The Psalms of David Part 62

Princes must die and turn to dust; Vain is the help of flesh and blood: Their breath departs, their pomp and power, And thoughts all vanish in an hour, Nor can they make their promise good.

3 Happy the man whose hopes rely On Israel's G.o.d: he made the sky, And earth and seas with all their train; His truth for ever stands secure; He saves th' opprest, he feeds the poor, And none shall find his promise vain.

4 The Lord hath eyes to give the blind; The Lord supports the sinking mind; He sends the labouring conscience peace: He helps the stranger in distress, The widow and the fatherless, And grants the prisoner sweet release.

5 He loves his saints; he knows them well, But turns the wicked down to h.e.l.l; Thy G.o.d, O Zion, ever reigns: Let every tongue, let every age, In this exalted work engage; Praise him in everlasting strains.

6 I'll praise him while he lends me breath, And when my voice is lost in death Praise shall employ my n.o.bler powers: My days of praise shall ne'er be past While life and thought and being last, Or immortality endures.

Psalm 147:1. First Part.

The divine nature, providence and grace.

1 Praise ye the Lord; 'tis good to raise Our hearts and voices in his praise; His nature and his works invite To make this duty our delight.

2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem, And gathers nations to his Name: His mercy melts the stubborn soul, And makes the broken spirit whole.

3 He form'd the stars, those heavenly flames, He counts their numbers, calls their names: His wisdom's vast, and knows no bound, A deep where all our thoughts are drown'd.

4 Great is our Lord, and great his might; And all his glories infinite: He crowns the meek, rewards the just, And treads the wicked to the dust.

PAUSE.

5 Sing to the Lord, exalt him high, Who spreads his cloud all round the sky, There he prepares the fruitful rain, Nor lets the drops descend in vain.

6 He makes the gra.s.s the hills adorn, And clothes the smiling fields with corn, The beasts with food his hands supply, And the young ravens when they cry.

7 What is the creature's skill or force, The sprightly man, the warlike horse, The nimble wit, the active limb?

All are too mean delights for him.

8 But saints are lovely in his sight; He views his children with delight: He sees their hope, he knows their fear, And looks and loves his image there.

Psalm 147:2. Second Part.

Summer and winter.

A song for Great Britain.

1 O Britain, praise thy mighty G.o.d, And make his honours known abroad, He bid the ocean round thee flow; Not bars of bra.s.s could guard thee so.

2 Thy children are secure and blest; Thy sh.o.r.es have peace, thy cities rest; He feeds thy sons with finest wheat, And adds his blessing to their meat.

3 Thy changing season he ordains, Thine early and thy later rains: His flakes of snow like wool he sends, And thus the springing corn defends.

4 With h.o.a.ry frost he strews the ground; His hail descends with clattering sound: Where is the man so vainly bold That dares defy his dreadful cold?

5 He bids the southern breezes blow, The ice dissolves, the waters flow; But he hath n.o.bler works and ways To call the Britons to his praise.

6 To all the Isle his laws are shown, His gospel thro' the nation known; He hath not thus reveal'd his word To every land: Praise ye the Lord.

Psalm 147:3. 7-9 13-18. C. M.

The seasons of the year.

1 With songs and honours sounding loud Address the Lord on high; Over the heavens he spreads his cloud, And waters veil the sky.

2 He sends his showers of blessing down To cheer the plains below; He makes the gra.s.s the mountains crown, And corn in vallies grow.

3 He gives the grazing ox his meat, He hears the ravens cry; But man, who tastes his finest wheat, Should raise his honours high.

4 His steady counsels change the face Of the declining year; He bids the sun cut short his race, And wintry days appear.

5 His h.o.a.ry frost, his fleecy snow Descend and clothe the ground; The liquid streams forbear to flow, In icy fetters bound.

6 When from his dreadful stores on high He pours the rattling hail, The wretch that dares this G.o.d defy Shall find his courage fail.

7 He sends his word and melts the snow, The fields no longer mourn; He calls the warmer gales to blow, And bids the spring return.

8 The changing wind, the flying cloud, Obey his mighty word: With songs and honours sounding loud, Praise ye the sovereign Lord.

Psalm 148:1. P. M.

Praise to G.o.d from all creatures.

1 Ye tribes of Adam, join With heaven, and earth, and seas, And offer notes divine To your Creator's praise: Ye holy throng Of angels bright, In worlds of light, Begin the song.

2 Thou sun with dazzling rays, And moon that rules the night, s.h.i.+ne to your Maker's praise, With stars of twinkling light: His power declare, Ye floods on high, And clouds that fly In empty air.

3 The s.h.i.+ning worlds above In glorious order stand, Or in swift courses move By his supreme command: He spake the word, And all their frame From nothing came To praise the Lord.

4 He mov'd their mighty wheels In unknown ages past, And each his word fulfils While time and nature last: In different ways His works proclaim His wondrous Name, And speak his praise.

PAUSE.

5 Let all the earth-born race, And monsters of the deep, The fish that cleave the seas, Or in their bosom sleep, From sea and sh.o.r.e Their tribute pay, And still display Their Maker's power.

6 Ye vapours, hail, and snow, Praise ye Th' almighty Lord, And stormy winds that blow To execute his word: When lightnings s.h.i.+ne, Or thunders roar, Let earth adore His hand divine.

7 Ye mountains near the skies, With lofty cedars there, And trees of humbler size, That fruit in plenty bear; Beasts wild and tame, Birds, flies, and worms, In various forms Exalt his Name.

8 Ye kings and judges, fear The Lord, the sovereign King; And while you rule us here, His heavenly honours sing: Nor let the dream Of power and state Make you forget His power supreme.

9 Virgins, and youths, engage To sound his praise divine, While infancy and age Their feebler voices join: Wide as he reigns His Name be sung By every tongue In endless strains.

10 Let all the nations fear The G.o.d that rules above; He brings his people near, And makes them taste his love: While earth and sky Attempt his praise, His saints shall raise His honours high.

Psalm 148:2. Paraphrased. L. M.

Universal praise to G.o.d.