TRANSLATION OF PSALM XXIII. 1

1

I,

THE Lord my pasture shall prepare,
And feed me with the shepherds's care:
His presence shall my wants supply,
And guard me with a watchful eye;
My noon day walks He shall attend,
And all my midnight hours defend.

II.

When in the sultry glebe I faint,
Or on the thirsty mountain pant,
To fertile vales and dewy meads,
My weary wand'ring steps he leads;
Where peaceful rivers soft and slow,
Amid the verdant landscape flow.

III.

Though in the paths of death I tread,
With gloomy horrors overspread,
My steadfast heart shall fear no ill,
For thou, O Lord, art with me still;
Thy friendly crook shall give me aid,
And guide me through the dreadful shade.

* This piece was first published in the Spectator.-G.

IV.

Though in a bare and rugged way,
Through devious lonely wilds I stray,
Thy bounty shall my pains beguile :
The barren wilderness shall smile,
With sudden greens and herbage crown'd,
And streams shall murmur all around.

HYMN.1

I.

WHEN all thy mercies, O my God,
My rising soul surveys;
Transported with the view, I'm lost
In wonder, love, and praise.

II.

O how shall words with equal warmth
The gratitude declare,

That glows within my ravish'd heart?
But thou canst read it there.

III.

Thy providence my life sustain'd,
And all my wants redrest,
When in the silent womb I lay,
And hung upon the breast.

IV.

To all my weak complaints and cries,

Thy mercy lent an ear,

Ere yet my feeble thoughts had learnt
To form themselves in pray'r.

1 Originally published in the Spectator.-G.

HYMN.

V.

Unnumber'd comforts to my soul
Thy tender care bestów'd,

Before my infant heart conceiv'd

From whom these comforts flow'd.

VI.

When in the slipp'ry paths of youth
With heedless steps I ran,
Thine arm unseen convey'd me safe
And led me up to man.

VII.

Through hidden dangers, toils, and deaths,
It gently clear'd my way,

And through the pleasing snares of vice,
More to be fear'd than they.

VIII.

When worn with sickness, oft hast thou
With health renew'd my face;
And when in sins and sorrows sunk,

Reviv'd my soul with grace.

IX.

Thy bounteous hand with worldly bliss

Has made my cup run o'er,

And in a kind and faithful friend

Has doubled all my store.

X.

Ten thousand thousand precious gifts

My daily thanks employ ;

Nor is the least a cheerful heart,

That tastes those gifts with joy.

VOL. I.--9*

201

XI.

Through every period of my life-
Thy goodness I'll pursue;
And after death, in distant worlds,
The glorious theme renew.

XII.

When nature fails, and day and night
Divide thy works no more,

My ever grateful heart, O Lord,
Thy mercy shall adore.

XIII.

Through all eternity to Thee
A joyful song I'll raise;
For oh! eternity's too short
To utter all thy praise.

DIVINE ODE.

I.

THE spacious firmament on high,'

With all the blue æthereal sky,

And spangled heavens, a shining frame,

Their great Original proclaim :

Th' unwearied sun from day to day,
Does his Creator's pow'r display,

And publishes to every land

The work of an Almighty hand.

1 Originally published in the Spectator.-G.