Thy mercy highest heaven transcends, Thy truth beyond the clouds extends. 4 Be thou, O God, exalted high;

And as thy glory fills the sky,
So let it be on earth display'd,
Till thou art here, as there, obey'd.

PSALM 48. L. M.

From the lxii. Psalm of David.

Y soul for help on God rely,

M

On him alone thy trust repose;

My

rock and health will strength supply,

To bear the shock of all my foes. 2 God does his saving health dispense, And flowing blessings daily send; He is my fortress and defence,

On him my soul shall still depend.

3 In him, ye people, always trust;
Before his throne pour out your hearts:
For God, the merciful and just,

His timely aid to us imparts.
4 The Lord has oft his will express'd,
And I this truth have fully known;
To be of boundless power possess'd,
Belongs of right to God alone.

5 Though mercy is his darling grace,
In which he chiefly takes delight;
Yet he will all the human race
According to their works requite.

PSALM 49. II. 2.
From the lxiii. Psalm of David.
GOD, my gracious God, to thee
My morning prayers shall offer'd be,

For thee my thirsty soul does pant; My fainting flesh implores thy grace, As in a dry and barren place,

Where I refreshing waters want. 2 O, to my longing eyes once more,

That view of glorious power restore,
Which thy majestic house displays:
Because to me thy wondrous love
Than life itself does dearer prove,
My lips shall always speak thy praise.

3 My life, while I that life enjoy,
In blessing God I will employ,

With lifted hands adore his name:
As with its choicest food supplied,
My soul shall be full satisfied,
While I with joy his praise proclaim.
4 When down I lie, sweet sleep to find,
Thou, Lord, art present to my mind,
"And when I wake in dead of night;
Because thou still dost succour bring,

Beneath the shadow of thy wing I rest with safety and delight.

PSALM 50.

From the lxv. Psalm of David.

PART I. L. M.

OR thee, O God, our constant praise In Sion waits, thy chosen seat; Our promised altars there we'll raise, And all our zealous vows complete. 2 Thou, who to every humble prayer Dost always bend thy list'ning ear, To thee shall all mankind repair, And at thy gracious throne appear. 3 Our sins, though numberless, in vain To stop thy flowing mercy try; Whilst thou o'erlook'st the guilty stain, And washest out the crimson dye.

4 Bless'd is the man, who, near thee placed, Within thy sacred dwelling lives! 'Tis there abundantly we taste

The vast delights thy temple gives.

PART II. L. M.

1 LORD, from thy unexhausted store,
Thy rain relieves the thirsty ground;
Makes lands, that barren were before,
With corn and useful fruits abound.

2 On rising ridges down it pours,

And every furrow'd valley fills: Thou mak'st them soft with gentle showers, In which a blest increase distils.

3 Thy goodness does the circling year With fresh returns of plenty crown; And where thy glorious paths appear, The fruitful clouds drop fatness down. 4 They drop on barren deserts, changed By them to pastures fresh and green: The hills about, in order ranged,

In beauteous robes of joy are seen.

5 Large flocks with fleecy wool adorn
The cheerful downs; the valleys bring
A plenteous crop of full-ear'd corn,
And seem, for joy, to shout and sing.

PSALM 51.

From the lxvi. Psalm of David.

PART I. C. M.

ET all the lands, with shouts of joy,
To God their voices raise;
Sing psalms in honour of his name,
And spread his glorious praise.

2 And let them say, How dreadful. Lord,
In all thy works, art thou!

To thy great power thy stubborn foes
Shall all be forced to bow.

3 Through all the earth the nations round

Shall thee their God confess;

And, with glad hymns, their awful dread

Of thy great Name express.

4 O come, behold the works of God, And then with me you'll own That he to all the sons of men

Has wondrous judgement shown.

5 O all ye nations, bless our God,
And loudly speak his praise;
Who keeps our souls alive, and still
Confirms our steadfast ways.

PART II. C. M

1 My off'rings to God's house I'll bring,
And there my vows will pay,
Which I with solemn zeal did make
In trouble's dismal day.

2 O come, all ye that fear the Lord,
Attend with heedful care,

Whilst I what God for me has done
With grateful joy declare.

3 As I before his aid implored,
So now I praise his Name;
But, if my heart to sin incline,

My prayer will God disclaim.

4 But God to me, whene'er I cried,

His gracious ear did bend,
And to the voice of my request
With constant love attend.

5 Then bless'd for ever be my God,

Who never, when I pray,
Withholds his mercy from my soul,
Nor turns his face away.

PSALM 52. S. M.

From the lxvii. Psalm of David.

O bless thy chosen race,

In mercy, Lord, incline;

And cause the brightness of thy face

On all thy saints to shine.

2 That so thy wondrous way

May through the world be known; While distant lands their tribute pay, And thy salvation own.

3 Let diff'ring nations join

To celebrate thy fame;

Let all the world, O Lord, combine

To praise thy glorious Name.

4 O let them shout and sing,

With joy and pious mirth;

For thou, the righteous Judge and King,
Shalt govern all the earth.

5 Let diff'ring nations join
To celebrate thy fame;

Let all the world, O Lord, combine

To praise thy glorious Name.

6 Then God upon our land

Shall constant blessings shower; And all the world in awe shall stand Of his resistless power.

PSALM 53. L. M.

From the lxviii. Psalm of David.
HE servants of Jehovah's will

His favour's gentle beams enjoy;

Their upright hearts let gladness fill,
And cheerful songs their tongues employ.

2 To him your voice in anthems raise,
Jehovah's awful name he bears;
In him rejoice, extol his praise,
Who rides upon high-rolling spheres.
3 His chariots numberless, his powers
Are heavenly hosts, that wait his will;
His presence now fills Sion's towers,
As once it honour'd Sinai's hill.

4 Ascending high, in triumph thou
Captivity hast captive led,
And on thy people didst bestow

Thy gifts and graces freely shed.
5 E'en rebels shall partake thy grace,
And humble proselytes repair
To worship at thy dwelling-place,
And all the world pay homage there.
6 For benefits each day bestow'd,
Be daily his great Name adored,
Who is our Saviour and our God,
Of life and death the sovereign Lord.

PSALM 54.

From the lxix. Psalm of David.

PART I. L. M.

AVE me, O God, from waves that roll

And press to ovewhelm my soul:
With painful steps in mire I tread,
And deluges o'erflow my head.

2 O Lord, to thee I will repair
For help, with humble, timely prayer;
Relieve me from thy mercy's store,
Display thy truth's preserving power.

3 From threat'ning dangers me relieve,
And from the mire my feet retrieve;
From all my foes in safety keep,
And snatch me from the raging deep.

4 Lord, hear the humble prayer I make,
For thy transcending goodness' sake;
Relieve thy supplicant once more
From thy abounding mercy's store.

5 Reproach and grief hath broke my heart, I look'd for some to take my part,

To pity, or relieve my pain;

But look'd alas! for both in vain. 6 With hunger pined, for food I call, Instead of food they give me gall; And when with thirst my spirits sink, They give me vinegar to drink.

7 For new afflictions they procured

For him who had thy stripes endured;

And made the wounds thy scourge had torn, To bleed afresh with sharper scorn.

PART II. L. M.

1 My soul, howe'er distress'd and poor,
Thy strong salvation shall restore;
Thy power with songs I'll then proclaim,
And celebrate with thanks thy Name.
2 Our God shall this more highly prize
Than herds or flocks in sacrifice;
Which humble saints with joy shall see,
And hope for like redress with me.
3 For God regards the poor's complaint,
And frees the captive from restraint :
Let heaven, earth, sea, their voices raise,
And all the world resound his praise.
PSALM 55. C. M.

From the lxxi. Psalm of David.
N thee I put my steadfast trust,

Defend me, Lord, from shame :
Incline thine ear, and save my soul,
For righteous is thy Name.

2 Be thou my strong abiding-place,
To which I may resort:
Thy promise, Lord, is my defence,
Thou art my rock and fort.

3 My steadfast and unchanging hope,
Shall on thy power depend;
And I in grateful songs of praise
My time to come will spend.

4 Thy righteous acts and saving health
My mouth shall still declare;
Unable yet to count them all,

Though summ'd with utmost care.

5 While God vouchsafes me his support,

I'll in his strength go on;

All other righteousness disclaim,

And mention his alone.

6 Thou, Lord, hast taught me from my youth
To praise thy glorious Name;
And ever since, thy wondrous works
Have been my constant theme.

7 Therefore, with psaltery and harp,
Thy truth, O Lord, I'll praise;
To thee, the God of Jacob's race,
My voice in anthems raise.

8 Then joy shall fill my mouth, and songs
Employ my cheerful voice;

My grateful soul, by thee redeem'd, Shall in thy strength rejoice.

PSALM 56. C. M.

From the lxxii. Psalm of David.

O! hills and mountains shall bring forth
The happy fruits of peace;

Which all the land shall own to be

The work of righteousness:

2 While David's Son our needy race
Shall rule with gentle sway;

And from their humble neck shall take
Oppressive yokes away.

3 In every heart thy awful fear
Shall then be rooted fast,

As long as sun and moon endure,

Or time itself shall last.

4 He shall descend like rain, that cheers
The meadow's second birth;

Or like warm showers whose gentle drops
Refresh the thirsty earth.

5 In his blest days the just and good
Shall spring up all around:
The happy land shall everywhere
With endless peace abound.

6 His uncontroll'd dominion shall
From sea to sea extend;
Begin at proud Euphrates' stream,
At nature's limits end.

7 To him the savage nations round
Shall bow their servile heads;
His vanquish'd foes shall lick the dust,
Where he his conquest spreads.

8 The kings of Tarshish and the isles
Shall costly presents bring;
From spicy Sheba gifts shall come,
And wealthy Saba's king.

9 To him shall every king on earth
His humble homage pay;
And diff'ring nations gladly join
To own his righteous sway.

10 For he shall set the needy free,
When they for succour cry;
Shall save the helpless and the poor,
And all their wants supply.

11 For him shall constant prayer be made,
Through all his prosp'rous days:
His just dominion shall afford

A lasting theme of praise.

12 The mem'ry of his glorious Name
Through endless years shall run;
His spotless fame shall shine as bright
And lasting as the sun.

13 In him the nations of the world

Shall be completely bless'd,

And his unbounded happiness

By every tongue confess'd.

14 Then bless'd be God, the mighty Lord,
The God whom Israel fears;
Who only wondrous in his works

Beyond compare, appears.

15 Let earth be with his glory fill'd,
For ever bless his Name;

Whilst to his praise the list'ning world
Their glad assent proclaim.

PSALM 57. L. M.
From the lxxiii. Psalm of David.
HY presence, Lord, hath me supplied,

Thou my right hand support dost give;
Thou first shalt with thy counsel guide,
And then to glory me receive.

2 Whom then in heaven, but thee alone, Have I, whose favour I require? Throughout the spacious earth there's none,

Compared with thee, that I desire.

3 My trembling flesh and aching heart
May often fail to succour me;
But God shall inward strength impart,
And my eternal portion be.

4 For they that far from thee remove
Shall into sudden ruin fall;

If after other gods they rove,

Thy vengeance shall destroy them all.

5 But as for me, 'tis good and just

That I should still to God repair; In him I always put my trust,

And will his wondrous works declare.

PSALM 58. C. M.

From the lxxiv. Psalm of David.

HINE is the cheerful day, O Lord;

Thine the return of night;
Thou hast prepared the glorious sun,
And every feebler light.

2 By thee the borders of the earth

In perfect order stand;

The summer's warmth and winter's cold
Attend on thy command.

PSALM 59. IV. 1.
From the lxxvi. Psalm of David.
HE Name of our God

In Israel is known;
His mansion beloved

Is Sion alone:

There broke he the arrows

The enemy hurl'd,
And honour'd his mountain
Above all the world.

2 The pride of thy foes
Is turn'd to thy praise;

Their fierceness o'erruled

Thy providence sways; Their sin overflowing

Thy power will restrain; Thy arm on the wicked New glory will gain.

3 Ye nations, to God

Vow homage sincere ;
Devote to him gifts,

Love, worship, and fear:
Before him, ye mighty,

Your spirits repress;

Ye high, and ye humble,
His wonders confess!

PSALM 60. C. M.

From the lxxviii. Psalm of David.
GEAR, O my people, to my law

Devout attention lend;
Let the instruction of my mouth
Deep in your hearts descend.

2 My tongue shall oracles proclaim
Which ancient times have known;
The truths which our forefathers' care
To us has handed down.

3 We will not hide them from our sons,
Our offspring shall be taught
The praises of the Lord, whose strength
Has works of wonder wrought.

4 For Jacob he his law ordain'd,

His league with Israel made;
With charge to be from age to age,
From race to race convey'd ;

5 That generations yet to come
Should to their unborn heirs
Religiously transmit the same,
And they again to theirs.

6 To teach them that in God alone
Their hope securely stands;

That they should ne'er his works forget,
But keep his just commands.

PSALM 61. L. M.

From the lxxx. Psalm of David.

THOU whom heavenly hosts obey,
How long shall thy fierce anger burn?
How long thy suff'ring people pray,
And to their prayers have no return?

2 Thou brought'st a vine from Egypt's land;
And, casting out the heathen race,
Didst plant it with thine own right hand,
And firmly fix it in their place.

3 Before it thou prepared'st the way,
And mad'st it take a lasting root,
Which, bless'd with thy indulgent ray,
O'er all the land did widely shoot.

4 The hills were cover'd with its shade,
Its goodly boughs did cedars seem;
Its branches to the sea were spread,
And reach'd to proud Euphrates' stream.

5 To thee, O God of hosts, we pray,

Thy wonted goodness, Lord, renew; From heaven, thy throne, this vine survey, And her sad state with pity view.

6 Behold the vineyard made by thee,

Which thy right hand did guard so long; And keep that branch from danger free, Which for thyself thou mad'st so strong. 7 Do thou convert us, Lord, do thou

The lustre of thy face display;

And all the ills we suffer now,
Like scatter'd clouds, shall pass away.

PSALM 62. C. M.

From the lxxxi. Psalm of David.
O God, our never-failing strength,
With loud applauses sing:
And jointly make a cheerful noise
To Jacob's awful King.

2 Compose a hymn of praise, and touch
Your instruments of joy;
Let psalteries and tuneful harps
Your grateful skill employ.

3 Let trumpets at the festival

Their joyful voices raise,

To celebrate th' appointed time,
The solemn day of praise.

4 For this a statute was of old,

Which Jacob's God decreed

To be with pious care observed,
By Israel's chosen seed.

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PSALM 63. C. M.

From the lxxxiv. Psalm of David.
GOD of hosts, the mighty Lord,

How lovely is the place
Where thou, enthroned in glory, show'st
The brightness of thy face!

2 My longing soul faints with desire
To view thy blest abode;

My panting heart and flesh cry out
For thee, the living God.

3 The birds, more happy far than I,

Around thy temple throng;
Securely there they build, and there
Securely hatch their young.

4 O Lord of hosts, my king and God,
How highly bless'd are they,
Who in thy temple always dwell,
And there thy praise display!

5 Thrice happy they, whose choice has thee Their sure protection made,

Who long to tread the sacred ways

That to thy dwelling lead!

6 Who pass through parch'd and thirsty vales, Yet no refreshment want;

Their pools are fill'd with rain, which thou

At their request dost grant.

7 Thus they proceed from strength to strength,
And still approach more near;
Till all on Sion's holy mount
Before their God appear.

8 Within thy courts one single day
'Tis better to attend,
Than, Lord, in any other place
A thousand days to spend.

9 Much rather in God's house will I
The meanest office take,
Than in the wealthy tents of sin
My pompous dwelling make.

10 For God, who is our sun and shield,
Will grace and glory give;

And no good thing will he withhold
From them that justly live.

11 Thou, God, whom heavenly hosts obey,
How highly bless'd is he,

Whose hope and trust, securely placed,
Are still reposed on thee

PSALM 64. C. M.

From the lxxxv. Psalm of David.

GOD, our Saviour, all our hearts

To thy obedience turn;

That, quench'd with our repenting tears,
Thy wrath no more may burn.

2 For why should'st thou be angry still,
And wrath so long retain ?
Revive us, Lord, and let thy saints
Thy wonted comfort gain.

3 Thy gracious favour, Lord, display,
Which we have long implored:
And, for thy wondrous mercy's sake,
Thy wonted aid afford.

4 God's answer patiently I'll wait;
For he with glad success,
If they no more to folly turn,
His mourning saints will bless.

5 To all that fear God's holy Name
His sure salvation's near;
His glory in our happy land
For ever shall appear.

6 For mercy now with truth is join'd;
And righteousness with peace,
Like kind companions, absent long,
With friendly arms embrace.

7 Truth from the earth shall spring, whilst heaven Shall streams of justice pour;