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PSALM CXL.

RESERVE me, Lord, from crafty foes, of treacherous intent;

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2 And from the sons of violence,

on open mischief bent.

3 Their sland'ring tongue the serpent's sting
in sharpness does exceed;
Between their lips the gall of asps

and adder's venom breed.

4 Preserve me, Lord, from wicked hands,
nor leave my soul forlorn,

A prey to sons of violence,
who have my ruin sworn.

5 The proud for me have laid their snare,
and spread their wily net;

With traps and gins, where'er I move,
I find my steps beset.

6 But thus environ'd with distress,
thou art my God, I said;

Lord, hear my supplicating voice,
that calls to thee for aid.

7 O Lord, the God whose saving strength
kind succour did convey,
And cover'd my advent'rous head
in battle's doubtful day;

8 Permit not their unjust designs
to answer their desire;

Lest they, encourag'd by success, to bolder crimes aspire.

9 Let first their chiefs the sad effects of their injustice mourn;

The blast of their envenom❜d breath upon themselves return.

10 Let them who kindle first the flame, its sacrifice become;

The pit they digg'd for me be made their own untimely tomb.

11 Though slander's breath may raise a storm, it quickly will decay:

Their rage does but the torrent swell,

that bears themselves away.

12 God will assert the poor man's cause,
and speedy succour give:
The just shall celebrate his praise,
and in his presence live.

PSALM CXLI.

1 NO thee, O Lord, my cries ascend, To haste to my relief;

And with accustom'd pity hear

the accents of my grief.

2 Instead of off'rings, let my prayer
like morning incense rise;
My lifted hand supply the place
of evening sacrifice.

3 From hasty language curb my tongue,
and let a constant guard
Still keep the portal of my lips
with wary silence barr'd.

4 From wicked men's designs and deeds my heart and hands restrain; Nor let me in the booty share of their unrighteous gain.

5 Let upright men reprove my faults, and I shall think them kind; Like balm that heals a wounded head, I their reproof shall find; And, in return, my fervent prayer I shall for them address, When they are tempted and reduc'd, like me, to sore distress.

6 When skulking in Engedi's rock,
I to their chiefs appeal,

If one reproachful word I spoke,
when I had power to kill.

7 Yet us they persecute to death;
our scatter'd ruins lie

As thick as from the hewer's axe
the sever'd splinters fly.

8 But, Lord, to thee I still direct
my supplicating eyes;

O leave not destitute my soul,
whose trust on thee relies.

9 Do thou preserve me from the snares
that wicked hands have laid;
Let them in their own nets be caught,
while my escape is made.

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PSALM CXLII.

O God, with mournful voice,
in deep distress I pray'd;

2 Made him the umpire of my cause,
my wrongs before him laid.

3 Thou didst my steps direct,

when my griev'd soul despair'd; For where I thought to walk secure, they had their traps prepar'd.

4 I look'd, but found no friend to own me in distress;

All refuge fail'd, no man vouchsaf'd his pity or redress.

5 To God at last I pray'd;

thou, Lord, my refuge art,

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My portion in the land of life,
till life itself depart.

6 Reduc'd to greatest straits,
to thee I make my moan;
O save me from oppressing foes,
for me too powerful grown.
7 That I may praise thy name,
my soul from prison bring;
Whilst of thy kind regard to me
assembled saints shall sing.

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PSALM CXLIII.

ORD, hear my prayer, and to my cry. thy wonted audience lend;

In thy accustom'd faith and truth

a gracious answer send.

2 Nor at thy strict tribunal bring
thy servant to be try'd;

For in thy sight no living man
can e'er be justified.

3 The spiteful foe pursues my life,
whose comforts all are fled;

He drives me into caves as dark
as mansions of the dead.

4 My spirit therefore is o'erwhelm'd,
and sinks within my breast;
My mournful heart grows desolate,
with heavy woes opprest.

5 I call to mind the days of old,
and wonders thou hast wrought;
My former dangers and escapes
employ my musing thought.

6 To thee my hands in humble prayer
I fervently stretch out;

My soul for thy refreshment thirsts,
like land oppress'd with drought.

7 Hear me with speed; my spirit fails;
thy face no longer hide,

Lest I become forlorn, like them
that in the grave reside.

8 Thy kindness early let me hear,

whose trust on thee depends;

Teach me the way where I should go;
my soul to thee ascends.

9 Do thou, O Lord, from all my foes
preserve and set me free;

A safe retreat against their rage
my soul implores from thee.

10 Thou art my God, thy righteous will
instruct me to obey;

Let thy good spirit lead and keep

my soul in thy right way.

11 O! for the sake of thy great name,
revive my drooping heart;

For thy truth's sake, to me distress'd,
the promis'd aid impart.

12 In pity to my sufferings, Lord,
reduce my foes to shame ;
Slay them that persecute a soul
devoted to thy name.

PSALM CXLIV.

1 NOR ever bless'd be God the Lord,
who does his needful aid impart,
At once both strength and skill afford,
to wield my arms with warlike art.
2 His goodness is my fort and tower,

my strong deliv'rance, and my shield; In him I trust whose matchless power makes to my sway fierce nations yield. 3 Lord, what's in man, that thou shouldst love of him such tender care to take? What in his offspring could thee move such great account of him to make? 4 The life of man does quickly fade,.

his thoughts but empty are and vain, His days are like a flying shade,

of whose short stay no signs remain. 5 In solemn state, O God, descend,

whilst heaven its lofty head inclines; The smoking hills asunder rend, of thy approach the awful signs. 6 Discharge thy awful lightnings round, and make thy scatter'd foes retreat; Then with thy pointed arrows wound, and their destruction soon complete. 7, 8 Do thou, O Lord, from heaven engage thy boundless power my foes to quell, And snatch me from the stormy rage of threat'ning waves, that proudly swell. Fight thou against my foreign foes, who utter speeches false and vain; Who, though in solemn leagues they close, their sworn engagements ne'er maintain.. 9 So I to thee, O King of kings,

in new-made hymns my voice shall raise, And instruments of many strings

shall help me thus to sing thy praise: 10" God does to kings his aid afford, "to them his sure salvation sends; " "Tis he that from the murdering sword "his servant David still defends." 11 Fight thou against my foreign foes, who utter speeches false and vain;

Who, though in solemn leagues they close, their sworn engagements ne'er maintain. 12 Then our young sons like trees shall grow, well planted in some fruitful place; Our daughters shall like pillars show, design'd some royal court to grace. 13 Our garners fill'd with various store, shall us and ours with plenty feed; Our sheep, increasing more and more, shall thousands and ten thousands breed. 14 Strong shall our lab'ring oxen grow, nor in their constant labour faint; Whilst we no war nor slav'ry know,

and in our streets hear no complaint. 15 Thrice happy is that people's case, whose various blessings thus abound; Who God's true worship still embrace, and are with his protection crown'd.

PSALM CXLV.

1, 2 HEE will I bless, my God and King, thy endless praise proclaim;

This tribute daily I will bring,

and ever bless thy name.

3 Thou, Lord, beyond compare art great, and highly to be prais'd;

Thy majesty, with boundless height, above our knowledge rais'd.

4 Renown'd for mighty acts, thy fame to future time extends;

From age to age thy glorious name
successively descends.

5, 6 Whilst I thy glory and renown,
and wondrous works express,
The world with me thy might shall own,
and thy great power confess.

7 The praise that to thy love belongs,
they shall with joy proclaim;
Thy truth of all their grateful songs
shall be the constant theme.

8 The Lord is good; fresh acts of grace his pity still supplies;

His anger moves with slowest pace,

his willing mercy flies.

9, 10 Thy love through earth extends its fame,

to all thy works exprest;)

These show thy praise, whilst thy great name is by thy servants blest.

11 They, with a glorious prospect fir'd,

shall of thy kingdom speak;

And thy great power, by all admir'd, their lofty subject make.

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