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

'Tis good for me that I have felt
Affliction's chast'ning rod,
That I might duly learn and keep
The statutes of my God.

PSALM CXIX.

N. V.

IV.

(105. 108. 111, 112.)

C. M.

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.

Let still my sacrifice of praise
With Thee acceptance find;

And in thy righteous judgments, Lord,
Instruct my willing mind.

Thy testimonies I have made

My heritage and choice;

For they, when other comforts fail,

My drooping heart rejoice.

My heart with early zeal began

Thy statutes to obey ;

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

[1047]

E

PSALM CXIX.

N. V.

v.

(169. 173, 174, 175.)

To my request and earnest cry
Attend, O gracious Lord;

Inspire my heart with heav'nly skill,
According to thy word.

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.

My soul has waited long to see
Thy saving grace restored;

C. M.

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

Prolong my life, that I may sing
My great Restorer's praise;
Whose justice from the depth of woe
My fainting soul shall raise.

PSALM CXXI.

N. V.

(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. 9.)

C. M.

To Sion's hill I lift my eyes,
From thence expecting aid;
From Sion's hill, and Sion's God,
Who heaven and earth has made.

Then thou, my soul, in safety rest,
Thy Guardian will not sleep;
His watchful care, that Israel guards,
Will thee from danger keep.

Shelter'd beneath th' Almighty's wings
Thou shalt securely rest,

Where neither sun nor moon shall thee
By day or night molest.

At home, abroad, in peace, in war,
Thy God shall thee defend;
Conduct thee through life's pilgrimage
Safe to thy journey's end.

PSALM CXXII.

N. V.

(1. 4. 6, 7.)

O 'Twas a joyful sound to hear
Our tribes devoutly say,
Up, Israel, to the temple haste,
And keep your festal day.

'Tis thither, by divine command,
The tribes of God repair,
Before his ark to celebrate

His Name with praise and prayer.
O pray we then for Salem's peace,
For they shall prosp'rous be,
(Thou holy city of our God!)

Who bear true love to thee.

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

C. M.

PSALM CXXV.

N. V.

(1, 2.)

C. M.

WHO place on Sion's God their trust,

Like Sion's rock shall stand;

Like her immoveably be fix'd

By his Almighty hand.

Look how the hills on ev'ry side

Jerusalem inclose;

So stands the Lord around his saints,
To guard them from their foes.

PSALM CXXVII.

L. M.

EXCEPT the Lord the house defend,
In vain their toil the builders spend ;
Except the Lord our walls sustain,
The watchman waketh but in vain :
Early ye rise and late take rest,
And eat your bread, with cares opprest;
Vain fruits from all your toil ye reap;
For to his own He giveth sleep:

Lo! children too are from the LORD,
The fruitful womb is his reward:

As arrows in the giant's hand,
The children round their parents stand.
Happy, whose quiver, with them stored,
Is ever ready at his word;

He from his foes shall not refrain,

But in the gate his cause maintain.

PSALM CXXX.

I.

(1, 2. 5, 6, 7, 8.)

FROM lowest depths of woe

To God I sent my cry;

Lord, hear my supplicating voice,
And graciously reply.

My soul with patience waits

For Thee, the living Lord;

My hopes are on thy promise built,
Thy never-failing word.

N. V.

S. M.

My longing eyes look out
For thy enliv'ning ray,

More duly than the morning-watch
To spy the dawning day.

Let Israel trust in God,

No bounds his mercy knows;

The plenteous source and spring from whence Eternal succour flows.

Whose friendly streams to us

Supplies in want convey;

A healing spring, a spring to cleanse,
And wash our guilt away.

PSALM CXXX.

P. M.

II.

LORD, hear my suppliant prayer,
Ere yet my spirit faint;
O let thine ears consider well
The voice of my complaint!

Should'st Thou each error mark,
Who could thy sentence bear?
But mercy dwells with Thee, that men
Thy righteous truth may fear.

For Thee, the gracious Lord,
I wait with trustful eyes;
On the sure comfort of thy word
My firm-built hope relies.

To Thee my spirit hastes,

On wings of prayer upborne,

More eager than the guards that watch
The coming of the morn.