University of Virginia Library

TRANSLATIONS OF SOME OF THE PSALMS OF DAVID.

PSALM I.

Blessed is He—the man that hath not walk'd
In the counsel of the reprobate, nor talk'd
With Sinners in the broad and beaten way:
Nor, with unsanctified and haughty sway,
Throned in the magisterial chair, presum'd
To censure and condemn what God hath doom'd.
But his delight is in that blessed Law,—
To find it holy, pure, and free from flaw;
His task, his recreation, his delight,
Both Even and Morn, and in the depths of Night.
So shall he prosper,—flourishing and free,
Like to the natural or the mystic tree,
Fast by the living waters; bringing forth
In his due season fruits of kindly worth,
Alms and oblations: while his very leaf
Shall whisper of repentance and belief
Mov'd by the Spirit of heav'n, and vocal made,
A living tongue,—it shall not fall nor fade.
Not so the ungodly.—When the winds arise
To scatter their inventions worldly wise,
Wafted in wild opinion to and fro,
With their atomic chaff,—away they go.
Therefore the curious spirits, idly bold,
Rash, sinful, insolent, shall stand controul'd,
With their exploded postulates uncouth,
In the firm Synod of eternal Truth.
The Lord is over all,—to mark and know
The spirit and heart and mind of all below,
He 'stablishes and confirms the good,—and ever
Confounds the unrighteous in their vain endeavour.

Psalm II. EASTER DAY.

Why do the nations rage and storm in vain
With insurrection furious and profane;
And Lo,—the Monarchs of the world are met!
Their ranks are muster'd, and their council set;
Princes and people—all with one accord
United in revolt against their Lord;
Against the Lord, and his anointed Son;
The purpose and design is ever one;
Whether tyrannic, or tumultuous,—still
Enthroning earthly Wisdom, Power and Will:
The last prerogative of human pride
Claim'd and avow'd,—to cast the bonds aside
Which fetter human action;—to be free
From Him the Almighty Eternal Enemy!
“Come—let us break the chain, and rend away
“These links of mental slavery”—Thus they say.—
He that abides in Heav'n,—surveys awhile
Their hideous uproar with an awful smile;
Till wrath divine,—long slumbering and supprest,
Rouses at length,—and each rebellious breast
Quell'd and appall'd,—attends the vast decree
Vouch'd in a voice of angry majesty.
“Yet shall He reign,—and He shall rule ye still
“Anointed and enthron'd on Sion's hill.”
He comes!—“I come the Teacher and the King,
“The Lawgiver; Jehovah's word I bring;
“He saith to me,—‘Mine only Son! this day
‘Begotten, avow'd and born; demand, and say;
‘Ask and obtain thy privilege of birth;
‘All tribes and tongues and every realm of earth!
‘Thou shalt control them with the Rule of Right;
‘As with an iron rod; to rive and smite
‘The reprobate; and like the potter's ware
‘Scatter asunder Empires here and there.’”
Therefore be timely wise, O ye the Chief
Of earthly powers!—Obedience and Belief
May yet avail you; but the time is brief;—
The warning is gone forth;—the event is near;
Be wise and learned;—Serve the Lord in fear!
Princes and Kings of earth salute the Son
With reverence, ere the tempest is begun;
The storm of fiery wrath; whose angry blaze
May snatch you wandering in forbidden ways
If it be rous'd and kindled; bless'd are all
That with a trembling hope await the call.

Psalm XXI. ASCENSION.

He shall rejoice, O Lord, our rightful King,
Exulting in thy succour, conquering
The eternal enemy with Thy strength and aid.
—Sin, Death and Sorrow and Pain are captive made—
—His heart's desire thou grantest him—the scope
Of every supplication, prayer, and hope!
With bounty, and love, and favor overflowing,
With blessing thou preventest him; bestowing
On his anointed head, the regal ring
Incorruptible, as Conqueror, Priest and King!
The gold thereof is perfect; purified
Tormented in the furnace, prov'd and tried.
Life was the boon he sought; yet not to live
Alone; but life eternal didst thou give:
Great is his glory and praise, atchieved at length
In Thy salvation, with thy power and strength.
Thy countenance shall gladden him; and display
A second self; with delegated sway
Co-ordinate; a fountain, and a store,
Of mercy, and Hope, and Grace for evermore,
For all the nations! For his faith was tried;
For that his trust in Thee was testified;
Thy mercy shall maintain him on the throne,
Time without end, unshaken and alone!
King! Conqueror!—in thy wrath thou shalt arise
And thy right hand shall reach thine enemies
With ready vengeance—as the flames and heat,
That round the vaulted furnace rave and beat,
Enkindling and devouring all within;
Thy judgments shall consume the sons of sin,
The fuel of wrath, outrageous, fiery, rife,
With inextinguishable fury and strife
Kindled to self destruction; branch and root
Thou shalt eradicate them!—seed and fruit
Exterminated!—neither name nor place
Left upon earth—nor memory, nor trace!—
For why? the malice of their hearts was bent
Against Thy kingdom and name;—The vain intent
Is baffled, and recoils;—Thy vengeful bow,
Arm'd and up-rais'd, is visible below!—
Stunn'd and amaz'd, the thunder of the string,
Strikes on their ear, Thy shafts are on the wing!
O Lord, our succour in that fearful hour
Exalt Thyself in Thine own strength and Power;
So shall we praise Thy blessed name, and sing
Our Conqueror and Deliverer, Lord and King.

Psalm XXII. GOOD FRIDAY.

Lastly, the extremest tribes and every race
Of the World's utmost space,
Spelling aright,—the words of truth and light
Through dark confus'd tradition long abus'd,
Shall turn anew;—to recollect the true
Saviour—and Sacrifice,—and Child of Heaven,
—The great primæval Hope and Promise given!
The Lord is ruler; every Realm of earth
His heritage of birth, is claim'd and held
Subdued and quell'd,—beneath his awful sway;
Princes and kings obey; the noble and great
Sages and Chiefs of State, with humble cheer
Attend the table in fear; or serve and wait:
Bashful and late, the sad rejected Seed,
From guilt and error freed, return at length;
To be renew'd in strength, a mighty nation;
Again accounted as a generation,
Enroll'd and register'd before the Lord,
Upon the great record;—to testify
Of the Most High; the deeds which he hath done;
Pardon and grace with mighty struggles won,
And glory and rule ordain'd; for him the anointed
Amidst a race pre-destin'd and appointed.

Psalm XLV. CHRISTMAS DAY.

Psalm LXVIII. WHIT-SUNDAY.

PSALM XC.

Before the solid mountains were upraised,
Heaved from the teeming earth to light and air,
Or that firm surface of the land appeared,
Or habitable earth, cheerful and fair,
Thou Lord abidest ever first and last,
The Eternal Future and the Eternal Past,
Sovereign and Judge; in thy predestined plan,
Extinguishing the feeble race of man;
Again the word is uttered—Turn again,
Inhabitants of earth; children of men!
Yes! for a thousand years are, in Thy sight,
As a brief interval passing away,
Like the neglected hours of yesterday,
Or unregarded watches of the night.
Thy floods have overborne them; and they seem,
Their whole existence, memory, name, and place,
All vanished like a vision in a dream—
Sunk and extinct, an unremember'd race.
As the fresh grass, that in the summer air
Flourishes rank and free, lusty and fair,
It waxes wanton in its growth of pride;
But the destroyer comes at even-tide,
With his fell weapon; there it lies at length,
Stripped of its beauty and strength, wasted and dried.

JUDGES.

Chap. V. v. 9—13.

ECCLESIASTES.

Chap. VII. v. 6.

The mirth of fools, somewhere the preacher says,
Is like the cracking thorns when in a blaze;
So unsubstantial are their liveliest joys,
Made up of thoughtless levity and noise:
Tho' at the first the mantling flame looks bright,
'Tis but a momentary glare of light,
With nothing solid to sustain the fire,
It quickly sinks, and all their joys expire.