Thy pleasant vine, Thy Israel,
Which Thy right hand hath set;
The same which Thou didst love so well,
O Lord, do not forget.
Let Thy right hand be with him now,
Whom Thou hast kept so long;
And with the Son of man, whom Thou
To Thee hast made so strong.
And so, when Thou hast set us free,
And saved us from shame;
Then will we never fall from Thee,
But call upon Thy Name.
O 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.
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.
O 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?
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.
O God, our strength, to Thee the song
With grateful hearts we raise;
To Thee, and Thee alone, belong
All worship, love, and praise.
In trouble's dark and stormy hour
Thine ear hath heard our prayer,
And graciously Thine arm of power
Hath saved us from despair.
And Thou, O ever gracious Lord,
Wilt keep Thy promise still,
If, meekly hearkening to Thy Word,
We seek to do Thy will.
Led by the light Thy grace imparts
Ne'er may we bow the knee
To idols, which our wayward hearts
Set up instead of Thee.
So shall Thy choicest gifts, O Lord,
Thy faithful people bless,
For them shall earth its stores afford,
And heaven its happiness.
O GoD of hosts, the mighty Lord,
How lovely is the place
Where Thou, enthroned in glory, show'st
The brightness of Thy face!
My longing soul faints with desire
To view Thy bless'd abode;
My panting heart and flesh cry out
For Thee, the living God.
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!
Thrice happy they whose choice has Thee-
Their sure protection made;
Who long to tread the sacred ways
That to Thy dwelling lead!
BEHOLD, O God, for Thou alone
Canst timely aid dispense;
On Thy anointed servant look,
Be Thou his strong defence:
For in Thy courts one single day
'Tis better to attend,
Than, Lord, in any place besides
A thousand days to spend.
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.
Thou God, whom heavenly hosts obey,
How highly bless'd is he,
Whose hope and trust, securely placed,
Is still reposed on Thee.
PSALM LXXXVII.
O ZION, glorious things to come
Of thee thy prophets sing,
Thou dwelling-place and earthly rest
Of heaven's eternal King.
Dark Egypt's sons and Babylon
To thee shall soon be known;
The Tyrian and the Philistine
Be number'd with thine own.
Lo! from Arabia's shores afar,
The region of the morn,
New names to Zion's mount are come,
New souls to God are born.
The birthright of Thy citizens
Glad strangers now shall share,
All born anew to God, who builds
Their home of comfort there.
O LORD, the Saviour and defence
Of us Thy chosen race,
From age to age Thou still hast been
Our sure abiding-place.
Thou turnest man, O Lord, to dust,
Of which he first was made;
And when Thou speak'st the word, "Return,"
'Tis instantly obey'd.
For in Thy sight a thousand years
Are like a day that's past,
Or like a watch in dead of night,
Whose hours unminded waste.
So teach us, Lord, the uncertain sum
Of our short days to mind,
That to true wisdom all our hearts
May ever be inclined.
PSALM XCI.
CALL Jehovah thy salvation,
Rest beneath the Almighty's shade
In His secret habitation
Dwell, nor ever be dismay'd:
There no tumult can alarm thee,
Thou shalt dread no hidden snare;
Guile nor violence can harm thee,
In eternal safeguard there.
From the sword at noon-day wasting,
From the noisome pestilence,
In the depth of midnight blasting,
God shall be thy sure defence:
Fear not thou the deadly quiver,
When a thousand feel the blow;
Mercy shall thy soul deliver,
Though ten thousand be laid low:
Since, with pure and firm affection,
Thou on God hast set thy love,
With the wings of His protection
He will shield thee from above:
Thou shalt call on Him in trouble,
He will hearken, He will save,
Here for grief reward thee double,
Crown with life beyond the grave.
PSALM XCII.
(1, 2. 4.)
How good and pleasant must it be
To thank the Lord most high;
And with repeated hymns of praise
His Name to magnify!
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