The Lord doth sit upon the floods
Their fury to restrain:
He reigns above, both Lord and King,
And evermore shall reign.
The Lord shall give his people strength,
Whereby they shall increase;
The Lord shall bless his chosen race
With everlasting peace.
PSALM XXXII.-(L. M.)
How blest the man, whose conscious grief
From thee, O God! has found relief!
Whose guilt thy boundless love has veil'd,
His fears compos'd, his weakness heal'd!
Our humbled souls their crimes shall own-
Behold us bow before thy throne;
To thee our inmost guilt disclose,
And in thine ear pour all our woes.
But, lo! while yet our hands we rear,
The voice of mercy to our ear
Descends, and whisp'ring peace within
Confirms the pardon of our sin.
For this shall all who thee adore,
Ere yet the day of grace be o'er,
To thee with steadfast hope repair,
To thee prefer th' unwearied pray'r.
PSALM XXXIII.—(c. m.)
LET all the just to God with joy
Their cheerful voices raise;
For well the righteous it becomes
To sing glad songs of praise,
How faithful is the word of God!
His works with truth abound:
He justice loves, and all the earth
Is with his goodness crowned.
How happy then are they, to whom
The Lord as God is known;
Whom he, from all the world beside,
Hath chosen for his own.
The riches of thy mercy, Lord,
Do thou to us extend;
Since we for all we want, or wish,
On thee alone depend.
PSALM XXXIV.—(c. m.)
THROUGH all the changing scenes of life, In trouble and in joy,
The praises of our God shall still
Our hearts and tongues employ.
Of his deliv'rance we will boast,
Till all that are distrest
From our example comfort take,
And charm their griefs to rest.
O make but trial of his love:
Experience will decide
How blest they are, and only they,
Who in his truth confide.
Fear him, ye saints, and you will then
Have nothing else to fear:
Make you his service your delight,
He'll make your wants his care.
PSALM XXXVIII.-(c. M.)
THY chastening wrath, O Lord, restrain,
Though we deserve it all:
Let not on us the fearful weight
Of thy displeasure fall.
The sins, that like a deluge swell,
Our sinking heads o'erflow;
And for our feeble strength to bear
Too great a burden grow.
O Lord, our God, forsake us not,
Nor far from us depart;
Make haste to help us, gracious God,
Who our salvation art.
PSALM XXXIX.—(L. M.)
THE term of life assign'd to man
Passeth, as does a fleeting shade;
Its longest period is a span,
And in the bud his honours fade.
He walks but in an empty show,
Vex'd, and disquieted in vain :
To unknown heirs his wealth must flow,
And he to dust return again.
So let us number then our days,
That we may know how frail we are ; Call to remembrance all our ways,
And for eternity prepare.
On thee alone, our Lord and King,
On thee alone our hopes rely;
Thou who hast plucked from death the sting, And robbed the grave of victory.
PSALM XL.—(L. M.)
THOU, gracious Lord, hast not desir'd
Off'rings and sacrifice alone;
Nor blood of guiltless beasts requir'd
For man's transgressions to atone.
Thy blessed Son came to fulfil
What thy own oracles impart;
He gave himself to do thy will;
Thy law was written in his heart.
Now those that humbly seek thy face,
Through him to joyful hope are rais'd;
And all who prize redeeming grace,
Shall ever sing "The Lord be prais'd!" Who can thy mercies, Lord, recount; What wonders thou for us hast wrought? The treasures of thy love surmount The power of numbers, speech, and thought.
PSALM XLI.-(c. M.)
HAPPY the man, whose tender care
Relieves the poor distress'd:
When he's by trouble compass'd round,
The Lord shall give him rest.
If he in languishing estate
Oppress'd with sickness lie,
The Lord will easy make his bed,
And inward strength supply.
The Lord his life, with blessings crown'd,
In safety shall prolong;
And disappoint the will of those
Who seek to do him wrong.
Let therefore Israel's Lord and God
From age to age be bless'd;
And all the people's glad applause
With loud Amens express'd.
PSALM XLII.—(c. m.)
As pants the hart for cooling streams,
When heated in the chase;
So longs my soul, O God, for thee,
And thy refreshing grace.
For thee, my God, the living God,
My thirsty soul doth pine,
O! when shall I behold thy face,
Thou majesty divine!
Grant me the favour of thy grace,
Then my rejoicing tongue
Shall speak aloud thy righteousness,
And make thy praise my song.
PSALM XLIII.—WITH GLORIA PATRI. (L. M.)
LET me with light and truth be blest,
Be these my guides, and lead the way;
Till on thy holy hill I rest,
And in thy sacred temple pray.
Then to thine altar will I go;
To thee, my God, my only joy, My grateful heart with love shall glow, And songs of praise my lips employ. Why then cast down, my soul? and why So much oppress'd with doubt and fear? On God, thy God, for aid rely,
His grace the troubled heart will cheer.
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