3 For th' en my hath pursu'd my soul, Within me is my very heart 5 I call to mind the days of old, On all thy works; upon the deeds 6 My hands to thee I stretch; my soul thirsts, as dry land, for thee. Haste, Lord, to hear, my spirit fails: Lest like to them I do become 8 At morn let me thy kindness hear, Teach me the way that I should walk 9 Lord, free me from my foes; I flee 10 Because thou art my God, to do Thy Spirit is good, me to the land 11 Revive and quicken me, O Lord, ev'n for thine own name's sake? And do thou, for thy righteousness my soul from trouble take. 12 And of thy mercy slay my foes, let all destroyed be That do afflict my soul; for I a servant am to thee. SECOND VERSION. H! hear my prayer, Lord, To bow thine ear accord, 3 Behold, the cruel foe Or men dead long ago. 4 Therefore my sp'rit, much vex'd, O'erwhelm'd is me within: My heart right sore perplex'd 5 Yet I do call to mind What ancient days record, Thy works of ev'ry kind 6 Lo, I do stretch my hands 9 From my fierce enemy In safety do me guide, Lord that thou may'st me hide. 10 My God alone art thou, Teach me thy righteousness: O Lord, for thy name's sake, PSALM CXLIV. A Psalm of David. This Psalm was probably composed by David upon the o casion of his advancement to the throne; 1 Chron. xii. 2 Sam. v. as Psal. cxxxviii. lxxv. &c. In it we have, (1) Thankful acknowledgements of God's relation to him, and condescending kindness towards him; ver. 1-4. (2) Supplication for divine deliverance from his enemies, who still threatened him ; ver. 5-8. and for prosperity to his kingdom; ver. 11-14. (3) Triumphant Joy in God, as his and their deliverer and portion; ver. 9, 10. 15. While I sing let me admire the relation, the kindness of God to me, who am so mean, so frail, so sinful! Let me rejoice in him, as my ALL in ALL; and commit my way to him, that he may bring it to pass. And let every external benefit lead up my heart to God himself. BLESSED ever be the Lord, who is my strength and might, Who doth instruct my hands to war, my fingers teach to fight, 2 My goodness, fortress, my high tow'r, deliverer, and shield, In whom I trust who under me 3 Lord, what is man, that thou of him 5 Lord, bow thy heav'ns, come down; touch the hills, and smoke shall they. 6 Cast forth thy lightnings, scatter them thine arrows shoot, them rout. 7 Thine hand send from above, me save, from great depths draw me out : 8 [thou ; And from the hand of children strange > Whose mouth speaks vanity; And their right hand is a right hand that works deceitfully. 9 A new song I to thee will sing, Lord, on a psaltery: I on a ten-string'd instrument will praises sing to thee. 10 Ev'n he it is that unto kings Who his own servant David doth 11 0 free me from strange children's hands whose mouth speaks vanity; And their right hand a right hand is 12 That as the plants our sons may be Our daughters like to corner-stones, 13 That, to afford all kind of store, That our sheep thousands, in our streets ten thousands they may yield. 14 That strong our oxen be for work, Nor going out; and that our streets |