The Psalms of David Part 57

Psalm 133:3. As the 122nd Psalm.

The blessings of friendship.

1 How pleasant 'tis to see Kindred and friends agree, Each in their proper station move, And each fulfil their part With sympathizing heart, In all the cares of life and love!

2 'Tis like the ointment shed On Aaron's sacred head, Divinely rich, divinely sweet; The oil, thro' all the room, Diffus'd a choice perfume, Ran thro' his robes, and blest his feet.

3 Like fruitful showers of rain, That water all the plain, Descending from the neighbouring hills; Such streams of pleasure roll Thro' every friendly soul, Where love like heavenly dew distils.

Repeat the first stanza to complete the tune.

Psalm 134.

Daily and nightly devotion.

1 Ye that obey th' immortal King, Attend his holy place, Bow to the glories of his power, And bless his wondrous grace;

2 Lift up your hands by morning-light, And send your souls on high; Raise your admiring thoughts by night Above the starry sky.

3 The G.o.d of Zion cheers our hearts With rays of quickening grace; The G.o.d that spread the heavens abroad, And rules the swelling seas.

Psalm 135:1. 1-4 14 19 21. First Part. L. M.

The church is G.o.d's house and care.

1 Praise ye the Lord, exalt his Name, While in his holy courts ye wait, Ye saints, that to his house belong, Or stand attending at his gate.

2 Praise ye the Lord; the Lord is good; To praise his Name is sweet employ; Israel he chose of old, and still His church is his peculiar joy.

3 The Lord himself will judge his saints; He treats his servants as his friends; And when he hears their sore complaints, Repents the sorrows that he sends.

4 Thro' every age the Lord declares His Name and breaks th' oppressor's rod; He gives his suffering servants rest, And will be known th' almighty G.o.d.

6 Bless ye the Lord, who taste his love, People and priests exalt his Name: Amongst his saints he ever dwells; His church is his Jerusalem.

Psalm 135:2. 5-12. Second Part. L. M.

The works of creation, providence, redemption of Israel, and destruction of enemies.

1 Great is the Lord, exalted high Above all powers and every throne; Whate'er he please in earth or sea, Or heaven, or h.e.l.l, his hand hath done.

2 At his command the vapours rise, The lightnings flash, the thunders roar; He pours the rain, he brings the wind, And tempest from his airy store.

3 'Twas he those dreadful tokens sent, O Egypt thro' thy stubborn land; When all thy first-born beasts and men Fell dead by his avenging hand.

4 What mighty nations, mighty kings, He slew, and their whole country gave To Israel, whom his hand redeem'd, No more to be proud Pharaoh's slave!

5 His power the same, the same his grace, That saves us from the hosts of h.e.l.l; And heaven he gives us to possess, Whence those apostate angels fell.

Psalm 135:3. C. M.

Praise due to G.o.d, not to idols.

1 Awake, ye saints; to praise your King, Your sweetest pa.s.sions raise, Your pious pleasure, while you sing, Increasing with the praise.

2 Great is the Lord; and works unknown Are his divine employ; But still his saints are near his throne, His treasure and his joy.

3 Heaven, earth, and sea, confess his hand; He bids the vapours rise; Lightning and storm at his command Sweep thro' the sounding skies.

4 All power, that G.o.ds or kings have claim'd Is found with him alone; But heathen G.o.ds should ne'er be nam'd Where our Jehovah's known.

5 Which of the stocks or stones they trust Can give them showers of rain?

In vain they worship glittering dust, And pray to gold in vain.

6 [Their G.o.ds have tongues that cannot talk, Such as their makers gave: Their feet were ne'er design'd to walk, Nor hands have power to save.

7 Blind are their eyes, their ears are deaf, Nor hear when mortals pray; Mortals, that wait for their relief, Are blind, and deaf as they.]

8 O Britain, know thy living G.o.d, Serve him with faith and fear; He makes thy churches his abode, And claims thine honours there.

Psalm 136:1. C. M.

G.o.d's wonders of creation, providence, redemption of Israel, and salvation of his people.

1 Give thanks to G.o.d the sovereign Lord; His mercies still endure!

And be the King of kings ador'd; His truth is ever sure.

2 What wonders hath his wisdom done!

How mighty is his hand!

Heaven, earth, and sea, he fram'd alone: How wide is his command!

3 The sun supplies the day with light; How bright his counsels shine!

The moon and stars adorn the night; His works are all divine!

4 [He struck the sons of Egypt dead; How dreadful is his rod!

And thence with joy his people led: How gracious is our G.o.d!

5 He cleft the swelling sea in two; His arm is great in might, And gave the tribes a pa.s.sage thro'; His power and grace unite.

6 But Pharaoh's army there he drown'd; How glorious are his ways!

And brought his saints thro' desert ground; Eternal be his praise.

7 Great monarchs fell beneath his hand, Victorious is his sword; While Israel took the promis'd land; And faithful is his word.]

8 He saw the nations dead in sin; He felt his pity move: How sad the state the world was in!

How boundless was his love!

9 He sent to save us from our woe; His goodness never fails; From death, and h.e.l.l, and every foe; And still his grace prevails.