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My life is but a span,

Mine age is nought with Thee; Man, in his highest honor, man Is dust and vanity.

A shadow even in health,

Disquieted with pride;

Or, rack'd with care, he heaps up wealth, Which unknown heirs divide.

What seek I now, O Lord?

My hope is in thy name; Blot out my sins from thy record, Nor give me up to shame.

Dumb at thy feet I lie,

For thou hast brought me low: Remove thy judgments, lest I die; I faint beneath thy blow.

At thy rebuke, the bloom

Of man's vain beauty flies, And grief shall, like a moth, consume All that delights our eyes.

Have pity on my fears,

Hearken to my request,

Turn not in silence from my tears,
But give the mourner rest.

A stranger, Lord, with Thee,
I walk on pilgrimage,
Where all my fathers, once like me,
Sojourn'd from age to age.

O spare me yet, I pray;

Awhile my strength restore, Ere I am summon'd hence away, And seen on earth no more.

Why art thou east down, my soul?
God, thy God, shall make thee whole :
Why art thou disquieted?
God shall lift thy fallen head;
And his countenance benign
Be the saving health of thine.

PSALM XLII.

No. 2.

HEARKEN, Lord, to my complaints,
For my soul within me faints;
Thee, far off, I call to mind,

In the land I left behind,

Where the streams of Jordan flow
Where the heights of Hermon glow.

Tempest-tost, my failing bark
Founders on the ocean dark;
Deep to deep around me calls,
With the rush of water-falls;
While I plunge to lower caves,
Overwhelm'd by all thy waves.

Once the morning's earliest light
Brought thy mercy to my sight,
And my wakeful song was heard
Later than the evening bird;
Hast thou all my prayers forgot?
Dost Thou scorn, or hear them not?

Why, my soul, art thou perplex'd?
Why with faithless trouble vex'd?
Hope in God, whose saving name
Thou shalt joyfully proclaim,

When his countenance shall shine
Through the clouds that darken thine.

PSALM XLII. No. 1.

As the hart, with eager looks,
Panteth for the water-brooks,
So my soul, athirst for Thee,
Pants the living God to see:
When, O when, with filial fear,
Lord, shall I to Thee draw near?

Tears my food by night, by day
Grief consumes my strength away:
While his craft the Tempter plies,
"Where is now thy God?" he cries;
This would sink me to despair,
But I pour my soul in prayer.

For in Lappier times, I went
Where the multitude frequent :
I, with them, was wont to bring
Homage to thy courts, my King;
I, with them, was wont to raise
Festal hymns on holy days.

PSALM LXIII.

[Continuation of Psalm XLII.J
No. 3.

JUDGE me, Lord, in righteousness;
Plead for me in my distress;
Good and merciful Thou art,
Bind this bleeding broken heart;
Cast me not despairing hence,

Be thy love my confidence.

Send thy light and truth to guide
Me, too prone to turn aside,
On thy holy hill to rest,

In thy tabernacles blest;

There, to God, my chiefest joy,
Praise shall all my powers employ.

Why, my soul, art thou dismay'd?
Why of earth or hell afraid?
Trust in God;-disdain to yield,
While o'er thee He casts his shield,
And his countenance divine
Sheds the light of Heaven on thine.

PSALM XLVI.

No. 1.

GOD is our refuge and defence,

In trouble our unfailing aid; Secure in his omnipotence,

What foe can make our soul afraid?

Yea, though the earth's foundations rock, And mountains down the gulf be hurl'd, His people smile amid the shock,

They look beyond this transient world.

There is a river pure and bright,

Whose streams make glad the heavenly plains; Where, in eternity of light,

The city of our God remains.

Built by the word of his command,

With his unclouded presence blest, Firm as his throne the bulwarks stand; There is our home, our hope, our rest.

Thither let fervent faith aspire,

Our treasure and our heart be there; O for a seraph's wing of fire!

No, on the mightier wings of prayer,—

We reach at once that last retreat,

And, ranged among the ransom'd throng, Fall with the Elders at his feet,

Whose name alone inspires their song.

Ah, soon, how soon! our spirits droop; Unwont the air of Heaven to breathe: Yet God in very deed will stoop,

And dwell Himself with men beneath.

Come to thy living temples, then,

As in the ancient times appear;

Let earth be paradise again,

And man, O God, thine image here.

PSALM XLVI. No. 2.

COME and behold the works of God,
What desolations He will make;
In vengeance when He wields his rod,
The heathen rage, their kingdoms quake:
He utters forth his voice;-'t is felt;
Like wax the world's foundations melt;
The Lord of hosts is in the field,
The God of Jacob is our shield.

Again He maketh wars to cease,

He breaks the bow, unpoints the spear,
And burns the chariot;-joy and peace
In all his glorious march appear:

Silence, O Earth! thy Maker own;
Ye Gentiles, He is God alone;
The Lord of Hosts is in the field,
The God of Jacob is our shield.

PSALM XLVII.

EXTOL the Lord, the Lord most high,

King over all the earth;
Exalt his triumphs to the sky
In songs of sacred mirth.
Where'er the sea-ward rivers run,

His banner shall advance,

And every realm beneath the sun
Be his inheritance.

God is gone up with loud acclaim,
And trumpets' tuneful voice:
Sing praise, sing praises to his name;
Sing praises, and rejoice.

Sing praises to our God; sing praise
To every creature's King;
His wondrous works, his glorious ways,

All tongues, all kindred sing.

God sits upon his holy throne,

God o'er the heathen reigns; His truth through all the world is known, That truth his throne sustains.

Princes around his footstool throng,

Kings in the dust adore;

Earth and her shields to God belong;
Sing praises evermore.

PSALM XLVIII.

JEHOVAH is great, and great be his praise;
In the city of God He is King;
Proclaim ye his triumphs in jubilant lays
On the mount of his holiness sing.

The joy of the earth, from her beautiful height,
Is Zion's impregnable hill;

The Lord in her temple still taketh delight,

God reigns in her palaces still.

At the sight of her splendor, the kings of the earth
Grew pale with amazement and dread;
Fear seized them like pangs of a premature birth;
They came, they beheld her, and fled.

Thou breakest the ships from the sea-circled climes,
When the storm of thy jealousy lowers;

As our fathers have told of thy deeds, in their times, So, Lord, have we witness'd in ours.

In the midst of thy temple, O God, hath our mind Remember'd thy mercy of old;

Let thy name, like thy praise, to no realm be confined,
Thy power may all nations behold.

Let the daughters of Judah be glad for thy love,
The mountain of Zion rejoice,

For Thou wilt establish her seat from above,
-Wilt make her the throne of thy choice.
Go, walk about Zion, and measure the length,
Her walls and her bulwarks mark well;
Contemplate her palaces, glorious in strength,
Her towers and their pinnacles tell.

Then say to your children:-Our stronghold is tried;

This God is our God to the end;

His people for ever his counsels shall guide,

His arm shall for ever defend.

PSALM LI.

HAVE mercy on me, O my God,

In loving-kindness hear my prayer: Withdraw the terror of thy rod;

Lord, in thy tender mercy, spare.

Offences rise where'er I look;

But I confess their guilt to Thee: Blot my transgressions from thy book, Cleanse me from mine iniquity.

Whither from vengeance can I run?
Just are thy judgments, Lord, and right;
For all the evil I have done,

I did it only in thy sight.

Shapen in frailty, born in sin,

From error how shall I depart?

Lo, thou requirest truth within;

Lord, write thy truth upon my heart.

Me through the blood of sprinkling make Pure from defilement, white as snow; Heal me for my Redeemer's sake;

Then joy and gladness I shall know.

A perfect heart in me create,

Renew my soul in innocence; Cast not the suppliant from thy gate, Nor take thine holy spirit hence.

Thy consolations, as of old,

Now to my troubled mind restore; By thy free Spirit's might uphold

And guide my steps, to fall no more.

Then sinners will I teach thy ways,
And rebels to thy sceptre bring;
-Open my lips, O God, in praise,
So shall my mouth thy goodness sing.

Not streaming blood, nor purging fire,
Thy righteous anger can appease;
Burnt-offerings thou dost not require,
Or gladly I would render these.

The broken heart in sacrifice

Alone may thine acceptance meet; My heart, O God, do not despise,

Broken and contrite, at thy feet.

PSALM LXIII.

O GOD, Thou art my God alone,
Early to Thee my soul shall cry,

A pilgrim in a land unknown,

A thirsty land whose springs are dry.

O that it were as it hath been,

When, praying in the holy place,
Thy power and glory I have seen,
And mark'd the footsteps of thy grace.

Yet through this rough and thorny maze,
I follow hard on thee, my God;
Thine hand unseen upholds my ways,

I safely tread where Thou hast trod.

Thee, in the watches of the night,
When I remember on my bed,
Thy presence makes the darkness light,
Thy guardian wings are round my head
Better than life itself thy love,

Dearer than all beside to me;
For whom have I in heaven above,

Or what on earth, compared with Thee? Praise with my heart, my mind, my voice, For all thy mercy I will give;

My soul shall still in God rejoice,

My tongue shall bless Thee while I live

PSALM LXIX.

GOD, be merciful to me,
For my spirit trusts in Thee,
And to Thee her refuge springs;
Be the shadow of thy wings
Round the trembling sinner cast,
Till the storm is overpast.

From the water-floods that roll
Deep and deeper round my soul,
Me, thine arm almighty take,
For thy loving kindness' sake;
If thy truth from me depart,
Thy rebuke would break my heart.

Foes increase, they close me round,
Friend nor comforter is found;
Sore temptations now assail,
Hope, and strength, and courage fail:
Turn not from thy servant's grief,
Hasten, Lord, to my relief.

Poor and sorrowful am I;
Set me, O my God! on high:
Wonders Thou for me hast wrought;
Nigh to death my soul is brought;
Save me, Lord, in mercy save,
Lest I sink below the grave.

PSALM LXX.

HASTEN, Lord, to my release,
Haste to help me, O my God!
Foes, like armed bands, increase;
Turn them back the way they trod.
Dark temptations round me press,

Evil thoughts my soul assail;
Doubts and fears, in my distress,
Rise, till flesh and spirit fail.

Those that seek Thee shall rejoice:

I am bow'd with misery;

Yet I make thy law my choiceTurn, my God, and look on me.

Thou mine only Helper art,
My Redeemer from the grave;
Strength of my desiring heart,
Do not tarry, haste to save.

PSALM LXXI.

LORD, I have put my trust in Thee,
Turn not my confidence to shame;
Thy promise is a rock to me,

A tower of refuge is thy name.

Thou hast upheld me from the womb;
Thou wert my strength and hope in youth;
Now, trembling, bending o'er the tomb,
I lean upon thine arm of truth.

Though I have long outlived my peers,
And stand amid the world alone
(A stranger, left by former years),

I know my God,-by Him am known.
Cast me not off in mine old age,

Forsake me not in my last hour; The foe hath not forgone his rage, The lion ravens to devour.

Not far, my God, not far remove:

Sin and the world still spread their snares;
Stand by me now, or they will prove
Too crafty yet for my grey hairs.

Me, through what troubles hast Thou brought!
Me, with what consolations crown'd!
Now be thy last deliverance wrought;
My soul in peace with Thee be found!

PSALM LXXII.

HAIL to the Lord's anointed!
Great David's greater Son;
Hail, in the time appointed,
His reign on earth begun!
He comes to break oppression,
To let the captive free;
To take away transgression,
And rule in equity.

He comes, with succor speedy,
To those who suffer wrong;
To help the poor and needy,

And bid the weak be strong:
To give them songs for sighing,
Their darkness turn to light,
Whose souls, condemn'd and dying,
Were precious in his sight.

By such shall He be feared

While sun and moon endure,Beloved, obey'd, revered:

For He shall judge the poor,

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Swoln are their eyes with wine and lust, For more than heart can wish have they;

In fraud and tyranny they trust

To make the multitude their prey.

Their mouth assails the heavens; their tongue
Walks arrogantly through the earth;
Pleasure's full cups to them are wrung;
They reel in revelry and mirth.

"Who is the Lord, that we should fear,
Lest He our dark devices know?
Who the Most High, that He should hear,
Or heed, the words of men below?"

Thus cry the mockers, flush'd with health,
Exulting while their joys increase;
These are the ungodly-men, whose wealth
Flows like a river, ne'er to cease.

And have I cleansed my heart in vain, And wash'd in innocence my hands? All day afflicted, I complain,

All night I mourn in straitening bands.

Too painful this for me to view,

Till to thy temple, Lord, I went, And then their fearful end I knew, How suddenly their light is spent.

Surely in slippery places set,

Down to perdition these are hurl'd; Snared in the toils of their own net, A spectacle to all the world.

As, from a dream when one awakes,
The phantoms of the brain take flight;
So, when thy wrath in thunder breaks,
Their image shall dissolve in night.

Abash'd, my folly then I saw;

I seem'd before Thee like a brute; Smit to the heart, o'erwhelm'd with awe, I bow'd, and worshipp'd, and was mute.

Yet Thou art ever at my side:

O, still uphold me, and defend; Me by thy counsel Thou shalt guide, And bring to glory in the end.

Whom have I, Lord, in heaven but Thee?
On earth shall none divide my heart;
Then fail my flesh, my spirit flee,
Thou mine eternal portion art.

PSALM LXXVII.

IN time of tribulation,
Hear, Lord, my feeble cries;
With humble supplication,

To Thee my spirit flies:
My heart with grief is breaking,

Scarce can my voice complain; Mine eyes, with tears kept waking, Still watch and weep in vain.

The days of old, in vision,

Bring vanish'd bliss to view;
The years of lost fruition
Their joys in pangs renew:
Remember'd songs of gladness,
Through night's lone silence brought,
Strike notes of deeper sadness,
And stir desponding thought.

Hath God cast off for ever?
Can time his truth impair?
His tender mercy, never

Shall I presume to share?
Hath He his loving kindness
Shut up in endless wrath?
-No; this is mine own blindness,
That cannot see his path.

I call to recollection

The years of his right hand;
And, strong in his protection,
Again through faith I stand.
Thy deeds, O Lord, are wonder;
Holy are all thy ways;
The secret place of thunder
Shall utter forth thy praise.

Thee, with the tribes assembled,
O God, the billows saw;
They saw Thee, and they trembled,

Turn'd, and stood still, with awe;
The clouds shot hail-they lighten'd,
The earth reel'd to and fro;
Thy fiery pillar brighten'd
The gulf of gloom below.

Thy way is in great waters,

Thy footsteps are not known;
Let Adam's sons and daughters

Confide in Thee alone;
Through the wild sea Thou leddest
Thy chosen flock of yore;
Still on the waves Thou treadest,
And thy redeem'd pass o'er.

PSALM LXXX.

OF old, O God, thine own right hand
A pleasant vine did plant and train;
Above the hills, o'er all the land,

It sought the sun, and drank the rain.

Its boughs like goodly cedars spread, Forth to the river went the root; Perennial verdure crown'd its head, It bore, in every season, fruit.

That vine is desolate and torn,

Its scions in the dust are laid; Rank o'er the ruin springs the thorn,

The wild boar wallows in the shade.

Lord God of Hosts, thine ear incline,
Change into songs thy people's fears.
Return, and visit this thy vine,
Revive thy work amidst the years.

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