University of Virginia Library

PSALM XCII.

How blest the task, with fervent heart
To summon from the tuneful Art
Its succours, and thy Name record,
O Thou, whom Nature owns her Lord!
Thy boundless Mercies, heav'nly King,
At morning's earliest hour to sing,
And, rapt in praise, thy Truth to tell,
When night's dark shades around us dwell:
While with the ten-string'd instrument
The psaltry's measur'd strains consent,
And o'er the harp each liquid note
With solemn sound is taught to float.
How have thy Acts my wakeful breast
With rapt'rous gratitude impress'd!
How joys my tongue, with holy flame
Inspir'd, thy Wonders to proclaim!
Great are the Works thy hand has wrought,
And deep beyond all search thy Thought.
Thy Acts the minds of brutish mould
With unregarding eye behold,
And, strangers to thy wise design,
In erring censure madly join;
Nor know, that, when the impious Band
In guilty pomp conspicuous stand,
Fresh as the flow'r, or verdant blade,
In summer's fullest pride array'd,
Mature for death their heads they rear,
And swift destruction waits them near.
But Thou, above the starry plain,
In endless Majesty shalt reign:
Thy foes, eternal God, thy foes
In death's long sleep their eyes shall close,
And all, whose hearts thy pow'r defy,
In wide dispersion backward fly:
While I, by heav'nly Might upborne,
Strong as the Oryx lift the horn;
And o'er my head in copious show'rs
Thy Oil its richest fragrance pours.
When factious Crouds against me rise,
With scenes of triumph thou my eyes
Shalt satiate, and their full defeat
My ears with happiest tidings greet.
Fair as amidst their native bed
The stately Palms their branches spread,
Or Cedars, tow'ring to the skies,
On Lebanon's broad summit rise,
Within thy Courts the Just shall stand;
And, nourish'd by thy fost'ring hand,
Each adverse blast by Thee repell'd,
To latest age their fruits shall yield
In large increase, through life's whole round
With health and youthful verdure crown'd.
Thy Goodness shall their lips record,
(God of my strength!) thy ev'ry Word
In Truth's unvarying balance weigh'd,
Thy ev'ry Act by Justice sway'd.