Fair as the light of dawning day, And glorious as the noon.
6 The meek at last the earth possess, And are the heirs of heaven; True riches, with abundant peace, To humble souls are given.
7 Rest in the Lord, and keep his way, Nor let your anger rise, Though providence shall long delay To punish haughty vice.
8 Let sinners join to break your peace, And plot, and rage, and foam; The Lord derides them, for he sees Their day of vengeance come.
9 They have drawn out the threatening sword, Have bent the murderous bow,
To slay the men that fear the Lord, And bring the righteous low.
10 My God shall break their bows, and burn Their persecuting darts,
Shall their own swords against them turn, And pierce their stubborn hearts.
PSALM 37. SECOND PART. C. M.
WHY do the wealthy wicked boast, And grow profanely bold?
The meanest portion of the just
Excels the sinner's gold.
2 The wicked borrows of his friends, But ne'er designs to pay;
The saint is merciful, and lends, Nor turns the poor away.
3 His alms with liberal heart he gives Amongst the sons of need;
His memory to long ages lives, And blessed is his seed.
4 His soul abhors discourse profane, To slander or defraud;
His ready tongue declares to men What he has learned of God.
5 The law and gospel of the Lord Deep in his heart abide; Led by the Spirit and the word, His feet shall never slide.
6 When sinners fall, the righteous stand Preserved from every snare; They shall possess the promised land, And dwell for ever there.
PSALM 37. THIRD PART. C. M.
MY God, the steps of pious men
Are ordered by thy will: Though 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.
5 The haughty sinner have I seen Not fearing man nor God,
Like to a tall bay-tree, fair and green, Spreading his arms abroad.
6 And lo, he vanished from the ground, Destroyed by hands unseen:
Nor root, nor branch, nor leaf was found Where all that pride had been.
7 But mark the man of holy fear, How blest is his decease!
He spends his days in duty here, And leaves the world in peace. PSALM 38. C. M.
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 That sinks my comforts 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 desires to thee are known, Thine eye counts every tear;
And every sigh, and every groan Is noticed by thine ear.
7 Thou art my God, my only hope; My God will hear my cry, My God will bear my spirit up, When Satan bids me die.
8 My foes rejoice whene'er I slide, To see my virtue fail;
They raise their pleasure and their pride, Whene'er their wiles prevail.
9 To thee will I confess my guilt, And thus will plead with thee; "Was not the blood of Jesus spilt To set the sinner free?” 10 My God, forgive my follies past, And be for ever nigh;
O Lord of my salvation haste Before thy servant die.
PSALM 39. FIRST PART. C. M.
THUS I resolved before the Lord,
"Now will I watch my tongue,
Lest I let slip one sinful word, • Or do my neighbour wrong."
2 Whene'er constrained a while 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 occasion take To mock my holy zeal.
4 Yet if some proper hour appear, I'll not be over awed,
But let the scoffing sinners hear That I can speak for God.
PSALM 39. SECOND PART. C. M. EACH me the measure of my days, Thou Maker of my frame;
I would survey life's narrow space, 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 their 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 God my all.
PSALM 39. THIRD PART. C. M.
OD 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;
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