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

O how stupendous to the sight,
What lovely mansions of delight
Thy dwelling place displays!
O Lord, to whom the hosts belong
Of thousands, and ten thousands, strong
In thankfulness and praise.

My heart unto thy courts aspires,
And all its longings and desires
Are for the bliss above,
My zealous soul within me burns,
My very flesh cries out and yerns
For Christ the life of love.

Yea there the sparrow takes her rest,
There also to her craving nest
The swallow food may bring;
Ev'n at thine altar are they found,
O Thou, to whom the hosts resound,
My Lord, my God, and king!

They are the blessed which reside,
And for eternal peace provide
Within thy blest abodes,
With thee their spirits shall commune,
And always praising, sing and tune
Their holy harps and odes.

The man is blest, where'er he dwells,
That in religious works excels
With strength divine endu'd,
Whose stedfast life is to obey,
And in and from whose heart thy way
Is graven and pursu'd.

Such, as their errors they bewail
Thro' Baca's penitential vale,
And trust alone in him,
Refresh'd as in the well-spring's cool
Shall use it, and lo! ev'ry pool
Is swoln above the brim.

From strength redoubl'd, as they go,
To strength increasing shall they grow,
And to refresh and cheer
Their travail thro' the narrow gate,
The God of God's from Zion's height
In glory shall appear.

O Lord, to whom the hosts belong
Of thousands and ten thousands strong,
Incline thy gracious ear,
For ever and thou art the same,
The God of Jacob is thy name,
Thou God of Jacob hear.

O ever present to defend
Let thy benevolence descend
On this anointed head,
The face of thine elect behold,
On which, as by thy seer foretold,
The holy cruse was shed.

For one day in thy blest abode,
O Lord, with thankfulness bestow'd
On pray'r and praise and thee,
Better than thousands, thousand fold,
Ten thousand times ten thousand told,
Is such a day to me.

I would with joyfulness embrace
The keeper of the temple's place,
Whom constant care confines,
And rather there abide and bless,
Than dwell where pompous wickedness
In sumptuous tents reclines.

For God is our defence, is light,
And with his grace he shall requite,
With worship shall reward,
Nor ought that he delights to give
Shall he withhold from them that live
A life unto the Lord.

O God, to whom the hosts belong
Of thousands and ten thousands strong,
That bow towards thy throne,
The man is blest, whose strength thou art
Who puts his trust with all his heart
In thee, O Lord, alone.