3 Distressing lot! my days to lead
With men of strife and war!
I am for peace; for peace I plead;
But they for strife prepare.

1

4 I am for peace; her ways will keep,
Her kindly deeds fulfil;

On foes warm coals of kindness heap,
With good o'ercoming ill.
PSALM 121.

He, that expects help from God, is assured of security under his constant protection.

1 TO Zion's hill I lift my eyes;
From thence expecting aid
From Zion's hill and Zion's God,
Who heaven and earth has made.
2 Thou then, my soul, in safety rest,
Thy guardian will not sleep;

His watchful care, that Israel guards,
Will Israel's household keep.

3 Shelter'd beneath the Almighty wing,
Thou shalt securely rest,

Where neither sun nor moon shall thee
By day or night molest.

4 At home, abroad, in peace, in war,
Thy God shall thee defend;
Conduct thee through life's pilgrimage
Safe to thy journey's end.

PSALM 122.

The national anthem of the Jewish Church; equally applicable to describe the joys and wishes of those, to whom the unity, peace, and prosperity of the Christian Church is dear.

1 O 'TIS a joyful sound to hear
The tribes devoutly say;

To the Lord's temple let us haste,
And keep his festal day.

2 There holy brotherhood unites;
Thither the saints repair

To learn God's will, and celebrate
His name with praise and

prayer.

3 O pray we then for Salem's peace!
For they shall prosp'rous be,
Thou holy city of our God,

That bear true love to thee.

4 May peace within thy sacred walls
A constant guest be found;
With plenty and prosperity

Thy palaces be crown'd.

5 Seat of my friends and brethren, hail!
Blest be thy lov❜d abode !
Yea, fervently I seek thy good,
Thou dwelling of our God!

PSALM 123.

The earnest supplication of the obedient servants of God.

1 ON thee, who dwell'st above the skies,
For mercy wait our longing eyes;
As servants watch their master's hand,
Or maids their mistresses' command.

20 then have mercy on us, Lord,
Thy gracious aid to us afford;
And let thy clemency divine
Conspicuous in our rescue shine.

PSALM 124.

Gratitude for public deliverance, and exultation in divine aid.

1 HAD not the Lord, may Israel say,
Had not the Lord his aid supplied,
When those who sought us for a prey
Rose like the ocean's swelling tide;

2 The angry waters that assail'd

Had fiercely rag'd beyond control: Their rising billows had prevail'd,

The floods had overwhelm'd our soul.

3 For ever blessed be the Lord,

Who made our soul his gracious care! He did a timely flight afford,

And broke the wily fowlers' snare.

4 Our help is in Jehovah's name,

Who form'd the earth, and built the sky; He, that upholds their wondrous frame, His people guards with watchful eye.

PSALM 125.

Ths security of the faithful.

1 THOSE that repose their confidence
Upon the Lord our God indeed;
And flee to him for their defence
In all their misery and need;-

2 Their faith is sure still to endure,

Grounded on Christ, the corner stone,
Mov'd with no ill, it standeth still,
Firm as the Mount of Zion shown.

3 And as the fair Jerusalem

The everlasting hills surround,
So that no foe can come to them

To vex, to injure, or confound;—

4 So God indeed, in ev'ry need,

His faithful people will defend;
Standing them by, assuredly,

From this time forth world without end.

God will not suffer his people to be tried "above what they are able;" and, though he punishes the wicked and apostates, he will give his people peace.

5

6

7

TOO long th' oppressor's power

Shall not the just oppress!
Lest, fainting in the trying hour,
Their heart or hands transgress.

Thou God of boundless love,
O let thy grace appear!

And let thy saints thy goodness prove,

Whose hearts are found sincere.

Those, who forsake the Lord,

And madly turn aside,

Will meet His wrath, their just reward,
Where guilty souls abide.

8

But all his saints shall know

His goodness and his grace;

To them his glory he will show,
And everlasting peace.

PSALM 126.

The deliverance of Israel from Babylon, like that from Egypt, may be applied by us to spiritual mercies.

Praise for the joyful tidings of redemption.
1 DELIV❜RANCE from their captive state,
To Judah's sons appear'd a dream:
Their long-unwonted joy was great;

And praise to God their pleasing theme.
2 The heathen saw, and wond'ring own
The workings of a hand divine;
"Great things for us the Lord hath done!"
His rescued people glad rejoin.

3 Lord, let thy people still confess

The blessings by thy power bestow'd:
And for each future need address

Earnest entreaties to their God.

8 Thy word is everlasting truth;
How pure is ev'ry page!

That holy book shall guide our youth,
And well support our age.

Delight in the word of God.

9 THY word, O Lord, has been my choice, My precious heritage.

This can my inmost thoughts rejoice,
And all my powers engage.

10 'Tis a broad land of wealth unknown;
Where springs of life arise;

Where seeds of heavenly bliss are sown,
And hidden glory lies..

11 The best relief that mourners have!
It makes our sorrows blest;
Our fairest hope beyond the grave,
And our eternal rest.

12 How does thy word my love engage!
Its praise employ my tongue!
Throughout mine earthly pilgrimage
Thy statutes are my song.

God's word is eternal truth.

13 FOR ever in the heavens above
Establish'd is thy word;

Unchang'd thy faithfulness and love
From age to age, O Lord.

14 Engrav'd as in eternal brass,
Each mighty promise shines,

Nor can the pow'rs of darkness raze
Those everlasting lines.

15 The sacred word of grace is strong,
As that which built the skies;

The voice which rolls the stars along
Spoke all the promises.