2 The good man's way is God's delight, He orders all the steps aright

Of him that moves by his command Though he sometimes may be distress'd, Yet shall he ne'er be quite oppress'd,

For God upholds him with His hand. 3 The upright shall possess the land, His portion shall for ages stand;

His mouth with wisdom is supplied; His tongue by rules of judgment moves, His heart the law of God approves, Therefore his footsteps never slide. PSALM 39.

1 LORD, number out my life and days
Which yet I have not past;
So that I may be certified

How long my life shall last.
2 For Thou hast pointed out my life,
In length much like a span;
My age is nothing unto Thee;
So vain is every man!

3 Man walketh like a shade, and doth
In vain himself annoy

In getting goods, and cannot tell
Who shall the same enjoy.

4 Therefore, O Lord what wait I for?
What help do I desire?

Truly my hope is e'en in Thee,
I nothing else require.

PSALM 40.

1 I WAITED meekly for the Lord,
Till he vouchsaf'd a kind reply;
Who did His gracious ear afford,
And heard from heaven my humble cry.

1 He took me from the dismal pit,

When founder'd deep in miry clay;
On solid ground He plac'd my feet,
And suffered not my steps to stray.
3 The wonders He for me has wrought
Shall fill my mouth with songs of praise;
And others, to His worship brought,
To hopes of like deliv'rance raise.

4 Who can the wondrous works recount,
Which thou, O God, for us hast wrought?
The treasures of Thy love surmount
The pow'r of numbers, speech and thought.

PSALM 41.

1 HAPPY the man whose tender care
Relieves the poor distress'd:

When troubles compass him around,
The Lord shall give him rest.

2 The Lord his life, with blessings crown'd, In safety shall prolong:

And disappoint the will of those

That seek to do him wrong.

3 Thy tender care secures my life
From danger and disgrace;

And Thou vouchsaf'st to set me still
Before Thy glorious face.

4 Let therefore Israel's Lord and God
From age to age be bless'd;
And all the people's glad applause
With loud Amens express'd.

PSALM 42.

7

1 AS pants the hart for cooling streams, When heated in the chase;

So longs my soul, O God, for Thee,
And Thy refreshing grace.

2 For thee, my God, the living God,
My thirsty soul doth pine:

O! when shall I behold thy face,
Thou Majesty divine!

3 God of my strength, how long shall I, Like one forgotten, mourn? Forlorn, forsaken and expos'd

To my oppressor's scorn?

4 Why restless, why cast down my soul? Hope still, and thou shalt sing

The praise of Him who is thy God,
Thy health's eternal spring.

PSALM 43.

1 LET me with light and truth be blest, Be these my guides, to lead the way; Till on Thy holy hill I rest,

And in Thy sacred temple pray.

2 Then will I there fresh altars raise
To God, who is my only joy;
And well-tuned harps, with songs of praise,
Shall all my grateful hours employ.

3 Why then cast down, my soul? and why
So much oppress'd with anxious care?
On God, thy God, for aid rely,
Who will thy ruin'd state repair.

PSALM 46.

1 GOD is our refuge in distress,
A present help when dangers press;
In him undaunted we'll confide:
Though earth were from her centre toss'd,
And mountains in the ocean lost,

Torn piece-meal by the roaring tide.

2 A gentler stream with gladness still The city of our Lord shall fill,

The royal seat of God most high: God dwells in Sion, whose fair tow'rs Shall mock th' assaults of earthly pow'rs, While His almighty aid is nigh.

3 Submit to God's almighty sway, For Him the heathen shall obey,

And earth her sov'reign Lord confess :
The God of Hosts conducts our arms,
Our tow'r of refuge in alarms,
As to our fathers in distress.

PSALM 51.

1 HAVE mercy Lord, on me,
As thou wert ever kind;
Let me, opprest with loads of guilt,
Thy wonted mercy find.

2 Wash off my foul offence,

And cleanse me from my

sin;

For I confess my crime, and see
How great my guilt has been.

3 In guilt each part was form'd
Of all this sinful frame,

In guilt I was conceiv'd and born
The heir of sin and shame.

4 With hyssop purge me, Lord,
And so I clean shall be;

I shall with snow in whiteness vie,
When purified by Thee.

5 Withdraw not Thou thy help,
Nor cast me from Thy sight;
Nor let Thy Holy Spirit take
His everlasting flight.