From the lxxviii. Psalm of David.

1 HEAR, O my people, to my law
Devout attention lend;

Let the instruction of my mouth
Deep in your hearts descend.

2 My tongue shall oracles proclaim
Which ancient times have known;
The truths which our forefathers' care
To us has handed down.

3 We will not hide them from our sons,
Our offspring shall be taught
The praises of the LORD, whose strength
Has works of wonder wrought.

4 For Jacob he his law ordain'd,
His league with Israel made;
With charge to be from age to age,
From race to race, convey'd.

5 That generations yet to come
Should to their unborn heirs
Religiously transmit the same,
And they again to theirs.

6 To teach them that in God alone
Their hope securely stands;
That they should ne'er his works forget,
But keep his just commands.

1 0 THOU whom heavenly hosts obey,
How long shall thy fierce anger burn?
How long thy suff'ring people pray,
And to their prayers have no return?
2 Thou brought'st a vine from Egypt's land
And casting out the heathen race,
Didst plant it with thine own right hand,
And firmly fix it in their place.

3 Before it thou prepar'dst the way, And mad'st it take a lasting root, Which, bless'd with thy indulgent ray, O'er all the land did widely shoot. 4 The hills were cover'd with its shade, Its goodly boughs did cedars seem; Its branches to the sea were spread, And reach'd to proud Euphrates' stream. 5. To thee, O GOD of hosts, we pray,

Thy wonted goodness, LORD, renew; From heaven, thy throne, this vine survey, And her sad state with pity view.

6 Behold the vineyard made by thee,

Which thy right hand did guard so long; And keep that branch from danger free, Which for thyself thou mad'st so strong. Do thou convert us, LORD, do thou The lustre of thy face display; And all the ills we suffer now,

Like scatter'd clouds, shall pass away.

PSALM 62. C. M.

From the lxxxi. Psalm of David.

1 TO GOD, our never-failing strength,
With loud applauses sing:

And jointly make a cheerful noise
To Jacob's awful King.

2 Compose a hymn of praise, and touch
Your instruments of joy;
Let psalteries and tuneful harps
Your grateful skill employ.

3 Let trumpets at the festival
Their joyful voices raise,
To celebrate th' appointed time,
The solemn day of praise.

4 For this a statute was of old,
Which Jacob's God decreed
To be with pious care observed,
By Israel's chosen seed.

3 The birds, more happy far than I,
Around thy temple throng;
Securely there they build, and there
Securely hatch their young.

4 O LORD of hosts, my king and GOD,
How highly bless'd are they,
Who in thy temple always dwell,
And there thy praise display!

5 Thrice happy they, whose choice has thee
Their sure protection made,

Who long to tread the sacred ways
That to thy dwelling lead!

6 Who pass through parch'd and thirsty vales, Yet no refreshment want;

Their pools are fill'd with rain, which thou
At their request dost grant.

7 Thus they proceed from strength to strength,
And still approach more near;
Till all on Sion's holy mount
Before their GoD appear.

8 Within thy courts one single day
'T is better to attend,
Than, LORD, in any other place
A thousand days to spend.

9 Much rather in GoD's house will I
The meanest office take,

Than in the wealthy tents of sin
My pompous dwelling make.

10 For God, who is our sun and shield,
Will grace and glory give;
And no good thing will he withhold
From them that justly live.

11 Thou, GOD, whom heavenly hosts obey,
How highly bless'd is he,

Whose hope and trust, securely placed,
Are still reposed on thee!

4 GOD's answer patiently I'll wait;
For he with glad success,
If they no more to folly turn,
His mourning saints will bless.
5 To all that fear God's holy Name
His sure salvation 's near;
His glory in our happy land
For ever shall appear.

6 For mercy now with truth is join'd;
And righteousness with peace,
Like kind companions, absent long,
With friendly arms embrace.

7 Truth from the earth shall spring, whilst heaven Shall streams of justice pour;

And God, from whom all goodness flows,
Shall endless plenty shower.

8 Before him righteousness shall march
And his just paths prepare;
While we his holy steps pursue
With constant zeal and care.

From the lxxxvi. Psalm of David.

1 TO my complaint, O LORD my God,
Thy gracious ear incline;

Hear me, distress'd and destitute
Of all relief but thine.

2 Do thou, O GOD, preserve my soul,
That does thy Name adore;

Thy servant keep, and him whose trust
Relies on thee, restore.

3 To me, who daily thee invoke,
Thy mercy, LORD, extend;

Refresh thy servant's soul, whose hopes
On thee alone depend.

4 Thou, LORD, art good, nor only good,
But prompt to pardon too;

Of plenteous mercy to all those
Who for thy mercy sue.

5 To my repeated humble prayer,
O LORD, attentive be;

When troubled, I on thee will call,

For thou wilt answer me.

6 Among the gods there 's none like thee,

O LORD, alone divine!

To thee as much inferior they,

As are their works to thine.

7 Therefore their great Creator, thee

The nations shall adore;

Their long-misguided prayers and praise
To thy bless'd Name restore.

8 All shall confess thee great, and great
The wonders thou hast done;

Confess thee GOD, the GOD supreme,
Confess thee GoD alone.

9 Teach me thy way, O LORD, and I
From truth shall ne'er depart;
In rev'rence to thy sacred Name
Devoutly fix my heart.

10 Thee will I praise, O LORD my God,
Praise thee with heart sincere,
And to thy everlasting Name
Eternal trophies rear.

11 Thy boundless mercy shown to me
Transcends my power to tell;

For thou hast oft redeem'd my soul
From lowest deeps of hell.

12 And thou thy constant goodness didst
To my assistance bring:
Of patience, mercy, and of truth,
Thou everlasting spring!

From the Ixxxvii. Psalm of David.

1 GOD'S temple crowns the holy mount,
The LORD there condescends to dwell;
His Sion's gates, in his account,

Our Israel's fairest tents excel:
Yea, glorious things of thee we sing,
O city of th' Almighty King!

2 Of honor'd Sion we aver,

Illustrious throngs from her proceed;
Th' Almighty shall establish her,
And shall enrol her holy seed:
Yea, for his people he shall count
The children of his favor'd mount.

3 He'll Sion find with numbers fill'd

Who celebrate his matchless praise;
Who, here in hallelujahs skill'd,

In heaven their harps and hymns shall raise:
O Sion, seat of Israel's King,

Be mine to drink thy living spring!

From the lxxxviii. Psalm of David.

1 GOD of my life, O LORD most high,
To thee by day and night I cry ;
Vouchsafe my mournful voice to hear,
To my distress incline thine ear.

2 Like those whose strength and hopes are fled They number me among the dead;

Like those who, shrouded in the grave,
From thee no more remembrance have.