But God shall inward strength impart, and my eternal portion be. 27 For they that far from thee remove, shall into sudden run fall; If after other gods they rove, thy vengeance shall destroy them all. 28 But as for me, 'tis good and just that I should still to God repair; In him I always put my trust, and will his wondrous works declare. PSALM LXXIV. 1 THY hast thou cast us off, O God? wilt thou no more return ? O! why against thy chosen flock does thy fierce anger burn? 2 Think on thy ancient purchase, Lord, the land that is thy own, By thee redeem'd, and Sion's mount, where once thy glory shone. 30! come and view our ruin'd state ; how long our troubles last; See how the foe, with wicked rage, has laid thy temple waste. 4 Thy foes blaspheme thy name; where late thy zealous servants pray'd, The heathen there, with haughty pomp, their banners have display'd. 5, 6 Those curious carvings, which did once advance the artist's fame, With axe and hammer they destroy, like works of vulgar frame. 7 Thy holy temple they have burn'd; and what escap'd the flame, Has been profan'd, and quite defac'd, though sacred to thy name. 8 Thy worship wholly to destroy maliciously they aim'd; And all the sacred places burn'd, where we thy praise proclaim'd. 9 Yet of thy presence thou vouchsaf'st no tender signs to send ; We have no prophet now, that knows when this sad state shall end. PART II. 10 But, Lord, how long wilt thou permit th' insulting foe to boast ? Shall all the honour of thy name for evermore be lost ! 11 Why hold'st thou back thy strong right hand, and on thy patient breast, When vengeance calls to stretch it forth, so calmly lett'st it rest? 12 Thou heretofore, with kingly power, in our defence hast fought; For us, throughout the wond'ring world, hast great salvation wrought. 13 'Twas thou, O God, who didst the sea by thy own strength divide; Thou break'st the wat'ry monsters' heads; the waves o’erwhelm'd their pride. 14 The greatest, fiercest of them all, that seem'd the deep to sway, Was by thy power destroy'd, and made to savage beasts a prey. 15 Thou clav'st the solid rock, and mad'st the waters largely flow; Again, thou mad'st through parted streams thy wand'ring people go. 16 Thine is the cheerful day, and thine the black return of night; Thou hast prepar'd the glorious sun, and every feebler light. 17 By thee the borders of the earth in perfect order stand; The summer's warmth, and winter's cold, attend on thy command. PART III. 18 Remember, Lord, how scornful foes have daily urg'd our shame; And how the foolish people have blasphem'd thy holy name. 19 O! free thy mourning turtle-dove, by sinful crowds beset; Nor the assembly of thy poor for evermore forget. 20 Thy ancient cov'nant, Lord, regard; and make thy promise good; For now each corner of the land is fill'd with men of blood. 21 O! let not the oppress'd return with sorrow cloth’d, and shame; But let the helpless and the poor for ever praise thy name. 22 Arise, O God, in our behalf; thy cause and ours maintain ; Remember how insulting fools each day thy name profane. 23 Make thou the boastings of thy foes for evermore to cease; Whose insolence, if unchastis'd, will more and more increase. PSALM LXXV. to theewith thanks repair; For, that thy name to us is nigh, thy wondrous works declare. 2 In Israel when my throne is fix'd, with me shall justice reign : 3 The land with discord shakes; but I the sinking frame sustain. 4 Deluded wretches I advis'd their errors to redress; And warn'd bold sinners, that they should their swelling pride suppress. 5 Bear not yourselves so high, as if no power could yours restrain ; Submit your stubborn necks, and learn to speak with less disdain : 6 For that promotion, which to gain your vain ambition strives, From neither east nor west, nor yet from southern climes arrives. → For God the great disposer is, and sov'reign Judge alone, Who casts the proud to earth, and lifts the humble to a throne. 8 His hand holds forth a dreadful cup; with purple wine 'tis crown'd; deals out to nations round. squeeze to drink the very lees. this message will relate; my song shall celebrate. their cruelty disarm; PSALM LXXVI. Almighty there by wonders shown, his name in Jacob does excel : 2 His sanctu'ry in Salem stands; The majesty that heaven commands, in Sion condescends to dwell. 3 He brake the bow and arrows there, The shield, and temper'd sword, and spear; there slain the mighty army lay: IN 4 Whence Sion's fame through earth is spread, Of greater glory, greater dread, than hills where robbers lodge their prey. 5 Their valiant chiefs, who came for spoil, Themselves met there a shameful foil: securely down to sleep they lay; 'gainst his, that did their legions slay. 6 When Jacob's God began to frown, Both horse and charioteers, o'erthrown, together slept in endless night: 7 When thou, whom earth and heaven revere, Dost once with wrathful look appear, what mortal power can stand thy sight? 8 Pronounc'd from heaven, earth heard its doom, Grew hush'd with fear, when thou didst come 9 the meek with justice to restore: 10 The wrath of man shall yield thee praise; Its last attempts but serve to raise the triumphs of Almighty power. 11 Vow to the Lord, ye nations; bring Vow'd presents to the eternal King: thus to his name due rev’rence pay, 12 Who proudest potentates can quell, To earthly kings more terrible, than to their trembling subjects they. PSALM LXXVII. 1 NO God I cry'd, who to my help did graciously 2 In trouble's dismal day I sought my God with humble prayer. : All night my fest'ring wound did run; no med'cine gave relief; My soul no comfort would admit; my soul indulg'd her grief. 3 I thought on God, and favours past; but that increas'd my pain : I found my spirit more oppress'd, the more I did complain. 4 Through every watch of tedious night thou keep'st my eyes awake: My grief is swellid to that excess, sigh, but cannot speak. 5 I call to mind the days of old, with signal mercy crown'd; Those famous years of ancient times, for miracles renown'd. 6 By night I recollect my songs, on former triumphs made; Then search, consult, and ask my heart, where's now that wondrous aid? 7 Has God for ever cast us off ? withdrawn his favours quite ? 8 Are both his mercy and his truth retir'd to endless night? 9 Can his long practis'd love forget its wonted aids to bring ? Has he in wrath shut up and seal'd his mercy's healing spring ? 10 I said, my weakness hints these fears; but I'll my fears disband ; I'll yet remember the Most High, and years of his right hand. 11 I'll call to mind his works of old, the wonders of his might; 12 On them my heart shall meditate, my tongue shall them recite. 13 Safe lodg'd from human search on high, O God, thy counsels are! Who is so great a God as ours ? who can with him compare ? 14 Long since a God of wonders thee thy rescued people found; 15 Long since hast thou thy chosen seed with strong deliv'rance crown'd. 16 When thee, o God, the waters saw, the frighted billows shrunk ; The troubled depths themselves for fear beneath their channels sunk. 17 The clouds pour'd down, while rending skies did with their noise conspire ; Thy arrows all abroad were sent, wing'd with avenging fire. 18 Heaven with thy thunder's voice was torn, whilst all the lower world With lightnings blazed; earth shook, and seem'd from her foundations hurl'd. 19 Through rolling streams thou find'st thy way, thy paths in waters lie; thy footsteps can descry. safe through the desert land, By Moses, their meek skilful guide, and Aaron's sacred hand. PSALM LXXVIII. 1 HEAR, O my people, to my law deep in your hearts descend. |