The Psalms of David Part 17

The way and end of the righteous and the wicked.

1 My G.o.d, the steps of pious men Are order'd by thy will; Tho' they should fall, they rise again, Thy hand supports them still.

2 The Lord delights to see their ways, Their virtue he approves; He'll ne'er deprive them of his grace, Nor leave the men he loves.

3 The heavenly heritage is theirs, Their portion and their home; He feeds them now, and makes them heirs Of blessings long to come.

4 Wait on the Lord, ye sons of men, Nor fear when tyrants frown; Ye shall confess their pride was vain, When justice casts them down.

PAUSE.

5 The haughty sinner have I seen, Nor fearing man nor G.o.d, Like a tall bay-tree fair and green, Spreading his arms abroad.

6 And lo! he vanish'd from the ground, Destroy'd by hands unseen: Nor root, nor branch, nor leaf was found Where all that pride had been.

7 But mark the man of righteousness, His several steps attend; True pleasure runs thro' all his ways, And peaceful is his end.

Psalm 38.

Guilt of conscience and relief; or, Repentance, and prayer for pardon and health.

1 Amidst thy wrath remember love, Restore thy servant, Lord; Nor let a father's chastening prove Like an avenger's sword.

2 Thine arrows stick within my heart, My flesh is sorely prest; Between the sorrow and the smart My spirit finds no rest.

3 My sins a heavy load appear, And o'er my head are gone; Too heavy they for me to bear, Too hard for me t' atone.

4 My thoughts are like a troubled sea, My head still bending down; And I go mourning all the day Beneath my Father's frown.

5 Lord, I am weak, and broken sore, None of my powers are whole; The inward anguish makes me roar, The anguish of my soul.

6 All my desire to thee is known, Thine eye counts every tear, And every sigh, and every groan Is notic'd by thine ear.

7 Thou art my G.o.d, my only hope; My G.o.d will hear my cry; My G.o.d will bear my spirit up When Satan bids me die.

8 [My foot is ever apt to slide, My foes rejoice to see't; They raise their pleasure and their pride When they supplant my feet.

9 But I'll confess my guilt to thee, And grieve for all my sin, I'll mourn how weak my graces be, And beg support divine.

10 My G.o.d, forgive my follies past, And be for ever nigh; O Lord of my salvation, haste, Before thy servant die.]

Psalm 39:1. 1 2 3. First Part.

Watchfulness over the tongue; or, Prudence and zeal.

1 Thus I resolv'd before the Lord, "Now will I watch my tongue, "Lest I let slip one sinful word, "Or do my neighbour wrong."

2 And if I'm e'er constrain'd to stay With men of lives profane I'll set a double guard that day, Nor let my talk be vain.

3 I'll scarce allow my lips to speak The pious thoughts I feel, Lest scoffers should th' occasion take To mock my holy zeal.

4 Yet if some proper hour appear, I'll not be overaw'd, But let the scoffing sinners hear That I can speak for G.o.d.

Psalm 39:2. 4-7. Second Part.

The vanity of man as mortal.

1 Teach me the measure of my days, Thou maker of my frame; I would survey life's narrow s.p.a.ce, And learn' how frail I am.

2 A span is all that we can boast, An inch or two of time; Man is but vanity and dust In all his flower and prime.

3 See the vain race of mortals move Like shadows o'er the plain; They rage and strive, desire and love, But all the noise is vain.

4 Some walk in honour's gaudy show, Some dig for golden ore, They toil for heirs, they know not who, And straight are seen no more.

5 What should I wish or wait for then From creatures, earth and dust?

They make our expectations vain, And disappoint our trust.

6 Now I forbid my carnal hope, My fond desires recall; I give my mortal interest up, And make my G.o.d my all.

Psalm 39:3. 9-13. Third Part.

Sick-bed devotion; or, Pleading without repining.

1 G.o.d of my life, look gently down, Behold the pains I feel; But I am dumb before thy throne, Nor dare dispute thy will.

2 Diseases are thy servants, Lord, They come at thy command; I'll not attempt a murmuring word Against thy chastening hand.

3 Yet I may plead with humble cries, Remove thy sharp rebukes; My strength consumes, my spirit dies Thro' thy repeated strokes.

4 Crush'd as a moth beneath thy hand, We moulder to the dust; Our feeble powers can ne'er withstand, And all our beauty's lost.

5 [This mortal life decays apace, How soon the bubble's broke!

Adam and all his numerous race Are vanity and smoke.]

6 I'm but a sojourner below, As all my fathers were, May I be well prepar'd to go When I the summons hear.

7 But if my life be spar'd awhile, Before my last remove, Thy praise shall be my business still, And I'll declare thy love.

Psalm 40:1. 1 3 5 17. First Part. C. M.

A song of deliverance from great distress.

1 I waited patient for the Lord, He bow'd to hear my cry; He saw me resting on his word, And brought salvation nigh.

2 He rais'd me from a horrid pit Where mourning long I lay, And from my bonds releas'd my feet, Deep bonds of miry clay.

3 Firm on a rock he made me stand, And taught my cheerful tongue To praise the wonders of his hand, In a new thankful song.