Thoughts in Verse :: :: University of Virginia Library

Blest be the man who never, never walketh,
In the dark counsel of ungodly men,
And in the way of sinners never standeth—
Nor sitteth in the seat of scornful ones.

But his delight is in the Lord Almighty,
And unto Him doth ever look for light,
His law of all things seems to Him most worthy
Of thought and meditation, day and night.

He, like a tree, shall be, beside the waters,
Which fruit in season ever bringeth forth.
His leaf luxuriant shall never wither,
Whate'er he does shall prosper—be of worth.

But it is never so with the ungodly,
Like unto chaff shall they be swept away;
Not in the judgment standeth the unholy,
Nor sinners in the righteous concourse stay.

The Lord in wisdom, mercy, love and goodness,
Protects the pathway of the pure in heart;
But in His wrath He doth condemn the godless—
Their way shall perish—they from Him depart.

SECOND PSALM.

Why do the heathen rage?
And people think vain things?
Rulers of earth take counsel sage;
'Gainst God and Christ are kings.

Let us asunder break,
Their bands, we hear them say.
Come, let us with accord awake,
And cast their cords away.

The King of earth and Heaven,
Shall laugh them all to scorn;
And pleasant blessings He has given,
Make bitter as a thorn.

Then shall He speak in wrath,
And vex with trials sore,
Those who have turned from wisdom's path,
And loved sin more and more.

Yet have I set my King
Upon my holy hill
Of Zion; ye His praise shall sing,
And do His righteous will.

I the decree declare,
The Lord said unto me;
Thou art my Son, none can compare,
I have begotten thee.

Ask me, and I shall give
The heathen unto thee,—

For thine inheritance receive
The boundless earth and sea.

Thou in thy power shall break
Them with an iron rod,—
Dash them in pieces, 'till they wake
To serve creation's God.

Now, therefore, kings be wise;
Ye judges of the earth,
Be thou instructed—seek the prize—
His wisdom and His worth.

Serve ye the Lord with fear,
With trembling love rejoice.
Kiss thou the Son for He is near;
Oh! hearken to His voice.

Lest He in anger turn,—
Ye perish from the way;
For all who trust in Him, and learn
His truth,—more blest are they.

THIRD PSALM.

Lord, how are they increased,
Who seek to trouble me:
Many are they—they will not cease,
They rise up like the sea.

Many there be that say,
His prayer God will not hear,—
His soul shall perish by the way;
He is engulfed in fear.

But thou, Lord, art a shield
And buckler unto me;
My glory on the battle-field—
My hope is all in Thee.

Thou liftest up my head,
As with my voice I cry;
Thou dost regard the tears I shed,
Thou hearest every sigh.

Beside thy holy hill,
I laid me down and slept,
Awoke obedient to thy will,
Rejoicing there, I wept.

I will not be afraid
Of many thousand men,
An army vast, for war arrayed—
They compass me in vain.

Arise, O Lord, and save;
In Thee I put my trust!
My enemies, though they be brave,
Smite, Lord, into the dust!

Salvation, full and free,
Belongeth to the Lord,
Thy people rest secure in thee,—
A blessing is thy word.

TWENTY-THIRD PSALM.

My Shepherd is the Lord;
I shall be free from care,
By the still waters of His word—
His spirit leads me there.

In pastures ever green,
My hungry soul He feeds;
My soul restored has ever been—
Provided for my needs.

In paths of righteousness,
He leads my wayward feet,
For His name sake, I must confess
My safety is complete.

Though in the vale of Death,
With shadows dark and chill,
With bitter pains and labored breath,
My soul shall fear no ill.

For thou art close beside,
To rouse my waning faith;
Thy rod and staff shall be my guide
And comfort me in death.

Thou dost in love prepare
A table rich and free,
Thou show'st thy bounteous loving care
Before my enemy.

My head thou dost anoint
With precious oil of grace.

An overflowing cup appoint—
Thy love my heart doth trace.

Thy goodness every day,
Thy mercy like a well,
Shall strength renew continually—
Till in thy House I dwell.

THIRTY-NINTH PSALM.

I said, I will take heed unto my going,
That I may keep from sinning with my tongue;
And keep my mouth at all times with a bridle;
When wicked ones are near, I will be dumb.

I held my peace, was as the dumb with silence,
Whenever I within their presence stood,
Though stirred with sorrow, sore vexed, out of patience,
I held my peace, even from speaking good.

Yet still my heart was burning, hot within me,
The fire was burning while I mused long;
Fierce thoughts of vengeance, surged and warred within me!
Then calm with peace, I pleaded with my tongue.

Make me to know mine end, O Lord, the measure
Of all the days thou hast allotted here;
That I in wisdom and in truth may treasure
Each day, each hour, each moment of the year.

Teach me to cherish all the time Thou sendest,
To the best use the smallest fraction give;
To ne'er forget how frail I am; Thou lendest
All of the strength by which I move and live.

Behold Thou mak'st my days as 'twere a hand breadth,
And all mine age fades into nothingness;
Before Thee as I stand my aching heart saith:
Man is but vanity and show when at his best.

In a vain show most surely each man walketh,
With care his life disquieteth in vain;
And to himself great sums of riches heapeth,
Then dies, and knoweth not who reaps his gain.

And now, O Lord, I wait for thy salvation,
Surely my hope is centered, Lord, in Thee.
Deliver me from sin—from all transgression,
Nor to the foolish a by-word may I be.

I was as dumb, my mouth I would not open,
Because in mercy Thou convictest me;
I am consumed by thy stroke of justice;
Remove Thy hand, O Lord, regard my plea.

When Thou in wrath correctest man for folly,
Like as a moth his beauty fades away.
When we oppose to Thee our strength, most surely
We realize that man is vanity.

Hear, now, my prayer, give ear unto my crying!
Hold not thy peace, when I am filled with fear!

For in thy sight, I know I am a stranger
And a sojourner, as were my fathers here.

Spare me, O Lord, for am I not a lover
Of thy great law, and all thy truth adore?
Spare me, O Lord, that I may strength recover,
Before I go, and hither come no more.