12 God's glorious works of ancient date shall thus to all be known; And thus his kingdom's royal state with public splendour shown. 13 His steadfast throne, from changes free, His boundless sway no end shall see, PART II. 14, 15 The Lord does them support that fall, 16 Whate'er their various wants require, 17, 18 How holy is the Lord, how just, How nigh to him, who with firm trust for his assistance prays ! 19 He grants the full desire of those who him with fear adore; And will their troubles soon compose, when they his aid implore. 20 The Lord preserves all those with care, whom grateful love employs ; But sinners, who his vengeance dare, with furious rage destroys. 21 My time to come, in praises spent, shall still advance his fame; And all mankind, with one consent, for ever bless his name. 1, 2 PSALM CXLVI. PRAISE the Lord, and thou, my soul, for ever bless his name: His wondrous love, while life shall last, my constant praise shall claim. 3 On kings, the greatest sons of men, let none for aid rely; They cannot save in dang'rous times, nor timely help apply. 4 Depriv'd of breath, to dust they turn, and there neglected lie; And all their thoughts and vain designs together with them die. 5 Then happy he, who Jacob's God for his protector takes; Who still, with well-plac'd hope, the Lord his constant refuge makes. 6 The Lord, who made both heaven and earth, and all that they contain, Will never quit his steadfast truth, nor make his promise vain. 7 The poor, opprest, from all their wrongs are eas'd by his decree; He gives the hungry needful food, and sets the pris'ners free. 8 By him the blind receive their sight, the weak and fall'n he rears; With kind regard and tender love he for the righteous cares. 9 The strangers he preserves from harm, the orphan kindly treats; Defends the widow, and the wiles of wicked men defeats. 10 The God that does in Sion dwell is our eternal King: From age to age his reign endures : let all his praises sing. PSALM CXLVII. PRAISE the Lord with hymns of joy, and celebrate his fame; For pleasant, good, and comely 'tis to praise his holy name. 2 His holy city God will build, though levell'd with the ground; Bring back his people, though dispers'd through all the nations round. 3, 4 He kindly heals the broken hearts, and all their wounds does close; He tells the number of the stars, their several names he knows. 5, 6 Great is the Lord, and great his power, his wisdom has no bound; The meek he raises, and throws down the wicked to the ground. 7 To God, the Lord, a hymn of praise with grateful voices sing; To songs of triumph tune the harp, and strike each warbling string. 8 He covers heaven with clouds, and thence refreshing rain bestows; Through him, on mountain tops, the grass with wondrous plenty grows. 9 He savage beasts, that loosely range, with timely food supplies; He feeds the raven's tender brood, and stops their hungry cries. 10 He values not the warlike steed, but does his strength disdain ; The nimble foot that swiftly runs, no prize from him can gain. 11 But he to him that fears his name his tender love extends; To him that on his boundless grace with steadfast hope depends. 12, 13 Let Sion and Jerusalem to God their praise address; Who fenc'd their gates with massy bars, and does their children bless. 14, 15 Through all their borders he gives peace, with finest wheat they're fed; He speaks the word, and what he wills is done as soon as said. 16 Large flakes of snow, like fleecy wool, descend at his command; And hoary frost, like ashes spread, is scatter'd o'er the land. 17 When, join'd to these, he does his hail in little morsels break, Who can against his piercing cold 18 He sends his word, which melts the ice; 19 By him his statutes and decrees To heathen lands his oracles, and knowledge of his word. 5, 6 Let them adore the Lord, From changes free; Stands ever fast. 7, 8 Let earth her tribute pay, Praise him ye dreadful whales, And fish that through the sea Glide swift with glitt'ring scales; Fire, hail, and snow, And misty air, And winds that, where 9, 10 By hills and mountains, all And trees for fruit design'd; And creeping thing, His name be blest. 11, 12 Let all of royal birth, With children join. 13 United zeal be shown, The sky transcends. 14 His chosen saints to grace, 1, 2 The Lord to praise. PSALM CXLIX. His praise in the great be glad in their King. 7, 8 Just vengeance to take With chains, as their captives, to tie their kings fast, With fetters of iron their nobles to bind. 9 Thus shall they make good, when them they destroy, The dreadful decree 1 which God does proclaim; Such honour and triumph his saints shall enjoy: O therefore for ever exalt his great name. PSALM CL. PRAISE the Lord in that blest place, from whence his goodness largely flows; Praise him in heaven, where he his face, unveil'd, in perfect glory shows. 2 Praise him for all the mighty acts which he in our behalf has done; His kindness this return exacts, with which our praise should equal run. 3 Let the shrill trumpet's warlike voice make rocks and hills his praise rebound: Praise him with harp's melodious noise, and gentle psalt'ry's silver sound. |