The Psalms of David Part 55

Psalm 126:1. L. M.

Surprising deliverance.

1 When G.o.d restor'd our captive state, Joy was our song, and grace our theme; The grace beyond our hopes so great, That joy appear'd a painted dream.

2 The scoffer owns thy hand, and pays Unwilling honours to thy Name; While we with pleasure shout thy praise, With cheerful notes thy love proclaim.

3 When we review our dismal fears, 'Twas hard to think they'd vanish so; With G.o.d we left our flowing tears, He makes our joys like rivers flow.

4 The man that in his furrow'd field His scatter'd seed with sadness leaves, Will shout to see the harvest yield A welcome load of joyful sheaves.

Psalm 126:2. C. M.

The joy of a remarkable conversion; or, Melancholy removed.

1 When G.o.d reveal'd his gracious Name, And chang'd my mournful state, My rapture seem'd a pleasing dream, The grace appear'd so great.

2 The world beheld the glorious change, And did thy hand confess; My tongue broke out in unknown strains, And sung surprising grace:

3 "Great is the work," my neighbours cry'd, And own'd the power divine; "Great is the work," my heart reply'd, "And be the glory thine."

4 The Lord can clear the darkest skies, Can give us day for night, Make drops of sacred sorrow rise To rivers of delight.

5 Let those that sow in sadness wait Till the fair harvest come, They shall confess their sheaves are great, And shout the blessings home.

6 Tho' seed lie bury'd long in dust, It shan't deceive their hope; The precious grain can ne'er be lost, For grace insures the crop.

Psalm 127:1. L. M.

The blessing of G.o.d on the business and comforts of life.

1 If G.o.d succeed not, all the cost And pains to build the house are lost: If G.o.d the city will not keep, The watchful guards as well may sleep.

3 What if you rise before the sun, And work and toil when day is done, Careful and sparing eat your bread, To shun that poverty you dread;

3 'Tis all in vain, till G.o.d hath blest; He can make rich, yet give us rest: Children and friends are blessings too, If G.o.d our sovereign make them so.

4 Happy the man to whom he sends Obedient children, faithful friends: How sweet our daily comforts prove When they are season'd with his love!

Psalm 127:2. C. M.

G.o.d all in all.

1 If G.o.d to build the house deny, The builders work in vain; And towns, without his wakeful eye, An useless watch maintain.

2 Before the morning beams arise, Your painful work renew, And till the stars ascend the skies Your tiresome toil pursue.

3 Short be your sleep, and coa.r.s.e your fare; In vain, till G.o.d has blest; But if his smiles attend your care, You shall have food and rest.

4 Nor children, relatives, nor friends Shall real blessings prove, Nor all the earthly joys he sends, If sent without his love.

Psalm 128.

Family blessings.

1 O happy man, whose soul is fill'd With zeal and reverend awe; His lips to G.o.d their honours yield, His life adorns the law.

2 A careful providence shall stand And ever guard thy head, Shall on the labours of thy hand Its kindly blessings shed.

3 [Thy wife shall be a fruitful vine; Thy children round thy board, Each like a plant of honour s.h.i.+ne, And learn to fear the Lord.]

4 The Lord shall thy best hopes fulfil For months and years to come; The Lord who dwells on Zion's hill, Shall send thee blessings home.

5 This is the man whose happy eyes Shall see his house increase, Shall see the sinking church arise, Then leave the world in peace.

Psalm 129.

Persecutors punished.

1 Up from my youth, may Israel say, Have I been nurs'd in tears; My griefs were constant as the day, And tedious as the years.

2 Up from my youth I bore the rage Of all the sons of strife; Oft they a.s.sail'd my riper age, But not destroy'd my life.

3 Their cruel plough had torn my flesh With furrows long and deep, Hourly they vex my wounds afresh, Nor let my sorrows sleep.

4 The Lord grew angry on his throne, And with impartial eye Measur'd the mischiefs they had done Then let his arrows fly.

5 How was their insolence surpris'd To hear his thunders roll!

And all the foes of Zion seiz'd With horror to the soul.

6 Thus shall the men that hate the saints Be blasted from the sky; Their glory fades, their courage faints, And all their projects die.

7 [What tho' they flourish tall and fair, They have no root beneath; Their growth shall perish in despair, And lie despis'd in death.]

8 [So corn that on the house-top stands No hope of harvest gives; The reaper ne'er shall fill his hands, Nor binder fold the sheaves.

9 It springs and withers on the place: No traveller bestows A word of blessing on the gra.s.s, Nor minds it as he goes.]

Psalm 130:1. C. M.

Pardoning grace.

1 Out of the deeps of long distress, The borders of despair, I sent my cries to seek thy grace, My groans to move thine ear.

2 Great G.o.d, should thy severer eye, And thine impartial hand, Mark and revenge iniquity, No mortal flesh could stand.

3 But there are pardons with my G.o.d For crimes of high degree; Thy Son has bought them with his blood To draw us near to thee.