14 But as for me, my steadfast hope
shall on thy power depend;
And I in grateful songs of praise
my time to come will spend.

PART II.

15 Thy righteous acts, and saving health,
my mouth shall still declare;
Unable yet to count them all,

though summ'd with utmost care.
16 While God vouchsafes me his support,
I'll in his strength go on;

All other righteousness disclaim,

and mention his alone.

17 Thou, Lord, hast taught me from my youth to praise thy glorious name;

And, ever since, thy wondrous works have been my constant theme. 18 Then now forsake me not, when I am grey and feeble grown; Till I to these and future times

thy strength and power have shown. 19 How high thy justice soars, O God! how great and wondrous are

The mighty works which thou hast done! who may with thee compare!

20 Me, whom thy hand has sorely press'd, thy grace shall yet relieve;

And from the lowest depth of woe,

with tender care retrieve.

21 Through thee, my time to come shall be with power and greatness crown'd; And me, who dismal years have pass'd, thy comfort shall surround.

22 Then I with psaltery and harp, thy truth, O Lord, will praise; To thee, the God of Jacob's race, my voice in anthems raise.

23 Then joy shall fill my mouth, and songs employ my cheerful voice;

My grateful soul by thee redeem'd, shall in thy strength rejoice.

24 My tongue thy just and righteous acts shall all the day proclaim;

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Because thou didst confound my foes, and brought'st them all to shame.

PSALM LXXII.

LORD, let thy just decrees the king

in all his ways direct;

And let his son, throughout his reign, thy righteous laws respect.

2 So shall he still thy people judge
with pure and upright mind;

Whilst all the helpless poor shall him
their just protector find.

3 Then hills and mountains shall bring forth the happy fruits of peace;

Which all the land shall own to be
the work of righteousness:

4 Whilst he the poor and needy race
shall rule with gentle sway;

And from their humble neck shall take
oppressive yokes away.

5 In every heart thy awful fear

shall then be rooted fast,

As long as sun and moon endure,

or time itself shail last.

6 He shall descend like rain, that cheers the meadow's second birth;

Or like warm showers, whose gentle drops refresh the thirsty earth.

7 In his blest days the just and good
shall be with favour crown'd;

The happy land shall every where
with endless peace abound.

8 His uncontrol'd dominion shall
from sea to sea extend;

Begin at proud Euphrates' streams,
at nature's limits end.

9 To him the savage nations round
shall bow their servile heads;

His vanquish'd foes shall lick the dust,
where he his conquests spreads.

10 The king of Tarshish, and the isles,
shall costly presents bring;

From spicy Sheba gifts shall come,
and wealthy Saba's king.

11 To him shall every king on earth
his humble homage pay;
And diff'ring nations gladly join
to own his righteous sway.
12 For he shall set the needy free,
when they for succour cry;
Shall save the helpless and the poor,
and all their wants supply.

And, in his sight, their guiltless blood
of mighty price shall be.

15 Therefore shall God his life and reign
to many years extend;
Whilst eastern princes tribute pay,
and golden presents send.

For him shall constant prayers be made,
through all his prosperous days;
His just dominion shall afford
a lasting theme of praise.

16 Of useful grain, through all the land,
great plenty shall appear;

A handful, sown on mountains top,
a mighty crop shall bear:

Its fruits, like cedars shook by winds,
a rattling noise shall yield;
The city too shall thrive, and vie
for plenty with the field.

17 The mem'ry of his glorious name
through endless years shall run;
His spotless fame shall shine as bright
and lasting as the sun.

In him the nations of the world
shall be completely bless'd,
And his unbounded happiness
by every tongue confess'd.

18 Then bless'd be God, the mighty Lord, the God whom Israel fears:

Who only wondrous in his works, beyond compare appears.

19 Let earth be with his glory fill'd; for ever bless his name;

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Whilst to his praise the list'ning world their glad assent proclaim.

PSALM LXXIII.

A that God will to his saints be kind;
T length, by certain proofs, 'tis plain
That all whose hearts are pure and clean
shall his protecting favour find.

2, 3 Till this sustaining truth I knew,

my stagg'ring feet had almost fail'd; I griev'd the sinners' wealth to view, and envy'd when the fools prevail'd. 4, 5 They to the grave in peace descend, and, whilst they live, are hale and strong; No plagues or troubles them offend, which oft to other men belong.

6, 7 With pride, as with a chain, they're held, and rapine seems their robe of state; Their eyes stand out, with fatness swell'd; They grow, beyond their wishes, great.

8, 9 With hearts corrupt, and lofty talk, oppressive methods they defend;

Their tongue through all the earth does walk; their blasphemies to heaven ascend. 10 And yet admiring crowds are found, who servile visits duly make; Because with plenty they abound,

of which their flatt'ring slaves partake. 11 Their fond opinions these pursue,

till they with them profanely cry, "How should the Lord our actions view? "can he perceive who dwells so high?" 12 Behold the wicked! these are they who openly their sins profess;

And yet their wealth's increas'd each day, and all their actions meet success.

13, 14" Then have I cleans'd my heart," said I,
" and wash'd my hands from guilt, in vain,
"If all the day oppress'd I lie,

"and every morning suffer pain."
15 Thus did I once to speak intend;
but, if such things I rashly say,
Thy children, Lord, I must offend,
and basely should their cause betray.
PART II.

16, 17 To fathom this my thoughts I bent,
but found the case too hard for me;
Till to the house of God I went;
then I their end did plainly see.
18 How high soe'er advanc'd, they all
on slipp'ry places loosely stand;
Thence into ruin headlong fall,

cast down by thy avenging hand.

19, 20 How dreadful and how quick their fate! despis'd by thee, when they're destroy'd;

As waking men with scorn do treat

the fancies that their dreams employ'd. 21, 22 Thus was my heart with grief opprest, my reins were rack'd with restless pains; So stupid was I, like a beast,

who no reflecting thought retains.

23, 24 Yet still thy presence me supply'd, and thy right hand assistance gave: Thou first shalt with thy counsel guide, and then to glory me receive.

25 Whom then in heaven, but thee alone, have I, whose favour I require?

Throughout the spacious earth there's none that I besides thee can desire.

26 My trembling flesh, and aching heart, may often fail to succour me;

But God shall inward strength impart, and my eternal portion be. 27 For they that far from thee remove, shall into sudden ruin 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,

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and will his wondrous works declare.

PSALM LXXIV.

WHY 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.

3 O! 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,