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25 Whom then in heaven, but thee alone,

Have I, whose favour I require? Throughout the spacious earth there's none That I besides thee can desire.

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

27 For they that far from me remove,
Shall into sudden ruin fall;

If after other gods they rove,

Thy vengeance shall destroy them all.
28 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 LXXIV.

WHY hast thou cast us off, O God?

Wilt thou no more return?

O! why against thy chosen flock
Does thy fierce anger burn?

2 Think on thy ancient purchase, Lord,
The land that is thy own,

By thee redeem'd; and Sion's mount,
Where once thy glory shone.

3 O! come and view our ruin'd state;
How long our troubles last;
See how the foe, with wicked rage,
Has laid thy temple waste.

4 Thy foes blaspheme thy name: where late Thy zealous servants pray'd,

The heathen there, with haughty pomp,
Their banners have display'd.

5, 6 Those curious carvings, which did once Advance the artist's fame,

With axe and hammer they destroy,

Like works of vulgar frame.

7 Thy holy temple they have burn'd;
And what escap'd the flame,
Has been profan'd, and quite defac'd,
Though sacred to thy name.
8 Thy worship wholly to destroy
Maliciously they aim'd;
And all the sacred places burn'd,

Where we thy praise proclaim'd.

9 Yet of thy presence thou vouchsaf'st
No tender signs to send;

We have no prophet now, that knows
When this sad state shall end.

PART II.

10 But, Lord, how long wilt thou permit Th' insulting foe to boast?

Shall all the honour of thy name

For evermore be lost?

11 Why hold'st thou back thy strong right hand,

And on thy patient breast,

When vengeance calls to stretch it forth,
So calmly lett'st it rest?

12 Thou heretofore, with kingly power,
In our defence hast fought;

For us, throughout the wond'ring world,
Hast great salvation wrought.

13 'Twas thou, O God, who didst the sea
By thy own strength divide;

Thou break'st the wat'ry monsters' heads;
The waves o'erwhelm'd their pride.
14 The greatest, fiercest of them all,
That seem'd the deep to sway,
Was by thy power destroy'd, and made
To savage beasts a prey.

15 Thou clav'st the solid rock, and mad'st The waters largely flow;

Again, thou mad'st through parted streams
Thy wand'ring people go.

16 Thine is the cheerful day, and thine
The black return of night;
Thou hast prepar'd the glorious sun,
And every feebler light.

17 By thee the borders of the earth
In perfect order stand;

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

PART III.

18 Remember, Lord, how scornful foes
Have daily urg'd our shame;
And how the foolish people have
Blasphem'd thy holy name.

19 O! free thy mourning turtle-dove,
By sinful crowds beset;
Nor the assembly of thy poor
For evermore forget.

20 Thy ancient cov'nant, Lord, regard,
And make thy promise good;
For now each corner of the land
Is fill'd with men of blood.
21 O! let not the oppress'd return
With sorrow cloth'd, and shame;
But let the helpless and the poor
For ever praise thy name.
22 Arise, O God, in our behalf;
Thy cause and ours maintain;
Remember how insulting fools

Each day thy name profane.

23 Make thou the boastings of thy foes
For evermore to cease;

Whose insolence, if unchastis'd,
Will more and more increase.
PSALM LXXV.

To thee, O God, we render praise,

To thee, with thanks repair;
For, that thy name to us is nigh,
Thy wondrous works declare.
2 In Israel when my throne is fix'd,
With me shall justice reign:

3 The land with discord shakes; but I
The sinking frame sustain.
Deluded wretches I advis'd
Their errors to redress;

And warn'd bold sinners, that they should
Their swelling pride suppress.

5 Bear not yourselves so high, as if
No power could yours restrain;
Submit your stubborn necks, and learn
To speak with less disdain:

6 For that promotion, which to gain
Your vain ambition strives,
From neither east nor west, nor yet
From southern climes arrives.

7 For God the great disposer is,
And sov❜reign Judge alone,
Who casts the proud to earth, and lifts
The humble to a throne.

8 His hand holds forth a dreadful cup;
With purple wine 'tis crown'd;
The deadly mixture which his wrath
Deals out to nations round.

Of this his saints sometimes may taste;
But wicked men shall squeeze
The bitter dregs, and be condemn'd
To drink the very lees.

9 His prophet, I, to all the world
This message will relate;
The justice then of Jacob's God
My song shall celebrate.

10 The wicked's pride I will reduce, Their cruelty disarm;

Exalt the just, and seat him high
Above the reach of harm.

PSALM LXXVI.

N Judah the Almighty's known,
Almighty there by wonders shown:

His name in Jacob does excel:
2 His sanctu❜ry in Salem stands;
The Majesty that heaven commands,
In Sion condescends to dwell.

3 He brake the bow and arrows there,
The shield, and temper'd sword, and spear;
There slain the mighty army lay:

4 Whence Sion's fame through earth is spread, Of greater glory, greater dread,

Than hills where robbers lodge their prey. 5 Their valiant chiefs, who came for spoil, Themselves met there a shameful foil:

Securely down to sleep they lay;
But wak'd no more, their stoutest band
Ne'er lifted one resisting hand

'Gainst his, that did their legions slay. 6 When Jacob's God began to frown, Both horse and charioteers, o'erthrown,

Together slept in endless night:

7 When thou, whom earth and heav'n revere, Dost once with wrathful look appear,

What mortal power can stand thy sight? 8 Pronounc'd from heaven, earth heard its doom,

Grew hush'd with fear, when thou didst

come

9 The meek with justice to restore: 10 The wrath of man shall yield thee praise; Its last attempts but serve to raise

The triumphs of Almighty power. 11 Vow to the Lord, ye nations; bring Vow'd presents to th' eternal King;

Thus to his name due rev'rence pay, 12 Who proudest potentates can quell, To earthly kings more terrible,

Than to their trembling subjects they.
PSALM LXXVII.

To God I cry'd, who to my help
Did graciously repair:

2 In trouble's dismal day I sought
My God with humble prayer.
All night my fest'ring wound did run;
No med'cine gave relief:
My soul no comfort would admit;
My soul indulg'd her grief.

3 I thought on God, and favours past;
But that increas'd my pain:
I found my spirit more oppress'd,
The more I did complain.

4 Through every watch of tedious night
Thou keep'st my eyes awake:
My grief is swell'd to that excess,
I sigh, but cannot speak.

5 I call'd to mind the days of old,
With signal mercy crown'd;

Those famous years of ancient times,
For miracles renown'd.

6 By night I recollect my songs,
On former triumphs made;

Then search, consult, and ask my heart,
Where's now that wondrous aid?

7 Has God for ever cast us off?
Withdrawn his favours quite?
8 Are both his mercy and his truth
Retir'd to endless night?

9 Can his long practis'd love forget
Its wonted aids to bring?

Has he in wrath shut up and seal'd
His mercy's healing spring?

10 I said, my weakness hints these fears;
But I'll my fears disband;

I'll yet remember the Most High,
And years of his right hand.
11 I'll call to mind his works of old,
The wonders of his might;

12 On them my heart shall meditate,
My tongue shall them recite.

13 Safe lodg'd from human search on high,
O God, thy counsels are!

Who is so great a God as ours?
Who can with him compare?
14 Long since a God of wonders thee
Thy rescu'd people found;

15 Long since hast thou thy chosen seed
With strong deliv'rance crown'd.

16 When thee, O God, the waters saw,
The frighted billows shrunk;

The troubled depths themselves for fear
Beneath their channels sunk.

17 The clouds pour'd down, while rending skies

Did with their noise conspire? Thy arrows all abroad were sent, Wing'd with avenging fire.

18 Heav'n with thy thunder's voice was torn, Whilst all the lower world

With lightnings blaz'd, earth shook, and seem'd

From her foundations hurl'd.

19 Through rolling streams thou find'st try

way,

Thy paths in waters lie;

Thy wond'rous passage, where no sight
Thy footsteps can descry.

20 Thou lead'st thy people like a flock
Safe through the desert land,
By Moses, their meek skilful guide,
And Aaron's sacred hand.

PSALM LXXVIII.

HEAR, O my people, to my law

Devout attention lend;

Let the instruction of my mouth
Deep in your hearts descend.
2 My tongue, by inspiration taught,
Shall parables unfold,
Dark oracles, but understood,

And own'd for truths of old:
5 Which we from sacred registers
Of ancient times have known,
And our forefathers' pious care
To us bas handed down.

4 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.

5 For Jacob he this law ordain'd,

This league with Israel made;

With charge to be from age to age, From race to race, convey'd

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

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

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

8 Lest, like their fathers they might prove
A stiff rebellious race,
False-hearted, fickle to their God,
Unsteadfast in his grace.

9 Such were revolting Ephraim's sons,
Who though to warfare bred,
And skilful archers, arm'd with bows,
From field ignobly fled.

10, 11 They falsified their league with God,
His orders disobey'd,
Forgot his works and miracles

Before their eyes display'd.

12 Nor wonders, which their fathers saw,
Did they in mind retain,
Prodigious things in Egypt done,
And Zoan's fertile plain.

13 He cut the seas to let them pass,
Restrain'd the pressing flood;
While pil'd on heaps, on either side
The solid waters stood.

14 A wondrous pillar led them on,
Compos'd of shade and light;

A shelt ring cloud it prov'd by day,
A leading fire by night.

15 When drought oppress'd them, where no

stream

The wilderness supply'd,

He cleft the rock, whose flinty breast

Dissolv'd into a tide.

16 Streams from the solid rock he brought, Which down in rivers fell,

That, trav'lling with their camp, each day
Renew'd the miracle..

17 Yet there they sinn'd against him more, Provoking the Most High,

In that same desert where he did

Their fainting souls supply.

18 They first incens'd him in their hearts,
That did his power distrust,

And long'd for meat, not urg'd by want,
But to indulge their lust.

19 Then utter'd their blaspheming doubts;
"Can God," say they, "prepare
A table in the wilderness,
"Set out with various fare?
20" He smote the flinty rock, 'tis true,
"And gushing streams ensu'd;
"But can he corn and flesh provide
"For such a multitude?”

21 The Lord with indignation heard:
From heaven avenging flame
On Jacob fell, consuming wrath
On thankless Israel came;

22 Because their unbelieving hearts
In God would not confide,

Nor trust his care, who had from heav'n
Their wants so oft supply'd;

23 Though he had made his clouds discharge Provisions down in show'rs;

And when earth fail'd, reliev'd their needs
From his celestial stores;

24 Though tasteful manna was rain'd down, Their hunger to relieve;

Though from the stores of heaven they did Sustaining corn receive.

25 Thus man with angels' sacred food, Ungrateful man was fed;

Not sparingly, for still they found

A plenteous table spread.

26 From heaven he made an east wind blow Then did the south command

27 To rain down flesh like dust, and fowls Like sea's unnumber'd sand.

28 Within their trenehes he let fall
The luscious easy prey;

And all around their spreading camp
The ready booty lay.

29 They fed, were fill'd; he gave them leave Their appetites to feast;

30, 31 Yet still their wanton lust crav'd on,
Nor with their hunger ceas'd.

But whilst in their luxurious mouths,
They did their dainties chew,

The wrath of God smote down their chiefs
And Israel's chosen slew.

PART II.

32 Yet still they sinn'd, nor would afford His miracles belief:

33 Therefore through fruitless travels he Consum'd their lives in grief.

34 When some were slain, the rest return'd To God with early cry;

35 Own'd him the Rock of their defence, Their Saviour, God most high.

56 But this was feign'd submission all; Their heart their tongue bely'd;

37 Their heart was still perverse, nor would Firm in his league abide.

38 Yet, full of merey, he forgave,

Nor did with death chastise;

But turn'd his kindled wrath aside,

Or would not let it rise.

39 For he remember'd they were flesh,
That could not long remain;

A murm'ring wind, that's quickly past,
And ne'er returns again.

40 How oft did they provoke him there,
How oft his patience grieve,

In that same desert, where he did
Their fainting souls relieve!

41 They tempted him by turning back,
And wickedly repin'd,

When Israel's God refus'd to be

By their desires confin'd.

42 Nor call'd to mind the hand and day
That their redemption brought;
43 His signs in Egypt, wondrous works
In Zoau's valley wrought.

44 He turn'd their rivers into blood,
That man and beast forbore,
And rather chose to die of thirst,
Than drink the putrid gore.

45 He sent devouring swarms of flies;
Hoarse frogs annoy'd their soil;
46 Locusts and caterpillars reap'd

The harvest of their toil.

47 Their vines with batt'ring hail were broke; With frost the fig-tree dies;

48 Lightning and hail make flocks and herds One gen'ral sacrifice.

49 He turn'd his anger loose, and set

No time for it to cease;
And with their plagues ill angels sent,
Their torments to increase.

50 He clear'd a passage for his wrath
To ravage uncontrol'd;
The murrain on their firstlings seiz❜d,
In every field and fold.

51 The deadly pest from beast to man,
From field to city, came;

It slew their heirs, their eldest hopes,
Through all the tents of Ham.

52 But his own tribe, like folded sheep,
He brought from their distress;
And them conducted like a flock,
Throughout the wilderness.

53 He led them on, and in their way
No cause of fear they found;

But march'd securely through those deeps, In which their toes were drown'd.

54 Nor ceas'd his care, till them be brought Safe to his promis'd land;

And to his holy mount, the prize

Of his victorious hand.

55 To them the outcast heathen's land
He did by lot divide;

And in their foes' abandon'd tents
Made Israel's tribes reside.

PART III.

56 Yet still they tempted, still provok'd
The wrath of God most high;
Nor would to practise his commands
Their stubborn hearts apply;

57 But in their faithless fathers' steps
Perversely chose to go;

They turn'd aside, like arrows shot
From some deceitful bow.
58 For him to fury they provok'd
With altars set on high;
And with their graven images
Inflam'd his jealousy.

59 When God heard this, on Israel's tribes

His wrath and hatred fell;

60 He quitted Shiloh, and the tents

Where once he chose to dwell.

81 To vile captivity his ark, His glory to disdain,

62 His people to the sword he gave, Nor would his wrath restrain.

83 Destructive war their ablest youth
Untimely did confound;

No virgin was to th' altar led,
With nuptial garlands crown'd.
64 In fight the sacrificer fell,
The priest a victim bled;

And widows, who their death should mourn,
Themselves of grief were dead.
65 Then, as a giant rous'd from sleep,
Whom wine had throughly warm'd,
Shouts out aloud, the Lord awak'd,
And his proud foe alarm'd.

66 He smote their host, that from the field
A scatter'd remnant came,
With wounds imprinted on their backs,
Of everlasting shame.

67 With conquest crown'd, he Joseph's tents And Ephraim's tribe forsook;

68 But Judah chose, and Sion's mount For his lov'd dwelling took.

69 His temple he erected there,
With spires exalted high;

While deep, and fix'd, as those of earth,
The strong foundations lie.

70 His faithful servant David too

He for his choice did own,

And from the sheepfolds him advanc'd
To sit on Judah's throne.
71 From tending on the teeming ewes,
He brought him forth to feed
His own inheritance, the tribes

Of Israel's chosen seed.

72 Exalted thus, the monarch prov'd
A faithful shepherd still;
He fed them with an upright heart,
And guided them with skill.

PSALM LXXIX.

EHOLD, O God, how heathen hosts

B Have thy possession seiz'd!

Thy sacred house they have defil'd,
Thy holy city raz❜d!

2 The mangled bodies of thy saints
Abroad unbury'd lay;

Their flesh expos'd to savage beasts,
And rav'nous birds of prey.

2 Quite through Jerus'lem was their blood Like common water shed;

And none were left alive to pay

Last duties to the dead.

4 The neighb'ring lands our small remains With loud reproaches wound;

And we a laughing-stock are made
To all the nations round.

5 How long wilt thou be angry, Lord?
Must we for ever mourn?
Shall thy devouring jealous rage,
Like fire, for ever burn?

6 On foreign lands, that know not thec,
Thy heavy vengeance show'r;
Those sinful kingdoms let it crush,
That have not own'd thy power.
7. For their devouring jaws have prey'd
On Jacob's chosen race;

And to a barren desert turn'd
Their fruitful dwelling-place.
8 O think not on our former sins,
But speedily prevent
The utter ruin of thy saints,
Almost with sorrow spent.

9 Thou God of our salvation, help,
And free our souls from blame;
So shall our pardon and defence

Exalt thy glorious name.

10 Let infidels, that scoffing say,
"Where is the God they boast?"
In vengeance for thy slaughter'd saints,
Perceive thee to their cost.

11 Lord, hear the sighing pris'ner's moans,
Thy saving power extend;
Preserve the wretches doom'd to die,
From that untimely end.

12 On them who us oppress let all
Our suff'rings be repaid;

Make their confusion sev'n times more
Than what on us they laid.

13 So we, thy people and thy flock,
Shall ever praise thy name;

And with glad hearts our grateful thanks, From age to age proclaim.

PSALM LXXX.

Israel's Shepherd, Joseph's guide, Our prayers to thee vouchsafe to hear; Thou that dost on the Cherubs ride, Again in solemn state appear.

2 Behold how Benjamin expects, With Ephraim and Manasseh join'd,

In our deliv'rance the effects

Of thy resistless strength to find.
3 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. 4 Othou, 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? 5 When hungry, we are forc'd to drench Our scanty food in floods of woe; When dry, our raging thirst we quench With streams of tears that largely flow. 6 For us the heathen nations round,

As for a common prey, contest; Our foes with spiteful joy's abound, And at our lost condition jest.

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.

PART II.

8 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.

9 Before it thou prepar'dst 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.

10, 11 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. 12 Why then hast thou its hedge o'erthrown, Which thou hast made so firm and strong? Whilst all its grapes, defenceless grown,

Are pluck'd by those that pass along. 13 See how the bristling forest-boar With dreadful fury lays it waste; Hark! how the savage monsters roar, And to their helpless prey make haste.

PART III.

14 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. 15 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. 16 To wasting flames 'tis made a prey, And all its spreading boughs cut down; At thy rebuke they soon decay,

And perish at thy dreadful frown. 17 Crown thou the King with good success, By thy right hand secur'd from wrong; The Son of Man in mercy bless,

Whom for thyself thou mad'st so strong. 18 So shall we still continue free

From whatsoe'er deserves thy blame;
And, if once more reviv'd by thee,

Will always praise thy holy name.
19 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 LXXXI.

ToGod, 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 pleasant harps
Your grateful skill employ.

3 Let trumpets at the great new moon
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 observ'd
By Israel's chosen seed.

5 This he for a memorial fix'd,
When, freed from Egypt's land,
Strange nations' barb'rous speech we heard,
But could not understand.

6 Your burden'd shoulders I reliev❜d,
(Thus seems our God to say)

Your servile hands by me were freed,
From lab'ring in the clay.

7 Your ancestors, with wrongs oppress'd,
To me for aid did call;

With pity I their suff'rings saw,

And set them free from all.

They sought for me, and from the cloud
In thunder I reply'd;

At Meribah's contentious stream
Their faith and duty try'd.

PART II.

8 While I my solemn will declare, My chosen people, hear:

If thou, O Israel, to my words

Wilt lend thy list'ning ear;
9 Then shall no God besides myself
Within thy coasts be found;
Nor shalt thou worship any God

Of all the nations round.

10 The Lord thy God am I, who thee Brought forth from Egypt's land; 'Tis I that all thy just desires Supply with lib'ral hand.

11 But they, my chosen race, refus'd
To hearken to my voice;

Nor would rebellious Israel's sons
Make me their happy choice.
12 So I, provok'd, resign'd them up,
To every lust a prey;

And in their own perverse designs
Permitted them to stray.

13 O that my people wisely would
My just commandments heed!
And Israel in my righteous ways

With pious care proceed!

14 Then should my heavy judgments fall On all that them oppose,

And my avenging hand be turn'd
Against their num❜rous foes.

15 Their enemies and mine should all
Before my foot-stool bend;

But as for them, their happy state

Should never know an end.

16 All parts with plenty should abound;
With finest wheat their field:
The barren rocks, to please their taste,
Should richest honey yield.

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