A translation of the psalms of David :: :: University of Virginia Library

O praise the Lord, my soul endu'd
With all the grace of gratitude,
And zeal's divinest flame:
And all that is within me bless
The merits of his holiness,
And honour of his name.

O praise the Lord, my soul—excite
Thy heart's free pow'rs do him right,
Which has such comfort sent;
His mercies present and behind
Remember, and maintain a mind
Upon his love intent.

Which thee of all thy crime acquits,
And thine iniquity remits
By his most precious cross;
Which earns thy troubles to appease,
And to remove thy sore disease,
And purify thy dross.

Which, by his tenderness extreme,
Could from the gulph of death redeem
Thy soul to vengeance bound;
And with his everlasting care,
His benediction on thy pray'r,
Thy forfeit life has crown'd.

Which has thine appetite restor'd
From pining sickness, and thy board
With plenteous bounty blest;
And has renew'd thy lusty strength,
Like some young eagle fledg'd at length,
And tow'ring from his nest.

The Lord his righteousness asserts,
And his avenging pow'r exerts
Against the tyrant's pride;
He hears the cries of saints oppress'd,
And sees their grievances redress'd,
And all their wants supply'd.

His holy ways himself he taught
To Moses, and the tribes he brought
To Horeb's hallow'd mount;
And deign'd in person, as they pray'd,
And were in meek prostration laid,
His wonders to recount.

The Lord is infinitely great
In mercy for our weak estate,
And gracious to endear;
His indignation he retards,
And all-beneficent regards
The penitential tear.

He will not long with Israel strive,
Nor let his chastisement survive
One pang of due remorse;
His wrath upon the rebel race
Is but a momentary space,
And not of endless force.

We have not his resentment felt
In measure, like as we have dealt
By his divine decrees;
Nor will he our misdoings try,
According to that heinous dye
Which in his truth he sees.

As that vast interval between,
Yon azure cloud and forests green,
Heav'ns vault o'er earth's expanse;
So marvellously great and clear,
For all the servants of his fear
His mercy-beams advance.

And as the womb of early day
Is distant from the setting ray
Which cheques the western shade;
So far from our afflicted sight
Into the realms of endless night
He has our sins convey'd.

Yea, as the father to his child
With fervent haste is reconcil'd,
And pities to forgive;
So shall the Lord of love receive
The children which on him believe,
And in his service live.

Because he knows our feeble frame,
Both what we are, and whence we came,
And where we loath or lust;
And he remembers well our terms,
How shortly must we to the worms
Resign our sinful dust.

The days of human life recede
Like grass, that's gather'd from the mead,
And which the cattle crops;
And all its pride, and all its pow'r,
Is but the triumph of a flow'r,
That buds, and blooms, and drops.

For soon as on the fragrant beds
The tempest blows, its chives it sheds,
And all its balmy store;
And that gay place on which it grew,
No more shall boast its beauteous hue,
And taste its sweets no more.

But God his mercies to his fold
From ever and for ever hold,
And his most righteous sway
From race to race is still maintain'd,
And childrens children unprofan'd,
His holy laws obey.

Such as his covenant peruse
With zealous diligence, and chuse
The paths of endless bliss;
Such as his testaments respect,
And in the truths his laws direct
Are never found remiss.

For one accepted Son alone
God has prepar'd an endless throne
In heav'ns stupendous height;
His irresistible domain
He shall o'er all the world retain,
Each region, realm, and state.

O bless the Lord, ye sons of light,
Ye that are excellent in might
To do his dread command;
Which in his presence are preferr'd,
And to the thunder of his word
In transport understand.

O bless the Lord, and make your boast
Of his perfection, all the host
Of Jesus and his spouse;
Ye his good pleasure who fulfill,
And act in all things as his will
Permits or disallows.

O bless the Lord in every part,
Ye works of his consummate art,
Where'er his wisdom guides;
From pole to sympathetic pole,
And thou too bless him, O my soul,
Which in my heart presides.