Songs from the Psalter

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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.

vo

Chap._...... Copyright No, _

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UNiTED STATES OF AMERICA.

Songs from the Ipsalter

BY /

RICHARD ARNOLD GREENE

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G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS
NEW YORK & LONDON
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1899

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Copyright, 1899

BY

RICHARD ARNOLD GREENE
Entered at Stationers' Hall, London
TWO COPIES RECEIVED,

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copy

Ubc Iftnicberbochcr ipress, "ftew JSorli

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To
MY FATHER AND MOTHER

THIS BOOK

IS DEDICATED WITH HEARTY LOVE

BY

THEIR GRATEFUL SON

CONTENTS

A Parable

A Song of Thanksgiving .
A Song of the Redeemed
Call to Praise ....
Creation's Praise
Elegy of the Captivity .

Finale

God, our Refuge and Strength
Hallelujah Song
Jehovah's Exaltation
Jehovah's Loving-Kindness
Jehovah's Salvation
Jehovah's Worthiness of Praise
Life as a Fleeting Day .
Life's Brief Measure
Meditation on Simplicity

Penitence

Prayer for the Shining of God's F

Prelude

Song of Home ....
Song of the Exile .
Sowing and Reaping.
The Ascendancy of Man .
The Avenging Lord .
The Blessed Home ,
The Blessed Life
The Conquering King
The Exile's Meditation .

ace

PSALM

PAGE

49

37

ICG

73

107

78

67

45

148

107

137

102

III

46

35

114

85

97

65

116

87

98

68

95

62

90

55

39

28

131

lOI

51

40

80

50

I

127

97

120

89

126

96

8

7

144

104

128

98

I

3

2

5

124

94

VI

CONTENTS

The Exile's Prayer .

The Glorious Gates.

The Goodness of the Lord

The Good Shepherd ,

The Hills of God .

The Ideal King

The Joys of God's House

The King's Daughter

The King's Protector

The Lord's Majesty

The Lord, our Light and our Salvation

The Lord's Pavilion

The Man of Honor .

The Penitent Exile .

The Pilgrim Saluting Jerusalem

The Portion of the Righteous

The Praises of the King

The Praises of the Saints

The Promise of the Resurrection

The Reigning Lord .

The Strength of Zion

The Strong Deliverer

The Sure Hiding-Place .

The True Heart's Desire

PSALM

PAGE

123

93

24

13

103

75

23

12

121

90

IIO

83

84

53

45

32

61

43

93

61

27

15

91

58

15

9

130

99

122

91

37

23

72

47

149

109

16

10

99

71

125

95

34

20

32

18

42

30

prelude

Iprafse i^e tbe XorD.

praise (5oD in Ibfs sanctuary ;

praise 1bim In tbe firmament ot 1bts power.

Ipraise Ibim for Ibis miabtg acts :

praise Ibim according to Ibis excellent greatness.

praise Ibim witb tbe sounD ot tbe trumpet :

praise Dim witb tbe psalters anO barp.

praise Ibim witb tbe timbrel anO Dance :

praise 1bim witb stringed instruments anD tbe pipe.

praise 1bim upon tbe louD cymbals :

praise 1bim upon tbe bigb*sounDing cgmbals.

Uet evergtbing tbat batb breatb praise tbe 5LorD.

praise gc tbe ILorD.

SONGS FROM THE PSALTER

THE BLESSED LIFE

OPI ! the rich blessedness, the bounteous blessing
The happy man commands
Whose feet th' ungodly's paths are never pressing, —
E'en he who never stands

Within the ways where sinners are found treading,

Beguiling foolish feet, —
Who spurning, dreadeth with a righteous dreading

To take the scorner's seat:

But in Jehovah's law is his sweet pleasure;

And in His law doth he
By daytime meditate, and through the measure

Of night's serenity.

And lie shall be like to a tree whose planting

Is by the water-streams,
That, when its season comes, its fruit is granting,

Whose leaf, unwithered, gleams.

4 SONGS FROM THE PSALTER

Whate'er he doth at true success arriveth;

The wicked are not so;
But like unto the chaff the wind far driveth

Where'er it lists to go.

So, in the Judgment they shall have no station

Who wickedly do here;
Nor ever in the righteous congregation

Shall sinning ones appear.

For all the way of righteous souls He knoweth,-

The Lord who reigns on high:
But for the way of wicked ones, — -it goeth

The deadly death to die.

THE CONQUERING KING

WHY thus in tumult are the nations crying ?
Why are the people's thoughts so vain ?
The kings of earth their stubborn deeds are plying;
The rulers counsels entertain

Against the Lord and His Anointed, saying:
" Their bands asunder let us break;

The cords with which to snare us they 're arraying
To farthest distance let us shake."

How He shall laugh who in the heav'ns is sitting !

The Lord shall look on them in scorn.
He '11 speak to them in anger unremitting,

In sore displeasure make them mourn:

Yet have I to my holy hill uplifted

Him whom I chose should reign, — my king, —
Him who with mighty favor hath been gifted —

Him to Mount Zion did I bring.

I '11 tell of the decree: — To me proclaiming,
The Lord did say: " Thou art my Son;

This day I 've Thee begotten. Thee am naming:
Ask what Thou wilt ; it shall be done —

6 SONGS FROM THE PSALTER

" Ask, and I '11 make Thee heir of all the nations;

Earth's farthest parts shalt Thou possess:
With iron rod Thou 'It scatter their foundations,

And dash them in chaotic mess,

" Like vessels of the potter, crushed and broken." —
Now, therefore, be ye wise, O kings:

Ye judges of the earth, be guided by this token
Which highest wisdom to you brings.

Oh, serve the Lord with fear, with fear rejoicing —

Kiss ye the Son lest wroth He be,
And from the way ye fall, nor hear Him voicing

The pardon which He offers free.

For soon will flame His wrath in direful burning —

How wonderfully they are blest
Who to the Lord in trustfulness returning

Shall find in trusting Him their rest!

THE ASCENDENCY OF MAN

HOW excellent, Lord, O Lord, our Lord,
In all the earth 's Thy name!
Thy glory Thou hast shed abroad

Above the heavens' frame —
From babes' and sucklings' mouths hast Thou

Firmly established strength,
Because of those that fight Thee now,

That Thou might' st still at length
Him who is hostile found and him
Who worketh plots of vengeance grim.

When I behold Thy heavens high, —

The work Thy fingers planned, —
The moon and all the starry sky

Appointed by Thy hand —
Oh, what is man that Thou should' st hold

Him always in Thy mind ?
And to the son of man of old

Why comest Thou so kind ?
Just less than angels him hast made.
With fame and honor's crown arrayed.

Him madest Thou like unto kings
Thy handiwork to keep;

7

SONGS FROM THE PSALTER

Under his feet hast put all things, —
All oxen and all sheep —

Yea, and the beasts which tread the grass-
Bird, fish, where'er they be —

Whatever kinds of creature pass
Through the deep paths of sea;

How excellent Thy name is found,

O, Lord, our Lord, the earth around!

THE MAN OF HONOR

JEHOVAH, who shall be residing
Within Thy Tabernacle blest ?
Uplifted, in sweet peace abiding.

Who in Thy Holy Hill shall rest ?
He who in upright walks takes part,

Who righteousness is ever seeking, —
He who within his very heart

The words of truthfulness is speaking;

Whose tongue shall never move in slander,

Who doth no evil to his friend,
Nor for a neighbor's hurt doth pander, —

By whom he that to vice doth tend
Is held in no esteem at all; —

But on all them who God are fearing
His marks of signal honor fall.

Before the face of man appearing.

He that to his own hurt is swearing.

He who is found unchanging still;
He who, in nowise, shall be caring

With usury his purse to fill;
And he who takes no recompense

Against the innocent around him: —
For him who doeth thus, — a fence

Of true security shall bound him.

THE PROMISE OF THE RESURRECTION

KEEP me, O God; I trust in Thee—
Unto Jehovah I have cried:
" My Lord, Thou dost belong to me;

With Thee alone my good doth bide."
As for the saintly company

That on this earth of ours reside, —
With excellence their souls are bright,
In whom, behold all my delight.

Their sorrows shall increase apace
That for another god exchange

Jehovah: I will find no place

For off 'ring their oblation strange

Of drink and blood; for such disgrace
Mine altar I will ne'er arrange;

Nor will I with my lips proclaim

Their faithless and rebellious name.

The Lord of mine inheritance
And of my cup is the blest share;

My lot Thou givest maintenance;

My pleasant lines Thou dost prepare;

To goodly gifts I shall advance, —
An heritage supremely fair —

I '11 bless the Lord who gives me light;

My reins instruct me in the night.

lO

THE PROMISE OF THE RESURRECTION II

I 've ever placed before mine eyes

The Lord: since He 's at my right hand

I shall be moved not any wise —
So gladly doth my heart expand.

My glory in great joy doth rise;
My flesh shall dwell in a safe land:

For Thou wilt not desert my soul

To languish in the dark Sheol.

Nor wilt Thou let thy Holy One

The pitfall of corruption see;
Life's path that shineth as the sun

Thou graciously wilt show to me.
With Thee, our joy but scarce begun

Shall bloom in full felicity —
At Thy right hand, in bounteous store
Are pleasures found for evermore.

THE GOOD SHEPHERD

M

Y Shepherd is the Lord of all ;
No want unto my lot shall fall
While I have Him beside me.
He makes me rest in pastures green,
And where still waters flow between
He graciously doth guide me.

My soul to health He doth restore;
In paths of right He goes before,

And leadeth, ever near me —
Yea, though I walk within Death's vale
No evil thing shall make me quail;

Thy rod and staff, — they cheer me.

Before my foes Thou dost appoint
My table; and my head anoint;

My cup is still outgiving.
Goodness and mercy 'tend my days,
God's House the goal of all my ways,

Where I '11 be ever living.

12

THE GLORIOUS GATES

THE earth unto the Lord belongs, —
The fulness of its life and air;
The world, and all that in it throngs,

All they who have their dwelling there;
He makes it for the seas a crown ;
Upon the floods hath set it down.

Who shall ascend Jehovah's Hill ?

Who stand within His Holy Place ?
He whose clean hands have wrought no ill,

Whose heart is pure before God's face.
His soul to pride is ne'er upborne;
Deceitfully he hath not sworn.

To him a blessing shall come down

Straight from the Lord; with righteousness

The God of saving power will crown

Him, and through all his days will bless.

This is an earnest seeking race;

They seek, 0 Jacob's God, Thy face.

Ye Gates, your heads uplift o'er sin!

Ye everlasting Doors, arise!
The King of Glory shall come in —

Who is this King in glory-guise ?

13

14 SONGS FROM THE PSALTER

He is the Lord of strength and might,
Whom none can vanquish in the fight.

Ye Gates, your heads uplift o'er sin!

Ye everlasting Doors, arise!
The King of Glory shall come in —

Who is this King in glory-guise ?
The Lord whom hosts adoring view, —
He is the King of Glory true.

THE LORD, OUR LIGHT AND OUR
SALVATION

JEHOVAH is my shining Light,
And my salvation He —
By whom shall I be filled with fright ?

The Lord my life doth free,
The Lord its strength for doing right —
Who fearful maketh me ?

When wicked ones, swift drawing near,

Mine enemies, my foes.
To eat my flesh, did all appear

They stumbled, nor arose;
Though on before, and in my rear,

A camping host oppose,

No fear shall dwell within my heart;

Though war against me rise.
Then confidence shall be my part; —

One boon, in any wise.
From all Jehovah's bounteous mart

I set before mine eyes; —

For this I '11 diligently press:

That I indeed may dwell
Within God's House of righteousness,
15

l6 SONGS FROM THE PSALTER

While I life's days shall tell,—
To see the Lord's own beauty, yes,
His Temple's vows to swell.

For in the day of trouble He

Me in his Tent will hide;
In His own Dwelling's secrecy

He '11 cause me to abide —
Unto a Rock that cannot flee

My wayward feet He '11 guide.

And now my head shall He lift high

Above my foes around;
And at His Shrine, with joyful cry,

I '11 be with off'rings found —
I '11 sing, yea, songs of praise will I

Make to the Lord resound.

Lord, when my voice is crying, hark ;

Have mercy upon me;
My prayers for speedy answer mark —

When Thou did'st say: " Seek ye
My face," my heart said from the dark;

" Thy face. Lord, would I see."

Hide not afar from me Thy face.

Nor, angered, put away
Thy servant; Thou in mighty grace

Hast been my help and stay;
Leave nor forsake me in this place.

My saving God, I pray.

THE LORD, OUR LIGHT AND SALVATION IJ

When father and when mother, too,

Forsake me, then the Lord
Will take me up: show to my view

Thy way — to me afford
A pathway plain my journey through;

My foes are all abroad.

Unto their will give me not o'er;

False witnesses arise
Against me; cruel words they store;

They breathe out cruel lies;
I should have fainted long before

Did I not e'en surmise

That I God's goodness should behold

Within the immortal Land —
Wait on the Lord; be strong and bold;

Thine heart with His own hand
He '11 strengthen with His strength of old:

Wait on the Lord's command.

THE SURE HIDING-PLACE

HOW blest is he who winneth for
Transgression, pardon free, —
Whose sin, indeed, is covered o'er!

How truly blest is he
To whom the Lord doth nevermore
Impute iniquity, —

Within whose spirit is no guile ! —

When I held silence deep
My bones, they waxed old the while;

For roaring did I keep
All day; — grief on me Thou did'st pile,

Or waking, or asleep,

To summer drought my moisture passed;

To Thee my guilt told I ;
Concerning sin that held me fast

To Thee I did not lie.
*' I will confess," said I, at last,

" My sin to God Most High."

And Thou, my Lord, did'st pardon then

My sin's iniquity —
For this Thy gracious goodness, when

i8

THE SURE HIDING-PLACE I9

Discerned Thou may'st be,

Let him who godliness doth ken

Uplift his prayers to Thee.

Sure, when the water-floods o'erflow,
O'er him they shall not throng —

My hiding-place from grief, I know
Thou 'It keep me all life long ;

Around me Thou wilt oft bestow
The glad deliverance song.

I will instruct thee, make thee find

The only righteous way;
And where Mine eye thy heart can bind

I '11 counsel thee each day —
Be not like them who lack thy mind,

Horse, mule, who naught can say.

Who must with bit and bridle strong

Be held where'er they go,
Else, they will turn from thee all wrong;

The wicked souls shall know
Much grief — to them shall sorrows throng: —

He trusting God 's not so, —

Mercy shall compass him around;

Be gladness your life-chart, —
God's gladness; in joys that abound,

Ye righteous souls, take part;
And shout for joy, all ye who 're found

To be of upright heart.

THE STRONG DELIVERER

THE Lord at all times I will bless;
His praise my mouth shall never leave;
The Lord shall be the boast, no less,
That my rejoicing soul shall weave.

The meek shall hear it and have joy —

Oh, magnify the Lord with me;
Together let us songs employ;

His name by us exalted be.

I sought the Lord; His answer came,
And set me free from all my fears;

They looked to Him, and lighter frame
Succeeded to their grief and tears.

Their trustful faces nevermore
Shall dire confusion meet again;

This poor man cried in anguish sore, —
God heard, and banished all his pain.

The Angel of the Lord His tent

Binds round the souls who fear His name;
And when with terror they are rent

From Him deliverance they can claim.
20

THE STRONG DELIVERER 21

Oh, taste and see the goodness true
That in our gracious Lord resides —

Blest is the man who Him can view
With trustfulness that e'er abides.

Oh, fear the Lord, all ye His saints;

They shall not want who Him do fear;
The lion's young, with direful plaints.

Will make their lack of food appear.

But they who seek the Lord indeed
Shall never want for one good thing —

Come, children, unto me pay heed;
To fear the Lord you will I bring.

Who 's he that doth long life desire ?

Loves many days, good things to see ?—
Thy tongue from evil keep entire.

And let thy lips from guile be free;

Depart from evil, and do right;

Seek peace, and ever it pursue;
The Lord the righteous keeps in sight,

His ears their cry are open to.

Jehovah setteth fast his face

Against the evil-doers all,
That on the earth may be no place

Where any one shall them recall.

The righteous cried; Jehovah heard,
And from their troubles set them free;

The Lord the broken heart doth gird;
He saveth such as contrite be.

22 SONGS FROM THE PSALTER

The righteous hath pains manifold;

Him from them all delivereth
The Lord. He all his bones doth hold;

Not one of them is broken. Death

Shall evil make the wicked's goal;

And they that hate the good shall be
Condemned. The Lord redeems the soul

Of those who serve Him faithfully.

And none of them who place their trust
In Him, Jehovah, Lord of all, —

The Lord of Love, the True, the Just, —
Shall into condemnation fall.

THE PORTION OF THE RIGHTEOUS

FRET not thyself because of those
Who evil do, and good oppose;
Nor ever envious be thou
'Gainst them that work unrighteousness.
They soon shall feel the sickle's stress

Like to the grass that waveth now;
Like the green herb shall they be dried —
Do thou in thine own Lord confide;
With goodness all thy days endow.

Dwell in the land ; and follow near
On faithfulness: have blessed cheer

In Him, Jehovah, Lord Most High;
Thy heart's desires He '11 thee afford.
Commit thy way unto the Lord;

Forevermore on Him rely.
And He shall bring it to thy sight-
He '11 make thy righteousness like light,

Thy judgment like the noonday sky.

Be still before the Lord ; for Him
Wait patiently, though sight be dim;

Do thou not fret thyself at all
For him who prospereth in his way;
For him who bringeth to the day

Devices that for sin appal.
23

24 SONGS FROM THE PSALTER

From anger cease, and wrath forsake;
Fret not thyself, it sin doth make —
Those doing ill to death shall fall.

But those that wait upon the Lord
The land shall win, so fair and broad:

For yet, indeed, a little while
And wicked souls shall be no more:
Yea, shalt thou in thy thought explore,

With diligence, the place of guile,
And it, once mighty, shall not be;
But meek ones shall their portion see

Unrolled to earth's most distant isle.

They shall delight themselves in peace
Whose fair abundance shall not cease ;

The wicked plotteth 'gainst the just
And gnasheth with his teeth on him —
For him the Lord hath laughter grim,

He marks his swift return to dust;
The wicked have the sword outdrawn,
And they have bent their bow in scorn

The poor and needy low to thrust;

To slay them of the upright part —
Their sword shall enter their own heart;

Through breakage shall their bows have harm,-
The mite the righteous hath is more
Than wicked souls' abundant store, —

Broken shall be each wicked arm.
On true hearts help the Lord bestows;
The days of perfect ones He knows;

Their lot shall be an endless charm.

THE PORTION OF THE RIGHTEOUS 25

In evil times no shame they '11 know;
In famine satisfied they '11 go;

But wicked ones shall perish all,
And those who 'gainst Jehovah fight
Shall be as pastures richly dight;

They shall consume; in smoke they '11 fall —
The wicked borrows, not to pay;
But righteous souls in gracious way

Bestow their gifts, both great and small.

For such as blest of Him do stand
Shall come to heirship of the land;

But they who have His curse shall pay
In death ; of God established are
Man's goings, be they near or far,

And He delighteth in his way —
Fallen, not quite cast down he '11 be;
For him the Lord upholdeth free.

And makes His hand his stay.

I have been young, and now am old,
Yet he who doth the right uphold

Forsaken have I never found.
Nor begging for their bread his seed:
All day he takes most gracious heed

And lends; his seed 's with blessing crowned.
Depart from every evil way.
And practise good from day to day.

And dwell for aye on thine own ground.

For judgment doth Jehovah love.
Nor doth He from His throne above

26 SONGS FROM THE PSALTER

Forsake them who are sanctified.
Preserved forevermore are they,
But for the wicked's seed, — away,

Cut off, it will no more abide;
The righteous shall the land receive, —
Their heritage, no more to leave, —

Their dwelling, with Thy grace supplied.

The mouth of him who righteous is
Of wisdom talks, 't is surely his;

Concerning judgment speaks his tongue —
His God's own law is in his heart;
No steps of his shall sliding start.

In watching have the wicked hung
Beside the righteous everywhere;
And seek they with most earnest care

That with the death-pang he be stung.

The Lord within the wicked's hand
Will not permit just souls to stand;

For them, when judged, condemn will He;
Wait on the Lord, and keep his way
And thee shall He exalt one day

The land's inheritor to be.
When all cut off the wicked are
Naught from thine eyes the sight shall bar

Of their most dread extremity.

The wicked in great power I 've seen,
Wide-spreading, like a tree that 's green,
Implanted in its native soil;

THE PORTION OF THE RIGHTEOUS 27

Yet passed he by; lo! was no more;
Yea, sought I him behind, before,

But found him not for all my toil.
Mark him that perfect is; behold
The upright one; for when he 's old

For pain, shall peace be his bright foil.

As for transgressors, they shall all
Together to destruction fall;

Cut off shall be their latter end.
Saved are the righteous by the Lord;
He, strong, in trouble them will ward;

The Lord with help doth them attend.
He rescueth their souls from death ;
E'en from the evil doer's breath.

Since Him they 've asked, them to defend.

LIFE'S BRIEF MEASURE

I SAID: " Unto my ways I will take heed,
That with my tongue I may commit no sin;
My mouth I '11 keep a bridle fast within,
While wicked ones before me do proceed.*'

With silence dumb, I even held my peace

From good; and then, indeed, was stirred my

woe;
My heart with burning inward heat did glow,

The flame arose, nor did my musing cease.

Then said my tongue: " Lord, make me know mine
end,
And what the measure of my days may be;
Make me acquainted with my frailty;
As handbreadths, see, Thou dost my days ex-
tend,

" And mine age is as nothing in Thy sight —
Surely, at best estate, man 's but a breath;
In shadow, surely, each man travelleth;

Surely, in vain they 're thrown in restless plight.

28

LIFE S BRIEF MEASURE 29

" He heaps on high, and knows not who shall gain
His wealth: and now, Lord, what do I wait for ?
My hope 's in Thee; save me from my sins sore;

Let me not be reproach of fools so vain.

" Dumb was I, nor did I my mouth unclose,
Because Thou did'st it: be my heart not rent;
Consumed am I; my strength Thy blow hath
spent.

The blow whose sharpness only Thine hand knows.

" When, with rebukes, for sin Thou chidest man.
His beauty Thou dost make to pass away
Like to a moth; but vanity, I say,

Is every being in this mortal span.

" O Thou, Jehovah, listen to my prayer.
And lend Thine ear unto mine earnest cry;
Hold not Thy peace, when I with tears shall sigh;

For I with Thee do as a stranger fare, —

** Sojourner, as my fathers were before.

Oh, spare Thou me, that I, indeed, at length
In Thy great mercy may recover strength,

Before I go far hence and be no more."

THE TRUE HEART'S DESIRE

AS for the water-brooks the hart is panting,
So pants, indeed, my soul, O God, for Thee;
My soul, with thirst, from depths of its implanting
Still longeth God, the living God to see.

When shall I come, before my God appearing ? —
My tears have been my meat by day and night.

While in continuance their cry I 'rn hearing, —
" Where is thy God ? " they say, through dark
and light.

These things I mind, my soul in me outpouring, —
How I when marching onward with the throng,

Unto God's House led multitudes adoring
On holy day, with voice of joy and song.

Oh! soul of mine, why art thou downward bending,
And why dost keep within me toilsome quest ?

Hope thou in God; His praises I '11 be blending
For health that on His countenance doth rest.

My soul, O God, within me takes low station: —
Thus I remember Thee from Jordan's land.

The Hermons, and from Mizar's elevation —
Deep calleth deep — Thy waterspouts command.

30

THE TRUE heart's DESIRE 3 1

Thy waves have compassed me and many a billow;

Yet God, by day, His kind love will ordain;
And all night long His song shall be my pillow —

A prayer to God who o'er my life doth reign.

To God who is my Rock will I be saying:

" Why hast Thou me forgot; why do I mourn,

Because of my foes' malice on me weighing ? "
As though a sword my bones had crushed and
torn.

My foes reproach me, while they 're ever crying:
" Where is thy God ? " — Why art cast down, my
soul ?

And why art thou within me restless sighing ?
Do thou upon the Lord thy burden roll.

In Him do thou have hope that shall not perish ;

For I shall yet to Him my praises sing.
My countenance's health is He; He '11 cherish

His heavy-hearted child, my God, my King!

THE KING'S DAUGHTER

WITH a goodly matter my heart doth over-
flow;
I speak ; upon the King do I my work bestow,
My tongue 's the pen of one who readily doth
write.
Thou fairer art than all the children of man's race;
Upon thy parted lips is poured the dew of grace, —
So thou art blest of God, forever, in His sight.

Gird, gird thy sword upon Thy thigh, O Mighty

One, —
Thy glory and Thy majesty, Thy race to run;

And in Thy majesty all prosperously ride,
Because of truth and peace and righteousness,
And Thy right hand upon Thee terrors shall im-
press.
Thine arrows sharp the people fell on every side.

Within the heart of the King's enemies are they —
Thy throne O God 's forever through th' eternal
day;
Sceptre of equity 's the sceptre of Thy reign —
Thou hast loved righteousness and hated wicked
ways.

32

THE KING'S DAUGHTER 33

So God, thy God, hath thee anointed for all days,
With gladness' oil above the comrades in thy
train.

Myrrh, aloes, cassia, scent the robes wherewith

thou 'rt clad;
From ivory courts stringed instruments have made

thee glad;
Among thy women honored high kings' daughters

are,
Upon thy right doth stand in Ophir's gold the

Queen.
Hearken, oh! Daughter, mark; incline thine ear

serene! —
Forget thy people loved, thy father's house afar.

So shall the King thy beauty ardently desire.
For He is thine own Lord; then worship Him, nor
tire —
The Tyrian daughter there for thee a gift shall
hold.
The rich among the race thy favor shall entreat;
The Daughter of the King with glory is replete.
Within the inner court — her robes are wrought
in gold.

In broidered work shall she be led unto the King;
The virgins fair, her near companions following,
Shall be, each one, into Thy gracious presence
brought —
With gladness and rejoicing shall they all be led;

34 SONGS FROM THE PSALTER

They '11 enter where He dwells who is their King
and Head —
His palace gleaming with a glory passing thought.

Where once thy fathers were, now shall thy children

stand,
Whom thou in all the regions of the earth's broad

land
Shalt call to prince's station — this their lot in

store.
Through all the generations I '11 make thy name to

live
In lasting memory; so shall the people give
Thanks unto thee for ever and for evermore.

GOD, OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH

GOD is our Refuge and our Strength unfail-
ing,—
A very present help in pain ;
Therefore will we not fear, earth's changes hailing,
And though the deep sea's heart should strain,

Invaded by the hills of mighty presence,- —
Although its waves should troubled roar,

Though fearful at its swell and effervescence,
Tremble and quail the mountains hoar.

There is a River pure, whose streams soft swelling
With gladness fill the City of our God, —

The Holy Place, within the tents of dwelling
Of the Most High, in light adored.

His voice He raised; earth melted at its thunder;

The Lord of Hosts with us resides;
The God of Jacob is our High Tower, under

Whose covering my soul abides.

Come; be our Lord Jehovah's work beholding, —

What desolation on the earth
He makes; yet bids He wars to cease, enfolding

The earth with joy, since Peace hath birth.

35

36 SONGS FROM THE PSALTER

He breaks the bow, and casts the spear in sunder;

The chariots, in His fire abroad
He burns: in reverential awe and wonder

Be still, and know that I am God.

Exalted will I be in every nation;

Upon the earth I '11 be made high.
The Lord of Hosts is with us — sure salvation ;

E'en Jacob's God, to whom we fly.

A PARABLE'

HEAR this, all ye peoples, hear!
All who dwell on earth, give ear!
Low and high, and rich and poor.
Wisdom shall my mouth assure; —

And my heart's meditation
How to understand shall be;
Parable shall wait on me;
On the harp I '11 open wide
Word of mine that doth abide

Where Darkness holds her station.

Wherefore should I fearful stand
In the days when 111 's at hand;
When dark Sin upon my heels
Round and round about me wheels ? —

They who on wealth are standing
Boast themselves of riches vast —
None of them, indeed, at last
Can redeem his brother lost,
Nor to God give back the cost

His ransom is demanding.

* For the title of this song, as well as for those of a few that
follow, the author acknowledges his indebtedness to sugges-
tions derived from Prof. Richard G. Moulton's work, The
Literary Study of the Bible.

37

38 SONGS FROM THE PSALTER

(For the price upon their soul
Unto figures high doth roll
And must ever be passed by)
That, indeed, he should not die,

Nor downward sight be casting: —
For the wise he sees Death call,
Fool and brute together fall —
They their wealth another race
Give; the inward thought they trace

Is that, forever lasting,

Shall their houses ages view,
That their dwelling-places too
Generations safe shall stand;
Their own names they give their land.

But man is not found staying
In the path of honor high;
He is like the beasts that die —
This, their way, is foolishness,
Yet, who after them shall press

Approve the words they 're saying.

As a flock for Sheol, they

Are appointed ; on their way

Their dread shepherd, Death, is found;

O'er them will the just be crowned

Their rulers, in the morning —
And their beauty in its bloom
Sheol truly shall consume,
That for it no house may be;
But my soul will God set free,

'Gainst power of Sheol warning.

A PARABLE 39

He *11 receive me — not afraid

Do thou be, when rich one 's made,

When upon his house shall rise

Fame; he takes naught when he dies, —

For, wealth with him descending.
Though he blessed his soul, though praise
Comes to one for selfish ways,
He '11 his fathers meet in night —
Honored, lacking mental sight.

Like beast, to death man 's tending.

PENITENCE

OGOD, have mercy upon me
According to Thy love so kind;
According to Thy mercies free,
In multitude beyond our mind.

In tenderness blot from Thy view-
Each one of my transgressions sore;

From mine iniquity, all through

Wash me; o'er my sin cleansing pour.

For all my guilt is known by me;

My sin reveals itself in might;
'Gainst Thee I 've sinned, 'gainst only Thee,

And done this evil in Thy sight:

That Thou when speaking, justified

May'st be; and when Thou judgest, clear —

Lo, in iniquity, inside

My mother's womb did I appear.

In sin by her conceived was I —
Behold Thou in each inward part

Desirest truth, and by-and-by

Thou 'It make me wise deep in my heart.
40

PENITENCE 41

Purge me with hyssop; I '11 be clean:
Wash me; I '11 whiter be than snow:

Thrill me with gladness, joy serene,
So that the bones by Thee laid low

May yet rejoice. Ah! hide Thy face
From all my sin; I have no pleas;

Enfold me in Thy wondrous grace,
And blot out mine iniquities.

O God, create in me a heart

All clean; a spirit steadfast make;

Me from Thy presence do not part.
Nor from me Thy blest Spirit take.

The joy of Thy salvation old

Do Thou unto my breast restore;

With a free spirit me uphold;

Thy ways I '11 teach transgressors sore:

And sinners shall return to Thee —
Me ransom from blood-guiltiness,

O God, Thou God who savest me;
And loudly singing, Thee I '11 bless.

My tongue Thy righteousness shall sing;

O Lord, my lips now open wide, —
And near and far my mouth shall fling

Thy praise, while in Thy love I hide.

42 SONGS FROM THE PSALTER

For Thy delight, in sacrifice

Is not: else would I give it Thee;

Burnt offering, before Thine eyes
A pleasant sight can never be.

The sacrifices of the Lord

A truly broken spirit are;
A broken, contrite heart, O God,

Thou 'It not despise, though strayed afar.

Do good in Thy good pleasure now

To Zion, of the favored race;
Jerusalem's fair walls endow

With strength, and rear them in their place.

Then shalt Thou take supreme delight

In sacrifices borne to Thee, —
The sacrifices, glad and bright,

Of righteousness, from sin set free.

Burnt offering shall thrill Thine heart,

Also the whole burnt offering;
Then, bullocks it shall be their part

Unto Thine altar, Lord, to bring.

THE KING'S PROTECTOR

OGOD, now hearken to my cry;
Attend unto my prayer.
From earth's far ends to Thee will I

Call, when my heart hath care.
Unto the Rock that is more high
Than I — oh, lead me there.

To Thee, my Refuge, my heart clings,—
Strong Tower from the foe, —

My way into Thy Tent me brings.
Whence I will never go —

The blessed covert of Thy wings
My refuge shall I know.

Thou God hast heard me vows proclaim;

Thou hast bestowed on me
Their heritage who fear Thy name —

The King long-lived shall be;
His years, prolonged by Thee, shall fame

Of generations see.

Before God he shall e'er abide —
Oh, loving-kindness warm

43

44 SONGS FROM THE PSALTER

And truth to save him, Lord, provide: —
Thee will I praise in calm and storm;

Daily shalt Thou be magnified, —
So I '11 my vows perform.

CALL TO PRAISE

AY God to us His mercy show,
And bless us with His grace;
Upon us cause His face to glow, —
His benediction face.

M

That on the earth Thy way be known, -

Thy saving health around
Among the nations all be shown,

And in its might abound.

O let the peoples praise Thee, God,

Let all the peoples praise;
O let the nations far abroad

Glad songs in gladness raise.

The peoples Thou wilt judge in right,
And all earth's nations lead —

O let the peoples with their might
Praise Thee, our God, indeed.

Let all the peoples praise Thee now —
Earth hath her increase borne:

God, our own God, shall us endow
With blessings bright as morn.
45

46 SONGS FROM THE PSALTER

God truly lis shall richly bless,
And earth from far and near

Shall bow before His righteousness
In reverential fear.

THE PRAISES OF THE KING

THY judgments, God, O give the King,
And to his son Thy righteousness.
All righteous judgment shall he bring
The people, and Thy poor he '11 bless
With judgment strong.
The mountains to the people peace

Shall bring; with righteousness be piled
The hills; in justice he '11 release

The poor, and save each needy child,
Though suff' ring long.

The tyrant he '11 to atoms break —

They '11 fear Thee while endures the sun;
Yea, while the moon doth circuits make,

While generations onward run,
And onward still;
Like rain on new-mown grass he '11 fall.

As showers that on the earth outpour;
And in his days, like palm-tree tall

The righteous shall grow more and more;-
And to the fill

Shall peace, Jehovah's peace, be found
Until no more the moon shall rise;
47

48 SONGS FROM THE PSALTER

He '11 rule the mighty world around:
Before him the horizon flies
Of sea and shore —
The river and the ends of earth
Shall be the limits of his rule;
The dwellers in the desert's dearth
Shall bow before his royal stool,
And him adore.

His enemies shall lick the dust;

The kings of Tarshish and the king
Of every isle shall to the just

Their presents in profusion bring,
And favor sue;
The kings of Sheba, Seba's crown,

Shall offer gifts ; before him all
The kings of earth shall bow them down;

All nations at his feet shall fall,
With service true.

For he shall save the needy soul,

When from his throne he hears his cry;
The poor, on whom life's burdens roll,

With none to lift them where they lie,
No helping hand:
The poor and needy pities he;

The needy souls who suffer woe
He'll place in strong security;

Nor tyranny nor force shall know
His happy band.

Dear shall their blood be in his sight;
And they shall live; and he shall hold

THE PRAISES OF THE KING 49

As gift, that only is his right,

The wealth of Sheba's sparkling gold:
And evermore
Men shall for him unite in prayer;

Him shall they bless the whole day long;
Of corn they shall procure a share

Upon the mountain-summits strong, —
A bounteous store:

Its fruit like Lebanon shall shake:

They whom the city walls immure,
Like grass, quick, springing growth shall make:

His peace forever shall endure,
And honored dwell
Long as the ever-shining sun:

And men in him shall be all blest;
All nations as their course they run,

In his true name obtaining rest.
His joy shall tell.

Oh! blessedness, oh! blessedness

Be his, Jehovah's, God, Most High, —
The God whom Israel doth bless.

With whose great deeds no man can vie, —
Our God and Friend.
Blest ever be His glorious name;

His praise from all the earth be won —
Amen; and yet again the same.

The prayers of David, Jesse's son,
Are at an end.

PRAYER FOR THE SHINING OF GOD'S

FACE

GIVE ear, O Israel's Shepherd, kindly leading
The tribe of Joseph, flock of Thine;
Dweller between the Cherubim, proceeding

From Thee, let light abundant shine.
For Ephraim and Benjamin before Thy sight,
And for Manasseh, too, stir up Thy might.

Turn us again, 0 God ! be Thy Face shining,
And safety shall be ours from Thee,

Jehovah, God of mighty hosts, we 're pining —
How long, against Thy people's plea.

Against their prayer, shall rise the smoking of Thy
wrath,

Far stirring desolation in their path ?

Them hast Thou fed with bread of tears; them
given
Tears in great multitudes to quaff;
With strife, us from our neighbors Thou hast riven;

Among themselves our foemen laugh —
Restore us now again, O God of myriad powers,
And cause Thy face to shine, and safety shall be
ours.

50

PRAYER FOR THE SHINING OF GOD'S FACE 5 I

A Vine from Egypt's land hast Thou been bearing;

The natives that within the ground
Did plant it Thou did'st drive afar, preparing

Room where it might entwine around.
It took deep root, and filled the surface of the land;
The mountains with its shadow-covering were
spanned.

The boughs thereof God's cedars were resembling —

She sent her branches to the sea;
Her little shoots within the breeze were trembling

E'en where the River runneth free.
Why hast Thou broken down her fences, so that

they
All pluck her, as they pass, each one, along the
way ?

The forest-boar doth ravage it, so greedy;

The wild beasts feed on it, so bold :
Turn, turn again, O God of Hosts, we 're needy;

Look down from heaven, this Vine behold.
And visit it. Stock planted by Thy hand, time

long,—
The Branch that for Thyself Thou madest strong.

Now 't is cut down; with fire indeed 't is burning;

They perish, stricken by Thy face;
Let Thy right hand upon the man be turning, —

The man who holds Thy right hand's place; —
Upon the son of man, by Thee with might arrayed,
Whom for Thyself, strong for all conflict Thou
hast made.

52 SONGS FROM THE PSALTER

So shall we not from Thee be backward straying.

Awake us; on Thy name we '11 call —
Jehovah, God of Hosts, Thy love displaying,

Turn us again, lift when we fall;
Upon our souls now cause Thy countenance to

shine.
And safety shall be ours, — gift of Thy grace divine.

THE JOYS OF GOD'S HOUSE

OLORD of Hosts, how passing fair
Thy Tabernacles be!
How longs my soul to breathe their air,

How faints their courts to see!
My heart and flesh cry out in prayer,
O Living God for Thee.

Yea, hath the sparrow found a home,

The swallow a safe nest,
Whence she will never want to roam.

Where she may lay to rest
Her young ones, — 'neath Thy sacred dome,

Upon Thine altars blest.

O Lord of Hosts, my God, my King,

How blest are they that dwell
Within Thy House ! they still will sing

Thy benedictions well.

Blest is the man whose strength is found

In Thee, and in whose heart
The ways of holiness abound ;

Who makes a well to start
Within the vale of Baca's ground, —

The pools with showers dart.

53

54 SONGS FROM THE PSALTER

From strength to strength they onward pace;

In Zion, one and all
Shall enter in before God's face —

O Lord God, in whose presence fall
The hosts of heaven in their place,

Attend unto my call.

O Jacob's God, give ear to me.

Behold, O God, our Shield;
The face of Thine anointed see, —

To him Thy glances yield.

Better a day Thy courts within
Than thousand days elsewhere;

To bide beneath the tents of sin
Is not my choice; my prayer

Is rather, far from earthly din.
For Thine House-doors to care.

The Lord God is a Sun and Shield;

He '11 glory give and grace :
The upright ne'er in vain appealed

For good before His face:
Those, Lord of Hosts, Thy love hath sealed

Who trust in Thee shall place.

LIFE AS A FLEETING DAY

JEHOVAH, Thou hast been our Habitation
In all earth's generations long;
Before the mountains rose into their station,
Or ever Thou had'st from the throng

Of atoms formed the earth, the world upraising,—

Even from everlasting Thou
To everlasting art our God, whom praising,

Before Thee shall creation bow.

Thou turnest man to dust, with cry: " Returning

Be ye, the children of mankind."
A thousand years as yesterday discerning

Art Thou, and they are left behind, —

Behind, like watch that one at night is keeping.
Thou bearest them like swelling stream;

In their condition they are like the sleeping, —
As those who wrapt in slumber dream.

At morning they are like the grass upgrowing —
'T is flourishing and growing strong

At noontide's hour; at eventide man's mowing
Has laid it dry the earth along.

55

56 SONGS FROM THE PSALTER

For in Thine anger we 're consumed ; we 're fretting
At Thy deep wrath in trouble sore ;

Before Thee our iniquities Thou 'rt setting, —
Our secret sins Thy sight before.

For in Thy wrath our days away are passing;

Of our short years, the end appears.
They 're but a sigh; the sum of their amassing

Is but threescore and ten brief years,

Or fourscore, maybe, through man's strength un-
shattered;

Yet is their pride but toil and pain:
For soon 't is gone, and we in flight are scattered, —

In face of death men strive in vain.

Who knows Thine anger's power; Thy wrath, ac-
cording

Unto the fear that 's due Thy name ?
So let us turn to count our days, affording,

Time, Wisdom's heart that we may claim.

Return, O Lord, how long ? For each good
servant

Let it repent Thee; to us give
For Thine own mercy, satisfaction fervent

At morning-tide, that we may live

Through all our days in joyfulness and gladness.

O gladden us with joy serene
For days wherein Thou leddest us in sadness, —

For years when evil we have seen.

LIFE AS A FLEETING DAY 5/

Before Thy servants let Thy work be glowing, —

Thy glory on their children shine;
The beauty of the Lord be Thou bestowing

On us, — the beauty all divine.

The work that with our hands we *ve been per-
forming

Do Thou establish on us now; —
The work wherein our hearts are ever warming, —

This work of Thine, — establish Thou.

THE LORD'S PAVILION

HE who within the secret place is hiding,
Of God, the Lord Most High,
Beneath th' Almighty's shade shall be abiding, —
His shelter ever nigh.

My Refuge and my Fortress I '11 be calling

My Lord, the God I trust ;
Into the snare He '11 thee preserve from falling —

God, ever kind and just.

And from the noisome pestilence thee keeping,

He with His pinions thee
Shall cover; 'neath His wings safe sleeping.

Blest shall thy refuge be.

His truth 's a shield and buckler: when there lieth

Night's terrors round thy head,
Thou 'It have no fear, and neither when there flieth

The daytime's arrow dread.

Plague known to darkness shall not terrify thee,

Nor fright shall thee attend
For noontide's fell destruction drawing nigh thee,

Its wasting scourge to spend.

58

THE lord's pavilion 59

A thousand souls shall at thy side be falling,

And close at thy right hand
Ten thousand more shall low be laid; but calling

On God, thou safe shalt stand.

With thine eyes only shalt thou be beholding, —

Their dark rewarding see
Who wicked are: for Thou, Lord, me art folding,

My refuge sure, to be.

The Most High thou hast made thy habitation;

No ill shall thee befall,
Nor any plague near thy tent take its station,

And thee with fear appal.

For thee He '11 bid His angel hosts be caring,

To keep thee all thy ways;
Thee, upward in their hands will they be bearing,

Thy feet from stone-wounds raise.

On lion and on adder thou 'It be treading,

The lion's cub also ;
And serpent thou in nowise longer dreading,

Thy feet shall trample low.

Deliverance I '11 be on him bestowing,

Since he so loveth Me.
He,therefore, since My name he hath been knowing,

Exalted high shall be.

Upon Me he shall day by day be calling,

And I will answer him ;
When Trouble's night upon his heart is falling,

I '11 light its darkness dim.

6o SONGS FROM THE PSALTER

Him I 'U deliver; honor bringing nigh him,

On him will I bestow ;
With length of days I '11 surely satisfy him;

Him My salvation show.

THE LORD'S MAJESTY

JEHOVAH reigns; with majesty is He arrayed;
Jehovah is apparelled fair and strong;
With strength He hath Him girded round; all
firmly laid
Are the foundations that to earth belong.

No wind of universe the world can shake apart —
Established firmly is Thy throne of old :

Thou, truly, from the everlasting ages art;
Thy power through all the ages men behold.

The stormy floods have lifted up themselves, O
Lord,
The floods their voice have lifted very high,
The floods the deep sound of their roaring send
abroad,
Their mighty tumult rises to the sky.

Above the voices of the many waters loud, —
The proud, resistless breakers of the sea, —

Jehovah, far on high, with might is sure endowed:
The might that never flags nor fails hath He.

Sure, sure, beyond a doubt Thy testimonies live
As strong to-day as in the days of yore:

To holiness, our lives, Jehovah, make us give;
It well becomes Thine House forevermore.

6i

JEHOVAH'S WORTHINESS OF PRAISE

OH, come! oh, come! let us break forth in
singing,
In singing to the Lord;
A joyful, joyful noise let us be ringing
Far, far the world abroad, —

To Him, our Rock, the Rock of our salvation.

Before His presence now
Oh let us come with thankful celebration.

Before Him humbly bow.

Let us a joyful noise to Him be raising.

With psalm's pure melody;
For great, great is our God, the Lord we 're prais-
ing,

Above all gods is He.

Great King ! Great King ! in his sure hand He 's
shielding
Earth's deepest places all;
The mountain heights are His, — Him homage
yielding.
Their Maker, Him they call.

62

JEHOVAH'S WORTHINESS OF PRAISE 63

The sea, the sea is His; 't is He who made it;

And with His gracious hands
He formed the dry land, and so arrayed it

That fair and strong it stands.

Oh come! oh come! in worship pure and lowly

Let us before Him bend;
Low kneeling to the Lord, our Maker holy, —

Our Maker and our Friend.

For He 's our God; to Him are we belonging;

Yea, vve His people are
Sheep of His hand, the flock His pasture thronging

From folds both near and far.

To-day, oh that ye 'd hear His voice of pardon, —

His voice that fain would bless!
Your heart, as at Meribah, do not harden, —

As in the wilderness

In Massah's day, when, tried, your fathers straying

All faithless, tempted Me,
Brought Me to proof. My precepts disobeying,

And Mine own work did see.

Long, long, for forty years this generation

Did grieve Me very sore;
I said: " It is a people weak; a nation

Erring to their hearts' core.

64 SONGS FROM THE PSALTER

'* They have not known My ways," So was I
swearing,

By mighty wrath possessed,
That they the Promised Land should not be sharing,

Nor come into My rest.

JEHOVAH'S EXALTATION

JEHOVAH reigneth; be the earth rejoicing;
Supremely glad
Let all the isles their jubilance be voicing,
Nor more be sad.

Around about Him doth the darkness lower,

And clouds, thick strown:
On righteousness and judgment rests in power

His glorious throne.

A fire, devouring, flieth on before Him,

And knows no bound.
Until it burneth (though they loud implore Him)

His foes around.

His lightnings, in the darkened heav'ns assembled,

The world did light:
The earth in fearfulness bowed down and trembled

Before the sight.

The hills, like wax, were melted at the presence

Of Him, the Lord ; —
Before Him, who of power is the quintessence,

The earth abroad.

65

66 SONGS FROM THE PSALTER

The heavens, of His own righteousness the story

In might declare:
And all the peoples have beheld His glory,

Shed everywhere.

Ashamed be all who images are serving,

Engraven, grim; —
That boast themselves of idols, from Jehovah
swerving:

Ye gods, serve Him.

Heard Zion, and was glad, and Judah's daughters

In joy did share,
For all Thy judgments. Lord, which Thou hast
taught us

In Thy strong care.

For Thou, Jehovah, art most high uplifted

The earth above;
Above all gods with glory Thou art gifted.

Thou God of love.

O ye that love the Lord, be evil hating:

From wicked hands
He saves the souls of those. His pure ones, waiting

On His commands.

Light for the righteous, sown in fields of sadness,

Their gloom doth part;
And maketh He to bloom with flowers of gladness

The upright heart.

JEHOVAH'S EXALTATION 6/

Ye righteous, from Jehovah ever living

Joy freely claim;
Praise ye, and magnify with high thanksgiving

His holy name.

JEHOVAH'S SALVATION

UNTO Jehovah sing
A song before unknown;
For many a wondrous thing
Hath He wrought for His own.

His right hand and His arm

Of perfect holiness
Have rescued them from harm,

And sin's enslaving stress.

The Lord hath made men see
His true and saving might;

His righteousness hath He
Shown in the nations' sight.

In memory doth He hold
His mercy; faithfulness

That Israel did enfold,

And all her house did bless.

Earth's distant ends have all
Our God's salvation seen;

Upon Jehovah call,

All earth in joyful paean.
68

JEHOVAH'S SALVATION 69

Break forth and sing for joy;

Yea, glorious praises sing;
Praise for the Lord employ

With harp of sweetest string, —

With harp, and with the voice

Of truest melody;
W^ith trumpet clear, rejoice;

With cornet, tuneful be, —

Before the King, the Lord,

Oh lift a joyful song ;
Let ocean roar abroad,

And those that in it throng —

The world, and they who dwell
Upon its teeming lands;

Let all the floods joy tell

With clapping of their hands.

Now let the mountains sing

In joyous harmony;
Before Jehovah bring

Praise that shall welcome be:

For He is coming, — He

To judge the earth at length, —
The Lord of purity,

And never-failing strength.

70 SONGS FROM THE PSALTER

The world, in righteousness,
Judged by the Lord shall be;

And He will surely bless
The race with equity.

THE REIGNING LORD

JEHOVAH reigneth over all;
Let trembling on the people fall,
While they upon His mercy call.

Between the cherubim dwells He;
Be moved earth, in reverence be
Adoring God's supremacy.

The Lord in Zion's hill is great;
Upon Him shall the peoples wait;
High o'er them all He 's situate.

Thy terrible. Thy mighty name

Let them in glorious praise proclaim ;

He 's holy, — evermore the same.

The strength that dwelleth with the King
Doth judgment love, unfaltering;
To sturdy roots Thou makest cling

The plant of fairest equity;
Thou executest judgment free;
Thy righteousness shall Jacob see.

71

72 SONGS FROM THE PSALTER

The Lord our God exalt ye high;
In worship at His footstool vie:
His holiness shall stand for aye.

Among His priests, on holy ground
Moses and Aaron, too, are found;
And with them who His praises sound

Is Samuel: God's grace they crave;
Upon His name, all strong to save,
They called, and He an answer gave.

Within the cloudy pillar, lo!

His accents strong He made them know; —

His favor unto them did show.

They kept the testimonies sure

He gave to them; His statutes pure

By them, unbroken, did endure.

O Lord, our God, to whom we bow,
Them with an answer surely Thou
Didst, from Thy gracious heart, endow.

Thou wast a God who didst bestow
Forgiveness that they all might know.
Who did to Thee for pardon go; —

Though, of their doings. Thou did'st take
Vengeance, e'en for Thy just name's sake,
Since they Thy pure commands did break.

The Lord our God exalt ye still,
And worship at His Holy Hill;
For He, our God, can ne'er do ill.

A SONG OF THANKSGIVING

UNTO Jehovah sing with joy,
All ye far-stretching lands;
Your hearts in gladsomeness employ
While doing His commands.

Come to His presence ever blest
With songs in sweet accord;

In this supreme assurance rest: —
Jehovah — He is God.

'T is He, 't is He who hath us made;

To Him do we belong:
We are His own; we 're not afraid

'Neath His protection strong.

We are His people; we the sheep

Within His pasture fair:
Safe sheltered, He the souls doth keep

Who trust His tender care.

Into His gates make entrance now, —
Thank-off' rings in each hand;

Within His courts all lowly bow;
In praise before Him stand.
73

74 SONGS FROM THE PSALTER

To Him, to Him your thanks present,

And ever bless His name
Whose love is thine o'ershadowing tent,

Forevermore the same.

For good Jehovah is; all time

His mercy doth endure;
His faithfulness in every clime,

For every race, is sure.

THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD

OSOUL of mine, Jehovah bless;
And all that is in me
His name of perfect righteousness

Still ever blessing be;
Jehovah's grace, my soul, confess, —
His benefits so free:

Who doth forgive thine every sin ;

Thine every sickness heal;
Who, thee redeemed, thy heart within,

Will never let thee feel
The pit's dark power, who thee doth win

From woe to perfect weal; —

Who thee with loving-kindness long,

And mercies tender, true.
Doth crown, and makes thy life a song;

Who doth thy years endue
With good; so that like eagle strong

Thou dost thy youth renew.

Jehovah worketh righteousness.
And judgments, too, for those

Whom man unjustly shall oppress —
His ways did He disclose

To Moses; Israel in distress,
He guided 'gainst her foes.
75

76 SONGS FROM THE PSALTER

The Lord's compassion is so great;

Of grace He hath full store;
His anger through long time doth wait;

His mercy's cup runs o'er —
He '11 chide not ever; soon or late,

His wrath will be no more.

Lie hath not dealt to us the meed

That all our sins require;
Nor hath rewarded us, indeed,

With penalty entire
For our iniquities, but freed

Us from chastisement dire.

As heav'n above the earth is high,

So is His mercy free
Toward those who draw in reverence nigh

His throne of purity —
Far as the east from western sky

He makes our sins to be.

Like as a father pities, here.

His children, God e'en so
Will pity them who Him shall fear —

For He our frame doth know;
He minds that we are dust, yet dear

To Him is man below.

For man, indeed, his days are grass;

A flower of the field
He flourisheth. The wind doth pass

THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD 77

O'er it, and naught can shield
It from swift death; its place, alas!
No more shall be revealed.

But ages on, from year to year

The mercy of the Lord
Will rest on them who Him shall fear;

His righteousness is stored
For children's children, far and near;

It is the blest reward

Of such as keep His covenant.

And mind His words to keep, —
That He to them will surely grant.

His throne Jehovah deep
And strong within the heav'ns doth plant;

His realm hath world-wide sweep.

O bless the Lord, His angels all:

Ye strong, and full of might,
On whom, attent. His Word doth fall;

Ye, ever in his sight —
Ye hosts of His, in blessing call

Upon the Lord of Light; —

His servants all, below, on high,

Whose will He doth control —
All works of His, in earth and sky,

Where farthest planets roll, —
Yea, farther than our thoughts can fly: —

Oh bless the Lord, my soul.

A SONG OF THE REDEEMED

OH give thanks unto the Lord : for He is good:
His mercy doth endure forevermore.
Let God's redeemed say so, who safe have stood, —

Whom saved He from their adversary sore,
And from the lands did bring them where He
would —
From east, west, north, and ocean's pathway o'er.

They roamed a lone way in the wilderness;

They found no city where they might abide —
Hungry were they and thirsty; in sharp stress

Their soul within them fainted. Then they cried
To God in their affliction, them to bless;

And He from pain to healing them did guide.

He led them also by a pathway straight,
That they might find a city of abode; —

O would that men, e'en for His goodness great.
Would praise the Lord, — for works that He hath
showed

All wonderful to them that on Him wait, —
That He upon mankind hath free bestowed.

For He the longing soul doth satisfy;

The hungry soul with good things doth He fill.

78

A SONG OF THE REDEEMED 79

Those who beneath the veil of darkness lie,

Those who are covered by Death's shadow chill, —

Because against God's words they raised a cry,
Rebellious, seeking not to do His will, —

Because the plan of God Most High they held.
In cool contempt: then He their heart brought
down
With toil; they helpless fell who had rebelled:
Then, crying from the waves that them would
drown,
God saved them, led them out, for them expelled
The dark death-shade that on their way did
frown.

Their lands, also. He broke asunder far —

O would that men, e'en for His pure, good
ways.
Would praise the Lord, — for works that wondrous
are,
Toward children of mankind: Him let men
praise!
For He the gates of brass hath rent ajar,

Cut iron bars that strong themselves did raise.

Fools for the way of their transgression are
Afflicted, and by reason of their sin —

All kinds of meat their soul repels afar;
The gates of death they almost enter in — •

Unto the Lord they cry when pain their lives doth
bar.
And He, from woe, for them doth safety win.

8o SONGS FROM THE PSALTER

His Word He sends, and them doth healing bring;

He them delivers from destruction fell —
O that men to the Lord would praises sing

For all his wonders nigh incredible, —
His goodness to mankind in everything; —

O that men would Jehovah's praises tell,

And sacrifices of thanksgiving free

Be theirs; His works with song let them declare.
They that go down in ships unto the sea,

They that for trade the mighty waters dare.
These see Jehovah's works, how great they be, —

His wonders that the vasty deep doth bear.

For He but speaks, and stormy winds arise,

Which lift in might each darkly gathering wave ; —

They mount, they mount in grandeur to the skies,
Again they sink in deepest ocean-grave —

Because of pain, their soul all melting sighs.
Like drunkard reeling, help they wildly crave. .

They stagger, e'en at their wits' end indeed —
Then, in their woe, unto the Lord they cry;

And them from their distresses doth He lead,
The stormy sea, now calm He makes to lie:

So, glad, because from tumult they are freed,
He brings them to the port for which they sigh.

O that men for His goodness great the Lord

Would praise, and for His works of wonder rare
Which freely to mankind He doth afford ;

A SONG OF THE REDEEMED 8l

Let them exalt Him in th' assembly where
The people come; to Him be praise outpoured,
By them who 're seated in the elders' chair.

He turneth rivers to a wilderness

And water-springs into a thirsty ground; —

Rich land to land where salt is in excess,
E'en for the wickedness that doth abound

In them that dwell therein, whose guilt doth press.
And call for punishment the region round.

The wilderness He makes a pool of rain.
To water-springs He turneth the dry land;

He makes the hungry in its bounds remain.
That there a city of abode their hand

May fashion, and sow fields of waving grain,
And vineyards plant, and more and more expand,

That they may get them fruits that shall not cease ;

He blesseth them, so that they 're multiplied;
He suff'reth not their cattle to decrease.

Again, they 're minished, and bowed low abide,
Because of pain, oppression, sorrow; peace

Has vanished from its station at their side.

Contempt upon the princes doth He pour,
And causeth them to wander in the waste

Where no way can be found, its surface o'er.
Yet He the needy one on high hath placed,

So that affliction he may feel no more;

With flock of little ones his home liath graced.

82 SONGS FROM THE PSALTER

The upright shall behold it, and be glad ;

And all Iniquity her mouth shall close.
Whoso is found with Wisdom's vesture clad

Shall to these things give heed where'er he goes;
The mercies of the Lord, that he has had,

He '11 think upon, — e'en how his need God
knows.

THE IDEAL KING

JEHOVAH said unto my Lord, " Be sitting
At My right hand;
Until I make Thy foes Thy footstool fitting
By My command."

The Lord the rod of Thy strength shall be sending

From Zion blest:
Rule Thou amongst Thy foes in power unending,

Victor confessed.

Thy people in the day Thy power prevaileth

Themselves present
Freely: in beauty that no sinning paleth;

With heart unrent

By strife, Thou hast from out the womb of morning

The dew of youth.
The Lord hath sworn; He '11 not repent; adorning

Thy Church with truth.

Thou art, like to Melchizedek, forever

A glorious Priest.
The Lord beside Thee kings from might shall
sever, —

His wrath released.
83

84 SONGS FROM THE PSALTER

He will be Judge among the nations, chilling

Their hearts with dread;
The places with the dead shall He be filling;

E'en through the head

Lands, far and near He *11 strike, before Him
shrinking ;

Their strongholds rift; —
Therefore shall He — from wayside streamlet
drinking —

The head uplift.

HALLELUJAH SONG

WHEN forth from Egypt Israel went,
When from a people of strange speech
Away the house of Jacob bent

Their footsteps, other fields to reach, —

Judah became His holy seat

And His dominion Israel;
The sea beheld and beat retreat.

Yea, Jordan's waves that wildly swell.

The mountains skipped like rams around,
The little hills like new-born sheep.

O Sea, what ails thee; why art found
Far fleeing, O thou raging Deep ?

Jordan, what aileth thee, that thou

Should' st from thy course take backward way ?
What ails ye, mountains, too, that now

Like rams ye should be skipping gay ?

What ails ye, little hills, that ye

Like new-born sheep should sport around ? —
Earth, tremble, thou! for near to thee

The Lord, the mighty Lord is found.

85

86 SONGS FROM THE PSALTER

Tremble! for Jacob's God is near,
Who turned the rock abiding long

Into a pool of water clear,

The flint into a fountain strong.

JEHOVAH'S LOVING-KINDNESS

I LOVE the Lord, since He hath heard
My voice, my supplication strong:
Since He hath marked my every word,
I '11 call on Him my whole life long.

The cords of death my heart did bind,
And Sheol's pains took hold on me;

Trouble and sorrow did I find,

Nor from their grasp could set me free.

Then called I on Jehovah's name:

" I pray Thee, save my soul, O Lord;"

The Lord is gracious, aye the same.
And righteous is His name adored.

For mercy, too, our God is known ;

The Lord the simple soul doth keep:
I low was brought, and He alone

Delivered me in trouble deep.

My soul, return unto thy rest;

For bounteously the Lord with thee
Hath dealt, — attentive to thy quest;

His grace is boundless as the sea.

87

88 SONGS FROM THE PSALTER

For Thou hast saved my soul from death ;

Mine eyes from tears; my feet made stand:
Before the Lord while I have breath

I -'11 walk within the fair life-land.

I well believed when thus I spake:
With great afflictions spent was I:

And hasty speech my tongue did make:
All men I said but live a lie.

To God what shall I offer up
For all his benefits toward me ?

I now will take salvation's cup,

And calling on God's name I '11 be.

My vows unto the Lord of Light
I '11 pay, where Israel worshippeth.

How precious in Jehovah's sight
The triumph of His saints in death!

0 Lord, I am Thy servant true, —
Thy servant, son of thine handmaid;

Sundered hast Thou my chains in two —
My loving thanks to Thee '11 be paid,

And on Jehovah's name I '11 call;

I '11 pay my vows unto the Lord,
Where, worshipping, His people fall, —

His people gathered from abroad.

1 '11 worship in Jehovah's courts;
In thee, Jerusalem, I '11 raise

My song, O fairest of resorts! —
Unto the Lord, now give ye praise.

SONG OF THE EXILE

IN my distress I raised a cry
Unto the Lord; He answer gave.
From lying lips my soul, God save,
And from the tongue that plans to lie.

What shall be given unto thee ?

What shall be done to thee still more,
Thou tongue, whose lies are planned before,

That speakest e'er deceitfully ?

Sharp arrows of the sons of might.

With coals of juniper aglow.

That I should bide in Meshech,— woe!—
In Kedar's tent, prepared for fight!

My soul hath had for many a day
To dwell with him that hateth peace.
For peace was I; for strife's surcease:

But when I speak, for war are they.

89

THE HILLS OF GOD

TO God's fair hills I '11 lift mine eyes:
From whence shall come mine aid ?
My help e'en from the Lord shall rise,
Who heav'n and earth hath made.

Thy foot He never will permit

In helplessness to fall:
Thy Keeper thee will never quit,

Nor list to slumber's call.

Lo, He that keepeth Israel

Shall slumber not, nor sleep.
Jehovah, God, forever well

Thy waiting soul doth keep: —

The Lord 's thy shade on thy right hand—

The sun thee shall not smite
By day, and safely shalt thou stand

Beneath the moon by night.

God, from all evil, thee shall win;

He '11 cover thy soul o'er —
Thy going out and coming in

He '11 keep forevermore.
90

THE PILGRIM SALUTING JERUSALEM

HOW glad was I when comrades said,
Let us the blessed pathway tread
Unto Jehovah's Temple fair!
Within thy gates our weary feet
Have stood, Jerusalem complete, —
Jerusalem, of beauty rare !

A city thou that builded art
Strong and compact in every part,

Whereto the tribes their footsteps bend; —
The tribes with whom the Lord doth dwell
For witness unto Israel, —

Who to Jehovah's Word attend.

They go their thankful songs to bring
Unto their gracious Lord and King —

For there are thrones for judgment placed, —
Thrones that in David's House are found.
Pray that God's peace may compass round

Jerusalem, with beauty graced.

Prosperity shall be for them
That love thee, blest Jerusalem —
Within thy walls let peace abide;

91

92 SONGS FROM THE PSALTER

Within thy palaces serene
Prosperity be ever seen,

Nor harm nor sorrow thee betide.

E'en for my brethren's sake, indeed, —
E'en for mine own companions' need,

The greeting that I now will speak
Is: Peace in thee be richly stored
For His fair House, — the Lord our God

Thy good I '11 diligently seek.

THE EXILE'S PRAYER

TO Thee I raise mine eyes afar
O Thou that dost the heav'ns command.
Behold, as eyes of servants are
Directed to their master's hand,

As eyes of maiden steadfast rest

Upon the mistress she obeys, —
So, on Jehovah ever blest

Our eyes in patient longing gaze,

Till He upon us mercy show.

Have mercy, mercy on us Lord:
Contempt our soul doth overflow.

From hand of enemies outpoured.

Our soul is filled exceedingly

With scorning very fierce and loud

Of those who at their ease still be;
And with contempt of all the proud.

93

THE EXILE'S MEDITATION

HAD not the Lord been on our side, unfailing,
Let Israel now say;
Had not the Lord been on our side, prevailing
When men opposed our way, —

Then us, while yet alive, would they have swal-
lowed,

When blazed for us their wrath ;
Then had the waves to whelm us pressing, followed

And overflowed our path.

Then had the stream — proud stream — our soul
gone over.

Jehovah God be blest,
Who gave us not unto the hostile rover

Who would our soul have pressed.

Our soul, like bird from fowler's snare is flying:

The snare breaks; flight we take.
Upon Jehovah's name we are relying,

Who heav'n and earth did make.

94

THE STRENGTH OF ZION

THEY who in God Jehovah trust
Are even as Mount Zion strong,
Which standeth through the ages long,
Unmoved, nor crumbleth into dust.

E'en as around Jerusalem

The hills in strength and beauty lie.
So round His own the Lord Most High

Remaineth — aye, to shelter them.

Sceptre of them that wicked be

Shall rest not on the just one's lot;
That they their righteous hands may not

Put forth unto iniquity.

Do good, O Lord, do good to those
That be good, and to them that are
Upright in heart, and turning far

From all who righteousness oppose.

But as for those who good repel

In crooked ways, — these God shall lead
With them of many a wicked deed.

Peace, peace abide on Israel!
95

SOWING AND REAPING

WHEN Zion's hard captivity
Jehovah kindly turned again,
We were like them that dreaming be, —
Then was our mouth with laughter stored,

Our tongue was full of songful strain.
Then said they through the race abroad,

" The Lord great things for them hath done."
He greatly blessed us; glad we are —

Lord, turn again each captive one,

As streams that in the southland flow.
They who while shedding tears afar

Through all the fields and meadows sow,

In joy, at harvest-time shall reap;

Though on his way he goes along.
And while he bears the seed doth weep.
Though now he worn and weary grieves,

He '11 come again, with joyful song,
The while he bringeth in his sheaves.

q6

SONG OF HOME

EXCEPT the house be builded by
The Lord, its builders vainly toil:
The city kept not 'neath God's eye,

Though watched all night, will man despoil.

Vain 't is for you that you arise

So early, and take rest so late;
And eat the bread that labor buys:

Sleep makes He on His loved ones wait.

Lo, children are a heritage

That come, in favor, from the Lord;
The fruit the womb of every age

Shall bear, is His own blest reward.

As arrows in a strong man's hand.

So, children sprung from youthful stem.

With happiness the life is spanned
Of him whose quiver 's full of them.

To them, indeed, shall come no shame.
E'en when their foes for them shall wait.

And they shall with them converse claim, —
Their enemies within the gate.

97

THE BLESSED HOME

BLEST truly are all they that fear
The Lord, and walk within His ways.
For what thy hands by toiling raise
Thou 'It eat for sustenance and cheer.

Thou shalt be happy, and with thee
It shall be well: as for thy wife, —
Like to a vine of fruitful life

Within thy house she '11 ever be.

Thy children like rich plants shall grow, —
Like olive-plants, thy table round —
Behold, that blessed shall be found

The man who fear of God doth know.

Thee, out of Zion God shall bless:

And thou, through all life's many days
Upon Jerusalem shall gaze,

Beholding all its blessedness.

Yea, thou with thine own eyes shalt see

The children of a later race, —

Thy children's children through, God's grace.
Peace, peace on Israel resting be!

98

THE PENITENT EXILE

FROM out the depths to Thee, O Lord
I 've cried; my voice, Jehovah, hear:
Thine ears be now attentive toward

My voice; Thy suppliant be Thou near.

If Thou man's sins, Lord, marking be,
Who, then, Jehovah, who shall stand ?

But there 's forgiveness full with Thee,

That Thou may'st righteous fear command.

I for Jehovah wait ; doth wait

My soul, and hope I in His Word —

Looks early for the Lord and late

My soul, with earnest longing stirred —

More, more than watchmen for the morn
Look through the night with eager eyes;

Yea, more than watchmen, till be torn
Night's veil, and morning's sun doth rise.

Hope, hope ye in Jehovah blest,

O ye His people, Israel!
Unto the Lord make full request —

His mercy is a springing well.

99

lOO SONGS FROM THE PSALTER

His mercy 's free; with Him is found
Redemption, plenteous as the rain —

For Israel cleansing shall abound
From Him, for every sinful stain.

MEDITATION ON SIMPLICITY

HAUGHTY is not my heart, O Lord,
Nor raised in loftiness mine eyes;
Nor let I things of great emprise
Work for my energies afford;

Nor do I let myself be wiled

By things too high; I 've quieted
My soul, and stillness round it shed

Like mother with a weaned child.

Peace on my soul dost Thou outpour;

Like weaned child, my soul 's with me.

In God, O Israel, hoping be
From this time forth, forevermore.

lOI

ELEGY OF THE CAPTIVITY

WHERE Babylon's fair streams were flowing,
There we sat down ; yea, there we wept ; —
When we in mind to Zion going

Thought of our home before us kept.

Upon the willows, river-shading.

Our harps we hung, the banks along,

For there our lords, our woe invading,
Asked us their captives for a song:

And they who tore our hearts all tender
Required that mirthful we should be;

And cried: " Now we would have you render
A song of Zion's melody."

The Lord's own song! — How can it yet be
That we should sing it far from home ?

Jerusalem ! if I forget thee
While in captivity I roam,

Be my right hand her skill forgetting;

And to one spot my tongue adhere
If o'er all joy I be not setting

Jerusalem, in radiance clear.

I02

ELEGY OF THE CAPTIVITY I03

'Gainst Edom's children be recalling

That day, Lord, of Jerusalem ;
When, " Rase it! " cried they; " now be falling

Its basal stones; yea, scatter them."

Daughter of Babylon, for wasting.

For fell destruction set aside, —
Be happy he who thee is hasting

To woe that for thy guilt shall bide, —

As thou ourselves one time wert serving;

Be happy he that with hard shock
Thy children takes, with strength unswerving.

And dasheth them against the rock.

THE AVENGING LORD

THE Lord who is my Rock be blest,
Who trains my hands for war's behest, -
My fingers for the fight.
My Goodness and my Fortress He,
My Tower high; He rescues me;

He is my shield of might.
In Him I trust for every hour;
He makes my people feel my power.
Submissive in my sight.

Lord, what is man that he should find
Such knowledge of him in Thy mind!

Or what the son of man
That Thou should'st make account of him!
Like vanity, he 's light and dim, —

A shadow is his span.
Thy heavens bow, O Lord; come down
And simply touch each mountain's crown, —

They '11 smoke beneath Thy ban.

Thy lightning from the sky cast forth,
And scatter them from south and north;

Shoot out Thine arrows swift —
Destroy them ; let Thy hand descend
And save me; in wild waves defend;

104

THE AVENGING LORD 10$

And kindly me uplift
From strangers' snares: their mouth is vain,
Their right hand's way is never plain,

But makes to falsehood drift.

A new song unto Thee I '11 sing;
My psaltery for Thee I 'II bring, —

My ten-stringed instrument.
I '11 gladly utter praise to Thee.
Who safety gives to kings ? 'T is He;

He David saves; and bent
Shall be the sword that him would bruise.
O save us, and strange foes confuse

Whose mouth to sham is lent, —

Whose right hand is a false right hand.
When all our sons throughout the land

Shall be as young plants grown ;
When all our daughters, too, shall be
As corner-stones, most fair to see.

By palace ne'er outshone;
When all our garners full, run o'er,
Affording every kind of store

That husbandmen can own;

When lambs by thousands shall be born,
And tens of thousands shall adorn

Our fields with snowy fleece;
When all our oxen shall have strength
To labor, though it be at length;

I06 SONGS FROM THE PSALTER

AVhen breakings-in shall cease;
When there be no outgoing feet,
Nor mur'ring sounds in any street,

For plaints shall yield to peace: —

Great happiness, indeed, hath place
With people found in such a case;

Their joys no more shall wane.
Yea, happy are the people who
Choose Him who 's ever just and true.

Who blessing brings from bane.
Happy are they who 've Him adored,
Happy the race whose God 's the Lord

Who evermore shall reign.

CREATION'S PRAISE

HALLELUJAH ! praise the Lord,—
From the heav'ns His praises sing:
Let His praises be outpoured;
In the heights now let them ring.

Ye, His Angels, speak His praise:
Praise Him, all His Hosts on high:

Praise Him, Sun and Moon, upraise
Praise to God who cannot die:

Praise Him, all ye Stars of Light,
Heav'ns of heav'ns. His praises tell:

And ye Streams, beyond our sight.

Let them praise God's name right well

For He uttered His command,

And they were created all
He hath set them with His hand

So they never-more shall fall.

He hath made a sure decree
Which shall men forever keep—

From the earth God praised be:
Praise Him, Dragons in the deep;
107

I08 SONGS FROM THE PSALTER

Fire and Hail and Vapor, Snow;

Stormy Wind that doth His word;
Mountains and the Hills below,

That with strength His hand doth gird;

Fruitful Trees, and Cedars too;

Beasts and Cattle everywhere;
Creeping Things, Fowl flying through

And swiftly wafted in the air;

Kings and Peoples of the earth ;

Earthly Princes, Judges all;
Youths and Maidens, full of mirth.

Aged Men and Children small: —

Let them praise Jehovah's name,
For His name alone is high;

And His glory, e'er the same,
Is above the earth and sky.

He hath lifted up the horn

Of the people of His love;
Praise hath God, Jehovah, — borne

From His saints to Him above; —

E'en of Israel so dear, —

People whom He loved right well, —
People to Jehovah near:

Praise the Lord, Immanuel.

THE PRAISES OF THE SAINTS

PRAISE ye the Lord: unto Jehovah sing
A glad new song;
Among His saints now let His praises ring
In rapture strong.

Let Israel in his Creator blest

All joyful be:
Let Zion's children in their King take rest

In gladness free:

His name, let them in joyous dancing praise

And magnify:
With timbrel and with harp let them upraise

His praises high.

For true enjoyment doth Jehovah take

E'en in His own;
The meek, fair with salvation will He make

From His bright throne.

Joyful ill glory, let the saints of earth

Uplift their heads:
Let them their songs upraise with hearty mirth

Upon their beds.
109

no SONGS FROM THE PSALTER

Within their mouth let God's high praises be

With strength outpoured,
And in their hand let them be wielding free

A two-edged sword: —

Upon the heathen nations to command

Vengeance all stern,
And punishments on them who from God's hand

To evil turn ;

To bind their kings with chains they cannot break,

Nor soon discard.
And for their nobles suffering to make

With fetters hard;

On them to see that judgment just shall fall

In writing stored: —
This honor have His holy people all —

Praise ye the Lord.

FINALE

O BLESSED Lord, to whom the choir
Of Angels bring their sweetest song;
Whose Heart of Love can never tire

Of loyal praise the ages long: —
Accept these lays, from Thine own Word, —

A never-failing Treasury brought:
And through Thy grace, where'er they 're heard,
Be Thy pure ways more purely sought.

May Thine own Singers of the Past

Through these new songs new honors gain;
Thy truth through them be held more fast;

Thy changeless love appear more plain.
Blend with their halting harmony

Chords of the music all divine ;
Let them be sung with fervor free

By hearts uplifted. Lord, to Thine.

Let Thy blest Spirit bring them near

The souls by sin and care distressed;
Their melody the faithless fear.

The restless passion sing to rest:
Their notes of deathless joy and praise

Let Thy redeemed ones make their own,
While they their glad thanksgiving raise

To Thee who sittest on the throne.

Ill

OCT B8 1899