University of Virginia Library

Psalm XCII. Paraphras'd.

Great Sov'reign of the World, thy glorious Name
I ever will extol, and Praise proclaim.
Whether the Morn with rising Light invest,
Or gloomy Night o'erspread the darken'd East;
The smiling Morn thy bounteous Love shall hear,
And list'ning Night thy constant Truth revere:
The Lute and Harp shall join my willing Voice,
And the loud Cymbal add its tuneful Noise.
Whilst in my Mind thy matchless Deeds I weigh,
And all thy Works in silent Thought survey,
The pleasing Theme my ravish'd Bosom fires,
And sacred Hymns spontaneously inspires!
Thy Greatness who can tell! or who can trace
The Wisdom of thy providential Ways!
Yet will audacious Man presume to blame
Thy Conduct, and asperse thine awful Name.
Like some green Herb, which on the springing Mead,
By Genial Show'rs refresh'd, uprears its Head,
The Wicked seem awhile; but Vengeance due
Soon quells their Pride, and blasts the guilty Crew.
But Thou art still the same: Thou ne'er canst know
The Changes that affect this World below.
Thine Enemies, O God! an Impious Band,
Shall perish soon by thy destroying Hand.
Mean while the Righteous, like the goodly Height
Of the fair Palm, shall flourish to the Sight;
Or like a Cedar, that Majestic grows
On Lebanon, and wide extends its Boughs.
The Tree, that in thy Temple's Courts shall shoot
Deep in the hallow'd Ground its spreading Root,
Loaded with Fruits, with fadeless Blossoms gay,
Shall flourish still, nor ever know Decay.
With such abundant Favour Thou wilt bless
Those who thy venerable Name confess;
That all the Nations shall be forc'd to own
Thy perfect Laws, and worship at thy Throne.