That with malicious false reports against my life combine.

21 But for thy glorious name, O God, do thou deliver me;

And for thy plenteous mercy's sake, preserve and set me free.

22 For I, to utmost straits reduc'd, am void of all relief;

My heart is wounded with distress, and quite pierc'd through with grief. 23 I like an ev'ning shade decline, which vanishes apace;

Like locusts, up and down I'm toss'd, and have no certain place.

24, 25 My knees with fasting are grown weak, my body lank and lean;

All that behold me shake their heads, and treat me with disdain.

26, 27 But for thy mercy's sake, O Lord,
do thou my foes withstand;

That all may see 'tis thy own act,
the work of thy right hand.

28 Then let them curse, so thou but bless;
let shame the portion be

Of all that my destruction seek,

while I rejoice in thee.

29 My foes shall with disgrace be cloth'd;
and, spite of all his pride,

His own confusion, like a cloak,
the guilty wretch shall hide.

30 But I to God, in grateful thanks,
my cheerful voice will raise ;
And where the great assembly meets,
set forth his noble praise.

31 For him the poor shall always find
their sure and constant friend;
And he shall from unrighteous dooms
their guiltless souls defend.

4 The Lord hath sworn, nor sworn in vain, That, like Melchisedech's, thy reign

and priesthood shall no period know:

5 No proud competitor to sit

At thy right hand will he permit,

but in his wrath crown'd heads o'erthrow. 6 The sentenc'd heathen he shall slay, And fill with carcasses his way,

till he hath struck earth's tyrants dead; 7 But in the highway brooks shall first, Like a poor pilgrim, slake his thirst, and then in triumph raise his head.

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PR

PSALM CXI.

RAISE ye the Lord; our God to praise My soul her utmost power shall raise, With private friends, and in the throng Of saints, his praise shall be my song. 2 His works, for greatness though renown'd, His wondrous works with ease are found By those who seek for them aright, And in the pious search delight.

3 His works are all of matchless fame,
And universal glory claim;

His truth, confirm'd through ages past,
Shall to eternal ages last.

4 By precepts he hath us enjoin'd'
To keep his wondrous works in mind;
And to posterity record,

That good and gracious is our Lord.
5 His bounty, like a flowing tide,
Has all his servants' wants supply'd;
And he will ever keep in mind

His cov❜nant with our fathers sign'd.
6 At once astonish'd and o'erjoy'd,
They saw his matchless power employ'd,
Whereby the heathen were suppress'd,
And we their heritage possess'd.
7 Just are the dealings of his hands,
Immutable are his commands,

8 By truth and equity sustain'd,
And for eternal rules ordain'd.

9 He set his saints from bondage free,
And then establish'd his decree,
For ever to remain the same:
Holy and rev'rend is his name.
10 Who wisdom's sacred prize would win,
Must with the fear of God begin :
Immortal praise and heavenly skill
Have they who know and do his will.
I 4

1

THAT

PSALM CXII.

HALLELUJAH.

HAT man is bless'd who stands in awe Of God, and loves his sacred law; 2 His seed on earth shall be renown'd, And with successive honours crown'd. 3 His house, the seat of wealth, shall be An inexhausted treasury:

His justice, free from all decay, Shall blessings to his heirs convey. 4 The soul that's fill'd with virtue's light Shines brightest in affliction's night; To pity the distress'd inclin'd, As well as just to all mankind. 5 His lib'ral favours he extends, To some he gives, to others lends; Yet what his charity impairs, He saves by prudence in affairs. 6 Beset with threat'ning dangers round, Unmov'd shall he maintain his ground: The sweet remembrance of the just Shall flourish when he sleeps in dust. 7 Ill tidings never can surprise

His heart that fix'd on God relies: 8 On safety's rock he sits and sees The shipwreck of his enemies.

9 His hands, while they his alms bestow'd,
His glory's future harvest sow'd,

Whence he shall reap wealth, fame, renown,
A temp'ral and eternal crown.

10 The wicked shall his triumph see,
And gnash their teeth in agony;
While their unrighteous hopes decay,
And vanish with themselves away.
PSALM CXIII.

1 Y The triumphs of his name record;

E saints and servants of the Lord,

2 his sacred name for ever bless:
3 Where'er the circling sun displays
His rising beams, or setting rays,

due praise to his great name address.
4 God through the world extends his sway;
The regions of eternal day

but shadows of his glory are:

5 With him whose majesty excels,

Who made the heav'n in which he dwells, let no created power compare.

6 Though 'tis beneath his state to view In highest heaven what angels do,

yet he to earth vouchsafes his care:

He takes the needy from his cell,
Advancing him in courts to dwell,

companion to the greatest there.
7 When childless families despair,
He sends the blessing of an heir,
to rescue their expiring name;
Makes her that barren was to bear,
And joyfully her fruit to rear:
O then extol his matchless fame!

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W

PSALM CXIV.

THEN Israel, by the Almighty led, enrich'd with their oppressor's spoil, From Egypt march'd, and Jacob's seed from bondage in a foreign soil;

2 Jehovah, for his residence,

chose out imperial Judah's tent, His mansion royal, and from thence through Israel's camp his orders sent. 3 The distant sea with terror saw,

and from the Almighty's presence fled; Old Jordan's streams, surpris'd with awe, retreated to their fountain's head.

4 The taller mountains skipp'd like rams,
when danger near the fold they hear;
The hills skipp'd after them like lambs
affrighted by their leader's fear.

5 O sea! what made your tide withdraw,
and naked leave your oozy bed?
Why, Jordan, against nature's law,
recoil'dst thou to thy fountain's head?
6 Why, mountains, did ye skip, like rams
when danger does approach the fold?
Why after you the hills, like lambs

when they their leader's flight behold? 7 Earth, tremble on; well may'st thou fear thy Lord and Maker's face to see; When Jacob's awful God draws near, 'tis time for earth and seas to flee; 8 To flee from God, who nature's law confirms and cancels at his will; Who springs from flinty rocks can draw, and thirsty vales with water fill.

PSALM CXV.

1 ORD, not to us, we claim no share, but to thy sacred name

Give glory, for thy mercy's sake,

and truth's eternal fame.

2 Why should the heathen cry, Where's now the God whom we adore?

3 Convince them that in heaven thou art, and uncontrol'd thy power.

4 Their gods but gold and silver are, the works of mortal hands;

5 With speechless mouth and sightless eyes the molten idol stands.

6 The pageant has both ears and nose, but neither hears nor smells;

7 Its hands and feet nor feel nor move; no life within it dwells.

8 Such senseless stocks they are, that we can nothing like them find,

But those who on their help rely,
and them for gods design'd.

9 O Israel, make the Lord your trust,
who is your help and shield;

10 Priests, Levites, trust in him alone, who only help can yield.

11 Let all who truly fear the Lord,
on him they fear rely;

Who them in danger can defend,
and all their wants supply.

12, 13 Of us he oft has mindful been,
and Israel's house will bless:
Priests, Levites, proselytes, even all
who his great name confess.

14 On you, and on your heirs, he will increase of blessings bring;

15 Thrice happy you, who favourites are of this Almighty King!

16 Heaven's highest orb of glory he
his empire's seat design'd;

And gave this lower globe of earth
a portion to mankind.

17 They who in death and silence sleep,
to him no praise afford;

18 But we will bless for evermore

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our ever-living Lord.

MY

PSALM CXVI.

Y soul with grateful thoughts of love entirely is possest,

Because the Lord vouchsaf'd to hear

the voice of my request.

2 Since he has now his ear inclin'd, I never will despair;

But still in all the straits of life to him address my prayer.

3 With deadly sorrows compass'd round, with pains of hell oppress'd;

When trouble seiz'd my aching heart, and anguish rack'd my breast;