Songs of Zion.

PSALM I.

THRICE happy he, who shuns the way That leads ungodly men astray;

Who fears to stand where sinners meet, Nor with the scorner takes his seat.

The law of God is his delight;
That cloud by day, that fire by night,
Shall be his comfort in distress,

And guide him through the wilderness.

His works shall prosper; he shall be A fruitful, fair, unwithering tree,

That, planted where the river flows,
Nor drought, nor frost, nor mildew knows.

Not so the wicked;-they are cast
Like chaff upon the eddying blast;
In judgment they shall quake for dread,
Nor with the righteous lift their head.

For God hath spied their secret path,
And they shall perish in his wrath;
He too hath mark'd his people's road,
And brings them to his own abode.

PSALM III.

THE Tempter to my soul hath said,
"There is no help in God for thee:"
Lord, lift thou up thy servant's head
My glory, shield, and solace be.

Thus to the Lord I raised my cry;
He heard me from his holy hill;
At his command the waves roll'd by ;
He beckon'd, and the winds were still.

I laid me down and slept ;-I woke ; Thou, Lord, my spirit didst sustain ; Bright from the east the morning broke, Thy comforts rose on me again.

I will not fear, though armed throngs Compass my steps, in all their wrath; Salvation to the Lord belongs;

His presence guards his people's path.

PSALM IV.

No. 1.

How long, ye sons of men, will ye

The servant of the lord despise,

Delight yourselves with vanity,
And trust in refuges of lies?

Know that the Lord hath set apart
The godly man in every age;
He loves a meek and lowly heart;
His people are his heritage.

Then stand in awe, nor dare to sin;
Commune with your own heart; be still

The Lord requireth truth within,
The sacrifice of mind and will.

PSALM IV.

No. 2.

WHILE many cry, in Nature's night,
Ah! who will show the way to bliss?
Lord, lift on us thy saving light;

We seek no other guide than this.

Gladness thy sacred presence brings,
More than the joyful reaper knows;
Or he who treads the grapes, and sings,
While with new wine his vat o'erflows.

In peace I lay me down to sleep;

Thine arm, O Lord, shall stay my head, Thine angel spread his tent, and keep His midnight watch around my bed.

PSALM VIII.

O LORD, our King, how excellent,
Thy name on earth is known!

Thy glory in the firmament

How wonderfully shown!

Yet are the humble dear to Thee;
Thy praises are confest