Let sinners trust in God,
No bounds his mercy knows;
The plenteous source and spring from whence
Eternal succour flows.
PSALM CXXXI.-Version 1. (c. M.)
LET me not, Lord, be proud of heart,
Nor haughty be mine eye;
Nor let me daring thoughts employ,
In things for me too high.
With infant-like simplicity,
My spirit be possest;
Composed to quiet like a babe,
When weaned from the breast.
With me let all confide in God,
His aid alone implore;
Both now and ever trust in him,
Who lives for evermore.
PSALM CXXXI.-Version 2. (P. M.)
LORD, do thou the grace impart
Of a meek and contrite heart;
Let me as my Master be,
Rooted in humility.
Since thou giv'st me thee to know,
Nothing may I seek below;
Aim at nothing great or high;
Lowly both in heart and eye.
Simple let me be, and mild,
Humble as a little child;
Pleas'd with all the Lord provides,
Wean'd from all the world besides.
Father! fix my soul on thee,
Ev'ry evil let me flee:
Nothing wish below, above,
Happy in thy boundless love.
PSALM CXXXII.—(c. M.)
ARISE, O King of Grace, arise,
And enter to thy rest!
Lo! thy church waits, with longing eyes,
Thus to be own'd and blest.
Here, mighty God! accept our vows:
Here let thy praise be spread:
Bless the provisions of thy house,
And fill thy poor with bread.
Here let the Son of David reign;
Let God's Anointed shine!
Justice and truth his court maintain,
With love and power divine.
Here let him hold a lasting throne;
And, as his kingdom grows,
Fresh honours shall adorn his crown,
And shame confound his foes.
PSALM CXXXIII.-(c. M.)
How vast must their advantage be!
How great their pleasure prove!
Who live like brethren and consent
In offices of love!
True love is like that precious oil,
Which pour'd on Aaron's head,
Ran down his beard, and o'er his robes
Its costly moisture shed..
'Tis like refreshing dew, which does On Hermon's top distil;
Or like the early drops that fall
On Sion's fruitful hill.
For Sion is the chosen seat,
Where the Almighty King
The promis'd blessing has ordain'd,
And life's eternal spring.
PSALM CXXXV.-(c. M.)
O PRAISE the Lord with one consent,
And magnify his name;
Let all the servants of the Lord
His glorious praise proclaim.
Praise him all ye that in his house
Attend with constant care;
Who to his courts with holy joy
And humble zeal repair.
Their sense of his unbounded love,
Let all mankind express:
Yea, let all those who fear the Lord,
The Lord for ever bless.
For God his own peculiar choice
His faithful servants makes:
And Israel's offspring for his own
Most valu'd treasure takes.
PSALM CXXXVI.—(P. M.)
LET us with a gladsome mind
Praise the Lord, for he is kind:
For his mercies shall endure,"
Ever faithful, ever sure.
He with all-commanding might
Fill'd the new-made world with light:
For his mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.
All things living he doth feed;
His full hand supplies their need:
For his mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.
He hath with a piteous eye
Beheld us in our misery;
For his mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure."
Let us then with gladsome mind
Praise the Lord, for he is kind:
For his mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.
PSALM CXXXIX.-Part 1. (L. M.)
THOU, Lord, by strictest search hast known
My rising up and lying down:
My secret thoughts are known to thee,
Known long before conceiv'd by me.
Thine eye my bed and path surveys,
My public haunts and private ways;
Thou know'st what 'tis my lips would vent,
My yet unutter'd words' intent.
Surrounded by thy power I stand,
On every side I find thy hand :
O skill, for human reach too high!
Too dazzling bright for human eye!..
Search, try, O God, my thoughts and heart, If evil lurks in any part;
Correct me when I go astray,
And guide me in thy perfect way.
PSALM CXXXIX.-Part 2. (L. M.)
O COULD I So perfidious be,
To think of once deserting thee,
Where, Lord, could I thy influence shun?
Or whither from thy presence run?
If up to heav'n I take my flight,
'Tis there thou dwell'st enthron'd in light:
Or dive to hell's infernal plains,
'Tis there Almighty vengeance reigns.
If I the morning's wings could gain,
And fly beyond the western main,
Thy swifter hand would first arrive,
And there arrest thy fugitive.
Or should I try to shun thy sight,
Beneath the sable wings of night;
One glance from thee, one piercing ray,
Would kindle darkness into day.
PSALM CXLIII.—(L. M.)
HEAR me, O Lord! in my distress,
Hear me in truth and righteousness;
For at thy bar of judgment tried,
None living could be justified.
Lord, I have foes without, within;
The world, the flesh, indwelling sin,
Life's daily ills, temptation's hour,
And Satan roaring to devour.
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