And when thou speak'st the word, Return,

Tis instantly obey'd.

4 For in thy sight a thousand years

Are like a day that's past,

Or like a watch in dead of night,
Whose hours unminded waste.

5 Thou sweep'st us off as with a flood,
We vanish hence like dreams;
At first we grow like grass that feels
The sun's reviving beams :
6 But howsoever fresh and fair

Its morning beauty shows;
Tis all cut down and wither'd quite,
Before the ev❜ning close.

7,8 We by thine anger are consum'd,
And by thy wrath dismay'd;
Our public crimes and secret sins
Before thy sight are laid.

9 Beneath thy anger's sad effects
Our drooping days we spend ;
Our unregarded years break off,
Like tales that quickly end.

10 Our term of time is sev'nty years,
An age that few survive;

But if, with more than common strength,

To eighty we arrive,

Yet then our boasted strength decays,

To sorrow turn'd and pain;
So soon the slender thread is cut,
And we no more remain.

PART II.

11 But who thy anger's dread effects
Does, as he ought, revere !

And yet thy wrath does fall or rise,
As more or less we fear.

12 So teach us, Lord, th' uncertain sum
Of our short days to mind,

That to true wisdom all our hearts
May ever be inclin'd.

13 O to thy servants, Lord, return,
And speedily relent!

As we forsake our sins, do thou
Revoke our punishment,

14 To satisfy and cheer our souls,
Thy early mercy send;

That we may all our days to come
In joy and comfort spend.

15 Let happy times with large amends,
Dry up our former tears,

Or equal at the least the term
Of our afflicted years.

16 To all thy servants, Lord, let this
Thy wondrous work be known,
And to our offspring yet unborn
Thy glorious pow'r be shown.
17 Let thy bright rays upon us shine,
Give thou our work success ;
The glorious work we have in hand
Do thou vouchsafe to bless.

'HE

PSALM XCI.

E that has God his guardian made
Shall, under the Almighty's shade,.
Secure and undisturb'd abide;
2 Thus to my soul of him I'll say,
He is my fortress and my stay,

My God, in whom I will confide.
3 His tender love and watchful care
Shall free thee from the fowler's snare,
And from the noisome pestilence :
4 He over thee his wings shall spread,
And cover thy unguarded head;

His truth shall be thy strong defence.
5 No terrors that surprise by night
Shall thy undaunted courage fright,

Nor deadly shafts that fly by day;
6 Nor plague, of unknown rise, that kills
In darkness, nor infectious ills

That in the hottest season slay.

7 A thousand at thy side shall die,
At thy right hand ten thousand lie,

While thy firm health untouch'd remains ;

8 Thou only shalt look on and see
The wicked's dismal tragedy,

And count the sinner's mournful gains.
9 Because, with well-plac'd confidence,
Thou mak'st the Lord thy sure defence,
And on the Highest dost rely;

10 Therefore no ill shall thee befail, Nor to thy healthful dwelling shall Any infectious plagues draw nigh. 11 For he throughout thy happy days, To keep thee safe in all thy ways,

Shall give his angels strict commands; 12 And they, lest thou should'st chance to meet With some rough stone to wound thy feet, Shall bear thee safely in their hands.

13 Dragons and asps that thirst for blood, And lions roaring for their food,

Beneath his conqu'ring feet shall lie; 14 Because he lov'd and honour'd me, Therefore, says God, I'll set him free,

And fix his glorious throne on high. 15 He'll call; I'll answer when he calls, And rescue him when ill befalls;

Increase his honour and his wealth:
16 And when, with undisturb'd content,
His long and happy life is spent,
His end I'll crown with saving health.
PSALM XCII.

HO

OW good and pleasant must it be
To thank the Lord most high;
And with repeated hymns of praise
His Name to magnify!

2 With ev'ry morning's early dawn
His goodness to relate;

And of his constant truth, each night,
The glad effects repeat!

3 To ten-string'd instruments we'll sing,
With tuneful psalt'ries join'd;

And to the harp, with solemn sounds,
For sacred use design'd.

4 For through thy wondrous works, O Lord,
Thou mak'st my heart rejoice;

The thoughts of them shall make me glad,
And shout with cheerful voice.

5, 6 How wondrous are thy works, O Lord,
How deep are thy decrees!

Whose winding tracts, in secret laid,
No stupid sinner sees.

7 He little thinks, when wicked men,
Like grass, look fresh and gay,

How soon their short-liv'd splendour must
For ever pass away.

8,9 But thou, my God, art still most high;
And all thy lofty foes,

Who thought they might securely sin,
Shall be o'erwhelm'd with woes.
10 Whilst thou exalt'st my sov'reign pow'r,
And mak'st it largely spread;
And with refreshing oil anoint'st
My consecrated head.

11 I soon shall see my stubborn foes
To utter ruin brought;

And hear the dismal end of those
Who have against me fought.
12 But righteous men, like fruitful palms,
Shall make a glorious show;

As cedars that on Lebanon

In stately order grow.

13, 14 These, planted in the house of God,
Within his courts shall thrive ;

Their vigour and their lustre both
Shall in old age revive.

15 Thus will the Lord his justice show;
And God, my strong defence,
Shall due rewards to all the world
Impartially dispense.

WITH

PSALM XCIII.

7ITH glory clad, with strength array'd,
The Lord, that o'er all nature reigns,
The world's foundation strongly laid,
And the vast fabric still sustains.

2 How surely 'stablish'd is thy throne,
Which shall no change or period see!
For thou, O Lord, and thou alone,
Art God from all eternity!

3, 4 The floods, O Lord, lift up their voice,
And toss the troubled waves on high;
But God above can still their noise,
And make the angry sea comply.

5 Thy promise, Lord, is ever sure;
And they that in thy house would dwell,
That happy station to secure,

Must still in holiness excel.

L

1,2

O

PSALM XCIV.

GOD, to whom revenge belongs, Thy vengeance now disclose; Arise, thou Judge of all the earth,

And crush thy haughty foes.

3, 4 How long, O Lord, shall sinful men
Their solemn triumphs make?
How long their wicked actions boast,
And insolently speak?

5,6 Not only they thy saints oppress,
But, unprovok'd, they spill

The widow's and the stranger's blood,
And helpless orphans kill.

7" And yet the Lord shall ne'er perceive,"
Profanely thus they speak,
"Nor any notice of our deeds
"The God of Jacob take."

8 At length, ye stupid fools, your wants Endeavour to discern:

In folly will you still proceed,

And wisdom never learn?

9, 10 Can he be deaf who form'd the ear? Or blind, who fram'd the eye?

Shall earth's great Judge not punish those
Who his known will defy?

11 He fathoms all the thoughts of men ;
To him their hearts lie bare;
His eye surveys them all, and sees
How vain their counsels are.

PART II.

12 Bless'd is the man, whom thou, O Lord, In kindness dost chastise;

And by thy sacred rules to walk

Dost lovingly advise.

13 This man shall rest and safety find
In seasons of distress;

Whilst God prepares a pit for those
That stubbornly transgress.

14 For God will never from his saints
His favour wholly take;
Hown possession and his lot
He will not quite forsake.

15 The world shall then confess thee
In all that thou hast done;