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5 Since they the works of God despise,
Nor will his grace adore;
His wrath shall utterly destroy,
And build them up no more.
6 But I, with due acknowledgment,
His praises will resound,

From whom the cries of my distress
A gracious answer found.

7 My heart its confidence repos'd
In God, my strength and shield;
In him I trusted, and return'd
Triumphant from the field.

As he hath made my joys complete,
'Tis just that I should raise
The cheerful tribute of my thanks,
And thus resound his praise :

8"His aiding pow'r supports the troops
"That my just cause maintain :
""Twas he advanc'd me to the throne,
""Tis he secures my reign."

9 Preserve thy chosen, and proceed
Thine heritage to bless;

With plenty prosper them in peace;
In battle with success.

PSALM XXIX.

IYE princes that in might excel,

Your grateful sacrifice prepare;
God's glorious actions loudly tell,
His wondrous pow'r to all declare.
2 To his great Name fresh altars raise,
Devoutly due respect afford;
Him in his holy temple praise,

Where he's with solemn state ador'd.

3 'Tis he that with amazing noise

The wat'ry clouds in sunder breaks; The ocean trembles at his voice,

When he from heav'n in thunder speaks, 4,5 How full of pow'r his voice appears! With what majestick terror crown'd! Which from their roots tall cedars tears,

And strews their scatter'd branches round. 6 They, and the hills on which they grow, Are sometimes hurried far away; And leap like hinds that bounding go, Or unicorns in youthful play.

7, 8 When God in thunder loudly speaks, And scatter'd flames of lightning sends, The forest nods, the desert quakes,

And stubborn Kadesh lowly bends.

9 He makes the hinds to cast their young,
And lays the beasts' dark coverts bare;
While those that to his courts belong
Securely sing his praises there.

10, 11 God rules the angry floods on high;
His boundless sway shall never cease;
His people he'll with strength supply,
And bless his own with constant peace.

PSALM XXX.

I'LL celebrate thy praises, Lord,
Who didst thy pow'r employ
To raise my drooping head, and check
My foes' insulting joy.

2, 3 In my distress I cried to thee,
Who kindly didst relieve,

And from the grave's expecting jaws
My hopeless life retrieve.

4 Thus to his courts, ye saints of his,
With songs of praise repair;
With me commemorate his truth,
And providential care.

5 His wrath has but a moment's reign,
His favour no decay;

Your night of grief is recompens'd
With joy's returning day.

6 But I in prosp'rous days presum'd;
No sudden change I fear'd,
Whilst in my sunshine of success
No low'ring cloud appear'd.

7 But soon I found thy favour, Lord,
My empire's only trust;

For when thou hid'st thy face, I saw
My honour laid in dust.

s Then, as I vainly had presum'd,
My error I confess'd;

And thus, with supplicating voice, Thy mercy's throne address'd: 9" What profit is there in my blood, "Congeal'd by death's cold night! "Can silent ashes speak thy praise, "Thy wondrous truth recite!

10" Hear me, O Lord; in mercy, hear:
"Thy wonted aid extend;

"Do thou send help, on whom alone
"I can for help depend."

11 'Tis done! Thou hast my mournful scene
To songs and dances turn'd;
Invested me with robes of state,
Who late in sackcloth mourn'd.

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12 Exalted thus, I'll gladly sing
Thy praise in grateful verse;
And, as thy favours endless are,
Thy endless praise rehearse."

PSALM XXXI.

1 DEFEND me, Lord, from shame,

For still I trust in thee;

As just and righteous is thy Name,
From danger set me free.

2 Bow down thy gracious ear,
And speedy succour send;
Do thou my steadfast rock appear,
To shelter and defend.

3 Since thou, when foes oppress,
My rock and fortress art,

To guide me forth from this distress
Thy wonted help impart.

4 Release me from the snare

Which they have closely laid,
Since I, O God my strength, repair
To thee alone for aid.

5 To thee, the God of truth,
My life, and all that's mine,

(For thou preserv'dst me from my youth,)
I willingly resign.

6 All vain designs I hate,

Of those that trust in lies;
And still my soul in ev'ry state
To God for succour flies.

The Second Part.

7 Those mercies thou hast shown

I'll cheerfully express;

For thou hast seen my straits, and known
My soul in deep distress.

8 When Keilah's treach'rous race

Did all my strength enclose,
Thou gav'st my feet a larger space
To shun my watchful foes.

9 Thy mercy, Lord, display,

And hear my just complaint;
For both my soul and flesh decay,
With grief and hunger faint.

10 Sad thoughts my life oppress;

My years are spent in groans;
My sins have made my strength decrease,
And e'en consum'd my bones.

11 My foes my suff'rings mock'd;

My neighbours did upbraid;

My friends, at sight of me, were shock'd,
And fled as men dismay'd.

12 Forsook by all am I,

As dead and out of mind;
And like a shatter'd vessel lie,
Whose parts can ne'er be join'd.
13 Yet sland'ring words they speak,
And seem my pow'r to dread;
Whilst they together counsel take
My guiltless blood to shed.

14 But still my steadfast trust
I on thy help repose;

That thou, my God, art good and just,
My soul with comfort knows.

The Third Part.

15 Whate'er events betide,

Thy wisdom times them all;
Then, Lord, thy servant safely hide
From those that seek his fall.

16 The brightness of thy face
To me, O Lord, disclose;
And, as thy mercies still increase,
Preserve me from my foes.

17 Me from dishonour save,

Who still have call'd on thee;
Let that, and silence in the grave,
The sinner's portion be.

18 Do thou their tongues restrain,
Whose breath in lies is spent ;
Who false reports, with proud disdain,
Against the righteous vent.

19 How great thy mercies are

To such as fear thy Name,

Which thou, for those that trust thy care,
Dost to the world proclaim!

20 Thou keep'st them in thy sight,

From proud oppressors free;

From tongues that do in strife delight
They are preserv'd by thee.

21 With glory and renown

God's Name be ever bless'd;

Whose love in Keilah's well-fenc'd town
Was wondrously express'd!

22 I said, in hasty flight,

"I'm banish'd from thine eyes;" Yet still thou kept'st me in thy sight, And heard'st my earnest cries.

23 O all ye saints, the Lord

With eager love pursue;

Who to the just will help afford,
And give the proud their due.

24 Ye that on God rely,

Courageously proceed :

For he will still your hearts supply
With strength in time of need.

PSALM XXXII.

HE's bless'd whose sins have pardon gain'd, No more in judgment to appear; 2 Whose guilt remission has obtain'd," And whose repentance is sincere. 3 While I conceal'd the fretting sore, My bones consum'd without relief; All day did I with anguish roar,

But no complaint asswag'd my grief. 4 Heavy on me thy hand remain'd,

By day and night alike distress'd;
Till quite of vital moisture drain'd,

Like land with summer's drought oppress'd.
No sooner 1 my wound disclos'd,

The guilt that tortur'd me within,

But thy forgiveness interpos'd,

And mercy's healing balm pour'd in.

5 True penitents shall thus succeed,

Who seek thee whilst thou may'st be found; And, from the common deluge freed,

Shall see remorseless sinners drown'd.

7 Thy favour, Lord, in all distress,

My tow'r of refuge I must own;
Thou shalt my haughty foes suppress,
And me with songs of triumph crown.

8 In my instruction then confide,

You that would truth's safe path descry;
Your progress I'll securely guide,

And keep you in my watchful eye. 9 Submit yourselves to wisdom's rule,

Like men that reason have attain'd; Not like th' ungovern'd horse and mule, Whose fury must be curb'd and rein'd. 10 Sorrows on sorrows multiplied

The harden'd sinner shall confound, But them who in his truth confide, Blessings of mercy shall surround.

11 His saints that have perform'd his laws Their life in triumph shall employ;

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Let them, as they alone have cause,
In grateful raptures shout for joy.

PSALM XXXIII.

'LET all the just to God with joy
Their cheerful voices raise,

For well the righteous it becomes
To sing glad songs of praise.

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