16 Search us, O God, and know our heart;
Try if sin lurks in any part:

O turn our feet, whene'er we stray;
And lead us in Thy perfect way.

PSALM 140.

God ever rescues, and preserves his faithful people.
1 PRESERVE me, Lord, from dang'rous foes,
Whose minds on war are bent:

Who make their tongue with venom glow,
And wily snares invent.

2 But Thee, Jehovah, God Most High!
Thee as my God I own;

O let my supplicating voice

Be heard before thy throne.

3 0 God the Lord, thy strength supreme
Salvation's shield can spread;
Thy mercy, in each dang'rous hour,
Guards my defenceless head.

4 Thou wilt assert thy servant's cause,
And speedy succour give;
The righteous celebrate thy praise,
And in thy presence live.

PSALM 141.

"Watch and pray;" and "exhort one another,-- lest any be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."

1 MY God, accept my early vows, Like morning incense in thine house; And let my nightly worship rise

Sweet as the evening sacrifice.

2 Watch o'er my lips, and guard them, Lord, From ev'ry rash and heedless word:

Nor let my feet incline to tread
The guilty path where sinners lead.

3 O may the righteous, when I stray,
Smite, and reprove my wand'ring way;
Their gentle words, like ointment shed,
Shall never bruise, but cheer my head.
4 When I behold them prest with grief,
I'll cry to thee for their relief;
And, by my warm petitions, prove
How much I prize their faithful love.

PSALM 142.

God the hope of the afflicted.

I TO God I made my prayer;
Distrest, I sought relief.

2

3

4

To him I pour'd my sad complaint;
And show'd him all my grief.

My path was known to Thee,
When I of help despair'd;

Each refuge fail'd, each friend forsook;

None for my safety car'd.

To thee, O Lord, I pray'd;
My faith on Thee relies.

Thou art my only refuge here,

My portion in the skies.

My soul from prison bring,

That I may praise thy name:
Then shall the righteous throng around,
And all thy grace proclaim.

PSALM 143.

The seventh Penitential Psalm.

The prayer of the humble, but hopeful, believer, in his seasons of despondency.

1 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.

2 Lord, I have foes without, within;-
Satan,--the world,-indwelling sin:
My heart within me is opprest,
And desolate my sorrowing breast.

3 My thoughts in musing silence trace
The ancient wonders of thy grace;
To Thee, in hope, I stretch my hands,
Athirst, as sultry desert lands.

4 Answer me soon, O Lord, I pray:
My spirit faints; make no delay.
Hide not thy presence; hear my call
Ere into death's dark shade I fall.

Prayer for mercy, direction, and grace.

5 LORD, let me hear, when morning breaks,
The words thy loving-kindness speaks;
I lift my soul to thee, O Lord;
In Thee I trust,-thy light afford.

6 Break off my fetters, Lord; and show
Which is the path my feet should go:
If snares and foes beset my road,
I flee to hide me near my God.

Teach me to do thy holy will,
And lead me to thy heavenly hill;
Let the good Spirit of thy love
Conduct me to thy courts above.

8 Release my soul from trouble, Lord;
Quicken and help me by thy word.
May all its promises be mine!
My portion be;-for I am thine.

PSALM 144.

"Thanks be to God, who giveth" unworthy man “the victory, through Jesus Christ our Lord."

1 FOR ever blessed be the Lord,
Our Saviour and our shield!
He sends his Spirit, with his word,
To arm us for the field.

2 When sin and hell their force unite,
He makes our souls his care,
Instructs us for the heav'nly fight,
And guards us thro' the war.

3 Lord, what is man, and all his race?
Naught-and his life a shade.
Yet he partakes thy boundless grace,
And thine Almighty aid!

4 Reveal'd from heaven in light divine,
Thine arm its power displays.

Thou, Lord, wilt make the vict'ry mine;
And thine shall be the praise.

Prayer for the increase of godliness and prosperity in the nation; and especially by rescuing the young from the snares of the seducer.

5 O KING of Kings! thy blessing shed;

And keep us, by thy watchful care,
From those, whose tongues corruption spread;
Whose hands the deeds of sin prepare.

6 So blest, our sons shall vig'rous grow
Like healthful trees, a hopeful race;
Our daughters like the columns show,
Design'd a royal court to grace:—
7 Our garners fill their loaded floor

With the rich blessings of the year;
Our sheep, increasing more and more,
Their thousands and ten thousands rear:

Y

8 Our oxen strong to labour grow,

Nor in their useful service faint:
Our land no scenes of warfare know,
And our streets witness no complaint.
9 O happy is that people's case,

Whose varied blessings thus abound!
Jehovah's worship who embrace;

Whose God the LORD alone is found!
PSALM 145.

The Psalmist praises, in animated strains, the majesty, works, and mercy of God.

1 THEE will I bless, my God and King,
Thy endless praise proclaim:
Daily to Thee my tribute bring,
And ever bless Thy Name.

2 Great is the Lord; his praise be great!
His glories are unknown!

Sire shall to son thy deeds relate,
And make thy wonders shown.
3 We'll speak thy glory, and renown;
Thy wondrous works express:
Nations thy dreadful might shall own,
Thy majesty confess.

4 In sweeter songs, with gladsome voice,
They shall thy goodness tell;

In thine unbounded love rejoice,

And on its glories dwell.

The mercy of God, and the glorious majesty of his Kingdom.

5 THE Lord is good, fresh acts of grace

His pity still supplies:

His anger moves with slowest pace,
His willing mercy flies.

6 His works, where'er those works extend,
His tender care proclaim:

Praises from all thy works ascend;
Thy saints shall bless thy name.