppose. 
 They cried, but there was none to save; 
 To God, but God no answer gave. 
 
 22 Then did I beat them small as dust, 
 
 Which the wind scattereth abroad ; 
 And their unburied bodies cast, 
 
 Like heaps of dirt, upon the road. 
 Yea, thou hast Israel's strife allayed, 
 And I am now the heathen's head. 
 
 23 And people, yet unknown, shall bring 
 
 Their offerings, when my name they hear ; 
 And foreign nations own me king, 
 
 And yield submission, far and near. 
 The hostile tribes shall fade away, 
 Or bow to my resistless sway. 
 
 24 The Lord, my rock, for ever lives ; 
 
 O blessed be his name for aye ! 
 Exalted be the God who gives 
 
 Salvation in my evil day ! 
 'Tis He who vindicates my cause, 
 And bends the nations to my laws. 
 
 25 Lord, thou art my deliverer: 
 
 Yea, thou exaltest me on high ; 
 When foes assaulted, thou wen near, 
 
 To save me from my enemy. 
 Among the heathen I'll proclaim 
 My gratitude, and praise thy name, 
 
PSALMS. 
 
 26 God to his king deliverance shows, 
 
 Firmly establishing his throne ; 
 His loving-kindness he bestows 
 
 On David, his anointed one : 
 And David's seed, his chosen race, 
 Shall ever prove his saving grace. 
 
 PSALM XIX. ■ L. M. 
 
 The glory of God displayed in the works of nature, 
 and the infinitely superior excellence of the Holy 
 Scriptures, as a revelation of his character and 
 
 will. 
 
 J HPHE starry heavens above proclaim 
 The glories of their Maker's name ; 
 The shining firmament declares 
 His works to all the universe. 
 
 2 Day after day proclaims abroad 
 The wisdom and the power of God ; 
 Night after night repeats the sound, 
 And spreads th' intelligence around. 
 
 3 No voice is heard amid their train ; 
 They speak not with the speech of men ; 
 But their mute eloquence extends 
 
 Far as the earth's remotest ends. 
 
 4 High in the lofty firmament, 
 
 He, for the sun, hath reared a tent; 
 Who, with a bridegroom's joyous face, 
 Like hero, gladly runs his race.* 
 
 5 He rises in the farthest east, 
 And travels to the farthest west ; 
 
 See note A, Pa. 19. 
 e 2 
 
54 PSALM-. 
 
 Around the heavens his -chariot's whirled, 
 To lighten and to warm the world.* 
 
 6 The law of God revealed to men, 
 Is perfect and converts from sin : 
 His word is sure, and ne'er deceives, 
 But wisdom to the simple gives. 
 
 ? The statutes of the Lord are right, 
 And fill the heart with great delight : 
 And the pure precepts of his word, 
 Enlightening to the eyes afford. 
 
 8 The fear of God unfeigned is pure, 
 And shall through endless years endure: 
 The judgments of the Lord express 
 His truth and perfect righteousness. 
 
 9 More precious they than heaps untold 
 Of gold, yea, of the finest gold ; 
 
 Far sweeter to the taste they are 
 Than virgin-honey — sweeter far !y 
 
 10 Counsel and warning too they give,; 
 To teach thy servant how to live; 
 And all who keep them from the Lord, 
 Shall surely have a great reward. 
 
 1 1 O who can tell how oft he sins ! 
 From hidden sins do thou me cleanse ! 
 From wilful sin, O Lord, restrain, 
 Nor let it o'er thy servant reign !§ 
 
 12 So shall I in uprightness stand, 
 In yonder blest and holy land : 
 
 * See note B, Ps. 19. f See note C. Ps. 19. 
 
 ; See note D. Ps. 19. § See note E, Ps. 19. 
 
PSALMS. 56 
 
 Yea, justificJ, O Lord, by thee, 
 From all my great iniquity.* 
 
 13 Lend, O my God, a gracious ear, 
 
 To these my words of humble prayer ! 
 Yea, hear the language of my heart, 
 For thou my strength and Saviour art!| 
 
 PSALM XX. k M. 
 
 .? prayer for those xvho are engaged in a really just 
 and necessary war. 
 
 1 TEHOVAH hear thy prayer, 
 
 In thy distressful day ; 
 And let the name of Jacob's God 
 Be thy defence and stay ! 
 
 2 O let him send thee help, 
 
 From his own holy place ; 
 And strengthen thee from Zion's hill. 
 With his reviving grace! 
 
 3 Thy sacrifice and gifts, 
 
 may he bear in mind ; 
 
 Grant thee thine heart's wish, and fulfil 
 Whate'er thy thoughts designed ! 
 
 4 Of thv salvation we 
 
 Will sing with glad accord; 
 
 And we will raise our standard in 
 
 Thy name, Almighty Lord. 
 
 5 The Lord hear all thy prayers ! 
 
 1 know the Lord will hear. 
 And save his own anointed king 
 
 When mightiest foe? are near. 
 
 • Bee ftt4c F. P- - Bee not* O P^ 
 
5ti 
 
 6 From heaven the Lord will hear, 
 
 And rescue him from harm, 
 And for his safety and defence 
 Uplift his mighty arm. 
 
 7 Some trust in chariots, some 
 
 In horses trained to war; 
 Our trust is in the Lord our God — 
 A nobler trust by far. 
 
 8 For in the field of strife 
 
 Their mightiest ones shall fall ; 
 But we shall rise and stand erect, 
 And overcome them all. 
 
 9 Jehovah save the king ! 
 
 And in this evil day, 
 O hear thy people when they call, 
 And answer when they pray. 
 
 1 
 
 PSALM XXI. L. M. 
 
 HPHE king shall joyfully extol 
 
 Thy wondrous power, O God of might ! 
 Thy saving grace shall fill his soul 
 With inexpressible delight. 
 
 2 Granting his every prayer, thou hast, 
 
 With blessings rich and manifold, 
 Anticipated each request, 
 
 And crowned him with a crown of gold. 
 
 3 Yea, when he asked for life, thy grace 
 
 The boon bestowed most bounteously, 
 And granted him a length of days 
 Enduring as eternity. 
 
 4 And thou his glory hast advanced, 
 
 Through that salvation wrought by thee: 
 
M ULMI. 
 
 And thou hast mightily enhanced 
 His honour and his majesty. 
 
 5 Blessed with thy presence and thy love, 
 
 His happiness no end shall know ; 
 For, trusting in the Lord above, 
 He ne'er shall fear an earthly foe. 
 
 6 Thine hand shall reach thy fiercest foes ; 
 
 And, doomed to perish by thy power, 
 As when a fiery furnace glows, 
 
 Thy wrath shall burn them and devour. 
 
 7 Yea, thou shalt utterly efface 
 
 Their offspring from the realms of day ; 
 For, by thy wrath consumed, the race 
 That hate thee, soon shall melt away. 
 
 8 Because they formed a wicked plot 
 
 Against thee, (though their schemes were vain,) 
 Soon shall thy direful shafts be shot, 
 And ruin seize their guilty train. 
 
 9 Be thou exalted thus, O Lord, 
 
 Our mighty king, our sure defence ! 
 So shall we sing, with glad accord, 
 The praise of thine omnipotence. 
 
 PSALM XXII. L. M. & P. M. 
 
 1 "\f Y God ! my God ! I cry to thee ; 
 
 Oh why hast thou forsaken me ! 
 Why hidest thou thyself on high, 
 Psor listenest to my doleful cry ! 
 
 2 I call upon thee all the day, 
 
 But still thine ear is turned away ; 
 I call upon thee all the night, 
 O God, until the morning light ! 
 
58 PSALMS. 
 
 3 But thou art holy; and thy throne 
 Eternal stands, thou holy one! 
 Holy and just are all thy ways, 
 
 O thou, the God of Israel's praise ! 
 
 4 Our fathers put their trust in thee, 
 When in their great perplexity ; 
 When overwhelmed with doubt and fear, 
 They cried to thee, and thou didst hear. 
 
 5 But I — a helpless worm — am left, 
 Of all kind sympathy bereft, 
 Reproached, despised of men, forlorn, 
 The mocker's jest, the people's scorn. 
 
 6 " He trusted in the Lord," (they cry, 
 In mockery of my misery,) 
 
 " Then let the Lord, from heaven above, 
 Rescue the object of his love." 
 
 7 But thou art he who, from the gloom 
 And darkness of my mother's womb, 
 Brought me forth safe, and made me blest 
 With hope's bright visions on the breast. 
 
 8 Yea, I was cast — -a helpless load — 
 Even from my birth, on thee, my God ; 
 Forsake me not when trouble's near, 
 And there is no deliverer. 
 
 9 Strong bulls, of Bashan's fiercest breed, 
 Beset my path, where'er I tread ; 
 They gape upon me night and day, 
 Like lions roaring for their prey. 
 
 10 Like water, spilt upon the ground, 
 
 My blood flows forth from many a wound, 
 And every bone incessant aches, 
 My heart within me melts like wax. 
 

 1 1 Like potsherd lying on the road, 
 So dried up is my frame, O God ! 
 My tongue cleaves to my jaws ; my breath 
 Fails me as in the throes of death. 
 
 12 For dogs surround me and beset; 
 The wicked catch me in their net; 
 With deadly malice fired, they meet, 
 And pierce my very hands arifd feet. 
 
 13 My flesh consumed with grief and pain, 
 My bones stare through my shrivelled skin : 
 They share my clothes, and for my coat 
 They impiously cast the lot. 
 
 14 But do not thou forsake me, Lord ! 
 Be my deliverer from the sword ; 
 Rescue me from the dog's fierce jaws, 
 And from the ravening lion's paws. 
 
 15 Yea, in my dark and evil hour, 
 
 O shield me from the wicked's power; 
 Hear me, and rescue from the horns 
 Even of the untamed unicorns. 
 
 16 So shall I to thy saints declare 
 How great thy grace and glory are, 
 And in the full assembly raise 
 This anthem of sincerest praise. 
 
 PART II. 
 
 17 Praise the Lord, all ye that tear him ; 
 
 Praise him, Jacob's chosen race ; 
 
 Israel's sons, that still are near him, 
 
 Reverence, while ye seek his face. 
 
 18 To the sorrows of th' afflicted 
 
 He hath lent a willing ear ; 
 
60 PSALMS. 
 
 Neither hath he e'er rejected 
 Any humble suppliant's prayer. 
 
 19 Therefore, in the congregation, 
 
 I will praise thee all the day, 
 And before the generation 
 
 Of thy saints my vows I'll pay. 
 
 20 All the meek shall eat before thee, 
 
 And be tilled abundantly ; 
 Gladly shall thy saints adore thee; 
 " Live, ye saints, eternally.'' 
 
 21 All the earth's remotest nations 
 
 Grateful to the Lord shall bow ;. 
 All their tribes and generations 
 Shall a willing homage do. 
 
 22 For the kingdom appertaineth 
 
 To the Lord our God alone ; 
 Over all the earth he reigneth ; 
 Firm and steadfast is his throne. 
 
 23 Rich and poor shall all adore him ; 
 
 They who share the large supply 
 Earth provides, shall bow before him ; 
 They who pine in poverty. 
 
 24 Each succeeding generation 
 
 Joyfully shall serve the Lord ; 
 Every age and every nation 
 
 Their glad homage shall afford. 
 
 25 Each successively declaring 
 
 To the next succeeding race, 
 
 All his acts, his truth unerring, 
 
 And this wonder of his grace. 
 
-.1 
 
 PSALM XXIil.' P. M. 
 ^/_ {Paraphrased.) 
 
 1 r VHE Lord is my shepherd : his bounty provides 
 
 Whatever is needful, whatever is best. 
 Where the pastures are green and the stream softly 
 slides, 
 He leads me, and feeds me,^and makes me to rest. 
 
 2 In sickness he heals me ; when buried in sin, 
 
 He guides to the paths of uprightness and peace, 
 And makes them my choice and my purs uit again, 
 By the might of his power, to the praise of his 
 grace. 
 
 3 I will traverse the vale of the shadow of death, 
 
 Nor fear any evil, nor ever despair ; 
 For thou wilt uphold me in that gloomy path, 
 Thy rod and thy staff, they shall comfort me 
 there. 
 
 4 Thy bounty affords me my daily supply, 
 
 In the presence of wrathful and merciless foes ; 
 My head thou anointest with gladness and joy. 
 And with blessings unnumbered my cup over- 
 flows. 
 
 5 O surely thy goodness and mercy and love 
 
 Shall follow me still till my life's latest day ; 
 And thy glorious temp'e, in Zion above, 
 O God, be my blest habitation for aye. 
 
 * The old metrical version of this psalm is so e>cpedingfy 
 beautiful, that I have not attempted a translation of it. properly 
 
62 PSALMS. 
 
 PSALM XXIV. S. M. 
 
 1 'FO God the earth belongs ; 
 
 His are the land and sea, 
 With all their tribes and all their tongues, 
 A countless progeny.. 
 
 2 For his Almighty hand 
 
 Fixed it upon the flood ; 
 And steadfast, at his high command, 
 The wondrous fabric stood. 
 
 3 Who shall ascend the place 
 
 Where God Almighty dwells? 
 Or who shall stand, of mortal race, 
 On Zion's holy hills 1 
 
 4 The man whose hands are clean, 
 
 The man whose heart is pure, 
 Whose soul abhors deceit and sin, 
 Whose word and oath are sure. 
 
 5 Him will the Lord approve; 
 
 Him will the Saviour bless 
 With the choice tokens of his love, 
 The riches of his grace. 
 
 6 This is the chosen race 
 
 Who tread the heavenly road, 
 And with acceptance seek thy face, 
 O Jacob's mighty God ! 
 
 7 Fly open, O ye gates ! 
 
 Ye everlasting doors, 
 Open ! the king of glory waits 
 To tread the heavenly floors. 
 
 8 Who i& this glorious king ! 
 
 And whence his lofty fame ? 
 
F8ALX8. 
 
 TV omnipotent, th' all-conquering 
 Jehovah is his name. 
 
 9 Fly open ! O ye gates, 
 Ye everlasting doors, 
 Open! the king of glory waits 
 To tread the heavenly floors, 
 
 10 Who is this glorious king? 
 It is the Lord most high ; 
 His glory let all creatures sing, 
 On earth or in the sky. 
 
 , PSALM XXV. S. M. 
 
 1 HPO thee I lift my soul; 
 
 O Lord, I trust in thee ; 
 O let me not he put to shame 
 Before my enemy. 
 
 2 Let none he put to shame 
 
 That put their trust in thee; 
 But let confusion fall on all 
 That sin presumptuously. 
 
 3 Show me thy paths, O Lord, 
 
 Teach me thy blessed ways ; 
 Instruct and lead me in thy truth, 
 Through thine abounding grace. 
 
 4 For thou my Saviour art, 
 
 And thou wilt help afford; 
 Therefore with patience will I wait 
 All day upon the Lord. 
 
 5 Thy mercies and thy love, 
 
 O Lord, recall to mind ; 
 For thou hast been from endless years 
 All merciful and kind. 
 
64 PSALMS. 
 
 G My sins and faults of youth 
 Do thou, O Lord, forget; 
 And in thy mercy think on me, 
 And in thy goodness great. 
 
 7 The Lord is just and good ; 
 
 Wand'rers his ways shall know; 
 The humble he will rightly guide, 
 And his procedure show. 
 
 8 Mercy and truth, O Lord, 
 
 Distinguish all thy ways, 
 To those that keep thy covenant, 
 And trust thy promises. 
 
 9 Lord, for thine own name's sake, 
 
 I humbly thee entreat 
 To pardon mine iniquity, 
 For it is very great. 
 
 10 The man that fears the Lord, 
 
 Him will Jehovah show 
 The fittest path for him to choose 
 Through all his life below. 
 
 11 Peaceful shall be his life 
 
 From youth to latest age; 
 His offspring shall possess the land 
 As their rich heritage. 
 
 12 To them that fear the Lord 
 
 His mysteries he will show, 
 And they his covenant of peace 
 Increasingly shall know. 
 
 13 Mine eyes are ever turned, 
 
 O Lord, ray God, to thee; 
 For surely from the tempter's snares 
 Thou wilt deliver me. 
 
PSALMS. 9fi 
 
 14 O turn thy face to me, 
 
 In mercy, Lord, return ; 
 For I am compassed round with woes, 
 Afflicted and forlorn. 
 
 15 My troubles are increased, 
 
 My heart consumes with grief: 
 O Lord, let thine almighty hand 
 Benignly bring relief. * 
 
 16 Look on ray deep distress, 
 
 And my consuming pains; 
 And let thy mercy interpose 
 To pardon all my sins. 
 
 17 Consider, Lord, how strong 
 
 And numerous are my foes, 
 And with what deadly enmity 
 They hate me and oppose. 
 
 18 O, save me from their power, 
 
 Nor put my soul to shame ; 
 For I confide in thee ; my hope 
 Is in thy holy name. 
 
 19 Preserve me, O my God, 
 
 For still I wait on thee ; 
 Thou know'st th' uprightness of my heart, 
 And mine integrity. 
 
 20 Nor let my soul alone 
 
 Be thy peculiar care, 
 But let all Israel be redeemed, 
 And thy salvation share. 
 
 PSALM XXVI. L. M. 
 
 1 TIE thou my judge, O Lord, for I 
 Have walked in mine integrity ; 
 
»)<) PSALMS. 
 
 On thee, O Lord, have I relied, 
 Therefore my footsteps shall not slide. 
 
 2 Search me and try my inward part, 
 My understanding and my heart; 
 
 For sure thy grace and truth have been 
 My study and my guard from sin. 
 
 3 With guileful men I would not sit. 
 Nor with the artful hypocrite : 
 
 I hate the converse of profane 
 And wicked and malicious men. 
 
 4 My hands I will devoutly cleanse 
 In unpolluted innocence ; 
 
 So shall I to thine altar go, 
 
 Thy praise to sing, thy grace to show. 
 
 5 O I do love the house right well 
 
 In which thou deignest, Lord, to dwell ; 
 The holy place where thy divine 
 And uncreated glories shine. * 
 
 6 Assign me not my place, God, 
 With wicked men and men of blood ; 
 Whose hearts and actions are replete 
 With mischief, bribery, and deceit. 
 
 7 For I will walk in righteousness; 
 O grant me thy redeeming grace. 
 Henceforth, established by thy power, 
 I'll bless the Lord for evermore. 
 
 PSALM XXVII. C. M. 
 
 1 HPHE Lord's my Saviour and my light, 
 Why should I be afraid ? 
 
 * Green. 
 
MALMS. 67 
 
 The Lord's my guardian, why should I 
 A feeble mortal dread I 
 
 2 When my relentless enemies 
 
 (Ungodly persons all) 
 Assemble to devour me quite. 
 They stumble and they fall. 
 
 3 Should hostile armies camp around, 
 
 I will not be afraid ; 
 Should battle rage around me, then 
 Til trust Jehovah's aid. 
 
 4 This only would I ask of God, 
 
 And earnestly implore, 
 That I might have my fixed abode 
 In God's house evermore. 
 
 5 There to behold, with raptured eyes, 
 
 Jehovah's gracious face, 
 And there to learn his blessed will 
 Wuhin his holy place/ 
 
 For he shall hide me in his tent 
 In dark and evil days : 
 Yea, he shall hide me safely there, 
 And on a rock me raise. 
 
 7 So shall I be exalted high 
 Above my foes around, 
 And praise the Lord with shouts of joy 
 L'ntil his courts resound. 
 
 S Lord, hear me when I lift my voice 
 In sorrowful complaints; 
 And lend a gracious ear to me. 
 Thou glorious king of saints. 
 
68 
 
 PSALMS. 
 
 9 When thou hast said, u Seek ye rny face." 
 
 To Israel's favoured race, 
 Right gladly did my soul reply, 
 "Lord, I will seek thy face." 
 
 10 Hide not thy face from me, O God, 
 
 Nor turn in wrath away: 
 Full often bast ihou been my help 
 In my distressful day. 
 
 11 Then leave me not, I pray thee, now, 
 
 All desolate to mourn ; 
 My God, my Saviour, leave me not 
 Forsaken and forlorn. 
 
 12 Yea, though my friends should all forsake, 
 
 And both my parents dear, 
 God would uphold me, and his grace 
 My downcast spirit cheer. 
 
 13 Teach me thy ways, O Lord, and guide 
 
 My wand'ring steps aright, 
 
 Because of enemies whom my fall 
 
 Or stumbling would delight. 
 
 14 Give me not over to their power, 
 
 Nor to their heart's desire ; 
 For false malignant witnesses 
 Against my coul conspire. 
 
 15 But still I hope and trust, O God, 
 
 That I shall taste and see 
 Thy goodness in the blissful land 
 Of immortality.* 
 
 16 Wait on the Lord ; quit you like men ; 
 
 And he will strength afford, 
 
 * Booihroyd, Septuagint, Clialdee paraphrase. 
 

 PSALMS. 69 
 
 Sufficient for your time of need : 
 Wait ye upon the Lord. 
 
 PSALM XXVIII. C. M. 
 
 1 r\ LORD, my Rock, to thee I cry ; 
 
 Hear, and in mercy save ; 
 Else I shall speedily be like 
 The tenants of the grave. * 
 
 2 Yea, when I cry to thee, O Lord, 
 
 My supplications hear ; 
 When to thy mercy-seat I lift 
 My hands in earnest prayer. 
 
 3 Preserve me from the wicked's doom 
 
 And from their evil arts; 
 For peace is ever on their tongue, 
 But mischief in their hearts. 
 
 4 But thou wilt recompense their deeds, 
 
 And righteously repay 
 Their malice and their wicked works 
 In the great judgment day. 
 
 5 God shall destroy and not upbuild 
 
 Those who will not regard, 
 Nor seek to understand the works 
 And dealings of the Lord. 
 
 6 But blessed be the Lord, for he 
 
 Hath listened to my voice ; 
 Jehovah is my strength and shield ; 
 On him my soul relies. 
 
 7 I trusted in the Lord and found 
 
 Help in my evil days : 
 Therefore my heart exults with joy. 
 And I will sing his praise. 
 
 
70 
 
 8 Let Israel in the Lord rejoice ; 
 
 Their strength is God alone ; 
 He is the safety and the strength 
 Of his anointed one. 
 
 9 O, save thy people, God of might, 
 
 And bless thine herilage; 
 Feed and uphold them, and exalt 
 Through each succeeding age. 
 
 PSALM XXIX. P. If, 
 
 1 V"E princes and kings, with joyful accord, 
 
 All glory and might ascribe to the Lord ; 
 And while the loud anthem ye rightfully raise, 
 Be comely and holy the voice of your praise. 
 
 2 God's voice on the sea is powerful and strong ; 
 Majestic it swells the billows along. 
 
 The voice of Jehovah in thunder forth breaks; 
 He sits on the deep and its echoes awakes. 
 
 3 The voice of the Lord uproots and upbreaks 
 The cedars that grow on Lebanon's peaks ; 
 Yea, God makes Libanus and Sirion, uptorn,. 
 To leap like a calf or a young unicorn. 
 
 4 The lightnings of heaven are scattered abroad 
 And flash at the voice of Israel's God ; 
 
 "When God speaks in anger the wilderness shakes, 
 The desert of Kadesh all fearfully quakes. 
 
 5 The forests are stript; the oaks in the wood, 
 Laid prostrate, attest the voice of our God. 
 Meanwhile in his temple his people record 
 With gladness the glory and might of the Lord.* 
 
 * Bp. H' rsley and Lowth 
 
71 
 
 1 
 
 God sils on the flood ; his kingdom shall never 
 Be shaken for aye : he reigneth forever. 
 Jehovah will strengthen his people, and bless 
 The seed of his saints with unchangeable peace. 
 
 PSALM XXX. 7s. 
 
 pRAISE to thee, O Lord, mv God, 
 
 Shall my grateful tongue employ ; 
 Thou hast raised me up from death, 
 Nor hast filled my foes with joy. 
 
 2 O my God, I cried to thee ; 
 
 Thou didst heal me, thou didst save: 
 Yea, thou hast my fainting frame 
 Rescued from the opening grave. 
 
 3 Sing unto the Lord, our God, 
 
 Ye, his saints, that know his grace, 
 And with grateful hearts record 
 His unspotted holiness. 
 
 4 One short moment lasts his wrath, 
 
 But his love through life extends ; 
 Grief may cloud the night ; the morn 
 Brings a joy that never ends. 
 
 5 In my prosperous state I said, 
 
 " Change or grief I ne'er shall know ;" 
 For thy favour made me strong, 
 
 Nor had sickness brought me low.* 
 
 6 But when thou didst hide thy face 
 
 All was trouble, sorrows care; 
 Then I cried, O Lord, to thee, 
 And to God addressed my prayer 
 
 * Howbi^ant 
 
72 PSALMS: 
 
 7 u What avails my blood to thee, 
 
 If I sink in death, Lord 1 
 Shall the grave proclaim thy praise, 
 Or thy faithfulness record. 
 
 8 Hear me, O Jehovah, hear ! 
 
 And in thy great mercy save ; 
 Thou alone canst send relief, 
 
 Save me from the opening grave V 9 
 
 9 Then to gladness was my grief 
 
 Turned by thee, O God, most high, 
 And my garb of sorrow changed 
 Into robes of lively joy. 
 
 10 Therefore shall it ever be 
 
 My chief glory still to sing 
 Grateful praise for aye to thee, 
 O my saviour and my king ! 
 
 PSALM XXXI. S. M. 
 
 1 Q LORD, I trust in thee ; 
 
 From sorrow and from shame 
 Preserve me in thy righteousness, 
 For holy is thy name. 
 
 2 In mercy hear my prayer 
 
 And succour me with speed : 
 Be thou my strong rock and defence 
 In this my utmost need. 
 
 3 Thou art my rock and fort ; 
 
 O, then, when ills betide, 
 Conduct me gently by thy grace 
 And mercifully guide. 
 
 4 Thou only art my strength : 
 
 Rescue me from the net 
 
73 
 
 The wicked have with secret art 
 Malevolently set. 
 
 5 Jehovah, God of truth, 
 
 Redeemed by thee alone, 
 
 To thee ray spirit I commit. 
 
 Thou high and holy one! 
 
 6 Those that on idols place , 
 
 Their hope and their regard 
 Thou hatest ; but my hope and trust 
 Are ever in the Lord.* 
 
 7 Greatly will I rejoice 
 
 In thine abounding grace ; 
 For thou hast kindly thought on me 
 In mine adversities ; 
 
 S Nor suffered me to fall, 
 A victim to my foes ; 
 But given me life and liberty, 
 Despite all that oppose. 
 
 9 Be # gracious, Lord, to me, 
 For I am in distress; 
 Mine eye with fretting wastes, and griefs 
 My sinking frame oppress. 
 
 10 My days and years are spent 
 
 In sorrow and in gToans ; 
 My suffering wears my strength away 
 And wastes my very bones.-j- 
 
 1 1 Reproached by all my foes, 
 
 Viewed by my friends with dread, 
 As soon as they have seen my face 
 Afar off, they have fled. 
 
 * Lcwth. | Green 
 
74 PSALM*. 
 
 12 Like one long dead am I, 
 
 By all the world forgot ; 
 Or like a potsherd in the mire, 
 Not worth a passing thought. 
 
 13 Yea, I have heard the threats 
 
 Of men of power and might, 
 While in dark plots against my life 
 They secretly unite.* 
 
 14 But, Lord* I hope in thee, 
 
 For thou my Saviour art; 
 Yea, when I said " thou art my God,'' 
 The thought revived my heart, 
 
 15 My state in life and death 
 
 Is wholly in thy hand ' t 
 Save me from all my enemies, 
 And their fierce rage withstand. 
 
 16 Shine on me with the light 
 
 Of thy benignant face, 
 And grant me thy salvation's joys 
 Through thine abounding grace. 
 
 17 Thy suppliant, Lord, from shame 
 
 In thy great mercy save ; 
 
 But let the wicked be ashamed 
 
 And silent in the grave. 
 
 18 Let proud and scornful liars, 
 
 That spread foul calumnies 
 Against the just, be overwhelmed 
 In silence and disgrace. 
 
 19 How passing rich the joys 
 
 Thou for thy saints hast stored ! 
 
 * Boothroyd. 
 
P8A1 75 
 
 What great things thou hast done tor them 
 On earth, Almighty Lord ! 
 
 MO Thy presence, like a tent. 
 
 Shall wrap them round and hide ; 
 Under its covert they shall dweli 
 Secure from strife and pride. 
 
 21 blessed be the Lord * 
 
 For his transcendent grace, 
 Vouchsafed to me, as in a strong 
 And well-defended place. 
 
 ~'2 For though in fear I said 
 
 u I am cut oft" from thee ;" 
 Still thou didst hear my humble prayer 
 And didst deliver me. 
 
 23 O love the Lord; all ye, 
 
 His saints, love ye the Lord: 
 The Lord upholds his saints, but gives 
 The proud their full reward. 
 
 84 Courage ! all ye that place 
 Reliance in the Lord : 
 For He will cheer your drooping hearts, 
 And victory afford. 
 
 PSALM XXXIL 7s. 
 
 1 IDLEST is he in earth or heaven, 
 
 Henceforth and for evermore, 
 
 Whose transgression is forgiven. 
 
 And whose sin is covered o'er. 
 
 2 Blest is he to whom the Lord 
 
 Charges not iniquity ; 
 Who in spirit and in word 
 Cherishes sinceritv. 
 
76 PSALMS. 
 
 3 While I sinned nor owned my sin,* 
 
 All my strength consumed away, 
 Through my sorrow and my pain, 
 And my crying all the day. 
 
 4 For all heavily thy hand 
 
 Pressed upon me day and night, 
 'Till my parched frame seemed like land 
 Wasted by the summer's blight. 
 
 5 Then acknowledged I my sin, 
 
 And confessed it all to Thee — 
 All that I had done and been — 
 Hiding no iniquity. 
 
 6 " To the Lord and not to men, 
 
 I'll confess my sins," said I ; 
 Freely didst thou pardon then 
 All my great iniquity. 
 
 7 Therefore shall thy people pray 
 
 Unto thee when ills surround ; 
 In that acceptable day 
 
 Shall thy favour still be found.f 
 
 8 Surely when the raging flood 
 
 Overwhelms a sinful race, 
 They shall stand secure; for God 
 Is their rock and hiding place. 
 
 9 O thou art my hiding place ! 
 
 Be my enemies e'er so strong ; 
 Thou, in my distressful days, 
 
 Mak'st me hear this gladdening song. 
 
 10 " I will thine instructor be, 
 
 And thy path of duty show; 
 
 * Green. + Boothrovd. 
 
 . 
 
PSALMS. 77 
 
 1 will keep mine eye on thee, 
 All the way that thou shalt go.* 
 
 1 I Be not like the horse or mule. 
 
 When thy path of duty's plain ; 
 Perverse, like the senseless fool, 
 Governed but by curb and rein." 
 
 12 Endless sorrows shall abound 
 
 To the sinful hardened rtice ; 
 Mercy shall encompass round 
 All who trust Jehovah's grace. 
 
 13 Triumph therefore in the Lord, 
 
 O ye righteous, and rejoice; 
 Shout, and let your hearts accord 
 With your loud triumphant voice. 
 
 PSALM XXXIII. 7s. 
 
 1 I OYFUL to your heavenly king, 
 O ye saints, your anthems raise ; 
 For 'tis sweet for saints to sing 
 Their Almighty Maker's praise. 
 
 •J Sing a new song to the Lord ; 
 
 Let sweet music wake your jo\ s j 
 Let the harp and lute accord 
 With the praises of your voice. 
 
 3 For Jehovah's word is right, 
 
 All his acts are faithful found ; 
 Righteousness is his delight ; 
 
 Th' earth is with his goodness crowned. 
 
 4 At the mandate of the Lord, 
 
 Sun and moon appeared on high ; 
 
 • Urceu 
 
 G 2 
 
7^ PSALMS. 
 
 At Jehovah's mighty word, 
 
 Countless stars adorned the sky. 
 
 5 All the waters of the seas, 
 
 As in cisterns, fast he keeps; 
 And in his vast treasuries 
 
 Stores the ocean's mighty deeps.* 
 
 6 Let all nations of the earth 
 
 Fear and dread th' Almighty God ; 
 At his word, worlds sprung to birth; 
 He commanded; firm they stood. 
 
 7 God will frustrate and subvert 
 
 All the heathen's plans and way ; 
 But the purpose of his heart, 
 
 Firm and changeless stands for aye. 
 
 8 Blessed is the honoured place 
 
 Where Jehovah reigns alone ; 
 Blessed is the favoured race 
 He hath chosen for his own. 
 
 9 From his heavenly dwelling place, 
 
 God looks down upon the earth ; 
 His all- seeing eye surveys 
 All its tribes of every birth. 
 
 10 He who, in his wondrous plan, 
 
 Formed the hearts of all mankind, 
 Weighs the works of every man, 
 Scans the thoughts of every mind. 
 
 11 Armies cannot save a king, 
 
 Nor a hero warlike force ; 
 'Tis a vain and foolish thing 
 Trusting to a fleet war-horse. 
 
 * Vatablus: Bps. Hare, Seeker, Louth. 
 
PSALMS 79 
 
 12 Lo ! ihe Lord's all-seeing c\< 
 
 Is on all that seek his face ; 
 All that patiently rely 
 
 On his mercy and his grace. 
 
 13 To deliver them from death, 
 
 When their foes would overpower ; 
 To preserve their life and breath 
 Even in famine's dreary hour. 
 
 14 Patiently our spirits wait, 
 
 'Till Jehovah be revealed, 
 In his power and glory great, 
 As our Helper and our Shield. 
 
 I 5 We have trusted in his name 
 In our dark and evil days; 
 We shall yet rejoice in Him 
 For his goodness and his grace. 
 
 16 may we, all-gracious Lord, 
 
 With thy mercy still be blest, 
 Foi in thine all-faithful word, 
 We will hope, and we will rest. 
 
 PSALM XXXIV. C. M. 
 
 1 TN all the changes of my life, 
 
 In dark or joyous days, 
 O, I will magnify the Lord, 
 And ever sing His praise.* 
 
 2 In God's great name my soul shall still 
 
 With confidence exult: 
 The meek shall^hear it, and rejoice 
 To hear the glad result. 
 
 * Horsley. 
 
30 
 
 3 magnify the Lord with me. 
 
 And His great grace extol : 
 I sought the Lord ; he heard my prayer, 
 And saved my trembling soul. 
 
 4 Look ye to Him alone, and light 
 
 In darkness shall arise: 
 He will preserve your souls from shame, 
 From bitter tears your eyes.* 
 
 5 When the afflicted cried to God 
 
 In trouble and in grief; 
 Jehovah heard his cry, and gave 
 Effectual relief. | 
 
 6 Behold ! the angel of the Lord 
 
 Encamps around the just, 
 To grant deliverances to all 
 That in Jehovah trust. 
 
 7 O taste, and ye shall then perceive 
 
 The goodness of the Lord : 
 Blest is the man that puts his trust 
 In his all-faithful word. 
 
 S Fear ye the Lord, O ye his saints ! 
 For want shall ne'er assail 
 The man that fears the Lord, whate'er 
 Calamities prevail. 
 
 9 Hunger and famine may distress 
 The ravening lion's brood ; 
 But they that seek the living God 
 Shall not want any good. 
 
 10 Ye that are young, come near to me, 
 And hearken to my word, 
 
 * Horsley. - Gr< 
 
 
And I will teach your youthful hearts 
 To fear and serve the Lord. 
 
 I 1 Who is the mortal that desires 
 Long life and happy days I 
 Let slander ne'er pollute thy tongue, 
 ZS'or guileful arts thy ways. 
 
 12 Shun every evil word and work, 
 
 And practise what is righ?; 
 And follow peace with all mankind, 
 With all thy heart and might. 
 
 13 On righteous men Jehovah bends 
 
 A favourable eye ; 
 And when distressed, his gracious ear 
 Is open to their cry. 
 
 14 But on all wicked men he looks 
 
 In frowning majesty, 
 To sweep for ever from the earth 
 Their name and memory. 
 
 15 When cares and sorrows gathering round 
 
 Their sinking souls o^ 
 The righteous cry to God ; He hears, 
 And s.tves from their distress. 
 
 16 To those that are of broken heart, 
 
 The Lord is ever nigh ; 
 The contrite spirit he revives, 
 And saves eternally. 
 
 Mictions manifold and great, 
 The righteous man befal ; 
 But God upholds him, and at length 
 Delivers fiom them all. 
 
 18 His very bones Jehovah keeps 
 Unbroken, safe and sound. 
 
82 PSALMS. 
 
 Whatever perils may assail, 
 Or compass him around. 
 
 19 The wicked, through their wicked arts, 
 
 Are into ruin cast, 
 And they that hate the just shall be 
 Most desolate at last. 
 
 20 All those that serve Him will the Lord 
 
 Redeem and still defend ; 
 And none of those that trust in Him 
 Shall perish in the end. 
 
 PSALM XXXV. S. M. 
 
 1 T3LEAD thou my cause, O Lord, 
 
 With them that strive with me, 
 And rouse thyself to fight against 
 My wrathful enemy. 
 
 2 With shield and buckler armed, 
 
 For my defence appear ; 
 Arrest my enemies in their course 
 With thy resistless spear. 
 
 3 And say un(o my soul, 
 
 Oppressed with fears and grief, 
 " I am thy Saviour, and will give 
 Effectual relief." 
 
 4 Let my malignant foes 
 
 Be overwhelmed with shame ; 
 Let consternation and defeat 
 Attend their every aim. 
 
 5 Let th' angel of the Lord 
 
 Pursue them from behind ; 
 Yea ! let them be like the light chaff 
 Before the driving wind ! 
 
MAUU 
 
 6 Let darkness cloud their path, 
 
 And slippery be their way, 
 And let the angel of the Lord 
 Pursue them night and day. 
 
 7 For unprovoked by me, 
 
 They spread their secret snare 
 To take my life, and pitfalls deep 
 Maliciously prepare. 
 
 8 Let dire destruction fall 
 
 T'pon them suddenly ; 
 And let them perish in the snare 
 They laid to ruin mc. 
 
 9 So shall my grateful soul 
 
 Rejoice in thee, my God, 
 While the deliverance wrought by thee 
 Shall make my heart right glad. 
 
 10 My very bones shall 
 
 " Lord, who is like to Thee, 
 Who sett'st the poor and helpless one 
 From his strong spoiler free. 
 
 1 1 False witnesses conspired 
 
 Against my peace; and laid 
 Things to my charge I knew not, and 
 My good with ill repaid. 
 
 12 For oft when they were sick, 
 
 In sorrow's garb arrayed, 
 And humbly fasting, for their health, 
 L'nseen, I bowed and prayed.* 
 
 13 Yea, I demeaned myself, 
 
 Even as their friend or brother; 
 
 ♦Vatablu* 
 
84 PSALMS. 
 
 I stooped, all sad and sorrowful, 
 Like an afflicted mother.* 
 
 14 But they tejoiced in crowds 
 
 At mine adversity ; 
 Yea, slanderers whom I did not know 
 Banded to ruin me.f 
 
 15 Taunting with cutting scoffs, 
 
 And ceaseless impious jests, 
 They gnashed upon me with their teeth, 
 When revelling at their feasls.± 
 
 16 How long wilt thou defer, 
 
 O Lord, to plead my cause 1 
 
 From ruin save thy helpless one, 
 
 Save from the lion's jaws.§ 
 
 17 So shall I give thee thanks, 
 
 Amid th' assembled throng ; 
 
 Where congregated people meet, 
 
 Thy praise shall be my song. 
 
 18 Let not my enemies 
 
 Insult me in their pride ; 
 Nor those that hate me wrongfully 
 My fallen state deride. 
 
 19 For still to peace averse, 
 
 They artfully devise, 
 Against the peacefully disposed 
 Malicious calumnies. 
 
 20 Yea, with unblushing face, 
 
 They vent their slanderous lies, 
 And say, u Aha! Aha! 'tis true ; 
 We saw it with our eyes." 
 
 * Dr. A. Clarke. f Green. J Green. $ Green. 
 
8f> 
 
 21 Lord ! thou hast seen it all ; 
 
 Thou know'st their deadly hate ; 
 Speak then for me, and show thyself 
 My help, my Advocate. 
 
 22 Arouse thyself at length, 
 
 And to my judgment wake; 
 My God ! my Lord ! do thou my cause 
 Benignly undertake. 
 
 23 Judge me, O Lord, my God, 
 
 In truth and righteousness; 
 Nor let my enemies their joy 
 Triumphantly express. 
 
 24 Nor let them realize 
 
 The object of their hope ; 
 Or say, " 'Tis just as we desired ; 
 Lo! he is swallowed up." 
 
 25 Confounded and ashamed 
 
 Be my proud enemies ; 
 Dishonour seize all that rejoice 
 At my calamities. 
 
 26 But let loud shouts of joy 
 
 And triumph still attend 
 All those that love my righteous cause, 
 And zealously befriend. 
 
 27 Yea, let them ever say, 
 
 " The Lord be magnified, 
 Who seeks the welfare of his saints, 
 And quells the sinner's pride." 
 
 28 So shall my grateful tongue 
 
 Thy righteousness proclaim, 
 Nor ever cease from morn till night 
 To glorify thy name. 
 
86 PSALMS. 
 
 PSALM XXXVI. L. If. 
 
 1 r P0 all iniquity inclined, 
 
 Thus speaks the sinner in his mind, 
 •• Xo fear nor danger can arise;" 
 For God is not before his eyes. 
 
 2 Self-blinded by self-flattery, 
 
 His guilt he cannot, will not, see ; 
 Nor does he e'er regard his sins 
 With self-abhorring penitence. 
 
 3 Iniquitous in all his ways, 
 Deceit abounds in all he says; 
 And to his sinful follies turned, 
 Wisdom and virtue he hath spurned. 
 
 4 On bed he forms malicious plots 
 That occupy his waking thoughts, 
 And, hating no ungodly art, 
 Works wickedness with all his heart. 
 
 5 Thy mercy, Lord, exceeds in height 
 All yonder heavenly orbs of light, 
 Thy faithfulness extendeth far, 
 Beyond the farthest twinkling star!* 
 
 6 Thy justice, like vast mountains, stands 
 Immovable by creature-hands; 
 
 Thy dispensations — who can sound 
 The depths of their abyss profound ! 
 
 7 O Lord ! all living creatures share 
 Thy daily bounty and thy care: 
 O how transcendant is the grace 
 
 That shines in all thy works and ways ! 
 
 ■ Di A Clarke 
 
 
91 
 
 8 Therefore, Almighty King of kings, 
 Beneath thine over shaJowing wings, 
 The countless tribes o( mortal race, 
 Their trust and confidence shall place. 
 
 9 With food from thine own house supplied, 
 They shall be fully satisfied, 
 
 And thy pure rivers shall supply 
 Delicious draughts abundantly. 
 
 10 For the pure spring is found w T ith thee 
 Of blissful immortality ; 
 Encircled with thy light divine, 
 Eternal day shall round us shine. 
 
 110 still continue to the race 
 
 That know Thee thine accustomed grace ; 
 
 And thy beneficence impart 
 
 To those that are upright in heart. 
 
 12 No longer let my haughty foes 
 My peace insultingly oppose ; 
 Nor let the wicked's cruel hand 
 Remove me from thy holy land. 
 
 13 Behold the wicked overthrown ! 
 Their hosts are cast ignobly down. 
 Cast down for their iniquities, 
 They fall, and they shall never rise ! 
 
 PSALM XXXVII. P. M. 
 
 1 TV^HEN wicked men grow rich and great, 
 Fret not, nor envy thou their state ; 
 'Tis held but for a day : 
 For they shall wither like the grass, 
 And, like a flower cut down, shall pass 
 Right speedily away. 
 
8& PSALMS. 
 
 2 Trust in the Lord, and do thou good ; 
 So shalt thou have thy needful food, 
 
 And still dwell in the land ; 
 Let thy delight be in the Lord ; 
 And thy desires he will accord 
 
 With a benignant hand. 
 
 3 Commit thy ways unto the Lord ; 
 Trust also in his faithful word, 
 
 Which he will soon fulfil ; 
 Thy righteousness he will display, 
 And thine uprightness, as the day, 
 
 All gloriously reveal. 
 
 4 In all God's doings acquiesce,* 
 And patiently await his grace ; 
 
 Xor murmur in thine heart, 
 Although the worldly wicked man 
 Should prosper in each wicked plan 
 
 And in each guileful art. 
 
 5 From anger cease, and wrath forsake ; 
 IS'or let a murmuring spirit wake 
 
 To evil deeds thy hand : 
 Sinners shall perish ; but the just, 
 Who in Jehovah's promise trust, 
 
 They shall possess the land. 
 
 6 For soon the wicked shall not be ; 
 Thou shalt examine carefully, 
 
 Nor find his place again: 
 But men of meek and humble spirit 
 The land shall joyfully inherit, 
 
 While blessedness shall reign. 
 
 * Green. 
 
PSALMS. 
 
 ', Against the just the wicked plots. 
 And the fierce malice of his thoughts 
 
 His wrathful looks display : 
 The Lord looks on in silent scorn ; 
 For he beholds ih' approaching morn 
 
 Of his unhappy day.* 
 
 8 The wicked aims with sworii and bow 
 To lay the poor and needy low, 
 
 And the upright to slay : 
 Their swords shall pierce themselves at last, 
 Their bows all broken shall be cast 
 
 Ingloriously away. 
 
 The jua man's scanty lot is more 
 And betler than the wicked's store 
 
 Of silver and of gold : 
 F r soon the wicked's wealth and power 
 ill perish, but in each dark hour 
 God will the just uphold. 
 
 10 For all the just the Lord provides, 
 And their inheritance abides 
 
 Eternally- secure. 
 When trouble overwhelms the earth 
 They shall lift up their heads; in dearth 
 
 Their sustenance shall be sure. 
 
 1 1 But wicked men shall be destroyed ; 
 Nor shall his enemies abide 
 
 The anger of the Lord : 
 Even as the fat of lambs shall they, 
 In smoke and flame, consume away 
 
 At his resistless word. 
 
 I Gf^enius. 
 H 2 
 
 . 
 
90 PSALMS. 
 
 12 The wicked borrows, nor repays ; 
 The just are kind and kindly raise 
 
 The poor with bounteous hand, 
 rpon the wicked still shall rest 
 The curse of God ; the just are blest, 
 
 And 6hall possess the land. 
 
 13 The steps of him whose works and words 
 The Lord approvingly regards 
 
 Are ordered by his grace. 
 Though he should fall, yet shall he rise, 
 For God upholds him and supplies 
 
 Strength in his evil days. 
 
 14 From youth to age I ne'er have seen 
 That just men or their seed have been 
 
 Reduced to beggary. 
 The just man ever kindly lends ; 
 And blessing from the Lord descends 
 
 On his posterity. 
 
 15 From every sinful way depart, 
 
 And do thou good with all thine heart; 
 
 So shalt thou live for aye : 
 For righteousness is God's delight, 
 And he forsakes not the upright 
 
 In their distressful day. 
 
 16 The wicked and their sinful race 
 Shall perish from their dwelling-place ; 
 
 Nor shall their power deliver: 
 But firmly shall the righteous stand, 
 In peace inheriting the land, 
 
 And dwelling there for ever. 
 
 17 The just man's conversation shows 
 
 The hallowed source from whence it flows 
 For wisdom is his guide. 
 
P&JLL1U Ul 
 
 The law of God enthroned within 
 Restraining him from outward sin, 
 His feet shall never slide. 
 
 IS The wicked man in secret lie*, 
 Watching the righteous to surprise 
 
 And take his life away. 
 God will not leave him in hi$ hand, 
 And though condemned of men, he'll stand 
 Clear in the judgment day. 
 
 19 Hope in the Lord, and keep his law3 ; 
 So shall he raise thee up, and cause 
 
 Thee to possess the land : 
 Yea, thou shalt see th' ungodly race 
 Swept oft' for ever from their place, 
 
 While thou shalt safely stand. 
 
 I've seen the wicked high in pride, 
 -^ven as a fair tree spreading wide 
 
 In its own native ground : 
 I passed again, but he was gone; 
 No trace of him remained — not one 
 
 Could any where be found.* 
 
 21 Mark thou the righteous, and survey 
 The just; though dark their present day, 
 
 Their after-state is peace. 
 But dire destruction shall pursue 
 The wicked and ungodly crew; 
 
 Their end is bitterness. 
 
 22 For the salvation of the just 
 
 Comes from the Lord. He is their trust 
 And strength in evil days. 
 
 * Green. 
 
9'+ PSALMS. 
 
 Help and deliverance he will send, 
 And from the wicked's power defend, 
 Because they trust his grace, 
 
 PSALM XXXVIII. S. M. 
 
 1 Q LORD, though I have walked 
 
 In folly's sinful path, 
 Rebuke me not in anger, nor 
 Chastise me in thy wrath. 
 
 2 For lo ! thy shafts have pierced 
 
 My soul in every part, 
 And, with oppressive weight, thy hand 
 Rests on my drooping heart. 
 
 3 My health and strength are gone, 
 
 So fierce thine anger glows ; 
 And, through my aggravated guilt, 
 My bones know no repose. 
 
 4 For mine iniquities 
 
 O'erwhelm me like a flood ; 
 Nor can my fainting soul sustain 
 Their overpowering load. 
 
 5 My sores are putrid, through 
 
 The folly of my way ; 
 My frame is bent and shrivelled up; 
 I mourn the live-long day. 
 
 6 A foul and sore disease 
 
 Affects my every part : 
 Feeble and broken down, I groan 
 In agony of heart. 
 
 7 But my desire, O Lord, 
 
 Is all before thine eyes ; 
 
PSALMS. 93 
 
 And thine all-hearing ear has heard 
 Mv groaning and my cries. 
 
 8 My heart pants; my strength fails; 
 My very sight is gone : 
 And my disease makes even my friends 
 
 My company to shun. 
 
 « 
 
 My enemies attempt 
 
 To kill me by surprise, 
 And frame against me wrongfully 
 
 Incessant calumnies. 
 
 10 But, like one deaf and dumb, 
 
 I heard not nor replied, 
 But silent sat, as if the sense 
 Of guilt my tongue had tied. 
 
 11 Because in thee alone, 
 
 O Lord, is all my hope : 
 For thou wilt answer, Lord, for me, 
 And bear my spirit up. 
 
 12 Hear, Lord, my earnest prayer; 
 
 Let not my foes exult ; 
 Nor o'er my sad and fallen state 
 Contemptuously insult. 
 
 13 For, tottering to my fall, 
 
 My grief is ever near; 
 My sin I openly confess, 
 And live in constant fear. 
 
 14 For my fierce enemies, 
 
 "Who hate me wrongfully, 
 Are numerous, powerful, and enjoy 
 Peace and prosperity. 
 
94 PSALMS. 
 
 15 Yea, those who for my love 
 
 Hatred and ill repay, 
 Who for my kindness seek my hurt, 
 Beset me all the day. 
 
 16 Lord, forsake me not, 
 
 Nor stand so far away ; 
 Haste to my help, my Saviour, Lord, 
 In this distressful day. 
 
 PSALM XXXIX. L. M. 
 
 1 T WILL observe my ways, said I, 
 
 And from offending guard my tongue; 
 My lips, while wicked men are nigh, 
 Shall utter neither right nor wrong. 
 
 2 But while in silence I remained, 
 And even from pious converse ceased, 
 My heart with inward grief was pained, 
 And my soul's bitterness increased. 
 
 3 My heart, while I was musing, burned, 
 As if consumed with secret fire, 
 Then to the Lord at length I turned, 
 And thus expressed my heart's desire: 
 
 4 Teach me, O Lord, how short the span, 
 And brief the measure of my days. 
 Teach me how frail a thing is man, 
 And how he speedily decays ! 
 
 5 Lo ! as an handbreadth thou hast made 
 My life; man's days are nought to thee: 
 Yea, man in goodliest state arrayed 
 
 Is altogether vanity. 
 
 6 Lo ! man walks in a shadowy scene, 
 Vain are his troubles, vain his care ; 
 
95 
 
 He heaps up wealth from morn till even, 
 Yet knows not who shall be his heir. 
 
 7 For what then should I longing wait 7 
 
 Lord, my God, my hope's in thee. 
 Rescue me from my sinful state, 
 And from the fool's reproaches free. 
 
 8 Silent I bowed beneath the rt>d, 
 Because it smote at thy command : 
 Remove thy stroke from me, O God, 
 
 1 sink beneath thy heavy hand. 
 
 9 When thou chastisest men for sin, 
 Their beauty fades, consumed by thee, 
 Like a moth-eaten robe; for men 
 
 Are surely nought but vanity. 
 
 10 Lord, hear my earnest prayer and cry ; 
 Help me, for thou my grief hast seen : 
 A passing stranger here am I, 
 As all my fathers' race have been. 
 
 1 i O turn away thy frowning eye, 
 And to my drooping heart restore 
 Comfort and peace and inward joy, 
 Ere I go hence and be no more. 
 
 PSALM XL. L. M. 
 
 1 T WAITED for the Lord my God, 
 
 And meekly bore his chastening rod : 
 At length he lent a willing ear 
 My earnest prayer and cry to hear. 
 
 2 He took me from a dismal pit, 
 And on a rock he set my feet; 
 He drew me out of miry clay, 
 And made me steadfast in my way. 
 
96 
 
 3 He tuned my voice anew to sing 
 The praises of my God and King : 
 Many shall see it and shall place 
 Reliance in Jehovah's grace. 
 
 4 O happy is the man and blest 
 Whose hopes upon Jehovah rest, 
 Respecting not the haughty men 
 Who turn to falsehood and to sin. 
 
 5 O Lord, my God, full many are 
 
 Thy wondrous acts! who can declare 
 Their number or their vast amount 1 
 Thy thoughts of love who can recount 1 
 
 6 Burnt-offerings thou didst not desire; 
 Sin-offerings thou didst not require ; 
 But thou thy servant's ears hast bored, 
 For I am thine for ever, Lord. 
 
 7 Then said I, " Lo ! I come, O Lord :" 
 (For so 'tis written in thy word,) 
 
 " 'Tis my delight to do thy will ; 
 Thy law I'll cordially fulfil." 
 
 8 Widely will I proclaim abroad 
 The tidings of thy grace, O God ; 
 Thou knowest I have ne'er concealed 
 What thou desired'st to be revealed. 
 
 9 I have not hid within my breast, 
 
 But to th' assembled saints expressed, 
 Thy righteousness, thy faithfulness, 
 Thy truth, thy love, thy saving grace. 
 
 10 Do thou, benignly, then accord 
 Thy grace to me, all-gracious Lord ; 
 Yea, let thy truth, thy love, thy grace 
 Preserve and bless me all my days. 
 
PSALMS. 
 
 1 I For evils great and numberless 
 
 Surround me, and my soul oppress: 
 Bowed down by my calamities, 
 I cannot even lift up my eyes. 
 
 IS More than the hairs upon my head, 
 They fill my heart with fear and dread; 
 Be pleased to help me. sracious Lord; 
 Thy succour speedily afford. 
 
 13 Let blackest shame and ruin dire 
 
 Be theirs who 'gainst my life conspire ; 
 Shame and entire defeat pursue 
 Th' ungodly and malignant crew. 
 
 14 Yea, let confusion seize my foes 
 Who cry "Aha," amid my wees; 
 Let desolation from the Lord 
 
 Be their malignity's reward. 
 
 15 But let thy saints, O Lord, rejoice, 
 
 And shout with triumph's gladsome voice; 
 Let all who thy salvation Iota 
 Sing "Glory to the Lord above.'' 
 
 16 O I am poor and in distress ; 
 
 May God think on my helplessness! 
 Thou art my help and Saviour, Lord, 
 Thy succour speedily afford. 
 
 PSALM XLI. C. Iff. 
 
 1 "QLEST is the man who wisely weighs 
 
 The case of the distressed, 
 And sympathises with the griefs 
 And wrongs of the oppressed. 
 
 2 For in his own distressful day 
 
 The Lord will be his guard, 
 
And his deliverer from death. 
 His comfort and reward. 
 
 3 A blissful portion in the land 
 
 Shall his be all his days, 
 And thou wilt save him from the power 
 Of all his enemies. 
 
 4 In sickness God will strengthen him, 
 
 And bear his spirit up, 
 And softly spreading ail his couch, 
 Mix blessings in his cup. 
 
 5 In my distress I prayed to God, 
 
 " Thy mercy, Lord, extend 
 To me a sinner ! Heal me, Lord, 
 For 'gainst Thee I have sinned." 
 
 6 My enemies reproaches spread 
 
 Against me every day ; 
 " When shall he die, and his name rot V' 
 Maliciously they say. 
 
 7 And when they visit me, their talk 
 
 And friendship are but show, 
 
 Devising mischief in their hearts, 
 
 They spread it when they go. 
 
 8 They talk in whispers, and their hate 
 
 Thus vent malignantly, 
 " Some heavy crime has weighed him down ; 
 'Tis certain he will die." 
 
 9 Nay, he in whom I trusted most, 
 
 My bosom-friend and guest, 
 Even he deserted me, and turned 
 Against me like the rest. 
 
 10 But be thou merciful to me, 
 And raise me up, O Lord, 
 
 
PSALMfl '.< ( i 
 
 That I may recompense their works 
 With their deserved award. 
 
 1 1 Even now, I surely know thou hast 
 
 Benignly heard my call ; 
 For otherwise my enemies 
 Had triumphed in my fall. 
 
 12 For by thine hand upheld, I stand 
 
 In mine integrity ; 
 And in thy presence evermore 
 Thou hast established me. 
 
 13 Then blessed be the Lord our God 
 
 To all eternity. 
 And let his people Israel say, 
 Amen ! So let it be ! 
 
 PSALM XLIL C. M. 
 
 1 17 VEN as the hart, when parched with thirst, 
 
 Pants for the water-brook ; 
 So pants my soul for thee, O God, 
 For thee I longing look. 
 
 2 My soul thirsts for the living God; 
 
 O God ! when shall I stand 
 Within thy blissful courts again, 
 In Judah's happy land ! 
 
 3 My tears have been my bitter food, 
 
 Both in the night and day, 
 While constantly, " Where is thy God !" 
 The taunting scoffers say. 
 
 4 My soul within me melts, with grief 
 
 And loneliness oppressed. 
 
100 PSALMS. 
 
 When I recall to mind the joys 
 Of Zion's solemn feast.* 
 
 5 When to the house of God we marched, 
 In slow and measured pace, 
 The festive multitude around 
 Shouting in joyful praise.* 
 
 % 6 O why art thou cast down, my soul 1 
 Why troubled and dismayed, 
 As if bereft of every hope 
 Of comfort and of aid! 
 
 7 Still hope in God, for I shall yet 
 
 His wondrous grace adore; 
 For he is still my Saviour, and 
 My God for evermore. 
 
 8 O God, my downcast soul to Thee 
 
 Turns sorrowfully still, 
 From Jordan's land, from Hermon's top, 
 And Mizar's distant hill. 
 
 9 Thy cataracts rush roaring down ; 
 
 Torrents to torrents call, 
 With a loud noise, and thy big waves 
 O'erwhelm my sinking soul.-j- 
 
 10 Wh^n God was with me heretofore, 
 
 My path was ever bright ; 
 For his grace cheered me all the day, 
 And his song all the night. $ 
 
 1 1 God of my life, my rock, why then 
 
 Hast thou forgotten me ? 
 Why am I left in grief to mourn 
 My foe's fierce tyranny 1 
 
 * Green. J Boothroyd $ Boothroyd. 
 
lLMS. K>L 
 
 12 For their reproaches pierce my heart, 
 
 Even as a sword the bones; 
 AnJ when they say, " Where is thy God ! M 
 My wounded spirit groans. 
 
 13 O why art thou cast down, ray soul ] 
 
 roubled and dismayed, 
 bereft of every hope, * 
 Of comfort and of aid ] 
 
 14 Still hope in God; for I shall yet 
 
 His wondrous grace adore ; 
 For he is still my Saviour, and 
 My (rod for evermore, 
 
 PSALM XLIII. C. M. 
 
 1 r PRY me, O God, and plead my cause 
 
 Against a godless race ; 
 Aid save me from the wicked man, 
 And his deceitful ways. 
 
 2 O God, my strength ! why is it so 
 
 That I am cast away, 
 And doomed to feel oppression's scourge 
 In sorrow all the day ) 
 
 3 Vouchsafe me light, and let thy truth 
 
 My heart with wisdom fill; 
 And guide me to thy blissful courts, 
 To Zion's holy hill. 
 
 4 Then will I to God's altar go, 
 
 To God, my chiefest joy ; 
 Yea, O my God, thy praise shall still 
 My tuneful harp employ. 
 
 5 O why art thou cast down, my soul ! 
 
 Why troubled and dismayed, 
 
102 rsAure. 
 
 As if bereft of every hope 
 Of comfort and of aid ] 
 
 Still hope in God ; for I shall vet 
 
 His wondrous grace adore ; 
 For he is still nay Saviour.'and 
 My God for evermore. 
 
 PSALM XLIV. C. M. 
 
 1 T^ULL often have we heard, O God, 
 
 Our fathers oft have told, 
 What thou hast done in other days, 
 Even in the days of old. 
 
 2 How thou didst drive the heathen out, 
 
 And plant them in their place, 
 Increasing Israel's favoured tribes, 
 And wasting Canaan's race. 
 
 3 For neither did their own right arm. 
 
 Nor their own sword and might, 
 Obtain possession of the land, 
 Or conquer in the fight. 
 
 4 'Twas thy right hand, thy mighty arm, 
 
 Thy favour and thy grace, 
 That wrought deliverance for their tribes; 
 For thou did'st leve their race. 
 
 5 And thou art still our King, God ! 
 
 O, then, our straits behold, 
 And work deliverance yet again 
 For Jacob, as of old. 
 
 6 Through thee, our own, our father's God, 
 
 We'll vanquish every foe ; 
 And all our enemies around 
 Entirely overthrow. 
 
PSALMS. 103 
 
 "i I will not trust for my defence 
 To bow, or sword, or spear ; 
 'Twas thou that saved'st us heretofore 
 When fiercest foes were near; 
 
 8 And our malicious enemies 
 
 Did'st overwhelm with shame: 
 In God we gloried daily then", 
 And ever blessed thy name. 
 
 9 But now thou hast forsaken us, 
 
 And brought us to disgrace, 
 Nor^dost thou with^our armies march, 
 As in these ancient days. 
 
 10 Thou puttest us to rout and flight 
 
 Before our enemies ; 
 And we are robbed and spoiled by those 
 That hate us and despise. 
 
 1 1 Like sheep reserv'd for slaughter, thou 
 
 Hast given us, O God ! 
 And far away in heathen lands 
 Hast scattered us abroad. 
 
 12 Thy people^thou hast soldYor nought 
 
 To dismal slavery ; 
 ?sor has their miserable price 
 Enriched thy treasury. 
 
 13 Thou makest us to all around 
 
 Reproach, derision, scorn ; 
 The people's proverb, scoff and jest, 
 Most bitter to be borne. 
 
 14 Shame and confusion cover us ; 
 
 We blush and hide our face, 
 At the reproach and blasphemy 
 Of our fierce enemies. 
 
104 P3ALMS. 
 
 15 All this has come on us; but Thee. 
 
 Lord, we have ne'er forgot, 
 Nor in thy holy covenant 
 Deceitfully have wrought. 
 
 16 Our heart has not declined from Thee, 
 
 Nor our feet from thy path ; 
 Though thou hast crushed us underneath 
 The fierceness of thy wrath ; 
 
 17 And made our ancient dwelling-place 
 
 The foul hyena's den, 
 And covered us, as in the grave, 
 F the land of living men. 
 
 18 If we have e'er forgot thy name 
 
 In base idolatry, 
 Shall not the Searcher of our hearts 
 Discern the treachery ] 
 
 19 Yea, countless and severest woes, 
 
 For thy sake we sustain ; 
 Martyred to-day, or kept like sheep, 
 To-morrow to be slain. 
 
 20 Awake ! Why sleepest Thou, O Lord? 
 
 Awake, arise, deliver ! 
 Look on our low and ruined state, 
 Nor cast us off for ever ! 
 
 21 Why dost thou hide thy face, and why 
 
 Forget to send relief] 
 Our spirits crushed with wrongs, our hearts 
 Sink from excessive grief. 
 
 22 Arise, O Lord, forget us not ; 
 
 Yea, for our help arise : 
 Redeem us for thy mercies' sake 
 From all our enemies ' 
 
PSALMS. L05 
 
 PSALM XLV. L. M. 
 
 i \\y heart divinely tuned to sing 
 
 Of Zion's Lord and Zion's King, 
 The theme shall animate my song, 
 And like a swift pen guide my tongue. 
 
 2 Fairest of men ! that form of thine 
 Is matchless, glorious and divine !* 
 Graceful thy lips, and sweet^thy word, 
 Thou ever-blessed of the Lord ! 
 
 3 Gird on thy sword, thou warrior-king, 
 Almighty and all-conquering ! 
 
 And buckle on thine armour bright 
 And dazzling as the noon-day light.j 
 
 4 And in thy majesty ride on 
 
 All prosperously, thou glorious One : 
 For meekness, truth and equity — 
 These are the cause upheld by thee.t 
 
 5 Yes ! and in thine impetuous course, 
 Dart terrors with resistless force :§ 
 Thy shafts are sharp, O king, and all 
 Thy foes beneath thy might shall fall. ] 
 
 6 O God, thou High and Holy One! 
 Eternal stands thy glorious throne ; 
 The sceptre of thy kingdom is 
 Forever swayed in righteousness. 
 
 7 Yea, righteousness is thy delight, 
 And constant aim both day and night, 
 "VYhile sin and all iniquity 
 
 Are utterly abhorred by thee. 
 
 • Boothroyd. | Hon-ley. Hnothroyd. § Boolliroyd. 
 
 ! Green 
 
1(MJ PSALMS. 
 
 8 Hence hath thy God, Jehovah, shed 
 The oil of gladness on thy head, 
 And raised thee far above thy peers, 
 The Lord of all the universe. 
 
 9 Thy robes from ivory wardrobes brought, 
 With Araby's rich odours fraught, — 
 Myrrh, aloes, cassia, frankincense — 
 Delight and recreate the sense.* 
 
 10 Daughters of kings attend thy state, 
 And with thy precious treasures wait, 
 While the queen stands at thy right hand, 
 Arrayed in gold of Ophir's land. 
 
 11 Hearken, O daughter, to my voice; 
 Reflect, nor these my words despise: 
 Thy people and thy former state, 
 Thy father's house, henceforth forget. 
 
 12 So shall thy beauty still impart 
 Joy to the king's delighted heart : 
 To him all reverence still accord, 
 For he's thy husband and thy Lord. 
 
 13 And there be thou, with presents meet, 
 Daughter of Tyre, thy prince to greet ; 
 And let the wealthiest nations bring 
 Gifts to propitiate the king. 
 
 14 All gloriously attired, the queen, 
 
 A monarch's daughter, stands within : 
 Her vesture's richly wrought of gold ; 
 And broidered robes her form enfold. j 
 
 15 Behold her splendidly arrayed, 
 In slow and long procession led, 
 
 • Green. f Boothroyrf. Ilosrley. 
 
l!»7 
 
 I'ulo her husband and her king, 
 Attendant virgins following. 
 
 16 In festive train they march a!< i 
 With gladness and the voice of song, 
 Until, in royal pomp and state, 
 They stand within the palace gate.* 
 
 17 Sons of thine own shall fill the place 
 Of thy once loved paternal race; 
 
 And thou shalt give them hfrgh command, 
 To reign as princes in the land. 
 
 18 Thy fame to many a future race 
 They shall transmit in future days: 
 Till all who dwell on every shore 
 Thy praise proclaim for evermore. y 
 
 PSALM XLVI. P. M. 
 
 1 TEHOVAH is our refuge and strong tower; 
 
 Our present guardian in the daikest hour. 
 Therefore, although the earth be swept away, 
 And loftiest mountains cast into the sea, 
 "\Ye will not fear : yea. though the boiling ocean 
 Rage till the mountains rock in wild commotion. 
 
 2 There is a stream whose living waters flow, 
 Gladdening the city of our God below. 
 Within that holy place Jehovah dwells.. 
 And all its temple with his glory nils. 
 
 Xo (oo shall e'er subvert that holy city, 
 
 Her strong and swift deliverer is the Almighty. 
 
 3 Around her walls the assembled nations raged ; 
 The kingdoms, moved with ire, fierce warfare waged. 
 
 * Borate? ; Septa agint, Volgate, Houbijant, Horsley. 
 
106 rsALMs. 
 
 Then spake the Lord in majesty and might ; 
 The earth dissolved in terror and affright. 
 The Lord of hosts is with us. nor will leave us; 
 The mighty God of Jacob, he will save us. 
 
 3 Come and behold the judgments of our God, 
 What desolations he hath wrought abroad 
 
 O'er the wide world ! He maketh w r ars to cease, 
 Establishing a universal peace: 
 The bow he breaks, and with his rolling thunder 
 Burns the war-chariot, cuts the spear asunder. 
 
 4 Be still, ye nations; know that I am God, 
 Exalted high o'er all the world abroad ; 
 
 Earth's mightiest ones beneath my power I'll bring, 
 And reign her only and Almighty king. 
 The Lord of hosts is with us, nor will leave us, 
 The mighty God of Jacob, he will save us. 
 
 PSALM XLVII. P. M. 
 
 1 T> EJOICE, all ye children of Jacob, rejoice; 
 
 To God let the loud shout of triumph arise : 
 For the Lord, who in might is unspeakably great, 
 Reigns o'er the wide earth as its sole Potentate. 
 
 2 Its tribes and its tongues he will humble them low, 
 And beneath our dominion the nations shall bow: 
 He will choose our inheritance for us again, 
 
 The glory of Jacob, the land of Canaan. 
 
 3 The Lord is gone up to his throne in the sky, 
 With trumpet and triumph and shoutings of joy; 
 Sing praise to our God; let the firmament ring 
 W T ith the praise of the Lord, our omnipotent king. 
 
 4 For the Lord reigns supreme from the pole to the pole; 
 O then let his praise fill your heart and your soul ; 
 
llm8« L09 
 
 Hil bovndJeae dominion the heathen shall own, 
 And holy is he .vho sits on the throne. 
 
 5 The chiefs of ihe people beloved of the Lord, 
 Are gathered together in joyful aece r d ; 
 
 For God is the shield of ihe land, and his throne 
 Is highly exalted ; he reigncth alone. 
 
 PSALM XLVIII, P. M. 
 
 « 
 
 1 Q GREAT is the Lord ; let Zion upraise, 
 
 In rapturous strains, the song ot* his praise ; 
 With joy. O ye people, proclaim it abroad, 
 Even ye that inhabit the city of God. 
 
 2 Mount Zion beloved most beautiful stands, 
 The light of all eyes, the joy of all lands ; 
 
 And, lo ! where her northernmost turrets upspring, 
 The city of Zion's omnipotent King! 
 
 3 Within her strong walls Jehovah resides. 
 And for her defence for ever abides. 
 
 The nations acknowledge, and Zion confesses 
 The Lord as her refuge in straits and distresses. 
 
 4 For soon as their kings in battle array 
 Stood leagued for her fall, they melted away ; 
 They saw us and marvelled ; confusion and dread 
 Took hold on their host, and in terror they fled.* 
 
 5 Yes ! anguish and fear took hold on her foes, 
 Like woman's when comes the hour of her throes ; 
 Or like the wild tempests the ocean that sweep. 
 And sink stoutest ships in the fathomless deep.-f 
 
 'i Now, now we have seen, what others had told. 
 Of God's mighty acts for Zion of old. 
 
 free*, Boothrnyd 
 
110 PSALMS. 
 
 In straits and in danger the Lord will deliver; 
 The Lord will establish Mount Ziori for ever.* 
 
 7 We waited, O God, in thy holy place, 
 Expecting in hope thy mercy and grace.-f" 
 
 Thy name is all glorious ; be endless thy praise, 
 For just and benign are thy works and thy ways. 
 
 8 Let Zion rejoice, end Judah be glad, 
 
 While thus they behold the judgments of God. 
 Exult ye, her daughters ; triumphantly sing 
 The justice of Zion's omnipotent king. 
 
 9 Yes :' march round her walls ; her palaces tell ; 
 Her bulwarks and towers consider them well ; 
 And tell to your offspring the Lord will abide 
 For ever and ever our God and our guide.* 
 
 PSALM XLIX. C. M. 
 
 1 XJEAR this, ye people; and attend, 
 
 All ye that dwell on earth: 
 Beth rich and poor; both nobles all, 
 And men of humble birth. 
 
 2 My theme is wisdom ; and my heart 
 
 Warmed with an inward fire, 
 I'll frame a lofty song, and chaunt 
 Deep mysteries to tho lyre. 
 
 3 Why should I fear in evil days, 
 
 Though pressed with guileful ait, 
 And compassed round by those who would 
 Supplant me and subvert? 
 
 4 Not one of those that trust in wealth, 
 
 And boast of heaps untold, 
 
 * Boothroyd. f Green, Horsley. t Bishop Hare. 
 
i li 
 
 (Jan possibly redeem from death 
 His brother with his gold ; 
 
 5 Or pay a ransom unto God, 
 
 To wrest him from the grave ; 
 To purchase endless life for him, 
 And from corruption save. 
 
 6 That ransom price would far exceed 
 
 All human wealth to pay', 
 And therefore, unredeemed from death, 
 They quickly pass away. 
 
 7 The wise man dies, as dies the fool, 
 
 The sensual and the base; 
 And all their wealth they leave behind 
 To a succeeding race. 
 
 y The grave becomes their dwelling-place. 
 And their abode for aye ; 
 And men inscribe their names on heaps 
 Of monumental clay. 
 
 9 Still in prosperity and health, 
 Mortals regard it not ; 
 But as the brutes die, so do they, 
 Without one solemn thought. 
 
 10 How foolish is their hopeless course! 
 
 Yet their succeeding race 
 Approve their maxims and their works. 
 And follow in their ways. 
 
 1 1 They, too, like sheep are placed betimes 
 
 Within the grave's strong hold ; 
 Death, as their shepherd, gathering them 
 Into his gloomy fold. 
 
 12 And o'er them shall the righteous rule 
 
 On the great morn of doom, 
 
112 PSAL3IS. 
 
 When, wasted in the grave, their frames 
 Shall issue from the tomb. 
 
 13 But surely from thy power, O grave ! 
 
 God will my soul redeem ; 
 
 He will receive me to himself, 
 
 And I shall live with him. 
 
 14 Then fear not when thy neighbour's wealth 
 
 Becomes exceeding great, 
 And when his house exalted stands 
 In honour and in state. 
 
 15 For he shall carry nought away, 
 
 When wrapt in death's dark gloom, 
 Nor shall his grandeur follow him 
 Down to the silent tomb. 
 
 16 Though he was praised and blessed himself, 
 
 When all with him was well ; 
 Soon shall he, with his father's race. 
 In endless darkness dwell. 
 
 1? A man to worldly honour raised, 
 Who is not truly wise, 
 Lives like a senseless brutish beast, 
 And like a beast he dies.* 
 
 PSALM L. P. M. 
 
 1 THE Lord, the mighty God, 
 "*" Utters his voice from heaven; 
 To all the world abroad 
 
 Is his dread mandate given ; 
 He calls the nations of the east, 
 And summons the remotest west. 
 
 * Roothrovd throughout 
 
FSALMi 1 1 '4 
 
 2 from Zion's holy place. 
 
 In beauty all divine. 
 And in effulgent blaze, 
 
 Jehovah's glories shine : 
 In Gre and storms shall God appear, 
 And speak that all the world may hoar. 
 
 3 He summons heaven and earth 
 
 Around his royal seat ; 
 Their tribes of every 
 
 In countless millions meet: 
 For judgment is his throne ordained, 
 And, lo ! his people are arraigned ! 
 
 4 Come hither, every saint ! 
 
 Ye that by sacrifice 
 Have made firm covenant 
 
 With him who rules the skies: 
 So shall the heavens God's justice see ; 
 For who is Judge Supreme but He 7 
 
 b Hear, my people, hear ; 
 
 For I wiil speak aloud ; 
 
 O, Jacob's sons, give e^r ; 
 
 Thy sins I will not shroud. 
 For I am God, thy Sovereign Lord ; 
 Attend then to my sovereign word. 
 
 o' For sacrifice withheld, 
 
 Thy sons I will not chide. 
 Offerings from fold and field. 
 
 All duly ye provide : 
 But what are beeves or goats to me. 
 All duly offered though they be 7 
 
 "J For every beast is mine. 
 In forest or in field : 
 
114 
 
 The beasts of prey, the kine. 
 
 The birds the mountains yield. 
 All, on a thousand hills, are known 
 To me, and they are all my own. 
 
 8 Would I ask food of thine, 
 
 If I should hungry be 1 
 The spacious world is mine, 
 
 And ail its progeny. 
 Or think'st thou will the mighty God 
 Eat flesh of bulls, or drink their blood ! 
 
 9 Offer to God, thy Lord, 
 
 Due praises in his house, 
 And let thy deeds accord 
 
 Harmonious with thy vows ; 
 In days of sorrow seek his face, 
 And when delivered praise his grace. 
 
 10 "But why do sinners dare," 
 
 (Saith God, let each give heed,) 
 " My statutes to declare, 
 
 My covenant to plead ! 
 dinners who yet reject the word, 
 And hate the chastenings of the Lord. 
 
 11 Adulterers and thieves 
 
 Thy chosen friends have been ; 
 Thy false tongue daily weaves 
 
 Mischief, deceit and sin : 
 Nor have the children of thy mother 
 Escaped the slanders of their brother. 
 
 12 While these things thou hast done, 
 
 I held my peace till now ; 
 
 Thou thought'st the Holy One 
 
 Was such an one as thou : 
 
P8AUU9 115 
 
 Bin I will weigh thy deeds, and call 
 Thee to strict reckoning for them all." 
 
 13 Now, ponder this and fear, 
 
 Ye that forget the Lord ; 
 Lest lie ill pieces tear 
 
 The scorners of his word: 
 Lest his tremendous wrath devour, 
 When none can rescue from his power. 
 
 14 The man that offers praise 
 
 Does honour to the Lord ; 
 And he that frames his ways 
 
 According to his word. 
 Shall everlastingly enjoy 
 Salvation from the Lord Most High. 
 
 PSALM LI. L. M. 
 
 1 T-TAVE mercy, O thou God of grace ! 
 
 In thy compassions, think on me ! 
 In thy great loving-kindnesses, 
 Blot out all mine iniquity ! 
 
 2 Wash me from all my guiltiness, 
 
 'Till my polluted soul be clean ; 
 For my transgressions I confess, 
 Nor seek to palliate my sin ! 
 
 3 1 have sinned 'gainst Thee, O Lord ! 
 
 And wrought this evil in thy sight! 
 Thy sentence and thy dread award 
 Are therefore wholly just and right. 
 
 4 Behold ! conceived in guilt and sin, 
 
 A sinner in the womb I lay ; 
 
 A sinner born, Lord, I have been 
 
 \ sinner from my Dttal dav. 
 
116 PSALMS. 
 
 5 But thy delights are truth within, 
 
 And purity and holiness; 
 O keep me then from secret sin, 
 And teach me wisdom's holy ways. 
 
 6 Yea, sprinkle thou my leprous soul 
 
 With hyssop, that it may be clean ; 
 And wash me white as snow from all 
 The deep defilement of my sin. 
 
 7 O make me hear this gladsome voice, 
 
 " Peace from a sin-forgiving God ;" 
 
 So shall these broken bones rejoice — 
 
 Broken beneath thy chastening rod. 
 
 S O hide thy face, Lord, from my sins, 
 And blot out my transgressions all ; 
 Create in me afresh, and cleanse 
 My heart, and renovate my soul. 
 
 9 And from thy blissful presence, Lord, 
 O cast me not in wrath away; 
 But let thy Holy Spirit afford 
 Strength in my every evil day. 
 
 10 Make me to know and feel again 
 
 The joys thy grace and favour give; 
 Revive my spirit, and sustain 
 
 My tottering footsteps while I live. 
 
 1 1 So shall I joyfully proclaim 
 
 To sinful men thy works and ways ; 
 'Till sinners learn to fear thy name, 
 And magnify thy saving grace. 
 
 12 O God, my Saviour, O my God ! 
 
 My soul o'erwhelmed still turns to thee ; 
 O save me from the guilt of blood, 
 That I may sing thy clemency. 
 
NAUH. Ill 
 
 IS Mv lips, which sorrow, guilt and shame 
 sealed, be pleased to open, Lord; 
 shall I magnify thy name, 
 And all thy glorious acts record. 
 
 1-1 For Thou desir'st not sacrifice, 
 
 Xor in burnt-offerings tak'st delight; 
 Else would I make thine altar blaze 
 
 With whole burnt-offerings day and night. 
 
 15 A broken spirit, O my God, 
 Is thine accepted sacrifice ; 
 A heart, with sin and sorrow's load 
 
 Oppressed, Lord, Thou wilt not despise. 
 
 1G Deal kindly to the chosen land. 
 
 Where Israel on bis Saviour calls; 
 Let Zion yet in beauty stand, 
 
 And build Jerusalem's ruined walls. 
 
 17 So shall her whole burnt-offerings rise, 
 Accepted in Jehovah's sight; 
 So shall her every sacrifice 
 
 Be holy, and her Lord's delight. 
 
 25th JinguH, 1837. 
 Lat. 6 D JV. Atlantic Ocean. 
 
 PSALM LIL C. M. 
 
 1 A\ HY gloriest thou, O mighty man, 
 
 Because thine arts prevail ? 
 The loving-kindness of the Lord 
 Can never, never fail. 
 
 2 Thou plottest mischief, and thy tongue 
 
 Cuts like a razor keen : 
 Hypocrisy and guileful arts 
 Thy practice still have been. 
 
118 PSALMS. 
 
 3 Iniquity, lies and deceit 
 
 Arc still thy chief employ; 
 Thou hatest truth and rectitude; 
 Thou speak'st but to destroy. 
 
 4 God shall destroy thee utterly ; 
 
 With violence he will tear 
 Thee from thy tent, and root thee out 
 From his creation fair. 
 
 5 And righteous men, who see thy doom, 
 
 Shall thus, with one accord, 
 Express their scorn, even while they fear 
 And magnify the Lord. 
 
 6 " Behold the mighty man whose wealth 
 
 Was all his trust and pride ; 
 Who made his wrongful deeds his strength 
 Nor on the Lord relied !" 
 
 7 But I, like a green olive tree, 
 
 Am planted in God's house; 
 For in the Lord's unchanging grace 
 My hopes I still repose. 
 
 8 Therefore, I'll put my trust in Thee, 
 
 And still thy praise proclaim ; 
 For it is seemly 'mid thy saints 
 To bless thy holy name. 
 
 PSALM LIII. C. M. 
 
 1 " 'INHERE is no God," th' ungodly man 
 
 Thinks in his heart and says ; 
 Their hearts are corrupt, vile their works, 
 And sinful all their ways. 
 
 2 The Lord looked down from heaven on high, 
 
 And viewed the world abroad. 
 
PC \: 119 
 
 if even one were v\ i-r. 
 I iught the living God. 
 
 3 But all were corrupt, all were vile, 
 
 And backward all had gone; 
 For not one righteous man was found 
 In the wide world — not one ! 
 
 4 Shall such ungodly men escape, 
 
 Nor feel Jehovah's power, 
 Who fear him not, and whexhis saints, 
 Even as their food, devour? 
 
 5 No ! they who feared not God befo/e 
 
 Shall fear him, when in ire 
 He scattereth the bones of those 
 Who 'gainst his saints conspire. 
 
 f> Then shall their hearts be crowned with shame, 
 And terror and dismay, 
 When God looks forth in an^er, and 
 Confounds their thick array. 
 
 7 O let thy great salvation, Lord, 
 To Israel quickly come, 
 From Zion's holy mount, and bring 
 Thy captive people home ! 
 
 8- So shall thy saints throughout the world 
 Sound the glad anthem high ; 
 O Jacob, thou shalt triumph then, 
 And Israel shout for joy ! 
 
 PSALM LIV. C. If. 
 
 1 CAVE me, O God, through thy great name, 
 And by thy power defend ; 
 Lord, deign to hear my humble prayer, 
 And to mv words attend. 
 
120 P81XMS. 
 
 2 For tyrants seek my life; the proud 
 
 In bands against me rise, 
 Regarding not the mighty God, 
 Whose throne is in the skies. 
 
 3 But thou art still my helper, Lord ; 
 
 Jehovah is my stay, 
 And to my wrathful foes will soon 
 Their wickedness repay. 
 
 4 For faithful are the promises 
 
 And threatenings of the Lord ; 
 In justice, therefore, cut them off, 
 According to thy word. 
 
 5 So shall I willingly present 
 
 My sacrifice to thee, 
 And bless thy name, as is most meet, 
 Henceforth continually. 
 
 6 For thou hast rescued me, O God, 
 
 From all my straits and woes, 
 And made me see the ruin and 
 Destruction of my foes. 
 
 PSALM LV. L. M. 
 
 1 T ORD, to my sorrowing words give ear, 
 
 Nor turn from my entreating voice ; 
 Deign to regard my lowly prayer, 
 And listen to my doleful cries. 
 
 2 Around me wicked men arise — 
 A wrathful and malicious band — 
 To vex my soul with calumnies, 
 
 And seek mv dovvnfal in the land 
 
P8A] 121 
 
 .3 My heart with inward pain oppft 
 Death's terrors on my spirit fall ; 
 Unwonted fears convulse my bn 
 And horror overwhelms my soul. 
 
 4 Had I the dove's fleet wings to fly 
 From rising wind and tempest here, 
 O I would flee far hence, said I, 
 And hide me in the desert drear. 
 
 5 Distract their counsels, O art God ! 
 And their assembled power destroy ; 
 For strife and violence walk abroad 
 Through all the city of our joy. 
 
 G Mischief and wrong and guile are found 
 Along her streets, around her walls; 
 Iniquity pollutes her ground, 
 And trouble on her people falls. 
 
 "/ 'Twas not my bitter foe whose tongue 
 Reproachfully maligned my name. 
 And violently wrought me wrong, 
 Else had I borne or shunned the shame. 
 
 8 But thou, my bosom friend, 'twas thou, 
 With whom my soul had converse sweet, 
 Oft as we paid the solemn vow, 
 
 In God's house where his people meet. 
 
 9 Let sudden death their course arrest, 
 And gulf them in the opening ground, 
 Like Korah's company unblessed : 
 For guilt i- in their dwellings found 
 
 10 Still to my God I lift my voice. 
 
 At morn, at noon-dav, and at night . 
 
122 tsalms. 
 
 He bids my mourning soul rejoice 
 And turns my darkness into light. 
 
 11 He rescues me from battle, and 
 Restores to safety and to peace ; 
 For multitudes around me stand 
 Of tierce inveterate enemies. 
 
 12 Yea, God, th' eternal Potentate, 
 Hears me, and humbles wicked men ; 
 No change affects their prosp'rous state, 
 And therefore they persist in sin. 
 
 13 False to their oaths and promises, 
 They practise violence and wrong, 
 On men of charity and peace, 
 And speak with a deceitful tongue. 
 
 14 Like oil or butter are their words, 
 
 So smooth, so peaceful and so bland ; 
 But war is in their heart,, and swords 
 And deadliest weapons in their hand. 
 
 15 Cast thou thy cares upon the Lord, 
 And he will prove thy help and stay; 
 To righteous men he'll still afford 
 Strength in temptation's evil day. 
 
 16 But bloody and deceitful men 
 Down to the pit the Lord will thrust, 
 Amid their short career of sin. 
 Jehovah is my hope and trust. 
 
 PSALM LVI. S. M. 
 
 1 TJAVE pity on me, Lord ! 
 
 For man would overthrow ; 
 
PSALM-. 123 
 
 Daily I suffer grievous wrong 
 From my assailing foe. 
 
 2 On my destruction bent, 
 
 They hunt me all the day, 
 With hatred and with malice fired, 
 In thick and fierce array. 
 
 3 But, when afraid, in thee 
 
 My confidence I'll place,. 
 Still trusting in my Saviour, God, 
 And in his promised grace. 
 
 4 In thee I trust; the shield 
 
 Of thine omnipotence, 
 Against the utmost power of men, 
 Is still my sure defence. 
 
 5 They wrest my every word, 
 
 And for my ruin plot; 
 This constitutes their every aim, 
 And forms their every thought. 
 
 6 All secretly they meet 
 
 My trembling steps to trace ; 
 Thirsting, in ambush, for my blood. 
 Around my dwelling-place. 
 
 7 But shall their guilt escape, 
 
 Nor vengeance ever come 1 
 Lord ! thrust them in thine anger down, 
 To meet their final doom. 
 
 S Be pleased to reckon all 
 
 My wandering steps, O Lord ; 
 Yea, in thy bottle put my tears, 
 And in thy book record. 
 
124 P8AUI8. 
 
 9 Whene'er I call on thee 
 
 My routed foes shall fall : 
 I know it, for the Lord my God 
 Is with me when I call. 
 
 10 In God I trust, and in 
 
 His promises rely ; 
 Yea, in thy promised grace I'll still 
 Exult, O thou Most High. 
 
 11 In God, the mighty God, 
 
 I'll place my confidence; 
 Nor do I fear man's utmost power, 
 With God for my defence. 
 
 12 The vows I made to thee, 
 
 In my distressful days, 
 
 O I will gladly pay, in songs 
 
 Of gratitude and praise. 
 
 13 For thou hast saved me, Lord, 
 
 From stumbling and from death; 
 To the blest land of light and life 
 Directing all my path. 
 
 PSALM LVII. C. M. 
 
 1 T£E merciful to me, O God, 
 
 Be merciful to me. 
 Thou art my refuge and my hope, 
 Trembling I flee to thee. 
 
 2 Yea, underneath thy shadowing wings, 
 
 I will securely hide, 
 Till all these clouds are past, and thou 
 Hast quelled the wicked's pride. 
 
 3 I'll call on God the Lord Most High, 
 
 Whose "race will still extend. 
 
PSALMS, L25 
 
 Whatever ills surround me now, 
 Deliverance in the end. 
 
 4 His loving-kindness and his truth 
 
 From heaven the Lord will show, 
 To rescue me, and to confound 
 My unrelenting foe. 
 
 5 I spend my days and nights with men 
 
 As lions fierce and strong ; 
 Like spears and arrows are their teeth, 
 Like a sharp sword their tongue. 
 
 6 Be thou exalted, O my God, 
 
 Above the starry sky ; 
 And let thy glory overspread 
 The earth, O thou Most High ! 
 
 7 They spread their net across my path, 
 
 And bowed my spirit down : 
 Into the pit they dug for me 
 
 Lo ! they themselves are thrown ! 
 
 8 O God, my heart is now prepared 
 
 A lofty song to sing, 
 To sing loud anthems to the praise 
 Of heaven's exalted King. 
 
 9 Awake, my slumbering soul, awake ; 
 
 Awake my harp and lyre ; 
 The early dawn shall hear my song, 
 And its first notes inspire. 
 
 10 'Mong distant nations I will sing 
 Thy praises, O my God ! 
 I'll sound the grateful hymn of prai?e. 
 O'er all the world abroni 1 . 
 L 2 
 
126 PSALMS. 
 
 11 For sure, thy loving-kindness, Lord, 
 
 The lofty heavens transcends ; 
 And far above the fleecy clouds 
 Thy faithfulness extends. 
 
 12 Be thou exalted, O my God, 
 
 Above the starry sky, 
 And let thy glory overspread 
 The earth, O thou Most High. 
 
 PSALM LVIII. C. M. 
 
 1 l"IOES justice regulate your speech, 
 
 Ye who have high command 1 
 And are your sentences upright, 
 Ye judges of the land 1 
 
 2 Nay ; to the peaceful in the land 
 
 Ye wrongfully dispense, 
 What ye have secretly devised, 
 Mischief and violence. 
 
 3 Even from the moment of their birth 
 
 The wicked go astray ; 
 Delighting in deceit and lies, 
 Even from their natal day. 
 
 4 The venom of their poisonous tongue 
 
 Is like the deadly snake's, 
 Or the deaf adder's, whose dull ear 
 No charmer's voice awakes. 
 
 5 Like th' adder, shutting close ber ear 
 
 Against the sweetest sound, 
 Alike untameable are they. 
 Alike envenomed found, 
 
1 27 
 
 1 God, beat out the thickset teeth 
 
 From their wide-open in-j j.iws ; 
 
 Lord, break the roaring lions' tusk>. 
 
 And save me from their paws. 
 
 7 Like torrents let them disappear. 
 That for a moment flow. 
 And let the venomed shafts they shoot 
 Fall pointless from theh>bow. 
 
 B Like slimy snail that melts away, 
 So let them all become. 
 Or like th' untimely birth that dies 
 Within the mother's womb. 
 
 9 Before our pots have felt the tire, 
 Tempests shall sweep away 
 The crackling fuel — the dry thorns 
 That on the way-side lay. 
 
 10 And when he sees the wicked doomed 
 
 Such recompense to meet, 
 The righteous shall rejoice, and in 
 Their blood shall wash his feet. 
 
 11 And men shall say, -For righteous ipen 
 
 There is a rich reward ; 
 There is a just Judge in the earth, 
 The creat and misfhtv Lor'." 
 
 1 
 
 PSALM LIX. C. M. 
 
 TAELIVER me, O Lord mg 
 
 From all my enemies ; 
 Defend me from their rancorous 
 \nd riercc hostilities. 
 
128 PSALMS. 
 
 2 From lawless and from wicked men, 
 
 Deliver me, O God ; 
 And save me from the hands of men 
 Of violence and blood. 
 
 3 For lo ! they lie in wait for me ; 
 
 Yea, men of might combine 
 To work my ruin and my death, 
 For no offence of mine. 
 
 4 Yes, O my God, though no misdeed 
 
 Or crime has stained my hands, 
 They plot against me, and combine 
 In ever watchful bands. 
 
 5 Arise, Lord God of Hosts! the God 
 
 Whom Israel's tribes revere ; 
 Compassionate my wretched state, 
 And for my help appear. 
 
 6 Thy judgments and thy wrath display 
 
 On all ungodly men; 
 Nor pity those whose chief delight 
 Is treachery and sin. 
 
 7 Each night returning to their post, 
 
 With malice fierce and foul, 
 They compass all the city round, 
 Like ravening dogs, and growl. 
 
 8 They belch out slander from their throats ; 
 
 Their tongues are sharpened swords; 
 For thus they say, " Who hears our voice. 
 And who regards our words?" 
 
 9 But thou, O Lord, shalt laugh at all 
 
 The efforts of their pride ; 
 Their heathenish might and malice thou 
 Wilt utterlv deride. 
 
psa] 129 
 
 Jo To thcr. my strong support, I'll still 
 The grateful anthem raise ; 
 For thou'rt my refuge, and the source 
 Of never-failing grace. 
 
 1 1 The Lord will go before my face, 
 
 To guide me and defend, 
 And of my persecutors make 
 Me see the dismal end. 
 
 12 Afflict and scatter them abroad, 
 
 Xor slay them in the field ; 
 Lest otherwise men should forget 
 Their doom, O Lord, our shield. 
 
 13 Yea, let them all be captive led 
 
 Before thy people's eyes, 
 For their impiety and pride, 
 Their cursing and their lies. 
 
 14 In wrath consume them utterly, 
 
 That all the world may know, 
 God lules in Jacob, and is King 
 O'er all the earth below. 
 
 15 Then every evening let them come, 
 
 With malice fierce and foul, 
 To compass all the city round, 
 And, like fierce dogs, to growl. 
 
 16 Yea, let thein be as ravening dogs, 
 
 Prowling about for food, 
 And growling, if they are not gorged 
 With carrion and with blood. 
 
 17 But I will celebrate thy power 
 
 In songs of grateful praise, 
 Yea, every morning I will sing 
 Thy never-failing grace. 
 
130 PSALMS. 
 
 18 For thou hast been a lofty tower 
 
 Of refuge unto me, 
 To which, in my distressful hour, 
 I could securely flee. 
 
 19 O God, my strength, I'll sing to Thee, 
 
 My high, protecting tower; 
 Thy grace has still been my support 
 In every evil hour. 
 
 PSALM LX. S. If. 
 
 1 T ORD, thou hast cast us off, 
 
 And scattered us abroad ; 
 We tremble underneath thy frown ; 
 Return to us, O God ! 
 
 2 In wrath thou hast convulsed 
 
 And broken up the land : 
 O heal its breaches ; for it quakes 
 Beneath thy heavy hand. 
 
 3 Thy people thou hast caused 
 
 Most bitter things to know ; 
 And thou hast made us drink the wine 
 Of trembling and of woe. 
 
 4 Yet thou hast given thy saints 
 
 A banner to display, 
 Thy truth to cheer their drooping souls 
 In their distressful day. 
 
 5 O let thy saints beloved 
 
 Thy great salvation share; 
 Save us by thine almighty power, 
 And hear our humble prayer. 
 
 G God by himself hath sworn, 
 Nor can his promise fail. 
 
MALMS* 
 
 M In triumph I will portion out 
 Sbechem and Buceoth*! vale. 
 
 ? Gilead's fair land is mine, 
 Manasseh's sons obey ; 
 While Ephraim's thousands form my guard. 
 And Judah bears the if 
 
 S Proud Moab. thou shalt hold 
 A basin for my hands; 
 In triumph I will throw m<* shoe 
 O'er Edom's subject lands. 
 
 y The hosts of Palestine 
 I will entirely rout. 
 And o'er their battle-fields I'll raise 
 The loud triumphant shout." 
 
 10 But who will guide my way 
 
 O'er yonder frowning wall. 
 Where still in bold defiance stands 
 Edom's proud capital ? 
 
 11 Lord, thou hast cast us off, 
 
 And scattered us afar ; 
 Nor do^t thou, as of old, go forth 
 With Israel's hosts to war. 
 
 12 Pity our deep distress ; 
 
 Compassionate our grief, 
 And, since no mortal arm can save, 
 Do thou vouchsafe relief. 
 
 13 Yes! we shall vanquish stiil. 
 
 Through thy resistless might ; 
 For God shall trample down our loeb. 
 And conquer in the fight. 
 
 131 
 
132 
 
 PSALM CVIII. S. M. 
 
 1 ~\1Y heart is now prepared 
 
 A joyful song to sing ; 
 My soul is ready now to hymn 
 Thy praise, O God, my King. 
 
 2 Awake, ye sounding harp 
 
 And joy-inspiring lyre; 
 The early dawn shall hear my song 
 And its first notes inspire. 
 
 3 'Mong all the tribes of men, 
 
 Lord, I will sing thy praise, 
 And far away in heathen lands, 
 The joyful anthem raise. 
 
 4 For yonder starry heavens 
 
 Thy mercy far transcends, 
 And high above the fleecy clouds 
 Thy faithfulness extends. 
 
 5 Be thou exalted high 
 
 Above the heavens, O God, 
 And let thy glory be proclaimed 
 O'er all the earth abroad. 
 
 6 O let thy saints beloved 
 
 Thy great salvation share, &c. 
 
 N. B. —The rest of this psahn the same as the 60th, from v. o± 
 
 PSALM LXI. S. M. 
 
 1 £~\ HEAR my prayer and cry, 
 VJ Thou High and Holy One ! 
 For overwhelmed and in distress, 
 I call on thee alone. 
 
P8AL] 133 
 
 m'l utmost verge, 
 A suppliant. Lord, I stand ; 
 O lead me to that Rock whose shade 
 cheer the weary land. 
 
 3 My refuge thou hast been 
 In many an evil hour, 
 And. when assailed by bitterest foes, 
 My strong protecting tower. 
 
 -1 Therefore, w ithin thy tent, 
 Grant me a safe abode; 
 And let me hide myself beneath 
 Thy shadowing wings, O God. 
 
 5 Sure thou hast heard my vows. 
 
 And given me to possess 
 The rich inheritance of those 
 Who know thy saving grace. 
 
 6 The king's life thou prolong'st, 
 
 That his blest reign may be 
 Extended still from age to age. 
 Even to eternity. 
 
 7 Before th' Almighty God, 
 
 He lives and reigns for aye ; 
 Thy loving-kindness is his crown, 
 Thy faithfulness his stay. 
 
 8 Therefore I'll praise thy name, 
 
 And 311 thy grace record. 
 And daily pay my solemn vows 
 For ever to the Lord. 
 
134 PSALMS. 
 
 PSALM LXII. L. M. 
 
 1 AN God my soul expecting waits, 
 
 Like servants at their master's gates; 
 He only all my sorrow knows ; 
 From Him alone salvation flows. 
 
 2 My Saviour and my rock is He ; 
 I'll fear no earthly enemy. 
 Protected by Jehovah's arm, 
 How should I feel the least alarm 1 
 
 3 Why seek ye still my overthrow, 
 Shouting aloud at every blow, 
 As if I were a bending wall, 
 
 Or rampart tottering to its fall 1 
 
 4 Delighting in deceit and lies, 
 My utter downfal they devise ; 
 
 For while they bless, with malice foul, 
 They curse me from their very soul. 
 
 5 Still in my God is all my hope, 
 'Tis He that bears my spirit up : 
 My Saviour and my rock is He, 
 The tower to which I ever flee. 
 
 6 Why then should ought my soul alarm, 
 Shielded by God's almighty arm 1 
 
 My glorious rock, my hiding place, 
 My Saviour is the God of grace. 
 
 7 Ye people, amid all your woes, 
 Still in the Lord your trust repose; 
 Pour out your hearts to Him in days 
 Of trouble ; God's our hiding-place, 
 
135 
 
 trust in men of low estate 
 Is vain ; 'tis vain to trust the great: 
 For both, when in the scales they lie, 
 Are light as vapour in the sky. 
 
 9 Trust not, nor let your heart be vain, 
 In rapine's or oppression's gain ; 
 And when your stores of wealth increase, 
 Then let your hearts esteem them less. 
 
 10 Once hath the Lord from heaven declared, 
 And twice have I with reverence heard, 
 This voice from the eternal throne, 
 
 " That power belongs to God alone." 
 
 1 1 Also with thee, O God of grace ! 
 Are boundless loving-kindnesses; 
 For as the deeds that each hath done, 
 So thou rewardest every one. 
 
 PSALM LXIII. L. M. 
 
 1 r\ LORD, thou art my God alone, 
 
 Each morn I seek thy blessed face ; 
 For thee, thou High and Holy One, 
 My spirit thirsts and pants and prays. 
 
 2 Yea, in a parched and dreary land, 
 
 Where no refreshing waters flow, 
 I long within thy courts to stand, 
 And in thy presence humbly bow : 
 
 3 That I may there behold thy power, 
 
 And see thy glory all displayed, 
 As I have seen thee heretofore, 
 
 Within thy temple's blissful shade. 
 
 4 Since better is thy saving grace 
 
 Than life itself or length of days, 
 
ISO PSA I 
 
 Long as I run my earthly race, 
 My lips shall celebrate thy praise. 
 
 5 Yea, till my last and dying day, 
 
 Thy praises I will still proclaim, 
 And when I lift my hands to pray, 
 Plead in thine all-prevailing name. 
 
 6 With livelier joy my heart is filled, 
 
 To meditate on thee by night, 
 Than all earth's choicest luxuries yield; 
 Thy praise inspires more pure delight. 
 
 7 For thou hast been my constant stay, 
 
 And succour, O thou King of kings ! 
 Therefore I'll sing for joy for aye, 
 Beneath thine overshadowing wings. 
 
 8 To thee I cleave ; thy mighty hand 
 
 Sustains me, wheresoe'er I dwell ; 
 But those who seek my ruin and 
 Destruction shall descend to hell. 
 
 9 A pray to the devouring sword, 
 
 In bloody combat they shall fall ; 
 And their dead bodies, uninterred, 
 Be eaten by the foul jackal. 
 
 10 In God the king shall still rejoice, 
 
 With all who reverence his name ; 
 When they who love and follow lies, 
 Are doomed to silence and to shame. 
 
 PSALM LXIV. C. M. 
 
 1 T ORD, hear the voice of my complaint. 
 Expressive of my woes; 
 Preserve me from the hand of fierce 
 And formidable foes. 
 
P8AJ 137 
 
 3 From wicked men's cabals and plots 
 Do thou thy servant hide ; 
 And from their wild and lawless bands, 
 For my escape provide. 
 
 3 On my destruction set, their tongues 
 
 They whet, like murderous swords ; 
 
 And on their bent bows they affix 
 
 Their shafts — envenomed words — 
 n 
 
 4 All secretly and suddenly 
 
 To shoot the man of God ; 
 Boldly they shoot at him, nor fear 
 The Lord's avenging rod. 
 
 5 Confirmed in wickedness, their snares 
 
 With joint consent they lay ; 
 And M Who is there that seeth us V 
 They impiously say. 
 
 Devising wicked schemes, they boast 
 Their own consummate art: 
 For deep — unfathomably deep — 
 Is their deceitful heart. 
 
 7 But God shall shoot at them betimes; 
 
 An arrow from his bow 
 Shall smite and wound them suddenly. 
 And all their schemes o'erthrow. 
 
 8 Yea, their own self-condemning words. 
 
 On their own heads shall fall, 
 Bringing destruction down from heaven, 
 And vengeance on them all. 
 
 9 And all who see their doom shall flee. 
 
 Or trembling and in fear, 
 Confess, " This is the work of God ; 
 Jehovah's hand is here !" 
 M 2 
 

 138 PSALMS. 
 
 10 Yes ! in the Lord the righteous man 
 Rejoicing still shall trust: 
 God is the refuge and the joy 
 And glory of the just, 
 
 PSALM LXY\ L.M. 
 
 1 pRAISE for thy God, O Zion, waits, 
 
 Zion, within thy temple-gates ; 
 To thee, O thou that hearest prayer, 
 All tribes shall come and worship there. 
 
 2 Lord, our transgressions, we confess, 
 Are great, o'erwhelming, numberless; 
 But thou hast cleansed our souls within. 
 And freely pardoned all our sin. 
 
 3 Happy are they — yea happier far 
 Than prosperous worldlings ever are — 
 Whom thou hast chos'n, and made to dwell 
 On Zion's blest and holy hill. 
 
 4 Assembled there to pay our vows, 
 And taste the goodness of thy house, 
 Lord, fill us from thy holy place 
 With thy soul-satisfying grace ! 
 
 5 So wondrous, Lord, and gracious are 
 Thine answers to thy people's prayer, 
 Far distant lands shall trust in thee, 
 And dwellers on the farthest sea. 
 
 6 Girt with almighty power, thy hand 
 Plants the vast mountains on the land ; 
 Thy voice to the loud waves speaks peace, 
 And bids the people's tumults cease. 
 
 ? Remotest tribes are thrilled with fear, 
 When in the heavens thy signs appear ; 
 
139 
 
 Anon Thou uttercst thy dread voice, 
 And east and west alike rejoice. 
 
 - Thou vi>itest with refreshing rain 
 The earth, enriching it amain; 
 Abundantly thy streamlets flow, 
 Preparing corn for man to grow. 
 
 9 Thus, gracious God, thy bounteous hand 
 Softens, revives, and heals <the land; 
 And with mild showers of blissful rain, 
 Makes all her valleys bloom again. 
 
 10 Thou blessest, Lord, the earth's fair spring, 
 When every tree is blossoming ; 
 
 Th' advancing year thy bounties crown, 
 And all thy clouds drop fatness down. 
 
 1 1 Even where the flocks half-famished stray, 
 To distant pastures far away. 
 
 The fertilizing shower descends 
 
 To cheer the waste and dreary lands. 
 
 12 Then are the little hills made glad ; 
 With bleating flocks the plains are clad ; 
 The vales afford their rich supply : 
 And all creation shouts for joy. 
 
 PSALM LXVI. ?s. 
 
 1 T ET the eaith, with loud acclaim. 
 
 To the Lord her anthem raise, 
 And extol his glorious name 
 In one lofty song of praise. 
 
 2 Let her kindreds all ascribe 
 
 Glory to her heavenly king , 
 And let every tongue and tribe 
 T.u-fully his praises sing. 
 
!4<» psa i 
 
 3 Waving, " God of majesty, 
 
 Fearful in thy works art thou; 
 Through thy mighty power to thee 
 All thine enemies shall bow. 
 
 4 Every tiibe and every tongue 
 
 Shall, submissive at thy throne, 
 Raise the universal song, 
 Glory to the Lord alone." 
 
 5 Come, Jehovah's works survey ! 
 
 AH his acts to Abraham's line, — 
 How magnificent are they, 
 How transcendantly divine! 
 
 G Lo ! to dry land was the sea 
 
 Turned at his almighty word ; 
 And on foot through Jordan, we 
 Marched, rejoicing in the Lord. 
 
 7 By his might he rules for aye ; 
 
 Watchful, all mankind he sees; 
 Let not sinners think that they 
 Can resist his high decrees. 
 
 8 Praise our God ; your voices raise 
 
 Louder still, ye people all; 
 He has lengthened out our days, 
 And delivered us from thrall. 
 
 9 Thou hast tried us, Lord, and hast 
 
 Through the fiery furnace brought; 
 Like the silver that is cast 
 Into the refiner's pot. 
 
 10 Thou hast caused us to be made 
 Captive in the hunter's snare ; 
 Heavy burdens thou hast laid 
 On our loins and made us bear. 
 
n i m, 141 
 
 1 l Thou hast caused our enemies 
 To subject and bring us low ; 
 Through the tire and through the seas 
 We 1. . :n grief and woe. 
 
 12 But in mercy. Lord, thou hast 
 
 By thine own Almighty hand, 
 Brought us safely forth at last 
 To a rich and plenteous land. 
 
 13 Therefore to thy blessed house 
 
 1 will my burnt-offerings bring; 
 I will gladly pay my vows 
 
 Unto thee, my God and King. 
 
 14 Yes, the solemn vows that I 
 
 Vowed in my distressful day. 
 Unto thee, O thou Most High, 
 I will in thy temple pay, 
 
 15 Whole burnt-sacrifices there 
 
 Shall, with clouds of incense, Ma 
 Field and fold shall both prepare 
 Offerings for thy holy place. 
 
 16 Come, all ye who fear the Lord, 
 
 Ye, his people, hearken ye : 
 I will gratefully record 
 
 All that he hath done for me. 
 
 17 Humbly to the Lord I prayed, 
 
 In my dark, and dismal days; 
 Graciously he lent his aid, 
 
 And my tongue proclaimed his praise. 
 
 18 If my heart and soul within, 
 
 Caught in guilt and folly's snare, 
 Had approved and followed sin, 
 
 God would not have heard mv prayer 
 
14*4? PSALMS. 
 
 19 But the Lord hath surely heard, 
 
 And hath granted my request ; 
 Ever-blessed be the Lord ! 
 Be his name for ever blest ! 
 
 20 From my supplicating voice 
 
 He has never turned his face, 
 But has made me taste the joys 
 Of his mercy and his grace. 
 
 PSALM LXVII. 7s. 
 
 1 piTY us, O God of grace ! 
 
 Bless us, source of love divine ! 
 Cause the brightness of thy face 
 On our darkened souls to shine. 
 
 2 So shall thy most blessed ways 
 
 Over all the earth be known, 
 And thy rich and saving grace 
 To its every nation shown. 
 
 3 Let thy people praise thee, Lord ; 
 
 Let them all their voices raise ; 
 Let all men with one accord 
 Gladly join their song of praise. 
 
 4 For in perfect righteousness 
 
 Thou shalt o'er thy people reign, 
 And thy government of peace 
 Reach o'er all the tribes of men. 
 
 5 Let thy people praise thee, Lord; 
 
 O let all thy people praise ! 
 Surely shall the earth afford 
 Plenty in these happy days. 
 
 6 Yes! our own, our father's God- 
 
 He will bless us evermore, 
 
1 1;3 
 
 And o'er all the earth ahroad 
 Men shall fear him and adore. 
 
 PSALM LXVIU. L. M. 
 
 1 r I ''HE Lord ariseth in his might, 
 
 And all his foes are pul to flight, 
 Yea, those that hate Him, in dismay 
 At his dread presence, flee away. 
 
 2 As smoke is scattered all abroad, 
 So dost thou scatter them, O God ! 
 As the wax melts before the fire. 
 The wicked at thy frown expire. 
 
 3 But all the righteous shall rejoice 
 Before the Lord with gladsome voice, 
 And thus exultingly shall sing 
 
 In honour of their heavenly king. 
 
 4 " Sing ye to God ! his great name praise ! 
 A highway for the Almighty raise, 
 
 Who through the desert rides! His name, 
 Jehovah ! let his saints proclaim f 
 
 5 A father to the orphan race, 
 Avenger of the widow's case, 
 
 Is God who dwells in heaven above, 
 The land of holiness and love. 
 
 6 A home he gives the desolate ; 
 
 The bondsmen from their wretched state 
 Raises to wealth ; but rebel bands 
 He leaves to dwell in arid lands. 
 
 "i O God, when underneath the shroud 
 Of darkness and the fierv cloud ; 
 
144 PSALMS. 
 
 Thou marchedst through the wilderness, 
 Before thy people Israel's face ; 
 
 8 Mount Sinai, trembling, shook for fear, 
 Because the God of heaven was near ; 
 The vast earth quaked, and torrents fell 
 Before the God of Israel. 
 
 9 Thou, God, a plenteous rain didst send 
 Upon that parched and thirsty land, 
 Thine own inheritance to cheer, 
 When fainting in the desert drear. 
 
 10 And there th' assembled tribes abode 
 In peace and safety, gracious God ; 
 Provided with a rich supply, 
 Through thy great liberality. 
 
 1 1 Jehovah gives the word of grace 
 To Israel's expecting race, 
 And multitudes declare abroad 
 The mighty acts of Jacob's God. 
 
 12 Kings and their hosts are put to flight; 
 They flee before the God of might ! 
 And they who in the tents abide 
 
 The victor's precious spoils divide. 
 
 13 Though lately clothed in poor attire, 
 And covered o'er with dust and mire, 
 Behold them now, like the dove's wing, 
 With gold and silver glistening ! 
 
 14 Yea, when Jehovah, in his might, 
 Kings and their armies puts to flight, 
 Each Hebrew maid shines like the snow 
 Glistening on Salmon's lofty brow. 
 
145 
 
 15 Highest amid the heathen's lands, 
 Sec, yonder mount of Bashan stands, 
 With many ■ summit reared on high, 
 And towering to the lofty sky ! 
 
 16 Why, O ye lofty mountains, why 
 Do ye regard with envious eve 
 
 That mount where God delights to dwell, 
 The mighty God of Israel 1 
 i 
 
 17 God was to Israel better far 
 
 Than thousand chariots trained for war; 
 God was amidst them in their coasts. 
 Even as on Sinai with his hosts. 
 
 18 Thou, God, ascending up on high, 
 Hast captive led the enemy ; 
 
 Gifts thou hast got of heavenly grace, 
 And dwelt amidst a rebel race. 
 
 19 Blest be the Lord, for ever blest 
 
 Be God, who saves us when oppressed ! 
 
 Almighty is our God to save, 
 
 To bring deliverance from the grave. 
 
 20 Surely the Lord will overthrow 
 And crush the head of every foe; 
 A speedy and a direful doom 
 Upon the sinner's head shall come ! 
 
 21 The Lord hath said, and will fulfil ; 
 "Even as of old, from Bashan's hill, 
 I'll bring thee back in triumph yet, 
 O Jacob, to thine ancient seat. 
 
 22 And as thou marchedst through the flood, 
 So shalt thou march through seas of blood, 
 
146 PSALMS. 
 
 And o'er the red and gory plain 
 Thy dogs shall revel on the slain." 
 
 23 I see thy marching, mighty God, 
 To Zion, thy beloved abode ; 
 
 The marching of my God and King, 
 Minstrels and singers following. 
 
 24 And thus they sing with gladsome voice, 
 While the loud timbrel wakes their joy3, 
 " Ye tribes of Israel's chosen race, 
 Praise ye the Lord, the God of grace V 7 
 
 25 The tribe of Benjamin is there, 
 
 The youngest born, his father's care; 
 And Judah and his chiefs are by, 
 And Zebulon and Nephtali. 
 
 26 Thy God, O Zion, hath decreed 
 Sufficient strength for all thy need. 
 Confirm to us what thou hast done, 
 From Zion, O thou Holy One ! 
 
 27 So shall the kings of many a land 
 Submissive yield to thy command, 
 And choicest presents gladly bring 
 To Israel's exalted King. 
 
 28 Rebuke the wild beast of the reeds,* 
 The bulls of Bashan's fiercest breeds, 
 With all the lesser herd that range 
 On heathen lands of language strange, 
 
 29 Till all in mute submission bring 
 Their willing tribute to the king: 
 Yea, scatter thou, O God, afar 
 The people that delight in war. 
 
 * The crocodile, the symbol of Ecypt, 
 

 MA] 14*3 
 
 3U Princes in Zion's courts shall stand. 
 As suppliants from Egypt's land ; 
 And Ethiopia shall bring 
 Her offerings to our God and Kin z 
 
 31 Ye kingdoms of the nations, raise 
 Loud anthems to Jehovah's praise; 
 To Him that rides above the heaven 
 Be endless praise and glory given. 
 
 * 
 
 32 Hark! 'tis the voice of God ! It swells 
 In louder and in louder peaK 
 
 High in the clouds ! All nature sing 
 Glory to Israel's mighty King! 
 
 33 Dreadful art thou when thus, O God, 
 Thou travelled in thy might abroad ! 
 But Israel's God will still afford 
 Strength to his people ! Praise the Lord ! 
 
 PSALM LXIX. C. M. 
 
 1 gAVE me, O Lord, my God, for, lo f 
 
 The mighty waters roll, 
 And threaten, with their rising waves. 
 To overwhelm my soul. 
 
 2 I sink in deepest mire, wherein 
 
 No footing can be found ; 
 Even in a fathomless abyss, 
 Whose waves beset me round. 
 
 3 Faint with my calling upon thee, 
 
 My heart is parched and dry ; 
 And dimness, while I look for God 
 O'erspreads mv weaiv eye 
 
148 PSALMS. 
 
 4 For those who hate me wrongfully 
 
 Are more in number far 
 Even than the hairs upon my head : 
 And fierce and strong they are. 
 
 5 And through their wrathful violence 
 
 I yield them as their prey, 
 That which I gained not by deceit, 
 ?sor took by force away. 
 
 6 O God, if I have sinned, thou know'st 
 
 All mine iniquity ; 
 If I am guilty, sure my guilt 
 Is not concealed from thee. 
 
 7 O God, Jehovah, Lord of hosts, 
 
 Let none that trust in thee 
 Be disappointed of their hope 
 And their reward through me. 
 
 8 Yea, O thou God of Israel, 
 
 Let none that love thy name 
 And seek thy blessed face, through me 
 Be ever brought to shame. 
 
 9 For I have borne reproach for thee, 
 
 And suffered deep disgrace ; 
 An alien to my kin was I, 
 A stranger to my race. 
 
 10 My fervent zeal towards thy house 
 
 Melted my flesh away ; 
 And the reproaches cast on thee 
 Oppressed me all the day. 
 
 11 When I have wept, and, fasting, wrapped 
 
 Sackcloth around my frame, 
 My grief was turned to my reproach, 
 Their by-word I became, 
 
149 
 
 12 By princes I have been traduced 
 
 With malice loud and lepg, 
 And the vile drunkards in the street* 
 Made me their jest and song. 
 
 13 Still, in an acceptable time 
 
 Let my prayer come to thee, 
 And in thy truth and saving grace, 
 Benignly answer me. , 
 
 14 Deliver me out of the mire 
 
 Wherein I sink, O God, 
 From those that hate me rescue me, 
 Even from the water-flood. 
 
 15 Let not the deep o'erwhelm me, nor 
 
 Its waves flow over me, 
 Xor let the all-devouring pit 
 Engulf me utterly. 
 
 16 Hear me, O Lord, for thou art good, 
 
 And kind are all thy ways ; 
 Yea, in thy great grace lift on me 
 Thy reconciled face. 
 
 17 Nor in thine anger turn away 
 
 From me, thy servant, Lord, 
 But in my straits, O let me hear 
 Thy soul-reviving word. 
 
 18 Draw nigh unto me, to redeem 
 
 And from my foes to save ; 
 For many are my enemies, 
 And cruel as the grave. 
 
 l ( i Thou know'st my ignominious stale, 
 And my reproach and shame ; 
 Thou know'st my enemies, how they hate 
 And persecute my name. 
 ' N 2 
 
150 PSALMS. 
 
 20 Repioach hath hroke my heart, and grief 
 
 Wasted my shattered frame ; 
 I looked for friends and comforters, 
 But none to pity came. 
 
 21 Nay, foi my food they gave me gall; 
 
 And when I would have quaffed 
 The cooling stream, they offered me 
 A nauseating draught. 
 
 22 Lord, let their table prove their snare, 
 
 And let their wealth become 
 A trap to catch their heedless feet, 
 And hasten on their doom. 
 
 23 Let darkness overspread their eyes, 
 
 And cause their loins to quake; 
 And let thy wrath with dire awards 
 Their great guilt overtake. 
 
 24 Around their mansions and their tents 
 
 Let desolation reign ; 
 Within their ruined walls let no 
 Inhabitant remain. 
 
 25 Because they persecute the man 
 
 Who mourns beneath thy rod, 
 And aggravate, with cruel wrongs, 
 Affliction's heavy load. 
 
 26 Award them double punishment 
 
 For all their wickedness ; 
 Nor let them e'er attain the bliss 
 Of thy pure righteousness. 
 
 27 Out of thy book of life let them 
 
 Be blotted out for aye, 
 Ne'er to be numbered with the just 
 In the great judgment day. 
 
PSALMS. 151 
 
 28 But I am poor and faint beneath 
 
 Oppression's bitter rod ; 
 Let thy salvation raise me up, 
 My Saviour and my God. 
 
 29 So shall I celebrate with joy 
 
 Jehovah's blessed name, 
 And in loud songs of thanksgiving 
 His wondrous grace pn^laim. 
 
 30 And surely this shall prove to God 
 
 More acceptable far 
 Than whole burnt-oflerings of bulls, 
 Or choicest cattle are. 
 
 31 The just, beholding the result, 
 
 Shall sing with glad accord, 
 For joy, for it shall cheer your hearts, 
 O ye who seek the Lord. 
 
 32 For God regards th' afflicted ones, 
 
 And listens to their cry ; 
 Nor will he leave his saints to pine 
 In bonds and misery. 
 
 33 Let heaven and earth in joyful strains 
 
 Proclaim Jehovah's praise ; 
 Let ocean and its finny tribes 
 Their glad hosannahs raise. 
 
 34 For God will Zion save, and in 
 
 Remembrance of his grace, 
 The ruined cities will upbuild 
 Of Judah's chosen race. 
 
 35 That they may have their dwelling there, 
 
 And their possession sure, 
 To them and to their seed to prove 
 A heritage secure. 
 
152 PSALMS. 
 
 36 Yea, that his servants' seed may have 
 Their permanent abode 
 On Zion's hill, with all who love 
 The blessed name of God. 
 
 PSALM LXX. C. M. 
 
 1 TJASTE to my rescue, O my God, 
 
 For I am sore distressed ; 
 Lord, hasten to my help, for I 
 Am heavily oppressed. 
 
 2 Let shame, confusion and disgrace 
 
 Quickly alight on all 
 Who mercilessly seek my life, 
 Or glory in my fall. 
 
 3 Let disappointment and defeat 
 
 Their fitting portion be, 
 Who mock and cry "Aha, aha!" 
 At my calamity. 
 
 4 Let all who seek thee, still in thee 
 
 Rejoicingly confide ; 
 Let those who love thy grace say still 
 "The Lord be magnified." 
 
 5 But I afflicted am and poor; 
 
 Lord, haste to succour me ; 
 Lord, thou alone my Saviour art, 
 O, help me speedily. 
 
 PSALM CXX.* C. M. 
 
 David's prayer while in exile. 
 
 1 T CRIED to God in my distress ; 
 He heard and set me free. 
 
 * See Note A, r?. !28 
 
PSALMS. 15^ 
 
 M From lying lips and guileful tongues, 
 
 Lord deliver me !" 
 
 2 What shall be given thee, thou false tongue 1 
 
 And what thy fit award ! 
 Sharp-pointed bolts of fiery flame 
 Shot by th' avenging Lord. 
 
 3 Alas ! that I should dwell so long 
 
 With Mesech's lawless bands; 
 And share the wandering Arab's tent, 
 Amid the desert lands !* 
 
 4 With wrathful and contentious men 
 
 1 spend my weary life : 
 
 My voice is still for peace; but their's 
 For battle and for strife. 
 
 PSALM CXXI. L. If. 
 
 The righteous mans confident assurance of the divine 
 protection at all times, and in all circiunstances. 
 
 1 T^O Zion's hills I lift my eyes 
 
 For help in every evil hour ; 
 For God who formed the earth and skies 
 Upholds me by his heavenly power. 
 
 2 Thy weary foot shall never slide, 
 
 W 7 hile He thy soul securely keeps ; 
 Lo ! Israel's Guardian and Guide, 
 
 He never slumbers, no, nor sleeps. /-• 
 
 3 The Lord shall keep thee night and day ; 
 
 And under his protecting shade, 
 Nor sun nor moon's malignant ray 
 
 Shall e'er have power to smite thy head. 
 
 * Sep note R. Ps. TOO. 
 
154 PSALMS. 
 
 4 From every evil, every sin, 
 
 Jehovah shall thy soul defend, 
 Guarding thy going out and in, 
 From henceforth even to the end. 
 
 PSALM CXXII. L. M. 
 
 1 TVT^ neart was fiU e d with holy joys 
 
 Soon as I heard the welcome voice, 
 " Come, let us to God's blessed house 
 Ascend and pay our solemn vows." 
 
 2 Jerusalem, thy courts again 
 
 We soon shall tread — a joyful train ; 
 All hail, Jerusalem, to thee, 
 City of peace and unity ! 
 
 3 Thither the tribes of God repair 
 To sing Jehovah's praises there, 
 According to the statute given 
 To Israel by the God of heaven. 
 
 4 For there the thrones of judgment stand 
 For Israel's highly-favoured land ; 
 
 The thrones of David's royal race 
 Are there upheld in righteousness. 
 
 5 O pray ye for Jerusalem ! 
 Blessed be all that love thy name ! 
 Peace be within thy bulwarks still, 
 And blessings on thy citadel ! 
 
 6 Yea, for my friends and brethren dear 
 Thy peace shall be my constant prayer ; 
 And for the house of God in thee 
 
 I'll seek thy great prosperity.. 
 
P8AJ Kfl 10T) 
 
 P8ALM CXXII.- C. M. 
 
 The Christian mans prayer for the peace and pros- 
 perity of the Church. 
 
 1 \TV spirit inwardly rejoiced, 
 My wry heart was £lad, 
 When thus they said. M Come, let us go 
 Up to the house of Got?." 
 
 » Jerusnlem, within thy gates, 
 W« shall devoutly stand ; 
 Blest city where united meet 
 The thousands of our land. 
 
 9 To thee, O city of the Lord, 
 The tribes of God repair, 
 According to divine command, 
 To praise Jehovah there. 
 
 4 For there the thrones of judgment stand ; 
 
 There on his lofty throne, 
 Exalted sits in righteousness 
 King David's royal son. 
 
 5 O ye his saints, be this your p^ 
 
 '• Peace to Jerusalem ! 
 And may prosperity attend 
 All those who love thy name! 
 
 6 4i Peace be within thy bulwarks still ;" 
 
 And may thy palaces, 
 Whatever ills betide, enjoy 
 Prosperity and peace!" 
 
 * ^ee note A. Ps. 132. 
 
156 PSALMS. 
 
 7 Yea, for rny friends and brethren's sakes, 
 
 My fondest wish shall be, 
 " May peace and happiness abide 
 Jerusalem, in thee !" 
 
 8 And for thy house, O Lord our God, 
 
 To whom be endless praise, 
 I'll labour for Jerusalem's peace 
 And welfare all my days. 
 
 PSALM CXXIII. L. M. 
 
 A prayer for a time of trouble. 
 
 1 C\ THOU that dwellest in the skies, 
 
 To thee I lift my longing eyes! 
 Yea, as obedient servants wait, 
 All watchful at their master's gate ; 
 
 2 Or as the humble maiden stands, 
 Observant of her mistress' hands, 
 We wait and look to thee, O Lord, 
 Until deliverance thou afford. 
 
 3 Have mercy, Lord, we humbly pray, 
 In this distressful, wrathful day ! 
 Lord, pity us, and we shall then 
 
 Be joyful, though the scorn of men. 
 
 4 For men of wealth and men of pride 
 Our God-forsaken state deride ; 
 And we are left to pine forlorn, 
 The sinner's mockery and scorn. 
 
 PSALM CXXIV. P. M. 
 
 David's song of praise for deliverance from his ene- 
 mies, 
 
 1 XTAD not the Lord been our defence, 
 
 When men of wrath and violence— 
 (Israel may truly say ;) 
 
psalms. 157 
 
 Had not the Lord been on our side, 
 
 When men rose, like a swelling tide, 
 
 To sweep us quite away: 
 
 2 Then had our fainting spirits failed ; 
 Then had the rising flood prevailed, 
 
 So fiercely did it roll ; 
 And the proud stream's impetuous waves 
 Had gulphed us in untimely gTaves, 
 
 And overwhelmed oufsoul. 
 
 3 To God who wrought our freedom then 
 Even from the teeth of wrathful men, 
 
 Be endless praises given : 
 Like bird from fowler's snare set free, 
 So were we rescued, Lord, by thee, 
 
 Maker of earth and heaven. 
 
 PSALM CXXV. C. M. 
 
 The security of the righteous under the guardians! tip 
 of God, 
 
 1 r PHEY in the Lord that firmly trust, 
 
 Nor murmur at his will, 
 Firm and unmoved shall ever stand, 
 Like Zion's holy hill. 
 
 2 Yea, as the circling mountains stand 
 
 Around Jerusalem, 
 God will surround and ever bless 
 All those that love his name. 
 
 3 For o'er the just man's heritage 
 
 The wicked shall not reign 
 Forever, lest the righteous man 
 Return to sin again. 
 
15S PSALMS. 
 
 4 To all the righteous, blessed Lord, 
 
 Thy heavenly grace impart ; 
 Yea, bless all those who manifest 
 Sincerity of heart. 
 
 5 For men of crooked hearts and ways 
 
 Jehovah will destroy ; 
 But Israel's heritage is peace, 
 And everlasting joy. 
 
 PSALM CXXVL* P. M. 
 
 Israel's song of praise for deliverance from J3abylonish 
 captivity. 
 
 1 
 
 \\7^HEN God our freedom wrought, 
 
 With high uplifted hand, 
 And Zion's captives brought 
 Back to their father land ; 
 So wondrous did the tidings seem, 
 We thought at first 'twas all a dream. 
 
 Joy beamed from every eye, 
 
 Praise flowed from every tongue ; 
 
 Songs of sweet melody 
 To God were duly sung : 
 
 The heathen heard it with surprise, 
 
 And thus expressed their sympathies: 
 
 " Behold the Lord hath done 
 
 Wonders for Judah's race, 
 And their redemption won, 
 
 From all their enemies !" 
 "Yes, Lord !" let every heart reply, 
 u Thine was the work, but our's the joy !" 
 
 * See note A, Vs. L26. 
 
I>ALM-. 159 
 
 •1 Bring back our wanderers-, 
 
 Like torrents swift and deep ;• 
 That though we sow in tears, 
 
 In gladness we may reap ! 
 Yea, they who sow in tears shall come 
 Rejoicing to the harvest home. 
 
 PSALM CXXVI.t P. M. 
 
 Second version — Paraphrase. 
 
 1 "\Y"HEX Jehovah the captives of Zion set free, 
 
 And brought them to Zion's fair city again, 
 So strange did it seem that like dreamers were we, 
 And we laughed and sung wildly on Babylon's 
 plain. 
 
 2 Then the heathen amazed, in astonishment cried, 
 
 " Great things for his captives Jehovah has 
 done !" 
 " Yes, marvellous things," with joy, we replied, 
 Let his people exult in Jehovah alone. 
 
 3 As the streams in the south enliven the plain, 
 
 "When the heat and the drought of the summer 
 are past, 
 So, Lord, may the captives of Zion again 
 Return to enliven her desolate waste. 
 
 4 As the reaper rejoices when harvest is come, 
 
 Though he scatters his seed with a sorrowful eye, 
 So, Lord, as we travel to Zion our home, 
 
 May our seed-time of tears bring a harvest of joy. 
 
 ♦ Fee note B, Ps 320 3ec note C, Ps. 196. 
 
160 PSALMS. 
 
 PSALM CXXVII. C. M. 
 
 The necessity of God's blessing to crown all onr under- 
 takings with success. 
 
 1 TJNLESS Jehovah build the house, 
 
 And the whole work sustain, 
 Our building will be fruitless toil, 
 And all our labour vain. 
 
 2 Unless the Lord the city guard 
 
 With his almighty arm, 
 No watchman can avail to ward 
 The citizens from harm. 
 
 3 'Tis vain to rise at early dawn, 
 
 And late to rest repair, 
 To eat the bread of sorrow, and 
 To drink the cup of care. 
 
 4 God gives his people needful rest, 
 
 And blesseth all their store ; 
 Yea, 'tis his blessing makes us rich, 
 And his appointment poor.* 
 
 5 Lo ! children are a heritage 
 
 Of those who love the Lord ; 
 The offspring of the fruitful womb 
 Is his ordained reward.f 
 
 6 As arrows in a warrior's hand, 
 
 So are our children dear; 
 Thus nobly armed, we meet our foes, 
 Nor suffer shame nor fear. 
 
 * See note A, Ps. 127. t See note B, Ps. !2fr. 
 
P8AUI6. L01 
 
 psalm cxxvirr.* c. M. 
 
 The duty and blessedness of pious man ied persons. 
 
 1 T)LEST is the man who fears the Lord 
 
 With reverential awe : 
 Whose character and ways accord 
 With his most holy law, 
 
 2 For thou shalt peacefully enjoy 
 
 The produce of thy toil, 
 And providence on all thy paths 
 Shall ever kindly smile. 
 
 3 Like fruitful vine, within thy house, 
 
 Thy loving wife shall be ; 
 Like olive-plants around thy board, 
 Thy youthful family. 
 
 4 Behold, thus happy shall he be 
 
 Who fears and serves the Lord ; 
 And God from Zion's holy hill 
 His blessing shall afford. 
 
 5 Yea, all his life he shall behold 
 
 Jerusalem's happiness, 
 A numerous offspring of his own, 
 And Zion's growing peace. 
 
 PSALM CXXIX.j C. M. 
 
 The victory of the church over all her enemies. 
 
 * " T7^'LL often have they vexed me sore/' 
 May Israel truly say, 
 
 * Written off Cape Horn, lat. 59= south, 23d Sept. IC 
 ' See note A. P?. 129. 
 
 o 2 
 
162 PSALMS. 
 
 " Full often have they vexed me sore, 
 Even from my youthful day. 
 
 2 But, blessed be my guardian God ! 
 
 Their efforts still have failed ; 
 Yea, though they have oppressed me sore, 
 Yet have they not prevailed. 
 
 3 The plowers plowed upon my back, 
 
 And tore my flesh away ; 
 They made their furrows long and deep, 
 Full many a painful day.* 
 
 4 But God the righteous rescued me 
 
 From suffering and from wrong ; 
 He burst the bands and broke the power 
 Of the ungodly throng." 
 
 5 Shame and confusion and defeat 
 
 O'erwhelm all Zion's foes ! 
 Yea, they shall be like blasted corn 
 That withers while it grows.f 
 
 6 No reapers take it in their hands, 
 
 Or their sharp sickles wield ; 
 No binders gather it in sheaves 
 Upon the harvest field. 
 
 7 Neither do they who pass along 
 
 God's blessing there implore, 
 Or say, " The blessing of the Lord 
 Be on you evermore." 
 
 * Sec note B, Ps. 129. f See note C, Ps. 129. 
 
PSALM-. 103 
 
 PSALM CXXX.* S. M. 
 
 Prayer for the forgiveness of sins. 
 
 1 T ORD> from the depths of woe, 
 
 I cried aloud to thee ; 
 Lord, hear a sinner's humble prayer, 
 Hear and deliver me. * 
 
 2 If thou should'st mark our sins, 
 
 And all our guilt record, 
 
 Who could abide the scrutiny 
 
 And justice of the Lord 1 
 
 3 But mercy dwells with thee, 
 
 That men may seek thy face ; 
 My soul waits for the Lord, my hope 
 Is in his word of grace. 
 
 4 My soul waits for the Lord 
 
 With more desire than they, 
 Who, on their sleepless beds by night, 
 Watch for the dawn of day. 
 
 5 Let Israel hope in God, 
 
 For mercy dwells with him. 
 From all thy sins, O Israel, 
 Jehovah shall redeem. 
 
 PSALM CXXXI.f L. M. 
 
 Gratitude to God for humility of mind. 
 
 1 T ORD, thou hast weaned my heart from pride, 
 And taught me lowliness of mind ; 
 
 * Written off Cape Horn. lat. G0 a south, 25th Sept. 1830. 
 t See note A, Ps. 131. 
 
164 PSALMS. 
 
 Once to be rich and great I tried, 
 
 But now I leave these thoughts behind. 
 
 2 For thou, when worldly cares and joys 
 Disturbed my peace and broke my rest, 
 Didst wean my soul from vanities, 
 Like infant from its mother's breast. 
 
 3 Like weaned child, my soul, by thee, 
 From folly's paths was turned away. 
 
 Israel, in the Lord trust ye ; 
 His loving-kindness lasts for aye. 
 
 PSALM CXXXIL C. M. 
 
 Prayer of Solomon, at the dedication of the temple, for 
 the maintenance of true religion and civil govern- 
 ment in the land of Israel. 
 
 1 T ORD, think on David and his toils; 
 
 How to the Lord he sware, 
 And vowed to Jacob's mighty God 
 A dwelling-place to rear. 
 
 2 u I will not go into my house, 
 
 Nor on my bed repose ; 
 
 1 will not shut my eyes to sleep, 
 
 No, nor my eyelids close: 
 
 3 Till for the Lord Most High I fix 
 
 A permanent abode, 
 And find a constant dwelling-place 
 For Jacob's mighty God."' 
 
 4 Behold, at Ephratah we heard 
 
 Of Zion's holy ground, 
 And in the forest, in the field, 
 The chosen spot we found.* 
 
 * Sec note V Ps 13*2 
 
PSALKC IM 
 
 5 To God's own tabernacle then 
 
 We'll joyfully repair, 
 And at his footstool raise the voice 
 Of undissembled prayer. 
 
 6 Arise, O mighty God, arise I 
 
 Enter thy place of rest, 
 Thou and the symbol of thy power ! 
 And be thy people blest. 
 
 7 Let all thy priests and ministers 
 
 With righteousness be clad ; 
 Let all thy saints, O Lord, rejoice 
 And be exceeding glad. 
 
 8 For thine own servant David's sake, 
 
 O take not thou away 
 The sceptre of thy chosen one, 
 Even thine anointed's sway f* 
 
 9 To David God hath sworn an oath. 
 
 Nor is his promise vain, 
 " Thine offspring I will surely set 
 Upon thy throne to reign. 
 
 10 And if they keep my covenant, 
 
 And all my laws obey, 
 Their children after them shall reign 
 With never-ending sway." 
 
 11 For God hath chosen Zion's hill 
 
 For his desired abode ; 
 "This is my rest, beloved for aye, 
 The dwelling-place of God. 
 
 12 1 will greatly bless her food, 
 
 Her poor with bread supply, 
 
 *See note B, Ps. 132. 
 
166 PSALMS. 
 
 And with salvation clothe her priests, 
 And fill her saints with joy. 
 
 13 There shall the horn of David's power 
 
 With growing glory shine, 
 
 For I've prepared a lamp to burn 
 
 For mine anointed's line.* 
 
 14 His enemies, whate'er they be, 
 
 I'll cover them with shame ; 
 But David's crown shall flourish still 
 With everlasting fame." 
 
 PSALM CXXXIII. C. M. 
 
 The beauty and excellence of brotherly love, 
 
 1 C\ 'TIS a good and comely thing 
 
 For brethren to agree, 
 And dwell together in the land 
 In peace and unity. 
 
 2 'Tis fragrant as the ointment poured 
 
 Of old on Aaron's head ; 
 That trickled down his flowing beard 
 And o'er his garments spread. 
 
 3 Refreshing as the kindly dew 
 
 That every morn distils 
 On Hermon's elevated heights 
 And Zion's fruitful hills. 
 
 4 On this Jehovah shall bestow 
 
 Blessings in richest store; 
 His favour in this mortal state. 
 And life for evermore. 
 
 * See note C, Ps. 130. 
 
167 
 
 PSALM CXXXIY. 4 L. M. 
 
 Suitable employment for the ministerial office. 
 
 i ALL ye who stand by night or day, 
 
 Within his courts to serve the Lord, 
 Praise ye his holy name alway 
 "With solemn and with sweet accord. 
 
 2 O lift ye up your hands and bless 
 
 The Lord who made the earth and sky. 
 From Zion, his own holy place, 
 God bless you all eternally ! 
 
 PSALM CXXXV.f P. If. 
 
 A song of praise to Jehovah for his works of power and 
 mercy. 
 
 1 HPHE Lord's great name, ye people, praise, 
 
 All ye. his saints, your voices raise 
 
 In solemn sweet accord: 
 And ye who at his temple-gate, 
 Or in his courts devoutly wait. 
 
 Sing praises to the Lord. 
 
 2 Sing praises: O 'tis sweet to sing 
 The praises of our Heavenly King : 
 
 His goodness knows no measure; 
 In Jacob he delights to dwell, 
 And he hath chosen Israel 
 
 For his peculiar treasure. 
 
 3 Great is the Lord our God alone: 
 Xought but what he ordains is done 
 
 In heaven, or earth, or sea ; 
 
 ■ See note A, Ts. 194. 
 
 * Written oil' Cape Horn to the southwestward 
 
168 PSALMS. 
 
 Clouds from the earth's remotest ends, 
 Lightnings and rain and storm he sends 
 From his vast treasury. 
 
 4 Egypt, thy people saw his power, 
 And felt it in that awful hour 
 
 When all their first-born died: 
 And Pharaoh and his lords beheld 
 His wonders, when, in Zoan's field 
 
 He crushed the heathen's pride. 
 
 5 Great nations, kings and men of might, 
 Og and the royal Amorite, 
 
 Canaan's polluted race, 
 He swept away with vengeful hand, 
 And gave their cities and their land 
 
 For Israel's dwelling-place. 
 
 6 O Lord, eternal is thy name ! 
 
 Thy power and grace are still the same, 
 
 Unchangeable and sure ! 
 For God will yet avenge his saints, 
 And hear their sorrowful complaints, 
 Nor shall his wrath endure. 
 
 7 The idols of the heathen lands 
 Are but the work of human hands, 
 
 Of gold and silver wrought, 
 Though they have mouths, we hear no voice, 
 They cannot see us with their eyes; 
 
 We speak, they hear us not. 
 
 8 They have no breath or life at all, 
 No power to help us when we call, 
 
 Senseless and lifeless clay: 
 Their makers and their worshippers, 
 And he that trusts them, or that fears, 
 
 Are just as blind as they. 
 
MALMS. I n!i 
 
 'J O Israel, then. Jehovah I 
 
 Ye priests and ministers of his 
 
 Bless God in loud accord : 
 The Lord bless, ye that tear his name. 
 In Zion and Jerusalem 
 
 He dwells ; O praise the Lord. 
 
 PSALM CXXXVI. P. M. 
 
 A song 1 of praise to Jehovah n for his ivorks of poiver 
 and mercy. 
 
 1 \"E people, praise the Lord; 
 
 His goodness still proclaim: 
 Let all. with glad accord, 
 
 Extol his blessed name ; 
 His mercy is lor ever sure. 
 And shall from age to age endure. 
 
 2 Praise God, for he is great : 
 
 The Lord of lords is he : 
 He reigns in royal state 
 
 And glorious majesty. 
 His mercy is for ever sure, 
 And shall from age to age endure. 
 
 3 Praise ye with heart and voice 
 
 The wonder-working God, 
 Whose wisdom formed the skies, 
 
 And spread the earth abroad. 
 His mercy is for ever sure. 
 And shall from age to age endure. 
 
 -i The glorious lights above. 
 
 The sun and moon and stars. 
 Proclaim his power and love 
 To all the universe. 
 
 L 
 
170 rsALMs. 
 
 His mercy is for ever sure, 
 
 And shall from age to age endure. 
 
 5 Egypt, thy first-born sons 
 
 Were smitten by his hand, 
 To work deliverance 
 
 For Israel from thy land ! 
 His mercy is for ever sure, 
 And shall from age to age endure. 
 
 6 A pathway through the sea 
 
 He opened by his power; 
 That Israel's sons might flee 
 
 From him who would devour. 
 His mercy is for ever sure, 
 And shall from age to age endure. 
 
 7 But Pharaoh and his host, 
 
 Choosing that fatal path, 
 Were overwhelmed and lost 
 
 Through his avenging wrath. 
 His mercy is for ever sure, 
 And shall from age to age endure. 
 
 8 Through the vast wilderness, 
 
 With wonder-working hand, 
 He led his chosen race 
 
 Even to the promised land. 
 His mercy is for ever sure, 
 And shall from age to age endure. 
 
 9 Great kings and men of might, 
 
 Even famous kings he slew ; 
 Sihon, the Amorite, 
 
 Og, king of Bashan, too. 
 His mercy is for ever sure, 
 And shall from age to age endure, 
 
1 * - V ! . M - . 171 
 
 10 And gwe their pleasant land 
 
 To Israel's favoured sons. 
 To latest time to stand 
 
 Their choice inheritance. 
 His mercy is for ever sure, 
 And shall from age to age endure. 
 
 11 Sure, God on us has thought, 
 
 Even in our low estate, 
 And our redemption wrought 
 
 From all who bore us hale. 
 His mercy is for ever sure, 
 And shall from age to age endure. 
 
 12 He daily giveth food 
 
 To all the tribes of men ; 
 Praise God, for he is good, 
 
 O praise Jehovah then. 
 His mercy is for ever sure, 
 And shall from age to age endure. 
 
 PSALM CXXXVII. P. M. 
 
 Lament of the captive Jeics at Babylon. 
 
 1 Tl Y Babel's streams we sat, 
 
 In Judah's evil day, 
 And as we wept and thought 
 
 Of Zion far away, 
 We hung our harps in deep despair 
 Upon the weeping willows there. 
 
 2 For there our spoilers said, 
 
 11 Come, strike the tuneful string ; 
 Let joyful mirth be made; 
 
 Some song of Zion sing." 
 How could our voices fiamc the sound 
 Of Zion's songs on heathen ground ! 
 
172 PSALMS . 
 
 3 If I should e'er forget 
 
 Thee, O Jerusalem, 
 Or earthly pleasure set 
 
 Above thy cherished name, 
 With palsy be my arm unstrung, 
 And ever speechless be my tongue. 
 
 4 Remember Edom, Lord ! 
 
 In Zion's awful day, 
 With envious accord 
 
 Thus did her children say, 
 u Come, raze it, raze it to the ground, 
 Till not one ruined arch be found." 
 
 5 Daughter of Babylon, 
 
 Doomed to destruction too ; 
 Even as thy sons have done, 
 
 To thee shall others do : 
 A favoured one thy little ones 
 Shall dash upon the flinty stones.* 
 
 PSALM CXXXVIII. C. M. 
 
 Song of praise for the goodness of God. 
 
 1 A LMIGHTY God, with all my heart 
 "^ Thy praises I'll proclaim, 
 
 And sing, before the heavenly hosts, 
 To thy most holy name. 
 
 2 I will devoutly worship thee 
 
 Within thy holy place, 
 And praise thy name even for thy truth, 
 And for thy saving grace. 
 
 3 For thou hast made thy holy name 
 
 All glorious, all divine, 
 
 * See note A, Ps. 13? 
 
P0ALK*. 
 
 Evaa through the volume of thy book. 
 That blessed word of thine.* 
 
 \:jJ thou hast heard my humble prayer, 
 
 Whene'er I cried to thee ; 
 Yea, thou my fainting soul, O Lord, 
 
 Hast strengthened powerfully. 
 
 5 Lord, all the princes of the earth 
 
 Shall praise thy glorious name, 
 When they shall hear thy fninisters 
 Thy blessed word proclaim. 
 
 6 Yea, walking in the ways of God, 
 
 They shall devoutly sing, 
 <: Great is the glory of the Lord, 
 Our everlasting kingly 
 
 7 For though the Lord be high, yet he 
 
 Regards the lowly one ; 
 But all the proud he drives away- 
 Far from his glorious throne." 
 
 8 Though my appointed path should lead 
 
 Through trouble anJ distress, 
 Thou wilt revive me, gracious Lord, 
 Xor let my foe oppress. 
 
 9 Thine hand uplifted shall afford 
 
 Relief in evil days, 
 And thine Almighty arm protect 
 From wrathful enemies. 
 
 10 Yea, God, all-gracious, will complete 
 The work he has begun, 
 Xor will he leave that work until 
 My heavenly prize is won.= 
 
 * T -ithor. | Latter. ievan Bible 
 
 e 2 
 
174 
 
 PSALM CXXXIX.* L. M. 
 
 Song of praise in celebration of the omniscience and 
 omnipresence, the almighty power and the infinite 
 wisdom of God. 
 
 1 T ORD, thou hast searched my heart and ways, 
 
 And known me from my earliest days: 
 My rising up and lying down, 
 Yea, all my thoughts to thee are known. 
 
 2 Whether I rest or walk abroad, 
 Thou art around me, O my God,| 
 And thou beholdest all my path, 
 From childhood till my day of death. 
 
 3 There's not a thought within my breast, 
 But, ere it is in words expressed, 
 Thou knowest it entirely, long 
 Before it has escaped my tongue. 
 
 4 In every place and every hour 
 
 I stand encompassed by thy power, 
 And thine outstretched, almighty hand 
 Is o'er me both by sea and land. 
 
 5 Amazing knowledge ! how can I 
 Conceive its vast infinity 1 
 
 It far exceeds the highest reach, 
 
 Of human thought and human speech ! 
 
 6 Lord, whither could I hope to run, 
 Thy all-pervading spirit to shun, 
 Or whither from thy presence flee 1 
 To heaven or hell, or land or sea 1 
 
 * Written near the South Shetland Islands, to the southward 
 ind eastward of Cape Horn, thennomeiiter 24 degrees of Fan- 
 enheit. 
 
 t Luther. 
 
175 
 
 \ it 1 ascend the heavenly height. 
 Lord, thou art there in glory bright ! 
 If, with the children of despair, 
 I sleep in hell, Lord, thou art there ! 
 
 S If on the morning's wings I flee 
 And dwell beyond the farthest sea, 
 There thou should'st lead me, and thy hand 
 Uphold me in the distant land ! 
 
 9 Or, if I say, " Let darkness be 
 
 My covering, O my God, from thee ;" 
 Then shall the darkest shades of night 
 Shine all around me as the light. 
 
 10 Yea, darkness, Lord, can ne'er disguise 
 From thine all-penetrating eyes ; 
 
 To thee the darkness shines as bright, 
 As the clear sun's meridian light. 
 
 1 1 My mind, that secret work of thine, 
 Proclaims thy hidden power divine: 
 That power inspired my senseless clay, 
 When in my mother's womb I lay.* 
 
 12 O God, my maker, how divine 
 Is this amazing frame of mine ! 
 My soul shall gratefully record 
 The work of wonder, mighty Lord. 
 
 13 Deep and unseen my substance lay 
 A shapeless mass of lifeless clay : 
 Thy wisdom drew the wondrous plan 
 And formed the likeness of a man.j 
 
 14 Thine eyes my unfinished form beheld ; 
 Thy power its various parts revealed, 
 
 * See Bote A. Ts. 139. T Sec note B. Pa 139 
 
176 PSALMS. 
 
 Each in the foim ordained by the<- 
 And modelled from eternity. 
 
 15 How can I reckon or record 
 
 Thy thoughts of love to me, O Lord ! 
 If I should count them, they are more 
 Than grains of sand upon the shore. 
 
 16 O, endless were the long account, 
 And infinite the vast amount ! 
 For daily I should still record 
 
 New thoughts of mercy, gracious Lord !* 
 
 17 God will assuredly destroy 
 
 The wicked, who his power defy 
 
 And scorn his grace. Hence from me then 
 
 Ye wicked and ye bloody men ! 
 
 18 For wicked men for ends profane 
 Take God's all-glorious name in vain ; 
 
 Yea, with the tongues which thou hast given, 
 They speak against thee, God of heaven ! 
 
 19 My soul regards with grief and pain 
 And hatred all such wicked men ! 
 Yea, I count those my enemies 
 
 Who hate the Lord, and scorn his giace. 
 
 20 Search me, O God, and know my heart ! 
 O search my spirit's inmost part ! 
 Cleanse me from all iniquity ! 
 Lead me to life, to heaven, to thee ! 
 
 * See note C\ Fs. 139. 
 
M kLMfi ! 3 . 
 
 PSALM CXL. r. M. 
 
 Prayer for deliverance from hidden and open enemies. 
 
 1 T^ROM wicked and ungodly men, 
 O Lord, deliver me, 
 And from the man of violence 
 O keep me safe and free. 
 
 9 Mischief is ever in their hearts; 
 Their chief employ is war ; 
 Sharp as the serpent's are their tongue- 
 Their lips envenomed are. 
 
 3 O Lord, preserve me from their hands 
 
 And from their every art, 
 For in their malice they have sworn 
 My goings to subvert. 
 
 4 The proud have hid their artful snares 
 
 Along my daily path, 
 And spread their nets and gins to irori 
 My down fa I and my death. 
 
 5 But I to God uplift my voice, 
 
 Thou art my God alone, 
 Hear thou my lowly prayer, O Thou 
 
 Most High and Holy One! 
 (3 O Lord, my God, thy strength has oft 
 
 Wrought my deliverance, 
 And in the day of battle been 
 
 My bulwark and defence.* 
 
 7 Grant not the wicked's artful wish. 
 .Xor give their schemes success; 
 
 * Lul 
 
178 PSALMS. 
 
 Lest they exalt themselves and sweep 
 The righteous from their place. 
 
 8 But let the evil their deceit 
 
 Unjustly meant for me, 
 Descending on their guilty heads 
 Their just requital be.* 
 
 9 Yea, even with lightnings from above 
 * And flames from earth below, 
 
 God shall in vengeance smite them all 
 And wholly overthrow. 
 
 10 For dire misfortune shall attend 
 The slanderer till he die, 
 And hunt the sons of malice till 
 They perish utterly.-[ 
 
 li Because I know the Lord will still 
 Uphold the contrite one, 
 Nor e'er forsake the righteous till 
 Their foes are overthrown. 
 
 12 Yea, all thy people, blessed God, 
 Thy name shall still adore, 
 And in thy presence dwell in peace 
 And bliss for evermore. 
 
 PSALM CXLI. S. M. 
 
 Prayer far help and deliverance. 
 
 1 r jpO thee, O Lord, I cry, 
 In this afflictive hour ; 
 Haste to vny succour ; hear my voice ; 
 Uphold me by thy power. 
 
 * Luther. + Luther. 
 
P8ALK0. 179 
 
 2 As incense let my prayer 
 
 Ascend before thine r 
 And the uplifting of my hands 
 As th' evening sacrifice. 
 
 3 Lord, set a constant watch 
 
 Before my mouth and lips ; 
 
 keep my heart from loving sin, 
 From evil guard my steps. 
 
 4 Lest I should learn the w*>f!:s 
 
 And ways of wicked men, 
 Or seek the false and fading joys 
 Of folly and of sin. 
 
 5 Let good men smite me, Lord, 
 
 Whene'er I go astray, 
 
 1 shall esteem them kind to me, 
 
 And for tbeir welfare pray.* 
 
 6 Their bitterest reproof 
 
 I'll joyfully endure ; 
 Like balsam to a wounded head, 
 'Twere only meant to cure. 
 
 7 Yea, when their sorrow comes 
 
 And their calamity, 
 I'll lift my voice on their behalf 
 In humble prayer to thee. 
 
 8 Yes ! when the wicked's chiefs 
 
 On yonder hills are slain. 
 My words shall then be sw T eet as dew 
 And pleasant as the rain. 
 
 9 Yet, Lord, around the grave 
 
 Our whitening bones ore strewed. 
 
 - mi aote A, Pa 
 
180 PSALMS. 
 
 Like falling splinters from the axe 
 Of him who cleaveth wood. 
 
 10 But still to thee, O Lord, 
 
 My God, mine eyes I turn ; 
 Thou art my only hope and trust; 
 O leave me not forlorn ! 
 
 1 1 Preserve me from the snares 
 
 My foes have laid for me, 
 Even from the craftiness of those 
 Who work iniquity, 
 
 12 Yea, let malicious men 
 
 Be taken in the snare 
 They laid themselves, while I escape 
 Through thy paternal care. 
 
 PSALM CXLII. C. M. 
 
 Prayer for a time of trouble. 
 
 1 'T'O thee, O Lord, I cry aloud 
 
 With supplicating voice ; 
 Yea, all my trouble and complaints 
 I spread before thine eyes. 
 
 2 For when my soul's o'erwhelmed with grief, 
 
 And men beset my way, 
 With hidden snares, thou comfortest 
 And mak ? st my darkness day,* 
 
 3 I look on my right hand, but lo ! 
 
 There's none to know me there ! 
 Where can I flee for help, for men 
 Would leave me to despair ? 
 
 * See note A. Ps. 142. 
 
181 
 
 4 O Lord, to thee alone- 1 
 
 Thou art my hope an i 
 My portion in the land of life 
 And everlasting 
 
 5 Hoar my complaint,* for I am still 
 
 In very sore di- 
 And save me from the men of might 
 Who vex me and oppress. 
 
 B From prison set me free, th'at I 
 . celebrate thy praise, 
 And all thy saints around admire 
 Thy goodness and thy grace. 
 
 PSALM CXLIII. C. If. 
 
 The Penitent's prayer of faith. 
 
 1 T ORD, hear my prayer ; in mercy hear 
 
 My sorrowful complaints, 
 And in thy faithfulness and love 
 Answer me, King of Saints. 
 
 2 At thy tremendous judgment seat, 
 
 let me not be tried ; 
 
 For sure no living man can stand 
 Before thee justified. 
 
 3 Already hath the foe pursued 
 
 And thrust me to the ground, 
 And shut me in his prison-house, 
 Where darkness reigns around, 
 
 4 There, like the long~forgolten dead. 
 
 1 dwell and daily mourn, 
 
 • Luther 
 
182 psalms. 
 
 My spirit overwhelmed with grief 
 And my heart ail forlorn. 
 
 5 But when I call to mind the days, 
 
 When thine Almighty power 
 And miracles of grace were seen 
 In Israel's evil hour, 
 
 6 Then, full of hope, I stretch my hands 
 
 To thee, my God, again, 
 And my soul longs and thirsts for thee, 
 As parched lands for rain. 
 
 7 My spirit faints ; O hear me, Lord, 
 
 And tarry not to save, 
 Nor longer hide thy blessed face, 
 But rescue from the grave. 
 
 8 O cause me speedily to hear,* 
 
 Thy loving-kindr.ess, Lord, 
 Because I trust in thee alone; 
 My hope is in thy w r ord. 
 
 9 Yea, cause my longing soul to know 
 
 The way that I should go, 
 And guard me, for I flee to thee, 
 From every wrathful foe. 
 
 10 Teach me to do thy will, O thou 
 
 That art my God alone : 
 And in the way to heaven, let thy 
 Good spirit lead me on. 
 
 1 1 Revive me, Lord, whene'er I faint 
 
 In trouble here below ; 
 In thy benevolence redeem 
 My soul from endless woe. 
 
 * Luther. 
 
WUAiMB. 183 
 
 12 All who atllict thy servant. Lord, 
 And all who hate my peace, 
 In mercy silence or destroy 
 Till all their malice cease. 
 
 PSALM CXLIV. C. M. 
 
 Song of praise to God for past mercies, and prayer for 
 future. 
 
 1 XT OR ever blessed be the Lord, 
 
 The God of power and might. 
 For he hath armed my hands for war 
 And strengthened me to fight. 
 
 2 The Lord is ever good to me ; 
 
 My fortress and my tower, 
 My strong deliverer and my shield 
 When foes would overpower. 
 
 3 He is my trust and sure defence 
 
 From every enemy ; 
 He makes the Gentile nations yield 
 Submissively to me. 
 
 4 O what is man, that he should thus 
 
 Become thy care, O Lord ! 
 Or what the son of man. that thou 
 Should'st view him with regard 1 
 
 5 Man is as nothing in thy sight :* 
 
 His life's contracted day, 
 Even as a passing shadow's form, 
 Flies rapidly away. 
 
 6 Lord, bend the heavens ; in might descend ; 
 
 Touch thou the mountains high, 
 
 * Luther 
 
184 PSALMS. 
 
 And volumes of ascending smoke 
 Shall darken all the sky. 
 
 7 Cast forth thy dreadful lightnings, Lord, 
 
 And scatter them abroad, 
 Dart thy destructive shafts around, 
 And show thy might, O God ! 
 
 8 From heaven thy majesty display ; 
 
 And from the rolling wave, 
 Even from the bands of foreign men, 
 O rescue me and save. 
 
 9 Save me from men whose intercourse 
 
 Is profitless and vile, 
 Whose words and oaths and covenants, 
 Are falsehood, fraud and guile. 
 
 10 So shall I gladly sing to thee 
 
 A new song, O my God ; 
 Yea, on the ten-stringed psaltery, 
 I'll sing thy praise abroad. 
 
 11 * 'Tis God alone who saveth kings, 
 
 And safety still affords 
 To David from his wrathful foes 
 And their destructive swords. 
 
 12 Save us, O God, from foreign men, 
 
 Whose words are vain and vile, 
 Whose covenants and promises, 
 Are falsehood, fraud and guile. 
 
 13 So shall our sons grow tall and strong. 
 
 Each like a cedar tree, 
 Our daughters, like the polished stones 
 In David's palace, be. 
 
 14- So shall our bams be ever full 
 And rich abundance yield, 
 
PSALMS. 185 
 
 And our prolific flocks bring forth 
 Thousands in every field. 
 
 15 So shall the labouring ox be strong 
 
 To ply his daily toil, 
 Nor loss, nor injury, nor complaint 
 Be heard of all the while.* 
 
 16 Happy are they whose lot is cast 
 
 In such a state as this, 
 But happier far the peoplc*are 
 Whose God Jehovah is." 
 
 PSALM CXLV.f L. M. 
 
 So7ig of praise to God for his goodness and mercy. 
 
 1 I'LL thee extol, my God and king, 
 
 And bless thy holy name always ; 
 Each day I rise I'll gladly sing, 
 Nor ever cease to sing, thy praise. 
 
 2 Great is the Lord : great be his praise ! 
 His greatness none can comprehend. 
 Thy mighty works race unto race 
 Shall ever praise, time without end. 
 
 3 The splendour of thy majesty 
 And works of wonder I'll record ; 
 And myriads shall recount with me 
 Thy dreadful acts, Almighty Lord. 
 
 4 With grateful heart and joyful tongue 
 Thy wondrous goodness they shall show ; 
 Thy love di\ine shall be their song, 
 While years on years successive flow. 
 
 ♦Luther. f See note A, Pi. 145. 
 
 a 2 
 
lftO PSAL3I6. 
 
 5 All-gracious and compassionate, 
 To mercy swift, to anger slow, 
 God's mercies, manifold and great, 
 Are over all his works below. 
 
 6 Yea, God is good to all : O Lord, 
 Thy mighty works proclaim thy praise ; 
 And all thy saints with glad accord, 
 Shall bless thy holy name always. 
 
 7 Thy glorious kingdom and thy power, 
 And mighty acts their theme shall be; 
 That men may know thee and adore, 
 And see thy kingdom's majesty. 
 
 8 Thy throne and sceptre shall endure 
 Unchangeably secure for aye, 
 
 And thy dominion firm and sure, 
 Shall ne'er be shaken nor decay. 
 
 9 The Lord upholdeth all that fall, 
 The downcast raises and relieves ; 
 All creatures for thy bounty call, 
 And timely food thy bounty gives. 
 
 10 Thy boundless liberality 
 
 Supplies whate'er their wants require ; 
 Whatever lives looks up to thee, 
 Thou satisfiest its desire. 
 
 11 The Lord is good in all his ways, 
 Benignant in his works each one ; 
 And all shall know his saving grace, 
 Who call in truth on Him alone. 
 
 12 God will the just desire fulfil 
 
 Of all who are his saints indeed ; 
 Their cry regard and hear he will, 
 And save them in the time of need. 
 
lLMS. 1-7 
 
 13 God will preserve and richly U 
 
 All those who love him in their heart ; 
 But those who practise wickedness 
 lie will destroy and clean subvert. 
 
 11 My tongue shall joyfully proclaim 
 Jehovah's praise for evermore: 
 O lei ail mankind bless his name, 
 In every age, on every shore. 
 
 PSALM CXLYI.* C. M. 
 
 God, the trust and confidence of his people. 
 
 1 C\ THOU my soul, praise God t'.:e Lord. 
 I'll praise God all my days, 
 Even till my latest breath is drawn 
 I'll sing Jehovah's praise. 
 
 'Z Trust not in kings, for they are men ; 
 They cannot help nor save : 
 Ere long they die, and their designs 
 Are buried in the grave.-j- 
 
 3 Blest is the man whom Jacob's God 
 
 Shall from all ill defend, 
 Who trusts in God, and who hath still 
 Th' Almighty for his friend. 
 
 4 For God made heaven and earth and sea, 
 
 And all that they contain; 
 True is his word for evermore, 
 rs'or is his promise vain. 
 
 5 The Lord relieves the oppressed from wrong, 
 
 And bids their sorrows cease ; 
 
 • S^.j d - A. Pa I Ifi T See note B, Pa ' 
 
188 PSALMS. 
 
 He feeds the hungry, and he gives 
 The prisoners their release. 
 
 6 Jehovah gives the blind their sight, 
 
 Uplifts the bowed down ; 
 He loves the righteous, and rewards 
 With an unfading crown. 
 
 7 Jehovah succours and preserves 
 
 The strangers in the land ; 
 He is the widow's strong support, 
 The orphan's help at hand. 
 
 8 But wicked men shall feel his wrath, 
 
 And perish at his frown ; 
 And all their monuments of power 
 Be thrown ignobly down. 
 
 9 Zion, thy mighty God, the Lord, 
 
 Shall reign for evermore. 
 O let his praise, in sweetest sounds, 
 Be eung from shore to shore. 
 
 PSALM CXLVIL* L. M. 
 
 Song of praise to God for his goodness and mercy. 
 
 1 T3RAISE ye the Lord : 'tis good to sing 
 
 The praises of our heavenly King; 
 Be this, my soul, thy sweet employ, 
 Thy welcome task, thy chiefest joy. 
 
 2 The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem's walls, 
 And Israel's scattered race recalls, 
 
 * Written in the Soath Atlantic Ocean during a violent gale 
 from the southeast, immediately before which the barometer on 
 board was observed to rise to the very unusual height of 32 
 inches and upwards. 
 
lS'J 
 
 Though tar dispersed the world around, 
 To Zion's blest and holy ground. 
 
 3 He healeth all ihe broken hearts, 
 And balsam to their wounds imparts. 
 He numbers yonder starry frames, 
 And calls them by their several names. 
 
 4 Great is the Lord, and great his might ; 
 His wisdom's vast and infinite; 
 
 He lifts the meek from depths profound, 
 But casts the wicked to the ground. 
 
 5 Sing to the Lord a grateful song; 
 With tuneful harp his praise prolong, 
 Whose gathering clouds discharge their rain 
 To make the mountains green again. 
 
 6 He gives the beast of prey his food, 
 And satisfies the raven's brood. 
 
 He daily hears their plaintive cry, 
 And senJs the requisite supply. 
 
 7 He prizes not the warlike horse, 
 Nor the strong man's resistless force : 
 But all who Jove him and revere 
 And trust in him, to God are dear. 
 
 S O praise the Lord, Jerusalem, 
 Zion, extol Jehovah's name : 
 Like walls of brass, his providence 
 Is thy protection and defence. 
 
 9 Thy sons are by his bounty blest 
 
 With wholesome food and needful rest : 
 They pine not o'er a scanty store, 
 Nor ever hear the voice of war. 
 
190 PSALMS. 
 
 10 His irresistible command 
 Jehovah sends throughout the land ; 
 Nor does the speedy mandate run 
 More swiftly than its work is done. 
 
 11 His flaky snow falls thick around; 
 His hoar- frost overspreads the ground ; 
 His driving hail falls loud and fast ;* 
 O who can stand his piercing blast ? 
 
 12 Jehovah sends his word again, 
 A rapid thaw succeeds amain: 
 
 At his command the warm winds blow, 
 And twice ten thousand torrents flow. 
 
 13 But choicer gifts of heavenly grace 
 He gives to Abram's chosen race : 
 His word to Jacob he hath shown ; 
 His laws to Israel are known. 
 
 14 Blessings so great were never given 
 To any nation under heaverl ; 
 
 For others ne'er have heard his word 
 
 Or known his grace. Praise ye the Lord ! 
 
 PSALM CXLVIII.* P. M. 
 
 All creatures summoned to praise God. 
 
 1 HP HE Lord of heaven confess, 
 On high his glory raise. 
 Him let all angels bless, 
 Him all his armies praise. 
 Him glorify 
 
 Sun, moon, and stars; 
 Ye higher spheres, 
 And cloudy sky. 
 * Luther. t See note A, Ps. 148. 
 
191 
 
 All ye from nothing came. 
 
 At his creating word ; 
 O, therefore, bless his name, 
 And magnify the Lord. 
 His wisdom hath 
 Assigned you all, 
 Where'er you roll, 
 Your changeless path. 
 
 Praise God on earth belov*, 
 
 Praise him, sea-monsters, deeps, 
 Fire, hail, clouds, wind, and snow, 
 Whom in command he keeps. 
 Praise ye his name, 
 Hills great and small, 
 Trees low and tall ; 
 Beasts wild and tame ; 
 
 Creatures that creep or fly, 
 
 Ye kings, ye vulgar throng, 
 Judges and princes high ; 
 
 Both men and virgins young, 
 Even young and old, 
 Exalt his name ; 
 For much his fame 
 Should be extolled. 
 
 O let God's name be praised 
 Above both earth and sky ; 
 For he his saints hath raised, 
 And set their home on high ; 
 Praise ye the Lord, 
 O Israel's race, 
 Who know his grace. 
 And hear his word. 
 
192 
 
 PSALM CXLIX. P. M. 
 
 Hallelujah ! 
 In the measure of the Portuguese Hymn— Jldcstcfidc.lcs. 
 
 1 VE saints who assemble Jehovah tot praise, 
 
 O sing a new song to the praise of his grace. 
 " Let his people rejoice while their Maker they sing : 
 Let the children of Zion exult in their King. 
 
 2 Let them sing when they march in procession 
 
 along,* 
 While the harp and the timbrel accord with their 
 
 song: 
 For the Lord loves his saints, though the wicked 
 
 may scorn, 
 And with crowns of salvation the meek will adorn. 
 
 3 Rejoice, O ye saints, and exult while ye sing 
 Aloud on your beds to your God and your King, 
 For the praise of Jehovah again ye shall hymn, 
 And a sword in your right hands shall terribly 
 
 gleam : 
 
 4 To accomplish the sentence pronounced by the 
 
 Lord, 
 On the nations who scoff at his saints and his 
 
 word ; 
 Their kings and their nobles in fetters to chain, 
 That the power of the wicked be felt not again. 
 
 5 For the vengeance of God is committed to them, 
 Who love and adore his all-wonderful name. 
 Such honour and triumph are pledged in his word, 
 To the saints of Jehovah. O praise ye the Lord ! 
 
 * See Noto A, Ps 149. 
 
t-alm>. 193 
 
 PSALM CXLIX. C. M. 
 
 Second Version. 
 
 1 f\ SING a new song to the Lord, 
 
 Ye saints, your voices raise, 
 In full assembly when ye meet, 
 To sing Jehovah's praise. 
 
 2 Let Israel in his Maker joy, 
 
 And his high praises sing: 
 Let Zion's children all exult 
 And triumph in their King. 
 
 3 In grave procession let them march, 
 
 And praise him in the song : 
 And let the timbrel and the harp 
 The melody prolong. 
 
 4 For God takes pleasure in his saints, 
 
 Although the world may scorn ; 
 And with salvation's glorious dress, 
 The humble will adorn. 
 
 5 let the righteous then exult, 
 
 And triumph in their King ; 
 And on their beds in joyful strains 
 Jehovah's praises sing. 
 
 6 For soon, in more exalted strains, 
 
 They shall extol the Lord, 
 While in their hands each one shall wield 
 A sharp two-edged sword ; 
 
 7 To execute the vengeance due 
 
 On all the sinful race. 
 
194 
 
 And visit with just punishment 
 The scorners of his grace. 
 
 8 To bind in fetters strong their kings, 
 
 Who once held high command, 
 And to enchain with iron chains 
 The princes of their land. 
 
 9 To execute the sentence formed 
 
 Recorded in his word. 
 Yea, all the righteous shall enjoy 
 Such honour. Praise the Lord. 
 
 PSALM CL. C. M. 
 Hallelujah ! 
 
 1 "VfyHTHIN his temple, praise the Lord, 
 
 Ye who have known his love. 
 Praise him in yonder heavenly place, 
 Ye angd hosts above. 
 
 2 Praise him when ye his mighty acts • 
 
 With grateful hearts review. 
 Great is the glory of the Lord : 
 Great be his praises too ! 
 
 3 Let the loud trumpet's voice be heard 
 
 Amid your songs of praise : 
 Let psalteries and melodious harps 
 Their softer music raise. 
 
 4 When marching slowly to the sound 
 
 Of timbrels, praise the Lord, 
 While organs and stringed instruments 
 Harmoniously accord. 
 
195 
 
 5 Let the clear cymbals' shriller note, 
 
 The cymbals sounding high, 
 
 Resound while ye extol the Lord, 
 
 Who rules the earth and sky. 
 
 G Yea, let all creatures that have life 
 The joyful anthem raise 
 To God's great name ! To God the Lord 
 Be everlasting praise. 
 
N O T E S , 
 
 CRITICAL A\D EXPLANATORY. 
 
 Psalm II.— A. 
 
 Why do the heathen rage? 
 
 Their princes and their kings 
 With Judah's sons engage 
 
 In vain imaginings ! 
 
 The words heathen and people in the first verse of this 
 psalm designate, respectively, the Gentiles and the Jews. 
 It is thus translated in the old version of Sterahold and 
 Hopkins. 
 
 Psalm V.— A. 
 
 But I into thy house will go, 
 
 Through thine abundant grace, 
 And in thy fear devoutly bow 
 
 Withiu thy holy place. 
 
 The meaning of this verse is as follows. I will go into 
 the house of God, i. e. within the courts of the temple on 
 Mount Zion, and worship the Lord, with my face turned 
 towards the sanctum sanctorum, or most holy place, where 
 the presence of God was more immediately manifested, but 
 into which neither the people nor the priests, with the 
 exception of the high priest once a year, were permitted 
 to enter. As this, however, is by no means evident to 
 an English reader, I prefer rendering the psalmist's 
 
198 NOTES. 
 
 meaning by the phrase, within thy holy place, rather than 
 by the one used in our version, toward thy holy place ; 
 for it cannot be doubted that the psalmist merely expres- 
 ses, in the language of a Jew, his determination to per- 
 form acts of spiritual worship, within the house of God. 
 
 Tsalm VI.— A. 
 
 Consumed with grief, my wasted frame 
 Looks old, and all my foes rejoice. 
 
 Luther's translation of the seventh (German, eighth) 
 verse of this psalm, is, Meine gestalt istverfallen vor 
 trauren, und ist alt worden : deun ich allenthalben 
 geaugstiget werde. My form or appearance is fallen, 
 from sorrow, and become old: for lam tormented on all 
 sides. I have adopted Luther's translation of the for- 
 mer clause, and adhered to the English version in the 
 latter. The idea, I conceive, which the psalmist intends 
 to convey is, that through excess of sorrow and extremo 
 affliction, his frame was so wasted away as to exhibit, 
 prematurely, the appearance of old age; insomuch that 
 his enemies rejoiced at seeing him, in the prospect of 
 his speedy dissolution. 
 
 Psalm VII.— A. 
 
 The mischief-plotting sinner see 
 All pregnant with iniquity ! 
 The offspring of his malice still 
 Is shame and self-requited ill. 
 
 Luther's translation of the 14th (German, 15th) verse 
 of this psalm is, Siehe, der hat boses, im sinn, mit un. 
 gliick ist er schwauger : er wird abereinen fehl geberen. 
 Behold, he who conceiveth iniquity is pregnant with mis- 
 fortune, and shall brin^ forth an abortion. The instan- 
 ces that follow fully evince the propriety of this transla- 
 tion, which I have accordingly adopted. The English 
 
NOTES. 11)1/ 
 
 version vi the passage, which is, Behold, he iraraileth 
 with iniq*ity y and hath conceived mischitf and brought 
 forth fa U eh ood , is scarcely intelligible. 
 
 P*ALM IX.— A. 
 
 I have in general retained the old metrical version of 
 tliis psalm ; and in those parts of it in which 1 have 
 deemed it necessary to alter that version, I have endea- 
 voured as much as possible to preserve the style and 
 manner ofthc olden time, that the amended version may 
 not exhibit the anomalous appearance of a piece of new 
 cloth sewed upon an old garment. 
 
 B. 
 
 O enemy, thy cruel swoid 
 
 No longer brings dismay ; 
 Thy cities overthrown, thy name 
 Has perished now for aye. 
 Luther's translation of this verse, which I have follow- 
 ed, is, Die schwerdter des feindes haben ein ende, die 
 stadte hast du umgekehret : ihr gedachtuiss ist umkom- 
 men samt ihuen. " The swords of the enemy have an 
 end; his cities hast thou razed; their memory is perish- 
 ed with them." The English version is, " O thou ene- 
 my, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou 
 hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with 
 them." 
 
 C. 
 
 That I in Zit>n's blessed courts, 
 May celebrate thy praise. 
 Literally, in the gates of the daughter of Zion. The tem- 
 ple of Solomon was beautifully styled by the Hebrews, 
 The Daughter of Zion. To celebrate the praise of the 
 Lord in the gates of the daughter of Zion, is, therefore, 
 to join in the exercises of prayer and praise in the house 
 of God. 
 
200 NOTES. 
 
 Psalm X. 
 
 I have been induced, on mature consideration, to pre- 
 fer Luther's translation of this psalm to the authorized 
 English version. When viewed through the medium of 
 the English version, it exhibits a want of connection, 
 which, however, docs not appear in the German transla- 
 tion, and which, the following outline of its contents will 
 show, does not exist. 
 
 The psalm commences with an abrupt but earnest 
 prayer for deliverance from the intolerable yoke of the 
 wicked, whose character and conduct are then described 
 in the liveliest colours, evidently with a view to strength- 
 en the psalmist's prayer. The prayer for deliverance is 
 accordingly resumed in a direct manner towards the close 
 of the psalm; first, in the language of expostulation, and 
 afterwards, in that of confident assurance of deliverance. 
 At length, a prophetic vision of the entire destruction of 
 the wicked, and of the universal prevalence of peace and 
 holiness in the glorious reign of Messiah, bursts upon 
 the psalmist's view, and induces him to conclude the 
 psalm in the language of gratitude and praise. 
 
 B. 
 
 Relentless, proud and fierce, 
 
 The wicked reign secure, 
 Combining with malignant arts, 
 
 To persecute the poor. 
 
 Luther's translation of this verse, which I have adopt- 
 ed, is, Weil der gottlose ubcrmuth breibet, rnuss der 
 eleude leiden : sie hengen sich an einauder, und erdencken 
 bose tucke. " When the wicked exercise their haughty 
 spirit, the poor must mourn; they cleave together, and 
 excogitate evil devices." 
 
KOTJ 801 
 
 Boasting 1 their great success, 
 
 And doating on their hoard, 
 They bless their own prosperity, 
 
 While they blaspheme the Lord. 
 
 Luther's translation of this verse, which, lam strongly 
 inclined to believe, is more accordant with the mind of 
 the psalmist than that of our translators, and which I 
 have accordingly followed, is, Denn der gottlose riihmet 
 sich seineg muthwellens ; und der geitzige segnet sich, 
 und lastertden Herrn. " For the wicked glories in his 
 wickedness, and the covetous blesseth himself, and blas- 
 phemeth the Lord." 
 
 The translation of this verse in the old Genevan Bible 
 is, " For the wicked hath made boast of his own heart's 
 desire, and the covetous blesseth himself; he contemneth 
 the Lord." 
 
 Psalm XII. 
 A. 
 
 How precious are thy words, O God, 
 
 More comfort they inspire, 
 Than heaps of silver, purified 
 
 In the refiner's fire. 
 
 Silver, seven times purified, was not merely supposed 
 to have readied the utmost degree of fineness to which 
 the metal could be brought, but acquired, in consequence 
 of its superior fineness and the loss of weight it neces- 
 sarily underwent in the process of refining, a much 
 higher value in the market. As the value or precious- 
 ness of silver was therefore expressed by the degree of 
 fineness to which it had reached, it seems to me that that 
 quality, and not its purity, is the point of comparison in 
 the present instance, when the psalmist likens the pure 
 words of God to the finest silver. 
 
202 NOTES. 
 
 Psalm XVI. 
 
 O God, Thou High and Holy One, 
 
 Thou source of lasting peace, 
 On thy benignity alone 
 
 Rests all my happiness. 
 
 For all the gods the sons of men 
 
 With blinded zeal adore, 
 And worship with oblations vain, 
 
 I utterly abhor. 
 
 Luther's translation of the second and third verses of 
 this psalm is as follows: Ich habe gesagt zu dem Herm, 
 Du bist ja def Herr, ich muss um deiner willen leiden, 
 Fur die heiligen, so auf erden sind : und fiir die herr- 
 lichen, au denen hab ich all mein gefallen. "I have 
 said to the Lord, thou art indeed the Lord, I must suffer 
 for thy sake; for (or, on account of) the saints who are 
 on earth : and for the glorious ones in whom I have all 
 my pleasure. 1 * 
 
 If I could discern any authority in the original for this 
 version, I should willingly adopt it, as it certainly ex- 
 hibits a view of the psalm much more in accordance 
 with the close of it than the authorized version. I have 
 followed the view of the psalm taken by French and 
 Skinner. 
 
 Psalm XVII. 
 
 A. 
 
 With watchful malice they beset 
 
 My steps where'er I go ; 
 They follow me with artful guile 
 
 To work my overthrow. 
 
 The English translation of this verse is, "They have 
 now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes 
 
EfOTS*. 203 
 
 bowing down to the earth." That of Luther's version is, 
 Wo wir gehen, so umgeben sie uns: ihre augen richten 
 sie dahin, dass sic uns zur erden sliirtzen. M Wherever 
 we go, they surround us; they direct their eves to as- 
 certain} how they may throw us violently to the ground." 
 I prefer the German version, which I have accord 
 followed, for the following reason. The latter clause in 
 the English rersion neither corresponds with the former 
 clause, nor expresses in intelligible idea in ilsel ; where- 
 as, in the German version, it exactly tallies with the cor- 
 responding member of the sentence, and adds to the ge- 
 neral idea just what fhat other member requires to com- 
 plete the sense. In the former part of the sentence, the 
 wicked are represented as tracking the psalmist wherever 
 he goes, and at last completely surrounding him, for which 
 reason they are immediately thereafter compared to a 
 hungry lion pursuing his prey; in ihe latter, they are 
 represented as ready to rash in upon their victim, whom 
 they have just closed around, and are therefore compared 
 to a young lion lying in his covert with his eyes intensely 
 fixed on some unfortunate traveller, on whom he is just 
 about to make the fatal soring. 
 
 In the old Genevan Bible, this verse is as follows : 
 "They have compassed us now in our steps; they have 
 set their eyes to bring down to the ground." It per- 
 fectly accords with Luther's translation. 
 
 B. 
 
 And rescue me from wicked men 
 With thine avenging sword. 
 
 Luther's translation of this verse is as follows : Herr, 
 mache dich auf, uber waltige ihn : und demnthige ihn ; 
 errette meine seele von den gottlosen mit deinem 
 schwerdt. 4 * O Lord, arise, overpower him, and humble 
 him: deliver my soul from the wicked with thy sword." 
 
 In the old Genevan Bible, this verse is translated a> 
 in Luther's \ersion, " Vp Lord, disappoint him — cast 
 
204 NOTES. 
 
 him down : deliver my soul from the wicked with thy 
 sword/' 
 
 The phrase, my soul, in this verse, as in many similar 
 passages throughout the psalms, is a mere Hebraism 
 for myself, or rather my person. The literal translation 
 of such phrases, which, in English, can have no mean- 
 ing, tends very much to conceal the beauty and the 
 energy of the word of God from the mere English reader, 
 while it induces the dangerous habit of using scriptural 
 phrases without attaching any definite meaning to them. 
 In every language there are various expressions which 
 are altogether incapable of a literal translation into any 
 other language, and which it would therefore be prepos- 
 terous to translate literally. 
 
 Save me, O God, from worldly men, 
 
 To whom thine hand has given 
 The portion of their choice on earth, 
 
 Without one thought of heaven. 
 
 Thou fillest them with eorn and wine, 
 
 And all their hearts love best ; 
 Their children have abundance too, 
 
 And leave their heirs the rest. 
 
 The fourteenth verse of this psalm must evidently 
 have been, in great measure, unintelligible to our trans- 
 lators. At all events, their version of it is almost en- 
 tirely, if not wholly, unintelligible. Luther's version, 
 which, I conceive, is greatly to. be preferred, and which 
 I have accordingly adopted, is as follows : Von den 
 leuten deiner hand, Herr, von den leuten dieser welt ' r 
 welche ihr thcil haben in ihrem leben, welchen du den 
 bauch futtest mit deinern schatz; die da kinder die fulle 
 haben, and lassen ihr iibriges ihren jungen. " From the 
 people of thine hand, O Lord, from the people of this 
 world; who have their portion in their life, whose belly 
 

 iron 205 
 
 thou fillrst with thy treasure; their children also have 
 abundance, and leave their overplus to their offspring. " 
 
 In the old Genevan Bible this verse is translated as 
 follows: M From u.cn of thine hand, () Lord, from men 
 of the world, who have their portion in this life, whose 
 bellies thou fillcst with thine hid treasure: their children 
 have enough, and leave the rest of their substance for 
 their children." 
 
 TSALM XVIII. 
 
 A. 
 
 DcaTn and bis terrors stood around ! 
 
 Fearful I saw the rising- wave 
 Of wicked men ! Already bound 
 
 In the firm fetters of the grave, 
 My soul had almost sunk beneath 
 The overpowering shafts of death. 
 
 The gradation of ideas which the original undoubtedly 
 exhibits in the fourth and fifth verses of this psalm, is 
 not properly brought out in our version by the phrases, 
 sorrows of death, floods of ungodly men, sorrows of hell, 
 snares of death. The corresponding phrases in Luther's 
 version are, To des bar do, Bache Btli-jl, RoUen hand?, 
 To des hande, cords of death floods or streams of Belial, 
 cords of hell, arrows of death. The gradation intended 
 bv the psalmist may, I conceive, be exhibited as follows : 
 In the first place, he represents himself as surrounded by 
 the terrors of death. In the second place, these terrors 
 are represented as assuming a definite shape and personi- 
 fication, as occasioned by multitudes ot ungodly men or 
 evil angels (Belial] ready, like a rising inundation, to 
 overwhelm him. In the third place, the ungodly men 
 have actually succeeded in subduing him, and have 
 bound him fast in fetters as a victim destined to the 
 grave ; and in the la^t place, they have almost or indeed 
 wholly overpowered him with the weapons or arrows of 
 
206 XOTES. 
 
 death (lethal weapons) when he cries to God for deliver- 
 ance. For although all these expressions have a far 
 different meaning, as applied to spiritual things, and es- 
 pecially to the sufferings of Christ, which they undoubt- 
 edly predicted, their primary reference is to the scenes 
 and circumstances of temporal death brought about by 
 the violence of men. 
 
 The phrase in the fifth verse rendered by our transla- 
 tors, the snares of death prevented me, is in Luther's ver- 
 sion, des to des stricken iiber waltigten mich, the arrows 
 of death overpowered me. I do not know what meaning 
 our translators may have attached to the word prevent, 
 both in this instance and in a similar one, which the 
 reader will find in Job xli. 11., but I have no hesitation 
 in preferring Luther's translation. 
 
 The word corresponding to prevent in the old Gene- 
 van Bible is, overtooke. 
 
 B. 
 
 Dense volumes of sulphureous smoke 
 He breathed around him; fiery flame 
 
 Out from his mouth incessant broke, 
 Devouring wheresoe'er it came. 
 
 Luther translates the eighth verse (the ninth, accord- 
 ing to the German mode of enumeration) as follows : 
 Dampf ging auf von seiner nasen : und verzehrend feuer 
 von seinem numde, dass es davon blitzclc. ? Dense 
 vapour or smoke issued from his nostrils ; and con- 
 suming fire from his mouth, so that it lightened from it." 
 
 C. 
 
 The ocean then forsook its bed, 
 
 And all its billows rolled away ; 
 Then were the earth's foundations laid 
 
 All open to the gaze of da? : 
 At thy rebuke, the floods fled fast, 
 Lord, at thv nostrils' fiery* blast. 
 
NOTES. 207 
 
 I apprehend the whole compass of poetry, whether 
 sacred or profane, does not afford a more magnificent 
 idea than the one embodied in this stanza, corresponding 
 with the fifteenth verse of the psalm ; but it is only in 
 such circumstances, as those in which I write at this 
 moment, that it can possibly be felt in all its magnifi- 
 cence and sublimity. Our good ship has lately been 
 seven weeks in mrrcly crossing the vast Pacific Ocean — 
 the largest body of water on the face of the globe — during 
 most of which time she was impelled by violent westerly 
 gales, both n'ght and day. She is now in the middle of 
 the Southern Atlantic, — the second largest body of water 
 on the face of the earth — holding her rapid course to the 
 northward. But the psalmist tells us in the passage in 
 question, that at one blast from the nostrils of Jehovah — 
 a metaphor borrowed from a horse or other animal snort- 
 ing, i. e. suddenly and angrily impelling a stream of air 
 from his nostrils — the whole waters of both of these 
 mighty oceans, and of all the other oceans and seas on 
 this globe of the earth, would be swept completely away, 
 so that their channels would be left dry, and the deep 
 foundations of the earth discovered. 
 
 D. 
 
 He gives me strength to meet my foe, 
 And bend the stoutest iron bow. 
 
 Luther's version of the latter clause of the 34th (Ger- 
 man 35th > verso, is, Dnd lehrct meinen arm einen ehernen 
 bugen spannen. "And instructs (Scotice learns my 
 arm to bend an iron bow." That this is the proper ver- 
 sion of the passage, and that our translators were mis- 
 taken in rendering the word in the original, break in- 
 stead of henrf, will appear evident to the reader when he 
 reflects, that to break a bow of iron could be of no ser- 
 vice, whereas, strength to bend such a bow must hive 
 been of great service in military operations. Besides, to 
 
208 NOTES. 
 
 break an iron bow was never a test of strength, but we 
 know, from profane history, that to bend such a bow was 
 the most decisive test of muscular strength to which a 
 man could be subjected. It is related by Herodotus 
 " that when Cambyscs, king- of Persia, was about to 
 undertake an expedition against the Macrobiun Ethi- 
 opians, the king of the latter sent him, by his own heralds, 
 a bow of formidable appearance, telling him that when 
 his subjects should be able to bend that bow with the 
 same ease with which he could bend it himself, he might 
 then with superior forces venture to attack the Ethio- 
 pians." 
 
 The bow was accordingly handed successively to all 
 the nobles in attendance; but the only one who had 
 strength to bend it was Smerdis, the king's own brother, 
 a prince of great muscular strength, and greatly beloved 
 by the people. The success of this unfortunate prince, 
 however, in attempting to bend the Scythian bow, cost 
 him his life; for the tyrant, jealous of his undeniable 
 superiority and great popularity, had him privately mur- 
 dered. 
 
 E. 
 
 Thy loving-kindness made me great 
 
 Luther translates the latter clause of the 35th (Ger- 
 man 36th) verse, which, in our version is, " Thy gentle- 
 ness hath nip.de me great," Wenn du mich demuthigest, 
 machest du mich gross ; " When thou humblest me, 
 thou makest me great." I have adhered, however, to 
 the English version. 
 
 Psalm XIX.— A. 
 
 Like hero, gladly runs his race. 
 
 Und freuet sich wie ein held, zu lanffen den weg. 
 And rejoices, like a hero to run the race," — Lutlicr. 
 
NOTB8. 200 
 
 B. 
 
 He rises in the distant cast, 
 
 And travels to the distant west; 
 
 Around the heavens his chariot's whirled. 
 
 Sic genet auf an eincm ende des himmcls und Iuuft 
 Qm his wieder an dassclhe endc. M She (die soune, the 
 sun is (em. in German) rises at one end of heaven, and 
 runs around again to the same end." — Luther. 
 
 C. 
 
 Far sweeter to the taste they are 
 Than virgin-honey — sweeter far. 
 
 Virgin-honey is that which drops first from the honey- 
 comb, and is esteemed the best. 
 
 D. 
 
 Counsel and warning too they give. 
 
 Auch wird dein knecht durch sic crinnert. " Thy 
 servant also is admonished through them." — Luther. 
 
 O who can tell how oft he sins ! 
 From hidden sins do thou me cleanse ! 
 From wilful sin, O Lord, restrain, 
 Nor let it o'er thy servant reign ! 
 
 Wet kaun menken wie oft er fehlet. " Who can 
 mark how often he transgresses !" — Luther. 
 
 I have also followed Luther's version in the translation 
 I have given of the word in this verse rendered secret by 
 our translators, but which Luther translates verborgene, 
 hidden or concealed. I have done so, because there la an 
 evident antithesis between the two species of sin, from 
 
210 NOTES. 
 
 which the psalmist, in this passage, prays to be cleansed 
 and restrained. The first of these is hidden, not fecret 
 sins, i. e. sins of ignorance, sins which escape the notice 
 of the individual who commits them, because his har- 
 dened heart and his habit of sinning from his youth up, 
 prevent him from taking note of numberless sins, for 
 which ho must obtain the divine forgiveness, or other- 
 wise perish under the wrath of God. The second spe- 
 cies of sin, of which the psalmist speaks in this passage, 
 is wilful or presumptuous sins, i. c. sins against light and 
 knowledge and partial conviction. From the former of 
 these he prays to be cleansed, because they spring from 
 a defiled and polluted nature, which can only be cleansed 
 by the spirit of God through the washing of regenera- 
 tion. From the latter, he prays to be kept back or re- 
 strained, because they spring from a headstrong' and 
 obstinately perverse will. Now, I apprehend, thai the 
 latter is just the character of what are properly called 
 secret sins, or sins committed in secret. They are, in an 
 especial manner, sins against light and knowledge and 
 conviction : presumptuous are they, in the highest sense 
 of the word, and they who commit them arc self-willed, 
 or commit them wilfully, and with a high hand, sin for 
 which they can have no cloak or excuse. On the other 
 hand, open sins, or sins committed in the face of day, 
 have often a much less degree of wilfulness or presump- 
 tion in them than one would at first imagine. They are 
 often committed entirely in deference to the practice and 
 opinion of a world that lieth in wickedness, when the 
 individual who commits them would, if left to the bias 
 of his own judgment and convictions, have abhorred to 
 do so great a thing and sin against God. 
 
 The distinction between secret and presumptuous sin?, 
 in our English version, is entirely imaginary, and doe« 
 not exist; and the translation I have given after Luther's 
 version, is indispensably requisite to bring out the evident 
 meaning of the psalmist. The passage in question, how- 
 ever, cannot fail to impress the rea^-jr with a high idea 
 
mm 211 
 
 of the remarkable accuracy ot David's language, and of 
 the deep insight w Inch he had obtained into the nature 
 of fallen man. See Numbers xv. :2:2 — 31. 
 
 F. 
 
 Yea, justified, Lord, by thee, 
 From all my great iniquity. 
 
 I conceive the phrase in this verse rendered the E 
 transgression, docs not allude to any particular sin, but 
 
 to all the psalmist's past iniquity. In short, the psalmist 
 seems to have had in his eye, r.s the great object i : a 
 sinner's desire, the blessedness of him whose sin is 
 
 doned, whose transgression is covered, and to whom the 
 Lord imputtth not iniquity. 
 
 Yea, hear the language of my heart, 
 For thou my strength and Saviour ait. 
 
 The word translated meditation, in the English version 
 of the last verse of this psalm, is by Luther, whose trans- 
 lation I have followed, rendered, gespraeh, language, I 
 apprehend the verse should be translated, lit ike words 
 of ma ?noulh, even the language of my heart, Sec, and 
 that it implies a strong declaration of the sincerity of the 
 psalmist. 
 
 Psalm CXX. 
 
 A. 
 
 It would seem that Divid wrote this psalm during his 
 banishment from the court of Saul, and while he lived 
 the life of a fugitive, either among the wandering Arabs, 
 or people like them : and that after his elevation to the 
 throne of Israel, and consequently after hi is prayer for 
 deliverance had been fully answered, he prefixed to it the 
 
212 won 
 
 part which now forms the first verse, and published i! 
 for the benefit of all who should experience similar af- 
 flictions. This explanation of the apparently anomalous 
 character of the first verse, standing as it does as a sort 
 of outline or abridgement of what follows, is not only 
 accordant with probability, but accords exactly with 
 what the psalmist himself actually says in that verse. 
 M In my distress I cried unto the Lord,''' says the psalm- 
 ist. And what were the words of thy prayer or cry? 
 some inquirer seems to ask. M The following psalm," 
 the psalmist replies. " And what was the result ?" the 
 inquirer again asks. The psalmist again replies, " He 
 heard me." This explanation will doubtless apply in the 
 case of other psalms of a similar kind, in which a decla- 
 ration resembling the one in the first verse of this psalm 
 is prefixed to a prayer for deliverance. The prayer was 
 written in the time of trouble and sorrow, and was 
 known only to God who heard it, and to a few, perhaps, 
 of the psalmist's companions in affliction. But after the 
 wished for deliverance had been obtained, David, in the 
 gratitude of his heart, prefixed the declaration of the joy- 
 ful issue, and then published the prayer among the 
 thousands of Israel. 
 
 B. 
 
 And share the wandering Arab's tent 
 Amid the desert lands. 
 
 Kedar was the ancient Hebrew designation of Arabia 
 and of its inhabitants, the Arabs, who, it is well known, 
 have ever dwelt in tabernacles or tents, as the word in 
 the original is translated, in the first chapter of the Song 
 of Solomon and fifth verse, and ought to have been trans- 
 lated here ; for the word tabernacle conveys to an English 
 ear the idea of a place of worship, rather than that of the 
 temporary and comfortless residence of a wandering 
 tribe, which David certainly meant it to signify. Kedar 
 
not;:-. 219 
 
 was a son of Ishmael, the son of Abraham ; Mcsf ch, I 
 apprehend, was merely another, though less frequent, 
 designation of Arabia, derived, doubtless, from Meshech, 
 the son of Japhetli, and one of the fathers of the Arabian 
 nation. 
 
 Tsalm CXXII. 
 
 I have followed the translation of French and Skinner 
 in both versions of this beautiful psalm. 
 
 Psalm CXXVJ. 
 
 Bring back our wanderers 
 Like torrents swift and d^cp. 
 
 Judea and the countries that lie to the southward and 
 eastward, are subject, like the colonies of I he Cape of 
 Good Hope and New South Wales m the same parallels 
 of latitude, to periodical visitations of drought and rain. 
 During- the prevalence of drought, a number of water- 
 courses are left completely dry, and the disappointment 
 of a traveller, after riding a long distance under a burn- 
 ing sun, on finding the channel of a torrent, in which 
 water has been anxiously looked for, completely dry, is 
 beautifully depicted in the following description of a ca- 
 ravan of Eastern merchants arriving at the empty chan- 
 nel of such a torrent. 
 
 " My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and 
 &s the stream of brooks they pass away; which are 
 blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is 
 hid : what time they wax warm, they vanish : when it 
 is hot, they are consumed out of their place. The paths 
 of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and 
 perish. The troops of Tema looked, the companies of 
 Sheba waited for them. They were confounded because 
 they had hoped ; thov came thither, and were ashamed." 
 —Jot, vi. J.'- 
 
214 NOTES. 
 
 On the other hand, when the water-courses are again 
 filled with water, on the return of rain, and spread fer- 
 tility and beauty over the plains that have long been 
 parched with drought, universal joy almost immediately 
 succeeds to the extreme of desolation. Any person who 
 has not witnessed such a transition, can with difficulty 
 estimate the full force of the beautiful metaphor employed 
 by the Psalmist when he prays that the Lord would 
 bring back the Jewish captives, like streams in the 
 south. 
 
 Psalm CXXV1T. 
 
 A. 
 
 God gives his people needful rest. 
 He magnifies their store; 
 . Yea, His his blessing makes us rich, 
 And his appointment poor. 
 
 Although the last three lines of this stanza are appa- 
 rently supplementary, they are necessary, I conceive, to 
 bring out the idea which is certainly implied in the pas- 
 sage immediately preceding. 
 
 Psalm CXXIX. 
 
 A. 
 
 It is questionable whether this psalm refers, as it is 
 generally supposed to do, to our blessed Saviour at all. 
 )t seems to me rather to refer to the treatment which the 
 Jewish people, as a nation, have uniformly experienced 
 in the world, and to the final confusion and defeat of all 
 their enemies. 
 
 B. 
 The ploughers ploughed upon my back. 
 
 It is probable that a plougher was, among the ancient 
 Hebrews, the usual though contemptuous and ironical 
 designation of the common scourger, or person employed 
 
for « 2 1 5 
 
 to inflict stripes upon those culprits who had been sen- 
 tenced by a court of justice to that ignominious punish- 
 ment : and when such a designation obtained general 
 use, it was natural to extend the metaphor, as the Psalm- 
 ist does in the present instance, to the whole process of 
 flagellation. 
 
 C, 
 
 Shame and confusion and defeat 
 
 O'erwhelm all Zion's foes! 
 Yea, they shall be like blasted corn 
 
 That withers while it grows. 
 
 The houses of the ancient Jews were flat-roofed, with 
 a low parapet wall around the sides to prevent accidents. 
 See Deut. 22: 2. It was accordingly not unusual for the 
 Jewish householder, when his corn had become damp, or 
 required exposure to the sun or air, to spread it out for 
 ■ short time on the flat roof of his house. In this way, 
 it frequently happened that a few stray grains of the corn 
 so exposed fell into the interstices of the roof and germi- 
 nated ; but from want of earth and moisture the vegeta- 
 tion that ensued was uniformly blasted during the heat 
 of summer. It is obviously improper, therefore, to ren- 
 der the word employed in the original, as both Luther 
 and our own translators have done, by the word grass; 
 for the grass of which the Psalmist speaks — using the 
 generic word for the particular species intended — is a 
 species of grass from which a crop of grain might be 
 expected, and which was usually reaped and bound into 
 sheaves on a harvest- field. It is also unnecessary, and 
 perhaps improper, to perplex the English reader with 
 such a phrase as "grass upon the house-tops," which the 
 difference of our customs prevents him from understand- 
 ing, and of which the very intelligible phrase, M blasted 
 corn," is an exact equivalent. I have therefore, in this 
 instance, endeavoured to exhibit the meaning, rather than 
 the ipsissima verba, of the psalmist. 
 
216 ISOTES. 
 
 Having suggested the idea of " blasted corn," such as 
 the Jews were accustomed to see on their house-tops, the 
 psalmist — beholding in prophetic vision the fate of the 
 enemies of Zion — suddenly transfers the scene, by a very 
 natural principle of association, to a whole field of such 
 grain, from which the husbandman had been expecting 
 an abundant crop, but on which, in consequence of its 
 having been blasted by some blighting wind, the joyful 
 scene of reapers and sheaf-binders, on whom the pious 
 and sympathising traveller would implore the divine 
 blessing as he passed along, should never be exhibited, 
 
 Psalm CXXXL 
 A, 
 
 I have not hesitated to adopt the German version of 
 the second verse of this psalm, on which, it appears to 
 me, its whole interpretation depends, in preference to 
 that of our translators. Luther's translation of this verse 
 is as follows : Wenn ich meine seele ruch setzete und 
 stilleta, so ward meine seele eutwehnet, wie einer von 
 seiner mutter eutwehnet wird. "If (or whenever) I did 
 not compose and quiet my soul, my soul was weaned, as 
 one is weaned from or by his mother." 
 
 Now I conceive there is internal evidence, in the 
 psalm itself, sufficient to evince the propriety of this ver- 
 sion. In the English version, David is somewhat pre- 
 posterously made to speak in high terms of commenda- 
 tion of his own humility, and to compare himself in that 
 respect to a little child ; whereas, if he had been really 
 humble, or had possessed the modest simplicity of a little 
 child, he would not have spoken of himself in such terms 
 at all. Again, in the English version, the word or idea 
 which evidently forms the hinge on which the whole 
 psalm turns, I mean the word weaned, is entirely lost 
 sight of, and considered merely as synonymous with such 
 insignificant words as little or young; the Psalmist being 
 represented as merely saying, "My conduct has been like 
 
NOTES. 217 
 
 that of a little child." This, I apprehend, however, is tar 
 short of the force of the word in question, or of the mean- 
 ing of the psalmist in this passage. To icean signifies to 
 detach, by a species of gentle violence, an infant or sucking 
 child from what it loves above all things — the breast of 
 its mother. It implies, therefore, 1st, A state of strong- 
 affection towards a particular object ; 2d, A species of 
 violence exerted with a view to withdraw the affections 
 from that object; and 3d, A stale of indifference towards 
 that object ever after. 
 
 Let this explanation, then, be applied to the illustration 
 of this short but beautiful psalm, and instead of a com- 
 monplace and somewhat unchristian declaration, it 
 be found to exhibit a series of beautiful and most inte- 
 resting sentiments, perfectly accordant with the perso- 
 nal experience, and highly becoming the character of 
 every truly pious man. Agreeably to this explanation, 
 David acknowledges that lie was naturally as much dis- 
 disposed to pride and its attendant evil feelings, and to 
 worldly-mindedness and its attendant sinful anxieti— 
 my other man; but that God, by a species of salutary 
 violence, either in withdrawing him from the objects of 
 his natural affections, or 1 . g them from his 
 
 . had so weaned his heart from the love of them, 
 that he could now behold them with as much indifference 
 is a weaned child exhibits on beholding the breast of its 
 mother. In his usual manner, the psalmist states the 
 result of the process to which he had been subjected, in 
 'he first verse of the psalm, and immediately thereafter 
 describes the process itself in the second, concluding 
 with a word of encouragement to all who are undergo- 
 ino- the same privations or afflictions as he had himself 
 experienced at the hand of God. 
 
 Psalm CXXXII. 
 A. 
 
 Behold, at Enhratah we heard 
 Of Zion's holy ground, 
 T 
 
218 NOTES. 
 
 And in the forest in the field 
 The chosen spot we found. 
 
 Caleb, or Chelubai, the son of Hezron and grandson 
 of Pharez, the son of Judah and Tamar, (See 1 Chron. 
 ii. passim,) married Ephrath or Ephratab, whose third 
 son, Salma, was the founder of the city of Bethlehem, 
 which h e seems to have called Bethlehem Ephratah, in 
 honour of his mother. In 1 Chron. ii. 51, Salma is called 
 the father of Bethlehem: it should have been {he founder, 
 for in that sense only could a man be called the father of 
 a city, unless, which is not at ail probable, it was inha- 
 bited solely by his posterity. It is possible, indeed, and 
 perhaps not improbable, that Bethlehem received the ap- 
 pellation of Ephratah or Ephrath, which it bore as early 
 as the days of Ruth, (see Ruth iv. 11, Do thou worthily 
 in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem,) from its be- 
 ing in the immediate vicinity of Ephrath — so famous in 
 Jewish history as the burial-place of Rachel — just as a 
 comparatively obscure town in Europe, for such Bethle- 
 hem must have been for many years after it first became 
 the dwelling-place of the family and friends of Salma, is 
 sometimes designated by adding to its proper name that 
 of some place of greater antiquity or of greater notoriety 
 in its neighbourhood. 
 
 It was at Bethlehem Ephratah, therefore, the place of 
 his birth and the head-quarteis of his family, that David 
 first heard, probably through some divine revelation, 
 communicated either directly to himself, or indirectlv 
 through the prophet Nathan, immediately after he had 
 sworn the oath recorded in the 3d, 4th, and oth verses 
 of the psalm — it was at Bethlehem Ephratah that David 
 first heard of the neighbouring hill of Zion being the 
 place which the Lord had chosen to put his name there. 
 The fields of the wood must doubtless have been a large 
 forest in the immediate vicinity of Bethlehem, in which 
 David was when the revelation was made to him; for the 
 
NOTE.-. 210 
 
 rules of Hebrew poetry will not permit us to refer that 
 appellation to Mount Zion. 
 
 Lo, we heard of it — at Ephratah: we found it — in the 
 fields of the wood. 
 
 Salma, the son of Chelubai, called his new town Beth 
 lehem, or the city of bread, probably to denote the fer- 
 tility of the neighbourhood, and doubtless altogether un- 
 conscious that it should deserve the appellation to all 
 eternity, from its being destined to be the place where 
 the bread of life, which cometh down from heaven, was 
 first revealed in bodily appearance to the sons of men. 
 ;i Thou Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among 
 the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come 
 forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel, whose goings 
 forth hare been from of old, fiom cveilasting." — Rfficah 
 
 B. 
 
 For thine own servant David's sake, 
 
 O take not thou away 
 The sceptre of thy chosen one. 
 
 Even thine anointed's sway. 
 
 Luther's version, which I have followed, is, Nim nicht 
 weg das regiment deines gesalbten, um deiries knecht's 
 David's willen. " Take not away the rule or govern, 
 ment of thine anointed, for thy servant David's sake." 
 
 C. 
 
 For Eve prepared a lamp to burn 
 For mine anointed's line. 
 
 That is, the lamp or glory of David's house shall burn 
 or shine for ever in the person of Jesus Christ, the son. 
 of David. 
 
220 NOTES. 
 
 Psalm CXXXIV. 
 
 A. 
 
 The Jewish Rabbis inform us, that this psalm was 
 sung every evening by the priests and Levites, on sta- 
 tioning the guards for the night, at the gates of the 
 temple. 
 
 Psalm CXXXVII. 
 
 A favoured one thy little ones, 
 Shall dash upon the flinty stones. 
 
 I have not ventured to translate the latter part of this 
 psalm in this manner, merely because the sentiment 
 expressed in the prose version, " Happy shall he be 
 that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us. Happy 
 shall he be that taketh and dasheth thy little ones 
 against the stones," appears harsh and vindictive, but 
 because it appears to me to be a misrepresentation of the 
 meaning of the sacred writer. That it is so will appear, 
 I doubt not, to the reader also, when he considers to 
 whom this prophecy (for such it is most undoubtedly) 
 refers, and in what language the individual it designates, 
 (for it does undoubtedly designate a particular individual,) 
 is spoken of in other prophecies of Scripture. The indi- 
 vidual then who is thus expressly designated by the 
 psalmist as the person appointed in the providence of 
 God to reward Babylon as she had served Jerusalem, and 
 to dash her little ones against the stones, was Cyrus, 
 king of Persia : and the language in which that monarch 
 is spoken of in the prophecies of Isaiah, to which the 
 psalmist undoubtedly referred, in reference to this very 
 designation, is as ibllows : " The burden of Babylon 
 which Isaiah, the son of Amos, did see — I have com- 
 manded my sanctified ones, I have also called my 
 
NOTES. 221 
 
 mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in 
 rny highness. The Lord of hosts muslercth the host of 
 the battle. They come from a far country, from the end 
 of heaven, even the Lord, and the weapons of his indig- 
 nation, to destroy the whole land. Their children also 
 shall he dashed to pieces before their eyes." Isai. xiii. 1. 
 3, 4, 5, 16. "Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cy- 
 rus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations 
 before him." Isai. xlv. 1. "That saith of Cyrus, lie is 
 my shepherd, and shall perform all rny pleasure." Isai. 
 xliv. 28. 
 
 Instead therefore of a strong, and to us apparently 
 shocking expression of vindictive feeling, the close of the 
 137th psalm is nothing more than a prophetical an- 
 nouncement of the overthrow of the Babylonish empire 
 through the instrumentality of Cyrus — an announcement, 
 moreover, not only in accordance with the general tenor 
 of the prophecies of Isaiah, which were doubtless in the 
 hands of the Jewish captives when that psalm was writ- 
 ten, but actually embodying in it an obvious reference to 
 one of these prophecies. In reference to his accomplish- 
 ment of that work of divine justice for which he was thus 
 appointed and exalted, and highly favoured of God in all 
 temporal respects, Cyrus is styled in the prophecies of 
 Isaiah, a sanctified one, one of the Lord's mighty ones, 
 one who rejoices in his highness ; nay, the anointed of the 
 Lord, and Jehovah's shepherd, who should perform all 
 his pleasure. Now, it is not at all wonderful that a per- 
 son who is thus described in the prophecies of Isaiah, 
 should be described as a happy man in a prophecy respect- 
 ing him in the psalms. To suppose, however, that it 
 was the meaning of the psalmist that the happiness of 
 Cyrus should be derived from his dashing out the brains 
 of the infants of Babylon, is neither necessary nor ac- 
 cordant with the corresponding prophecy in Isaiah; nay, 
 is grossly injurious to the psalmist, and perfectly absurd. 
 Is there not reason, however, to suppose, from the edict 
 of Cyrus, in favour of the Jews, Ezra i. 1, from the office 
 
222 notes. 
 
 held by Daniel at his court, and from the universal 
 opinion of antiquit) T respecting his extraordinary wis- 
 dom, justice, benevolence and humility, that he was 
 blessed of God, or became a happy man, in a far higher 
 sense than as a mere favourite of fortune ? For my own 
 part I think it highly probable. 
 
 Psalm CXXXIX. 
 
 My mind, that secret work of thine, 
 Proclaims thy hidden power divine ; 
 That power inspired my senseless clay, 
 When in my mother's womb I lay. 
 
 Luther's version is, " Deun du hast meine nieren in 
 deiner gewalt ; du warest iiber kus in mutterleibe." 4 * For 
 thou hast my reins in thy power ; thou wast over me in 
 my mother's womb." My idea of the passage, which 
 I have endeavoured to translate accordingly, is, that the 
 psalmist having laid down his general position that 
 "darkness and light were alike to Gcd," looked around 
 him for a familiar illustration of the fact, and immedi- 
 ately referred to that secret and inconceivably mysteri- 
 ous operation of the wisdom and power of God — the 
 union of the rational and immortal soul with the irra- 
 tional and mortal body of man, which, the psalmist inti- 
 mates, takes place antecedently to his birth, in the dark 
 recesses of the womb. 
 
 If it is asked, however, what ground is there for this 
 interpretation of the passage ? I answer, all that is re- 
 quisite. For it is well known to every Hebrew scholar 
 that the reins or kidneys were regarded, in the philoso- 
 phy of the ancient Hebrews, as the seat or emblem of 
 the intellectual powers, just as the liver was regarded as 
 the seat or emblem of the affections of the mind. Thus 
 in Psalm xvi. 7, the meaning of the passage, " My reins 
 instructed me in the night season," is, M My intellectual 
 
NOTES. 899 
 
 powers instructed me." I conceive then, that the psalm- 
 ist's meaning in the verse in question may be expressed 
 in the following words : 4l The power in Hebrew, hand 
 of God was exerted, in some hidden and mysterious 
 manner, upon the mass of irrational matter in my mo- 
 ther's womb, which was to constitute my mortal body, 
 and possessed or impregnated it with those intellectual 
 energies, which were to constitute my mind." The fol- 
 lowing passages of Scripture are, I apprehend, some- 
 what parallel — the one in its signification, the other in 
 its form of expression. M There is a spirit in man : and 
 the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them under- 
 standing." Job, xxxii : 8. M The Spirit of God moved 
 upon the face of the wateTs." Genesis, i : '2. 
 
 a 
 
 Thy wisdom drew the wondrous plan, 
 And formed the likeness of a man. 
 
 The phrase curiously wrought, in the English trans- 
 lation of this verse, is, in Luther's version, gebildd, im- 
 aged, moulded, modelled, or fashioned. The correspond- 
 ing word in the Genevan Bible is, " fashioned." 
 
 O, endless were the long account, 
 
 And infinite the vast amount! 
 
 For daily I should still record 
 
 New thoughts of mercy, gracious Lord ! 
 
 Although this verse is translated in the old Genevan 
 Bible in the same manner as in the authorized version, 
 the following marginal note, which is given in explana- 
 tion of it, certainly proves the view I have taken of it : 
 44 I continually see new occasions to meditate in thv 
 wisdom and to praise thee." 
 
224 NOTES. 
 
 Psalm CXLL 
 A 
 
 Let good men smite me, Lord, 
 
 Whene'er I go astray, 
 I shall esteem them kind to me, 
 
 And for their welfare pray. 
 
 Their bitterest reproof 
 
 I'll joyfully endure ; 
 Like balsam to a wounded head, 
 
 'Twere only meant to cure. 
 
 The fifth and sixth verses of this psalm are not with- 
 out very considerable difficulty. The former is rendered 
 in our prose translation, to which with the exception of 
 a single clause I have adhered, in preference to Luther's 
 version, in the following manner : " Let the righteous 
 smite me ; it shall be a kindness : and let him reprove 
 me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break 
 my head : for yet my prayer also shall be in their ca- 
 lamities." Luther's version is, " Der gerechte schlage 
 mich freundlich, und strafTenrich, das wird mir so wohl 
 thun, als ein balsam auf meinem haupt : denn ich bete 
 stets, dass sie mir nicht schaden thun." " Let the righ- 
 teous smite me in a friendly way, and let him rebuke 
 me, it will do me as much good as a balsam upon my 
 head : for I pray continually that they may not hurt me." 
 
 In the following verses I apprehend the psalmist de- 
 clares that, so far from revenging himself for the fancied 
 injuries he might have received from good men, when 
 smiting or reproving him for his profit, although the re- 
 proof thus administered might have been unmerited on 
 his part and unreasonably severe, he would even con- 
 tinue to pray for them in the time of their calamities. 
 And when the existing authorities of Israel — when the 
 house and servants of Saul, his persecuting enemy, 
 should be utterly overthrown and perish, as he foresaw 
 they speedily would, on the rocky mountains of Gilboa, 
 
NOTES. 225 
 
 so far from taking vengeance on the remnant and adhe- 
 rents of that bloody house, his words to tl.em and to all 
 the people would be words of peace and consolation, 
 sweet as the morning dew and refreshing as the rain. 
 What words, for instance, could possibly be sweeter, or 
 exhibit the character of the psalmist, in connection with 
 this resolution, in a more affecting and interesting light, 
 than those of the lamentation wherewith David lamented, 
 in all the bitterness of unfeigned sorrow, over Saul and 
 Jonathan his son ? 2 Sam. i : 19-27. 
 
 Psalm CXLII. 
 
 For when my soul's o'erwhelmed with grief, 
 
 And men beset my way 
 With hidden snares, thou cornforte.t 
 
 And mak'st my darkness day. 
 
 Luther's translation of this verse, which I have fol- 
 lowed, is, Wenn mein geist in augsten ist, so nimst du 
 dich meiner du ; sie lefen mir stricke auf dem wege, da 
 ich auf gehe. " When ray spirit is in anguish or per- 
 plexity, thou treatest me kindly ; they lay snares for me 
 in the way that I go." 
 
 Psalm CXLV. 
 
 A. 
 
 I have in great measure retained the authorized long 
 metre version of this splendid psalm ; modernizing it, 
 however, and making such other emendations as appeared 
 necessary. 
 
 Psalm CXLVI. 
 
 A. 
 
 The word Hallelujah, " Praise ye the Lord," with 
 which this and the last three psalms begin, in the Eng- 
 
226 NOTES, 
 
 lish version, is rather the general title of these psalms 
 than part of the psalms themselves. It is so regarded . 
 by Luther and the authors of the old Genevan version. 
 
 B. 
 
 Trust not in kings ; for they are men ; 
 
 They cannot help nor save ; 
 Ere long they die, and their designs 
 
 Are buried in the grave. 
 
 Verlasset such nicht auf fursten : sle sind ruenscher 
 die kounen ja nicht helpen. Deun des meuscheu geist 
 muss davon, und er muss vvieder zur erden vverden ; 
 alsdum sind verloren alle seine auschlage. " Trust not in 
 princes { they are men, who cannot help. For the spirit 
 of man must go from him, and he must be (turned) to 
 the earth again ; then all his designs are lost."" Luther. 
 
 Psalm CXLVIII. 
 
 A. 
 
 I have in great measure retained the second version of 
 this beautiful psalm, modernizing it, however, where it 
 seemed necessary, especially in the second stanza. 
 
 Psalm CXLIX, 
 
 Let them sing when they march in procession along, 
 While the harp and the timbrel accord with their song. 
 
 Second Version. 
 
 In grave procession let them march, 
 And praise him in the song. 
 
 It was customary on certain occasions, and especially 
 on all the three great festivals of the ancient Jewish 
 church, for a number of priests and Levites to march in 
 
NOTE*. 2L'7 
 
 solemn procession from someplace in the neighbourhood, 
 and in some instances, as in the case of the feast of ta- 
 bernacles, from without the walls of Jerusalem, towards 
 the temple on Mount Zion, singing, or rather chanting, 
 as they marched, psalms or hymns to the praise of Je- 
 hovah. And there are several of the psalms that bear 
 upon the face of them the evidence of having been ex- 
 pressly composed for such processions. Thus, in the 
 132d psalm, which must have been composed by Solo- 
 mon for the services at the dedication of the temple, it is 
 evident, that the first six verses, at least, were intended 
 to be sung or chanted icithout the temple; otherwise 
 with what propriety could it have been added in the 
 seventh verse, M We will go into his tabernacles; we 
 will worship at his footstool." Jn like manner the 122d 
 psalm must evidently have been composed for a some- 
 what similar procession; otherwise, with what propriety 
 could the words, " Our feet shall stand within thy gates, 
 O Jerusalem, &c," have been sung or chanted by per- 
 sons who were already within the city? The beauty of 
 the 84th psalm also, which is entitled, A psahn for the 
 sons of Korah, is materially heightened when we con- 
 ceive it to have been composed, as the title seems to inti- 
 mate, for a procession of the kind I have mentioned, and 
 to have been sung or chanted by those Levites, who 
 were, in all likelihood, the foremost in the procession, 
 as soon as they came in sight of the temple. See also 
 Psalm lxxxvii. 
 
 In the processions to which I have just alluded, the 
 company of priests and Levites moved, in a sort of mea- 
 sured step, to the sound of instrumental music; their 
 motion being either slow and solemn, or lively and rapid, 
 according as the psalm or hymn they were singing at 
 the time — and to which the music was always skilfully 
 accommodated beforehand, by the ablest practitioner of 
 the art, or as he is styled in Scripture, the chief musician, 
 of the day — was of a plaintive or cheerful cast. Now, I 
 feel confident, that the word which in our English ver- 
 
228 NOTES. 
 
 sion is most erroneously translated dance, both in this 
 and the following psalm, signifies nothing more than the 
 measured step, the march, or regulated movement of a 
 religious procession of this kind. No two things, how- 
 ever, can be more different from each other, than such a 
 procession, and what we call dancing. No two employ, 
 ments can possibly be more remote from each other, 
 than those in which the actors in these cases are respec- 
 tively engaged. 
 
 But this conjecture amounts to something like abso- 
 lute certainty, when we reflect on the manner in which 
 the corresponding Greek word choreuein, to dance, has 
 come to acquire its usual signification. " The elegant 
 mythology of the Greeks," as it is styled by the historian 
 Gibbon, was avowedly borrowed in great measure from 
 the oriental nations; but it is singular enough that the 
 most elegant and the most interesting, as it is uniformly 
 acknowledged to be, of the religious observances of that 
 highly cultivated people, should be plainly traceable to 
 the ritual of the despised Hebrews : I allude to the insti- 
 tution of the Greek chorus — that singularly interesting 
 and beautiful appendage of the ancient tragic drama — 
 which I apprehend there is every reason to believe was 
 originally nothing more than a transcript or imitation of 
 the religious processions of the Jewish priests and Le- 
 vites. For the Greek chorus — the religious origin, cha- 
 racter and bearing of which are universally acknow- 
 ledged, although it came in process of time to be a mere 
 appendage to a theatrical performance — was originally a 
 hymn in honour of the gods, (or rather of the true God, 
 whom Grecian refinement subsequently concealed from 
 the view of his worshippers,) which, like the psalms of 
 the Hebrews, was sung or rather chanted at stated times 
 by a company of persons attached to the temple of the 
 divinity to whose praise the hymn was sung. And it is 
 a singular fact that the most ancient composition extant, 
 excepting the holy Scriptures, is just such a choral 
 hymn as I have mentioned. I mean the orphic hymn; 
 
NOTES. 229 
 
 the author of which is unknown, but the purer theology 
 of which evidently refers it to a much higher antiquity, 
 and a much purer source, than the elegant mythology of 
 the Greeks. 
 
 Like the Jewish processions of priests and Levitcs al- 
 ready described, the choral company, among the ancient 
 Greeks, consisted originally of a certain number of reli- 
 gious persons— either aged men or young maidens — un- 
 der the direction of a choregos or leader of the chorus, 
 or as he would be styled, in the language of Scripture, 
 the Chief Musician. And it strikes me very forcibly, 
 that as the sons of Korah (see titles of psalms 64, 85, 87, 
 88,) were especially employed as the singers in these 
 procession?, the Greek word choros, which signifies the 
 choral company, and is a primitive word in the Greek 
 language, was originally derived from the Hebrew Beni 
 Korah, (the sons of Korah,) the phrase denoting the cho- 
 risters of the Hebrews: for the circumstance of that 
 word being a proper name would never suggest itself to 
 a foreigner, who would rather look to the employment 
 than concern himself about the pedigree of those who 
 bore it. 
 
 Like the Jewish processions also, the choral perform- 
 ances of the Greeks were celebrated only on the great 
 festivals of the nation, when the whole body of the Greek 
 people were assembled for the celebration of their peri- 
 odical games in honour of the gods. On these occasions 
 the choral company appeared on a sort of stage erected 
 for the purpose, and chanted hymns, under the direction 
 of their choregos, or chief musician, in a kind of alternate 
 recitative style, while they marched (echoreuon) in a 
 sort of measured step to the sound of instrumental mu- 
 sic. Now the Greek word choreuein, which, like the 
 Hebrew word translated dance in the last two psalms, 
 originally signified choros dvco, to act the part of a cho- 
 regos or chief musician, i. %. to march in a lofty measured 
 step, chanting hymns to the sound of instrumental mu- 
 sic, like the sons of Korah in the Jewish processions, 
 
230 NOTES. 
 
 came in process of time to be exactly synonymous with 
 the English word to dance, in which signification it is 
 so frequently used by the poet Anacreon. 
 
 We may form some idea of the nature of the religious 
 processions of the ancient Hebrews, from the psalms or 
 hymns which appear to have been usually sung on such 
 occasions. These were chiefly the psalms entitled, Songs 
 of Degrees, i. e. steps, marches, processions, or as Luther 
 translates the Hebrew original, " Songs in the higher cho- 
 rus" Some of these, as their very subjects intimate, 
 were chanted by the company of priests and Levites, in 
 inarching towards Mount Zion on one or other of the 
 three great festivals. Others, as the 13-ith, and perhaps 
 also the 121st and 133d, were in like manner chanted by 
 those priests or Levites, whose turn it was to mount 
 guard at the gates of the temple in the evening, when 
 the former or day guard were relieved : while the 127th 
 psalm, which is entitled a Song of Degrees for Solomon, 
 and the 132d as I have already shown, were, in all like- 
 lihood, composed for the express purpose of being chanted 
 in a procession of priests and Levites at the dedication 
 of the temple. 
 
 If the case of David, who danced before the ark of the 
 Lord, should be referred to as incapable of explanation on 
 the principle I have suggested, I would observe, that on 
 that occasion David, instead of marching as a monarch 
 at the head of his chief officers, clothed in the splendid 
 apparel of royalty, and demeaning himself with the lofty 
 bearing of a king, laid aside that apparel, and assuming 
 the white linen vestment of the ordinary priests, probably 
 acted for the time as the choregos, the chief musician, or 
 leader of the procession, marching to the sound of instru- 
 ments of music in the measured step of the choristers, 
 and chanting the praises of Jehovah. For it is especially 
 to be observed, that it was not his dancing, or rather 
 marching — which Michal probably regarded as a highly 
 religious observance on such occasions — but his uncover- 
 ing himself, or laying aside his royalty, and demeaning 
 
P8ALMS. 231 
 
 himself to the level of an ordinary priest, that appeared 
 so peculiarly offensive to the high-born daughter of Saul. 
 " How glorious was the king of Israel to-day, who un- 
 covered himself to-day, in the eyes of the hand-maidens 
 of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly 
 uncovered] himself!" 
 
 There is an interesting relic of the olden time in some 
 parishes on the confines of Galloway, in the southwest of 
 Scotland, which may perhaps afford an indistinct idea ot 
 the solemn processions, if not of the sacred choral dance 
 of the Hebrews. In consequence of a very excusable 
 prejudice, originating in the times of the covenanters, 
 and extensively prevalent among the people, in favour of 
 the dispensation of the sacrament of the Lord's supper 
 in the open air, it is usual, in the parishes in question. 
 for the ministers and elders who officiate on such occa- 
 sions, to walk slowly from Che church, immediately after 
 the preliminary services have been performed, and at the 
 head of the whole body oi' intending communicants, to 
 some field in the neighbourhood, where the sacrament is 
 dispensed, as it used to be from necessity, in the troublous 
 times of our forefathers, in the open air. And in walk- 
 ing in solemn procession towards the place appointed for 
 the celebration of the ordinance, some appropriate psalm, 
 such as the 15th, 24th, or 118th, &c, is sung by both 
 ministers and people. In the Hebrew processions the 
 mode of chanting was doubtless very different from the 
 Scottish psalmody; the step was doubtless more varied, 
 and the accompaniment of instrumental music was very 
 much at variance with our own customs. Still, however, 
 I can easily conceive, that the devotional feelings of the 
 persons engaged in the one instance may have been just 
 as strong as those of the persons engaged in the other; 
 and that the whole procedure and deportment of both 
 were entirely different from that noisy mirth and revelry 
 of fools which are nee. iciated, in the mind of 
 
 a European or American, with the idea of dancing.