The rain in softening drops distils,
And every furrowed valley fills;
The fruitful clouds drop fatness down,
The circling year thy bounties crown.

Beneath, O Lord, thy favoring skies,
The crowded harvests round us rise;
While every field shall find a voice,
And in its Maker's praise rejoice.

PSALM 67.

A prayer for the diffusion of the gospel.

To bless thy chosen race,

In mercy, Lord, incline;

And cause the brightness of thy face
On all thy saints to shine.

That so thy wondrous way

May through the world be known, And distant lands their tribute pay, And thy salvation own.

Let differing nations join

To celebrate thy fame;

Let all the world, O Lord, combine,
To praise thy glorious name.

O let them shout and sing,

With joy and pious mirth;

For Thou, the righteous Judge and King, Shalt govern all the earth.

PSALM 68.

Though ascended into heaven, Christ is still present with his church by the gifts of his spirit.

O Lord, our King! angelic powers—
Unnumbered hosts, await thy will;
Thy presence now fills Sion's towers,
As once it hallowed Sinai's hill.
Thou hast ascended up on high,
Captivity hast captive led,
And on thy people plenteously
The graces of thy spirit shed.

E'en sinners shall partake thy grace,
And humble penitents repair
To worship at thy dwelling-place,
And pay their contrite homage there.
For benefits each day bestowed,

Be daily thy great name adored;
Thou art our Saviour and our God,
Of life and death the Sovereign Lord.

PSALM 69.

The name of Christ magnified for his salvation.

ME, howsoe'er distressed and poor,

Christ's strong salvation shall restore;

His power and love will I proclaim,

And celebrate with thanks his name.

And this shall He more highly prize
Than flocks and herds in sacrifice;
Which humble saints with joy shall see,
And hope for like relief with me.

For Christ regards the poor's complaint,
And sets him free from sin's restraint;
Let heaven, earth, sea, their voices raise,
And all the world resound his praise.

He will fair Sion's walls erect,
And Judah's cities will protect;
Till all her scattered sons repair,
To worship Him in safety there.

PSALM 71.

A prayer for God's protection in old age.

IN Thee, O Lord, I put my trust,
Defend my soul from ill;

O hear my prayer, and in thy truth
Be Thou my Saviour still.

Thy constant care, O Lord, did guard

My tender infant days,

For Thou did'st take me from the womb To sing thy constant praise.

And now forsake me not, O Lord,

When I am feeble grown;
In youth, in age, my only hope

Is fixed on Thee alone.

Still let me, then, thy succour find,

And in thy strength go on;

My grateful tongue shall learn to praise Thy righteousness alone.

PSALM 72.

The reign of the Messiah.

To God's anointed shall the isles
Their costly presents bring;
From spicy Sheba gifts shall come,
And wealthy Saba's king.

To Him shall every prince on earth
His grateful homage pay,
And diff'ring nations gladly join
To own his righteous sway.

The blessings of his saving might
Through endless years shall run;
His glorious name shall shine more bright,
And lasting than the sun.

In Him all nations of the world

Shall be completely blest,

And his salvation's strength shall be
By every tongue confessed.

PSALM 73.

God the only proper object of our faith and love.

WHOM, Lord, in heaven but Thee alone,
Have I, whose favour I require?
Throughout the spacious earth there's none
That I beside Thee can desire.

Oft has thy presence strength supplied,
Oft has thine hand assistance given;
O be Thou now on earth my guide,
And then receive me into heaven.

My trembling flesh, my fearful heart,
May often fail to succour me;
But Thou can'st inward strength impart,
Thou my eternal portion be.

O it is good to trust in God,

To seek Him, and his help, in prayer, To spread his glorious praise abroad, And all his wondrous works declare.

PSALM 75.

The church acknowledgeth God's past interposition in her behalf, and prayeth for the like protection again. WHY dost Thou, Lord, thine aid so long withhold,

Why burns thy wrath so hot against thy fold?
O think upon thy flock, thy purchased race,
O think on Zion, once thy dwelling-place.
Thou, heretofore, in our defence hast fought,
And through the world hast great salvation
wrought,

Thou didst the sea by thine own strength
divide,

And led thy people through the parting tide.
By Thee creation's work was first begun,
Thou did'st prepare the light and glorious sun;
The borders of the earth Thou did'st assign,
Summer and winter, day and night, are thine.
Rise then, O God, again thy cause maintain,
Nor let our foes thy holy name profane;
Think on thy covenant still, and let us see
The poor and needy still rejoice in Thee.