Page images
PDF
EPUB

all

6 I said that ye were gods, yea The sons of God Most High;

7 But ye shall die like men, and fall As other princes 'die.'

8 Rise God, judge thou the earth' in might,' This wicked' earth redress,

For thou art he who shall by right
The nations all possess.

PSALM LXXXIII.

1 BE not thou silent 'now at length, O God, hold not thy peace'

[ocr errors]

Sit thou not still, O God of strength,
We cry and do not cease.'

2 For lo thy furious' foes' now' swell,
And storm outrageously,

And they that hate thee proud and fell'
Exalt their heads full high.

3 Against thy people they contrive
Their plots and counsels deep,
Them to ensnare they chiefly strive,
Whom thou dost hide and keep.

4 Come let us cut them off, say they,
Till they no nation be,

That Israel's name for ever may
Be lost in memory.

5 For they consult with all their might,
And all as one in mind

Themselves against thee they unite,
And in firm union bind.

6 The tents of Edom, and the brood
Of scornful' Ishmael,

Moab, with them of Hagar's blood,
'That in the desert dwell,'

7 Gebal and Ammon there conspire,"
And hateful' Amalec,

The Philistines, and they of Tyre,

[ocr errors]

Whose bounds the sea doth check.'

8 With them 'great' Ashur also bands
And doth confirm the knot:

All these have lent their armed hands'
To aid the sons of Lot.

9 Do to them as to Midian bold,' That wasted all the coast,

To Sisera, and, as ‘is told

Thou didst' to Jabin's 'host,'

'When at the brook of Kishon 'old.
They were repulsed and slain,'
10 At Endor quite cut off, and roll'd
As dung upon the plain.

11 As Zeb and Oreb evil sped,
So let their princes speed,
As Zeba, and Zalmunnabled,'
So let their princes' bleed.'

[ocr errors]

12 For they amidst their pride' have said,
By right now shall we seize

God's houses, and 'will now invade'
Their stately palaces.

13 My God, oh make them as a wheel,
No quiet let them find;'
Giddy and restless' let them reel'
Like stubble from the wind.

14 As' when' an 'aged' wood takes fire
'Which on a sudden strays,'

[ocr errors]

The greedy' flame runs higher and higher
Till all the mountains blaze,

15 So with thy whirlwind them pursue,
And with thy tempest chase :
16 And till they yield thee honour due,
Lord, fill with shame their face.

17 Ashamed, and troubled let them be,
Troubled, and shamed for ever,
Ever confounded, and so die

With shame,' and' scape

it never.

18 Then shall they know, that Thou, whose name

Jehovah is alone,

Art the Most High, and Thou the same'
O'er all the earth art One.'

PSALM LXXXIV.

1 How lovely are thy dwellings fair!
O Lord of Hosts, how dear
The pleasant' tabernacles are,

'Where thou dost dwell so near!'

2 My soul doth long and almost die
Thy courts O Lord to see,

My heart and flesh aloud do cry,
O living God, for thee.

3 There even the sparrow freed from wrong'
Hath found a house of 'rest;'
The swallow there, to lay her young
Hath built her 'brooding' nest,

Even by thy altars, Lord of Hosts,
'They find their safe abode,
And home they fly from round the coasts
Toward thee,' my King, my God.

4 Happy, who in thy house reside,
Where thee they ever praise,

5 Happy, whose strength in thee doth bide, And in their hearts thy ways.

6 They pass through Baca's thirsty' vale,
That dry and barren ground,'

As through a fruitful watery dale,
Where springs and showers abound.

7 They journey on from strength to strength With joy and gladsome cheer,

Till' all before our' God at length'
In Zion do appear.

[ocr errors]

8 Lord God of Hosts hear now' my prayer,

O Jacob's God give ear,

9 Thou God our shield look on the face Of thy anointed' dear.'

10 For one day in thy courts 'to be' Is better, and more blest,' Than in the joys of vanity'

A thousand days' at best.'

I in the temple of my God,
Had rather keep a door,

Than dwell in tents, and rich abode,'
With sin for evermore.'

[ocr errors]

11 For God the Lord both sun and shield

[ocr errors]

Gives grace and glory bright,

No good from them shall be withheld
Whose ways are just and right.

12 Lord 'God' of Hosts that reign'st on high,'
That man is truly' blest,
Who'only' on thee doth rely,
And in thee only rest.

PSALM LXXXV.

1 THY land to favour graciously
Thou hast not Lord been slack,
Thou hast from hard captivity
Returned Jacob back.

2 The iniquity thou didst forgive
That wrought' thy people woe,
And all their sin, that did thee grieve,'
Hast hid where none shall know.'

3 Thine anger all thou hadst removed,
And calmly' didst return

From thy fierce wrath which we had proved
Far worse than fire to burn.

4 God of our saving health and peace,
Turn us, and us restore,

Thine indignation cause to cease
Towards us, and chide no more.'

5 Wilt thou be angry without end,
For ever angry thus,

Wilt thou thy frowning ire extend
From age to age on us?

[ocr errors]

6 Wilt thou not turn, and hear our voice.' And us again revive,

That so thy people may rejoice

By thee preserv'd alive.

7 Cause us to see thy goodness, Lord, To us thy mercy shew,

Thy saving health to us afford,

And life in us renew.'

8 And now what God the Lord will speak'

[ocr errors]

I will go straight and' hear,

For to his people he speaks peace,

And to his saints' full dear;'

To his dear saints he will speak peace,
But let them never more

Return to folly, 'but surcease
To trespass as before.'

9 Surely to such as do him fear
Salvation is at hand,

And glory shall'ere long appear
To' dwell within our land.

10 Mercy and Truth' that long were miss'd,'
Now 'joyfully' are met,

'Sweet' Peace and Righteousness have kiss'd,
And hand in hand are set.

11 Truth from the earth, like to a flower,
Shall bud and blossom' then,'
And Justice from her heavenly bower
Look down on mortal men.'

12 The Lord will also then bestow
Whatever thing is good,

Our land shall forth in plenty throw
Her fruits to be our food.'

13 Before him Righteousness shall go
"His royal habinger,'

Then will he come, and not be slow,
His footsteps cannot err.

PSALM LXXXVI.

1 THY' gracious' ear, O Lord, incline,
O hear me I thee pray ;'

For I am poor, and almost pine
With need, and sad decay.'

2 Preserve my soul, for I have trod
Thy ways, and love the just,
Save thou thy servant, O my God,
Who 'still' in thee doth trust.

3 Pity me, Lord, for daily thee

4

I call; O make rejoice

Thy servant's soul; for Lord to thee
I lift my soul and voice.'

5 For thou art good, thou Lord art prone
To pardon, thou to all

Art full of mercy, thou' alone'

To them that on thee call.

6 Unto my supplication, Lord, Give ear, and to the cry

« PreviousContinue »