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14 God's time with patient faith expect, who will inspire thy breast

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With inward strength: do thou thy part, and leave to him the rest.

PSALM XXVIII.

LORD, my rock, to thee I cry,
in sighs consume my breath;
O! answer, or I shall become
like those that sleep in death.
2 Regard my supplication, Lord,
the cries that I repeat,

With weeping eyes, and lifted hands,
before thy mercy-seat.

3 Let me escape the sinners' doom,
who make a trade of ill,
And ever speak the person fair,
whose blood they mean to spill.
4 According to their crimes' extent,
let justice have its course;
Relentless be to them, as they
have sinned without remorse.

5 Since they the works of God despise,
nor will his grace adore;
His wrath shall utterly destroy,
and build them up no more.
6 But I, with due acknowledgment,
his praises will resound,

From whom the cries of my distress
a gracious answer found.

7 My heart its confidence repos'd
in God, my strength and shield;
In him I trusted, and return'd
triumphant from the field.

As he hath made my joys complete,
'tis just that I should raise
The cheerful tribute of my thanks,
and thus resound his praise:

8 "His aiding power supports the troops,
"that my just cause maintain :
""Twas he advanc'd me to the throne;
" 'tis he secures my reign."

9 Preserve thy chosen, and proceed thine heritage to bless;

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With plenty prosper them, in peace;
in battle, with success.

PSALM XXIX.

E princes, that in might excel,
your grateful sacrifice prepare;
God's glorious actions loudly tell,
his wondrous power to all declare.

2 To his great name fresh altars raise;
devoutly due respect afford;
Him in his holy temple praise,

where he's with solemn state ador'd. 3 'Tis he that, with amazing noise,

the wat❜ry clouds in sunder breaks; The ocean trembles at his voice,

when he from heaven in thunder speaks. 4, 5 How full of power his voice appears! with what majestic terror crown'd! Which from their roots tall cedars tears,

and strews their scatter'd branches round. 6 They, and the hills on which they grow, are sometimes hurry'd far away; And leap, like hinds that bounding go, or unicorns in youthful play.

7, 8 When God in thunder loudly speaks,
and scatter'd flames of lightning sends,
The forest nods, the desert quakes,
and stubborn Kadesh lowly bends.
9 He makes the hinds to cast their young,
and lays the beasts' dark coverts bare;
While those that to his courts belong,
securely sing his praises there.

10, 11 God rules the angry floods on high;
his boundless sway shall never cease;
His saints with strength he will supply,
and bless his own with constant peace.

PSALM XXX.

1 I'LL celebrate thy praises, Lord,
who didst thy power employ
To raise my drooping head, and check
my foes' insulting joy.

2, 3 In my distress I cry'd to thee,

who kindly didst relieve,

And from the grave's expecting jaws
my hopeless life retrieve.

4 Thus to his courts, ye saints of his,
with songs of praise repair;

With me commemorate his truth,
and providential care.

5 His wrath has but a moment's reign,
his favour no decay;

Your night of grief is recompens'd
with joy's returning day.

6 But I, in prosp'rous days presum'd;
no sudden change I fear'd;
Whilst in my sunshine of success,
no low'ring cloud appear'd.

7 But soon I found thy favour, Lord, my empire's only trust;

For when thou hid'st thy face, I saw

my honour laid in dust.

8 Then, as I vainly had presum'd, my error I confess'd;

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And thus with supplicating voice,
thy mercy's throne address'd:
9 "What profit is there in my blood,
congeal'd by death's cold night?
"Can silent ashes speak thy praise,
"thy wondrous truth recite?
10"Hear me, O Lord, in mercy hear;
"thy wonted aid extend;

"Do thou send help, on whom alone
"I can for help depend."

11 'Tis done! thou hast my mournful scene
to songs and dances turn'd;
Invested me with robes of state,
who late in sackcloth mourn'd.
12 Exalted thus, I'll gladly sing
thy praise in grateful verse;
And, as thy favours endless are,
thy endless praise rehearse.

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PSALM XXXI.

EFEND me, Lord, from shame,
for still I trust in thee:

As just and righteous is thy name,
from danger set me free.

2 Bow down thy gracious ear,

and speedy succour send;

Do thou my steadfast rock appear,
to shelter and defend.

3 Since thou, when foes oppress,
my rock and fortress art,

To guide me forth from this distress,
thy wonted help impart.

4 Release me from the snare,

which they have closely laid; Since I, O God, my strength, repair to thee alone for aid.

5 To thee, the God of truth,

my life, and all that's mine,

(For thou preserv'dst me from my youth,) I willingly resign.

6 All vain designs I hate

of those that trust in lies

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And still my soul in every state, to God for succour flies.

PART II.

7 Those mercies thou hast shown.

I'll cheerfully express;

For thou hast seen my straits, and known my soul in deep distress.

8 When Keilah's treach'rous race
did all my strength enclose,
Thou gav'st my feet a larger space,
to shun my watchful foes.
9 Thy mercy, Lord, display,

and hear my just complaint; For both my soul and flesh decay, with grief and hunger faint.

10 Sad thoughts my life

oppress;

my years are spent in groans;

My sins have made my strength decrease, and e'en consum'd my bones.

11 My foes my suff'rings mock'd; my neighbours did upbraid;

My friends, at sight of me, were shock'd, and fled, as men dismay'd.

12 Forsook by all am I,

as dead, and out of mind; And like a shatter'd vessel lie, whose parts can ne'er be join'd. 13 Yet sland'rous words they speak, and seem my power to dread; Whilst they together counsel take, my guiltless blood to shed.

14 But still my steadfast trust I on thy help repose:

That thou, my God, art good and just, my soul with comfort knows.

PART III.

15 Whate'er events betide,

thy wisdom times them all:

Then, Lord, thy servant safely hide
from those that seek his fall.

16 The brightness of thy face
to me, O Lord, disclose;
And, as thy mercies still increase,
preserve me from my foes.

17 Me from dishonour save,

who still have call'd on thee;
Let that, and silence in the grave,
the sinner's portion be.

18 Do thou their tongues restrain,
whose breath in lies is spent ;
Who false reports, with proud disdain,
against the righteous vent.

19 How great thy mercies are

to such as fear thy name,

Which thou for those that trust thy care, dost to the world proclaim!

20 Thou keep'st them in thy sight,
from proud oppressors free;
From tongues that do in strife delight,
they are preserv'd by thee.

21 With glory and renown

God's name be ever bless'd;

Whose love, in Keilah's well-fenc'd town, was wondrously express'd!

22 I said, in hasty flight,

"I'm banished from thine eyes;" Yet still thou keep'st me in thy sight, and heard'st my earnest cries.

23 O! all ye saints, the Lord
with eager love pursue;
Who to the just will help afford,
and give the proud their due.

24 Ye that on God rely,

courageously proceed;

For he will still your hearts supply with strength, in time of need.

PSALM XXXII.

1 TTE'S blest whose sins have pardon gain'd,

HE'S

He's more in judgment to appear;

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2 Whose guilt remission has obtain❜d,

and whose repentance is sincere. 3 While I conceal'd the fretting sore, my bones consum'd without relief; All day did I with anguish roar, but no complaints assuag'd my grief. 4 Heavy on me thy hand remain'd, by day and night alike distress'd, Till quite of vital moisture drain'd,

like land with summer's drought oppress'd.

5 No sooner I my wound disclos'd, the guilt that tortur'd me within,

But thy forgiveness interpos'd,

and mercy's healing balm pour'd in.

6 True penitents shall thus succeed,

who seek thee whilst thou may'st be found;

And, from the common deluge freed,
shall see remorseless sinners drown'd.

7 Thy favour, Lord, in all distress,
my tower of refuge I must own;
Thou shalt my haughty foes suppress,
and me with songs of triumph crown.
8 In my instruction then confide,

ye that would truth's safe path descry;
Your progress I'll securely guide,
and keep you in my watchful eye.
9 Submit yourselves to wisdom's rule,
like men that reason have attain’d;

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