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And those sound rules which prescrib'st

Entire respect shall find.

8 To keep thy statutes undefac'd Shall be my constant joy;

thou 16 Thy faithful ways, thou GoD of truth
My happy choice I've made;
Thy judgments, as my rule of life,
Before me always laid.

The strict remembrance of thy word
Shall all my thoughts employ.

PART III. GIMEL. (C. M.)

1 BE gracious to thy servant, LORD;
Do thou my life defend,
That I according to thy word

My time to come may spend.

2 Enlighten both my eyes and mind,
That so I may discern

The wond'rous things which they be-
Who thy just precepts learn.

[hold,

3 My fainting soul is almost pin'd,
With earnest longing spent,
While always on the eager search
Of thy just will intent.

4 Thy sharp rebuke shall crush the

proud,

Whom still thy curse pursues; Since they to walk in thy right ways Presumptuously refuse.

5 But far from me, do thou, O LORD, Contempt and shame remove:

For I thy sacred law affect

With undissembled love.

6 For thy commands have always been
My comfort and delight;
By them I learn with prudent care
To guide my steps aright.

PART IV. DALETH. (C. M.)

1 My soul, oppress'd with deadly care,
Close to the dust doth cleave;
Revive me, LORD, and let me now
Thy promis'd aid receive.

2 To thee I still declar'd my ways,
And thou inclin'dst thine ear;
O teach me then my future life
By thy just laws to steer.

3 If thou wilt make me know thy laws,
And by their guidance walk,

The wondrous works which thou hast done

Shall be my constant talk.

4 But see, my soul within me sinks,
Press'd down with weighty care;
Do thou, according to thy word,
My wasted strength repair.

5 Far, far from me be all false ways
And lying arts remov'd;
But kindly grant I still may keep
The path by thee approv'd.

7 My care has been to make my life
With thy commands agree;
O then preserve thy servant, LORD,
From shame and ruin free.

8 So in the way of thy commands
Shall I with pleasure run;
And, with a heart enlarg'd with joy,
Successfully go on.

PART V. HE. (C. M.)

1 INSTRUCT me in thy statutes, LORD,
Thy righteous pathis display;
And I from them, through all my life,
Will never go astray.

2 If thou true wisdom from above
Wilt graciously impart,
To keep thy perfect laws I will
Devote my zealous heart.

3 Direct me in the sacred ways
To which thy precepts lean;
Because my chief delight has been
Thy righteous paths to tread.

4 Do thou to thy most just commands
Incline my willing heart;

Let no desire of worldly wealth

From thee my thoughts divert.

5 From those vain objects turn mine
eyes,

Which this false world displays;
But give me lively pow'r and strength
To keep thy righteous ways.

6 Confirm the promise of thy word,
And give thy servant aid,
Who to transgress thy sacred laws
Is awfully afraid.

7 The censure and reproach I fear
In mercy, LORD, remove;

For all the judgments thou ordain'st
Are full of grace and love.

8 Thou know'st how after thy com-
mands

My longing heart does pant;

O then make haste to raise me up,
And promis'd succour grant.

PART VI. VAU. (C. M.)

I THY Constant blessing, LORD, bestow
To cheer my drooping heart;
To me, according to thy word,

Thy saving health impart.

2 So shall I, whosoe'er upbraids,
This ready answer make;
"In GoD I trust, who never will
His faithful promise break."

3 Then let not quite the word of truth
Be from my mouth remov'd;
Since still my ground of steadfast hope
Thy judgments, LORD, have prov'd."
4 So I to keep thy righteous laws
Will all my study bend;
And constantly my time to come
In their observance spend.

5 My soul shall gladly walk at large,
From all oppression free,
Since I resolve to make my life
With thy commands agree.

6 My longing heart and ravish'd soul
Shall both o'erflow with joy,
When in thy lov'd commandments I
My happy hours employ.

7 Then will I to thy holy laws
Lift up my willing hands;

My care and business then shall be
To study thy commands.

PART VII. ZAIN. (C. M.)

1 ACCORDING to thy promis'd grace,
Thy favour, LORD, extend;
Make good to me the word on which
Thy servant's hopes depend.

2 That only comfort in distress
Did all my griefs control; [round,
Thy word, when troubles hemm'd me
Reviv'd my fainting soul.

3 Thy judgments then of ancient date
I quickly call'd to mind,

Till, ravish'd with such thoughts, my soul

Did speedy comfort find.

4 Thy name, that cheer'd my heart by

day,

Has fill'd my thoughts by night:

I then resolv'd by thy just laws

To guide my steps aright.

5 That peace of mind, which has my

soal

4 Prolonging not the time, my soul
Resolv'd without delay

To watch, that I might never more
From thy commandments stray.
5 To such as fear thy holy Name
Myself I closely join;

To all who their obedient wills
To thy commands resign.

6 O'er all the earth thy mercy, LORD,
Abundantly is shed;

O grant that I may truly learn
Thy sacred paths to tread.

PART IX. TETH. (C. M.)

1 WITH me, thy servant, thou hast
Most graciously, O LORD; [dealt
Repeated benefits bestow'd,
According to thy word.

2 Teach me the sacred skill by which
Right judgment is attain'd,
Who in belief of thy commands
Have steadfastly remain'd.

3 Before affliction stopp'd my course,
My footsteps went astray;
But I have since been disciplin'd
Thy precepts to obey.

4 Thou art, O LORD, supremely good,
And all thou dost is so;
On me, thy statutes to discern,
Thy saving skill bestow.

5 'Tis good for me that I have felt
Affliction's chast'ning rod,

That I may duly learn and keep
The statutes of my God.

6 The law that from thy mouth pro-
ceeds

Of more esteem I hold

Than richest mines, than thousand

mines

5 To me thy saving grace restore,
That I again may live:
Whose soul can relish no delight
But what thy precepts give.

6 In thy blest statutes let my heart Continue always sound;

That guilt and shame, the sinner's lot, May never me confound.

PART XI. CAPH. (C. M.)

1 My soul with long expectance faints
To see thy saving grace;
Yet still on thy unerring word
My confidence I place.

2 My very eyes consume and fail
With waiting for thy word;
O when wilt thou thy kind relief
And promis'd aid afford?

3 Thy wonted kindness, LORD, restore,
My drooping heart to cheer;
That by thy righteous statutes I
My life's whole course may steer.

PART XII. LAMED., (C. M.) 1 FOR ever and for ever, LORD,

Unchang'd thou dost remain; Thy word, establish'd in the heav'ns, Does all their orbs sustain.

2 Through circling ages, LORD, thy Immoveable shall stand, [truth As doth the earth, which thou uphold'st By thine almighty hand.

13 I have not from thy judgments

stray'd,

By vain desires misled;

For, LORD, thou hast instructed me
Thy righteous paths to tread.

4 How sweet are all thy words to me! O what divine repast!

How much more grateful to my soul
Than honey to my taste!

5 Taught by thy sacred precepts, I
With heav'nly skill am blest;
Thro' which the treach'rous ways of sin
I utterly detest.

PART XIV. NUN. (C. M.)

1 THY word is to my feet a lamp,
The way of truth to show:

A watch-light, to point out the path
In which I ought to go.

2 I've vow'd, and from my cov'nant, Will never start aside,

[LORD, That in thy righteous judgments I Will steadfastly abide.

3 Let still my sacrifice of praise
With thee acceptance find;
And in thy righteous judgments, LORD,
Instruct my willing mind.

4 Thy testimonies I have made
My heritage and choice;
For they, when other comforts fail,
My drooping heart rejoice.

3 All things the course by thee or-5 My heart with early zeal began

dain'd

E'en to this day fulfil :

They are thy faithful subjects all, And servants of thy will.

4 Unless thy sacred law had been My comfort and delight,

I must have fainted and expir'd In dark affliction's night. 5 Thy precepts therefore from thoughts

Shall never, LORD, depart; For thou by them hast to new life Restor'd my dying heart.

6 I've seen an end of what we call Perfection here below;

Thy statutes to obey,

And, till my course of life is done, Shall keep thine upright way.

But thy commandments, like thyself, No change or period know.

PART XIII. MEM. (C. M.)

1 THE love that to thy laws I bear
No language can display;
They with fresh wonders entertain
My raptur'd thoughts all day.

2 My feet with care I have refrain'd
From ev'ry sinful way,
That to thy sacred word I might
Entire obedience pay.

3 Away from me, ye wicked men,
Approach not my abode;
For firmly I resolve to keep

The precepts of my God.

4 According to thy gracious word,
From danger set me free;
Nor make me of those hopes asham'd,
That I repose on thee.

PART XVI. AIN. (C. M.)

1 MINE eyes, alas! begin to fail
I long expectance held;
Till thy salvation they behold,
And righteous word fulfill'd.

2 To me, thy servant in distress,

Thy wonted grace display, And discipline my willing heart Thy statutes to obey.

3 On me, devoted to thy fear, Thy sacred skill bestow, That of thy testimonies I

The full extent may know.

4 Thy laws and precepts I account
In all respects divine;
They teach me to discern the right,
And all false ways decline.

PART XVII. PE. (C. M.)

1 THE Wonders which thy laws contain
No words can represent;
Therefore to learn and practice them
My zealous heart is bent.

2 The very entrance to thy word,
Celestial light displays,
And knowledge of true happiness
To simplest minds conveys.

3 With eager hopes I waiting stood,
And fainting with desire,
That of thy wise commands I might
The sacred skill acquire.

[me,

4 With favour, LORD, look down on
Who thy relief implore;
As thou art wont to visit those
Who thy blest Name adore.

5 Directed by thy heav'nly word
Let all my footsteps be;
Nor wickedness of any kind
Dominion have o'er me.

6 On me, devoted to thy fear,

LORD, make thy face to shine:
Thy statutes both to know and keep
My heart with zeal incline.

PART XVIII. TSADDI. (C. M.)

1 THOU art the righteous Judge, in whom

Wrong'd innocence may trust; And, like thyself, thy judgments, LORD, In all respects are just.

2 Most just and true those statutes

were

Which thou didst first decree; And all with faithfulness perform'd Succeeding times shall see.

5 Though trouble, anguish, doubts, and dread,

To compass me unite;
Beset with danger, still I make
Thy precepts my delight.

6 Eternal and unerring rules
Thy testimonies give :

Teach me the wisdom that will make My soul for ever live.

PART XIX. КОРН. (С. М.)

1 WITH my whole heart to GOD, I call'd

LORD, hear my earnest cry;

And I thy statutes to perform
With all my care apply.

2 Again more fervently I pray'd-
O save me, that I may
Thy testimonies fully know,
And steadfastly obey.

3 My earlier pray'r the dawning day
Prevented, while I cried

To him upon whose faithful word
My hope alone relied.

4 Lord, hear my supplicating voice,
And wonted favour show;
O quicken me, and so approve
Thy judgments ever true.

5 Concerning thy divine commands,
My soul has known, of old,

That they were true, and shall their To endless ages hold.

PART XX. RESCH. (C. M.)

1 CONSIDER my affliction, LORD,
And me from bondage draw;
Think on thy servant in distress,
Who ne'er forgets thy law.

[truth

2 Defend my cause, and me to save
Thy timely aid afford;

With beams of mercy quicken me,
According to thy word.

3 From harden'd sinners thou remov'st Salvation far away;

[them 'Tis just thou should'st withdraw from Who from thy statutes stray.

4 Since great thy tender mercies are To all who thee adore;

According to thy judgments, LORD,
My fainting hopes restore.

3 LORD! each neglected word of thine 5 Consider, O my gracious GOD,

Howe'er by men despis'd,

Is pure, and for eternal truth
By me, thy servant, priz'd.

4 Thy righteousness shall then endure
When time itself is past;
Thy law is truth itself, that truth
Which shall for ever last.

How I thy precepts love;

O therefore quicken me with beams Of mercy from above.

6 As from the birth of time thy truth Has held through ages past,

So shall thy righteous judgments firm To endless ages last.

PART XXI. SCHIN. (C. M.)

1 THY sacred word my joyful breast With heav'nly rapture warms; Nor conquest, nor the spoils of war, Have such transporting charms.

2 Perfidious practices and lies I utterly detest;

But to thy laws affection bear

Too vast to be express'd.

[voice,

3 Seven times a day, with grateful
Thy praises I resound,
Because I find thy judgments all
With truth and justice crown'd.
4 Secure, substantial peace have they
Who truly love thy law;
No smiling mischief them can tempt,
Nor frowning danger awe.

5 For thy salvation I have hop'd,
And, though so long delay'd,

With cheerful zeal and anxious care
All thy commands obey'd.

6 Thy testimonies I have kept,
And constantly obey'd;
Because the love I bore to them
Thy service easy made.

7 From strict observance of thy laws I never yet withdrew ;

Convinc'd that my most secret ways
Are open to thy view.

PART XXII. TAU. (C. M.)
1 To my request and earnest cry,
Attend, O gracious LORD;
Inspire my heart with heavenly skill,
According to thy word.

2 Let my repeated prayer at last
Before thy throne appear;
According to thy plighted word,
For my relief draw near.

3 Then shall my grateful lips return
The tribute of their praise,
When thou thy counsels hast reveal'd
And taught me thy just ways.

4 My tongue the praises of thy word
Shall thankfully resound;
For thy commands are right, thy

laws

With truth and justice crown'd. 5 Let thy almighty arm appear, And bring me timely aid; For I the laws thou hast ordain'd My heart's free choice have made. 6 My soul has waited long to see Thy saving grace restor'd;

Nor comfort knew, but what thy laws, Thy heav'nly laws afford.

From the cxxii. Psalm of David.
"TWAS a joyful sound, to hear
Our tribes devoutly say,
Up, Israel, to the temple haste,
And keep your festal day!

2 At Salem's courts we must appear, With our assembled pow'rs,

In strong and beauteous order rang'd Like her united tow'rs.

3 'Tis thither, by divine command, The tribes of God repair,

Before his ark to celebrate

His Name with praise and prayer. 4 O, ever pray for Salem's peace; For they shall prosperous be, Thou holy city of our GoD,

Who bear true love to thee.

5 May peace within thy sacred walls
A constant guest be found;
With plenty and prosperity
Thy palaces be crown'd.

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