As, round about Jerusalem,
The guardian mountains stand,
So shall the Lord encompass them,
Who hold by His right hand.

Do good, oh Lord, do good to those,
Who cleave to Thee in heart,
Who on Thy truth alone repose,
Nor from Thy law depart.

PSALM 127.

EXCEPT the Lord the house will build,
The builders lose their pain.
Except the Lord the city shield,
The watchman wakes in vain.

In vain for you betimes to rise,
And take so late your rest,
Those, who find favour in his eyes,
E'en while they sleep, are blest.

Sweet children, and a kindly womb,
These come of God alone;

He makes the solitary home
To sing, with many a son.

PSALM 127.

Second Version.

UNLESS the Lord the house sustain,
The builders labour but in vain;

In vain the warder wakes from sleep,
Except the Lord the city keep.

In vain ye rise before the light,
And break the slumbers of the night;
And eat the bread of toil, and care,
While God's beloved in quiet are.

Lo! from the Lord our increase is,
The children of our youth are His;
Like arrows in a giant's hand,
Around us, in array, they stand.

With joy may he lift up his head,
Whose quiver's thus replenished;
And in his heritage repose,

Safe from the fear of all his foes.

PSALM 128.

How happy they, that fear the Lord,
And walk in His good ways!
For thou shalt of thy labours eat,

In gladness all thy days.

Like fruitful vine, on thy house side,

Thy loving wife shall be;

Thy children, like the clustering boughs

Of the green olive tree.

Thus, on the man, that fears the Lord, Fresh blessing shall alight,

The Lord, from Zion's hill shall send,
To bless thee day, and night.

Jerusalem shall in thy time,

In peace, and plenty dwell;

Yea, children's children shalt thou see,
And peace on Israel.

PSALM 130.

OUT of the depths of woe,
To Thee, O Lord, I cry,
Darkness surrounds me, but I know,

That Thou art ever nigh.

Then hearken to my voice,

Give ear to my complaint;

Thou bid'st the mourning soul rejoice,

Thou comfortest the faint.

I cast my hope on Thee,

Thou canst, Thou wilt forgive;

Wert Thou to mark iniquity,

Who in Thy sight could live?

Humbly on Thee I wait,

Confessing all my sin;

Lord, I am knocking at thy gate,

Open, and take me in.

PSALM 130.

Second Part.

My soul with patience waits,
For Thee, the living Lord;
My hopes are on Thy promise built-
Thy never failing word.

My longing eyes look out,

For Thine enlivening ray;
More duly than the morning watch,
To spy the coming day.

Oh, Israel, trust in God,

No bounds His mercy knows,

The plenteous source, and spring from whence Eternal healing flows.

PSALM 130.

Second Version.

OUT of the depths to Thee I cry,

Wert Thou to mark iniquity,

Who, Lord, before Thy face might live?

But Thou delightest to forgive.

Oh, shower on me Thy healing grace,
That I may walk before Thy face.

:

To Thee I look my soul doth wait,
All day, before Thy mercy-gate.

I stay my hope upon Thy word,
I tarry for Thy coming, Lord,
Nor watchman longs more eagerly,
For day to break along the sky.

Plenteous redemption God has wrought,
His mercy soars o'er bound, or thought;
Oh, trust Him, Israel, so shall He
Cleanse thee from all iniquity.

PSALM 132.

GOD in His temple let us meet,
Low on our knees before Him bend;
Here hath He fixed His mercy seat,
Here on His sabbath we attend.

Arise unto Thy resting-place,

Thou, and Thine ark of strength, Oh Lord,
Shine thro' the veil, we seek Thy face;
Speak, for we hearken to Thy word.

With righteousness Thy priests array,
Joyful Thy chosen people be,

Let those, who teach, and those, who pray,
Let all be holiness to Thee.

PSALM 132.

Second Part.

LORD, for Thy servant David's sake,
Perform Thine oath to David's son: