2 As morning incense, let arise

My prayer outpour'd to Thee;
And let, as the evening sacrifice,
My hands' uplifting be.

3 Before my mouth let watch be set;
Do Thou keep my lips' door;

From evil turn, and ever let
My heart all such abhor.

4 Ne'er let me to their acts consent,
Nor share the wicked's seat;

Their table let me ne'er frequent,
Nor of their dainties eat.

5 But let the righteous smite instead*;
"T will wound me to my weal:
As fragrant oil to anoint my head,
Shall his reproof I feel.

6 The ungodly's wrongful practices
Will I in nought partake;

Against their evil works and ways
My prayer will I still make.

7 When shall their Rulers be laid low,
And from the rocks down thrown,
Then Men my words for good shall know,
And their sweet savour own.

8 As lies cleft wood about the ground,

*

Where noticeless we die,

At the pit's mouth, and strewn around,
Our bones discatter'd lie.

9 But unto Thee, my GoD and Lord!
Mine eyes I turn, for stay:
In Thee I trust: Thy help afford,

Nor cast me now away.

10 O save me from their toils and snares,
Which for me they have laid;

The traps the wicked man prepares,
In secretness array'd.

11 And into their own nets, where lain
Now let the wicked fall;

Therein let my enemies be ta’en;
Whilst I escape withal.

PSALM CXLII.

First Version.

I CRIED unto The Lord;

To Him I made address;
Before Him I my plaint outpour'd,
And show'd my troublousness.
2 When grief my soul down-weigh'd,
Thou saw'st my path and way:
Therein their snares my haters laid,
To take me as a prey.

3 All round* I look'd, to see:

And lo, none knew me there;
All refuge fail'd me; none would free,
Noue for my soul would care!

4 To Thee then did I cry.

Thou art my hope I said. Thou in the living's land, still by, 'My strength art and my stead.'

5 Lord! to my cry attend;

For low am I down brought :
Against my oppressors me defend;
For by them I 'm o'erwrought.
6 Set free my soul whence bound:
That I Thy Name may praise.
So shall the righteous gird me round,
When Thou dost me upraise.

PSALM CXLII.

Second Version.

I

CRY unto The Lord, in strait;

To Him I my complaint address,

On Him with supplication wait,

My trouble show Him and distress.

2 Thou know'st my path: Beset with foes,
Their snares about my way are laid:
I look for help; but none me knows;
All refuge fails me, none will aid:

3 To Thee, then, Lord! I cry; and say. My hope here centres all in Thee: O hear my cry; be Thou my stay,

And from my enemies set me free. 4 Release me whence in fetters bound:

That I may praise Thy Name while live: So shall the righteous gird me round, When Thou Thy favour dost me give.

PSALM CXLIII.

First Version.

LORD! list my prayer: in this distress
My supplication hear;

For Thy truth's sake and righteousness',
Now to my plaint give ear.

2 Nor judge Thy servant: Since none can,
Offenceless be with Thee :

For in Thy sight no living man
E'er justified shall be.

3 For, the enemy, with ceaseless strife,
Doth vex my soul and wound;
Yea he hath smitten down my life,
Down even to the ground.

4 To caverns doth he me compel,
Wherein to hide my head;

In darkness doth he make me dwell,
As those long since that dead.

5 Within me thence my spirit faints,
Oppress'd beyond to bear;

Thence is my heart, with ceaseless plaints, All desolate and drear.

6 I mind the days of olden date,
The past I o'er-peruse;

Still on Thy acts I meditate,
On Thy hands' work I muse.

7 To Thee do I stretch forth my hands;
I long with Thee to be;

As thirst for rain the droughted lands,
My soul still thirsts for Thee.

8 O hear me soon: For, strength-deprived,
I'm like to them laid low:
Yea let me speedily, revived,
Thy lovingkindness know.

9 On Thee I trust my hope ne'er balk;
Lord! help me with Thine aid;
Show me the way wherein to walk:
For all on Thee I'm stay'd.

10 Deliver me from my enemies
Me 'neath Thy covert hide:
To Thee my soul affrighted flees,
For shelter Thee beside.

11 Teach me, O Lord! Thy will to do,
In all, as may ordain;

Let Thy good spirit lead me into,
And in Thy paths maintain.

12 For Thy Name's sake, O Lord my GOD!
And for Thy mercy's sake,-

My soul, uplifting where down-trod',
From out its troubles take.

13 And my enemies smite; their rage controul; And from them set me free:

Destroy Thou them that vex my soul:
For still I wait on Thee.

PSALM CXLIII.

Second Version.

ORD! hear my prayer; now gracious be,
And answer to my suing give:

Nor judge Thy servant: For, with Thee,
Can none be justified that live.

2 For the enemy my life has sought;
Pursuing me, with malice fell;

As those, that, long since dead, are nought, In darkness has he made me dwell.

3 Thence sinks my spirit, as in thrall; My heart within me keeps recluse; 1 gone-by times to mind recall,

I on Thy dispensations muse.

4 To Thee do I stretch forth my hands;
Still seeking Thee, who alone canst save;
As crave drought-parch'd the thirsty lands,
For Thee still thirsting do I crave.

5 Lord! hear me soon, now helpless left;
Nor from me turn Thy face in frown:
For I am e'en as life-bereft,

As one that to the pit gone down. 6 Thy loving-kindness to me show;

For all on Thee my trust I've laid:
Show me the way that I should go;
For still on Thee my soul is stay'd.
7 Deliver me from my enemies;

Hide me with Thee, for shelter sure;
Teach me Thy will, Thy law's decrees:
For Thou 'rt my GoD, in whom secure.
8 Thy spirit is with grace full-stor❜d;
Into uprightness' land me lead:
For Thy Name's sake, O gracious Lord!
Relieve me Thou, now in my need.
9 Me, for Thy goodness' sake, relieve;
From my enemies now set me free;
Chastise Thou them that me aggrieve:
For, Lord! I ever wait on Thee.

PSALM CXLIV.

BLEST be THE LORD! who by me stands,
Who is my strength and might,
Who how to war instructs my hands
And fingers how to fight.

2 He is my guardian, who defends;
My stronghold, and my stay,

In whom I trust: "T is He who bends
The Nations to my sway.