PSALM XVIII.

O. V.

II.

9, 10. 30.

THE Lord descended from above,
And bow'd the heavens high;
And underneath His feet He cast
The darkness of the sky :

On Cherubs and on Cherubims
Full royally He rode,

And on the wings of mighty winds
Came flying all abroad.

For who is God, except the Lord?
For other there is none :

Or else who is omnipotent,
Saving our God alone?

C.M.

PSALM XIX.

N. V.

I.

1, 2, 3, 4.

THE heavens declare Thy glory, Lord,

Which that alone can fill ;

The firmament and stars express
Their great Creator's skill.
The dawn of each returning day
Fresh beams of knowledge brings;
And from the dark returns of night
Divine instruction springs.

Their powerful language to no realm
Or region is confined;

'Tis nature's voice, and understood
Alike by all mankind.

Their doctrine does its sacred sense
Through earth's extent display;
Whose bright contents the circling sun
Does round the world convey.

C.M.

PSALM XIX.

N. V.

II.

7, 8. 13, 14.

GOD's perfect law converts the soul,
Reclaims from false desires;

With sacred wisdom His sure Word
The ignorant inspires.

The statutes of the Lord are just,
And bring sincere delight;
His pure commands, in search of truth,
Assist the feeblest sight.

Let no presumptuous sin, O Lord,
Dominion have o'er me;
That, by Thy grace preserved, I may
The great transgression flee.

So shall my prayer and praises be
With Thy acceptance bless'd;
And I, secure on Thy defence,
My strength and Saviour, rest.

PSALM XIX.

III.

C.M.

L.M.

GOD's glory the vast heavens proclaim;
The firmament, His mighty frame.
Day unto day, and night to night
The wonders of His works recite.

To these nor speech nor words belong,
Yet understood without a tongue.
The globe of earth they compass round;
Through all the world disperse their sound.

God's laws are perfect, and restore
The soul to life, though dead before.
His testimonies, firmly true,
With wisdom simple men endue.

PSALM XIX.

IV.

THE spacious firmament on high,
With all the blue ethereal sky,

The spangled heavens, a shining frame,
Their great original proclaim.

The unwearied sun from day to day
Does his Creator's power display,
And publishes to every land
The work of an Almighty hand.

Soon as the evening shades prevail,
The moon takes up the wondrous tale,
And nightly to the listening earth
Repeats the story of her birth;

D.L.M.

Whilst all the stars that round her burn,
And all the planets in their turn,
Confirm the tidings as they roll,

And spread the truth from pole to pole.

PSALM XX.

1. 6, 7. 9.

THE Lord to thy request attend,
And hear thee in distress;
The Name of Jacob's God defend,
And grant thy arms success.

Our hopes are fix'd, that now the Lord
Our sov'reign will defend;

From heaven resistless aid afford,

N. V.

C.M.

Some trust in steeds for war design'd,
On chariots some rely;

Against them all we'll call to mind
The power of God most high.

Still save us, Lord, and still proceed
Our rightful cause to bless;

Hear, King of heaven, in times of need,
The prayers that we address.

PSALM XXII.

1, 2. 10, 11.

My God, my God, why leav'st Thou me
When I with anguish faint?
O why so far from me removed,
And from my loud complaint?

All day, but all the day unheard,
To Thee do I complain;
With cries implore relief all night,
But cry all night in vain.

N. V.

C.M.

Thou, guardian-like, didst shield from wrongs My helpless infant days;

And since hast been my God and guide

Through life's bewilder'd ways.

Withdraw not then so far from me,
When trouble is so nigh;

O send me help! Thy help, on which
I only can rely..

My Shepherd is the living Lord,
Nothing therefore I need:

In pastures fair, near pleasant streams,
He setteth me to feed.

C.M.

He shall convert and glad my soul,
And bring my mind in frame,
To walk in paths of righteousness,
For His most holy Name.

Yea, though I walk in vale of death,
Yet will I fear no ill:

Thy rod and staff do comfort me,
And Thou art with me still.

Through all my life Thy favour is
So frankly show'd to me,

That in Thy house for evermore
My dwelling-place shall be.

Γ

PSALM XXIII.

N. V.

II.

1, 2, 3, 4. 6.

THE Lord Himself, the mighty Lord,
Vouchsafes to be my guide;

The Shepherd, by whose constant care
My wants are all supplied.

In tender grass He makes me feed,
And gently there repose,

Then leads me to cool shades, and where
Refreshing water flows.

He does my wand'ring soul reclaim,
And, to His endless praise,
Instruct with humble zeal to walk
In His most righteous ways.

I pass the gloomy vale of death,
From fear and danger free;
For there His aiding rod and staff
Defend and comfort me.

C.M.