9 God of my strength, how long shall I, 10 My heart is pierc'd, as with a sword, "Vain boaster, where is now thy God? "and where his promis'd aid?" 11 Why restless, why cast down, my soul? hope still; and thou shalt sing The praise of him who is thy God, thy health's eternal spring. 1 PSALM XLIII. UST Judge of heav'n, against my foes do thou assert my injur'd right; of set me free, my God, from those 2 Since thou art still my only stay, why leav'st thou me in deep distress? Why go I mourning all the day, whilst me insulting foes oppress? 3 Let me with light and truth be blest; be these my guides to lead the way, Till on thy holy hill I rest, and in thy sacred temple pray. 4 Then will I there fresh altars raise to God, who is my only joy; And well-tun'd harps, with songs of praise, shall all my grateful hours employ. 5 Why then cast down, my soul? and why so much oppress'd with anxious care? On God, thy God, for aid rely, who will thy ruin'd state repair. PSALM XLIV. LORD, our fathers oft have told Thy wonders, in their days perform'd, and elder times than theirs: 2 How thou, to plant them here, didst drive the heathen from this land, Dispeopled by repeated strokes of thy avenging hand. 3 For not their courage, nor their sword, Nor strength, that from unequal force Thy presence with the chosen race, 4 As thee their God our fathers own'd, thou art our sov'reign King; O! therefore, as thou didst to them, to us deliv'rance bring. 5 Through thy victorious name, our arms the proudest foes shall quell; And crush them with repeated strokes, as oft as they rebel. I'll neither trust my bow nor sword, 7 But thee, who hast our foes subdu'd, PART II. 9 But thou hast cast us off; and now most shamefully we yield; For thou no more vouchsaf'st to lead our armies to the field: 10 Since when, to every upstart foe we turn our backs in fight; And with our spoil their malice feast, who bear us ancient spite. 11 To slaughter doom'd, we fall, like sheep, into their butch'ring hands; Or (what's more wretched yet) survive, dispers'd through heathen lands. 12 Thy people thou hast sold for slaves, and set their price so low, That not thy treasure, by the sale, 13, 14 Reproach'd by all the nations round, 15 Confusion strikes me blind; my face 16 While we are scoff'd, and God blasphem'd, by their licentious pride. PART III. 17 On us this heap of woes is fall'n, all this we have endur'd; Yet have not, Lord, renounc'd thy name, or faith to thee abjur'd; 18 But in thy righteous paths have kept our hearts and steps with care; 19 Though thou hast broken all our strength, and we almost despair. 20 Could we, forgetting thy great name, on other gods rely, 21 And not the Searcher of all hearts the treach'rous crime descry? 22 Thou seest what suff'rings, for thy sake, we every day sustain; All slaughter'd, or reserv'd like sheep appointed to be slain. 23 Awake, arise; let seeming sleep no longer thee detain ; Nor let us, Lord, who sue to thee, for ever sue in vain. 24 O! wherefore hidest thou thy face from our afflicted state, 25 Whose souls and bodies sink to earth with grief's oppressive weight? 26 Arise, O Lord, and timely haste to our deliv'rance make; 1 Redeem us, Lord ;---if not for ours, yet for thy mercy's sake. PSALM XLV. HILE I the King's loud praise rehearse indited by my heart, My tongue is like the pen of him that writes with ready art. 2 How matchless is thy form, O King! thy mouth with grace o'erflows; Because fresh blessings God on thee eternally bestows. 3 Gird on thy sword, most mighty prince; and, clad in rich array, With glorious ornaments of power, majestic pomp display. 4 Ride on in state, and still protect the meek, the just, and true; Whilst thy right hand, with swift revenge, does all thy foes pursue. 5 How sharp thy weapons are to them that dare thy power despise! Down, down they fall, while through their heart the feather'd arrow flies. 6 But thy firm throne, O God, is fix'd, for ever to endure; Thy sceptre's sway shall always last, 7 Because thy heart, by justice led, did upright ways approve, And hated still the crooked paths, where wand'ring sinners rove; Therefore did God, thy God, on thee the oil of gladness shed; And has, above thy fellows round, 8 With cassia, aloes, and myrrh, Which, from the stately wardrobe brought, spread grateful odours round. 9 Among the honourable train The queen was plac'd at thy right hand PART II. 10 But thou, O royal bride, give ear, 11 So shall thy beauty charm the King, For he is now become thy Lord to him due rev'rence pay. d; 12 The Tyrian matrons, rich and proud, shall humble presents make; And all the wealthy nations sue thy favour to partake. 13 The King's fair Daughter's fairer soul Her raiment is of purest gold, 14 She in her nuptial garments dress'd, 15 With all the state of solemn joy Till, with wide gates, the royal court. 16 Thou, in thy royal Father's room, Whom thou to diff'rent realms may'st send, to govern and protect: 17 Whilst this my song to future times i transmits thy glorious name; And makes the world, with one consent, thy lasting praise proclaim. PSALM XLVI. OD is our refuge in distress; A present help when dangers press; in him, undaunted, we'll confide; 2, 3 Though earth were from her centre tost, And mountains in the ocean lost, torn piece-meal by the roaring tide. 4 A gentler stream with gladness still The city of our Lord shall fill, the royal seat of God most high: 5 God dwells in Sion, whose fair towers Shall mock th' assaults of earthly powers, while his Almighty aid is nigh. 6 In tumults when the heathen rag'd, And kingdoms war against us wag'd, he thunder'd, and dispers'd their powers: The Lord of hosts conducts our arms, Our tower of refuge in alarms, our fathers' Guardian-God and ours. 8 Come, see the wonders he hath wrought, On earth what desolation brought; how he has calm'd the jarring world: 9 He broke the warlike spear and bow; With them their thund'ring chariots too into devouring flames were hurl'd. 10 Submit to God's Almighty sway; For him the heathen shall obey, and earth her Sov'reign Lord confess : 11 The God of hosts conducts our arms, Our tower of refuge in alarms, as to our fathers in distress. ALL PSALM XLVII. 1,20 ye people, clap your hands, and with triumphant voices sing; No force the mighty power withstands 3, 4 He shall opposing nations quell, 5, 6 God is gone up, our Lord and King, with shouts of joy, and trumpets' sound, To him repeated praises sing, and let the cheerful song rebound. 7, 8 Your utmost skill in praise be shown, for him who all the world commands, Who sits upon his righteous throne, and spreads his sway o'er heathen lands. 9 Our chiefs and tribes that far from hence to serve the God of Abr'am came, Found him their constant sure defence: how great and glorious is his name! PSALM XLVIII. HE Lord, the only God, is great, Tand greatly to be prais'd In Sion, on whose happy mount his sacred throne is rais'd. |