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Paraphrase on the Psalms of David - Psalm 110

The Lord unto my Lord thus spake: —
Sit at My right Hand, till I make
A foot-stool of Thy foes.
He will Thy rod from Sion send,
Unto Whose pow'r all pow'rs shall bend,
That dare Thy rule oppose.

Thy people willingly shall pay
Their vows in that triumphant day,
With their united pow'rs,
Array'd in ephods; nor so few
As are those pearls of morning-dew,
Which hang on herbs and flow'rs.

He swore, Who never oath did break,
Of the order of Melchisedek
That Thou a priest should'st reign;

Paraphrase on the Psalms of David - Psalm 109

Part I.

M Y God, my Glory, leave not in distress,
Nor let prevailing fraud the truth oppress.
They who delight in subtleties and wrongs,
Afflict me with the poison of their tongues;
With slander and detraction gird me round,
And would, without a cause, my life confound.
Good turns with evil proudly recompense,
And love with hate; my merit, my offence.
But I in these extremes to Thee repair,
And pour out my perplexed soul in pray'r.
Subject him to a tyrant's stern command,

Paraphrase on the Psalms of David - Psalm 108

My thoughts the Lord their object make;
Before the ruddy morning spring
My glory of His praise shall sing;
Awake my lute, my harp awake,
While I to all the world rehearse
His praises in a living verse.

Thy mercy (O how great!) extends
Above the starry firmament,
Still unto tender pity bent:
Thy truth the soaring clouds transcends,
Thy head above the heav'ns erect,
Thy glory on the earth reflect.

O hear us, who Thy aid implore,
And with Thy own right Hand defend;
To Thy beloved succour send.

Paraphrase on the Psalms of David - Psalm 107

Part I.

E XTOLL , and our good God adore.
Whose sea of mercy hath no shore.
O you by tyrants late oppress'd,
Now from your servile yokes releas'd,
Praise Him Who your redemption wrought,
And home from barbarous nations brought.
From where the morn her wings displays,
From where the ev'ning crowns the days;
Beneath the burning zone, and near
The influence of the freezing bear.
They in unpeopled deserts stray'd,
The heav'ns their roof, the clouds their shade.
Their souls with thirst and hunger faint;

Paraphrase on the Psalms of David - Psalm 106

PSALM CVI.

Part I.

W ITH grateful hearts Jehovah's praise resound,
In goodness Great, Whose mercy hath no bound.
What language can express His mighty deeds,
Or utter His due praise which words exceeds?
Thrice blessed they who His commands observe,
Nor ever from the track of justice swerve.
Great God! O with benevolent aspect
(Ev'n with the love Thou bear'st to Thine elect)
Behold and succour; that my ravish'd eyes
May see a period of their miseries,

Paraphrase on the Psalms of David - Psalm 105

PSALM CV.

Part I.

T O God, O pay your vows; invoke His Name,
And to the world His noble acts proclaim!
O sing His praises in immortal verse,
And His stupendous miracles rehearse.
You saints rejoice, and glory in His grace;
His pow'r adore; for ever seek His Face.
Old Abraham's seed, you sons of the elect,
You Israelites, O you, who God affect,
Report the wonders by His finger wrought,
When in your cause th' inferior creatures fought.

Paraphrase on the Psalms of David - Psalm 104

Part I.

M Y ravish'd soul, Great God, Thy praises sings,
Whom glory circles with her radiant wings,
And majesty invests than day more bright,
Cloth'd with the beams of new-created light.
He, like an all-enfolding canopy,
Fram'd the vast concave of the spangled sky,
And in the air-embraced waters set
The basis of His hanging cabinet.
Who on the clouds as on a chariot rides,
And with a rein the flying tempest guides.
Bright angels His attendant spirits made,
By flame-dispersing seraphims obey'd.

Paraphrase on the Psalms of David - Psalm 103

Part I.

M Y soul, and all my faculties,
Jehovah praise; sing till the skies
Re-echo His ascending fame:
My soul, O celebrate His Name!
Nor ever let the memory
Of His surpassing favours die.
He gently pardons our misdeeds,
And cures the wound which inward bleeds;
Hath from the chains of death unbound,
With clemency and mercy crown'd.
With food our hunger He subdues,
And eagle-like our youth renews.
His justice He extends to all;
Oppressors by His vengeance fall.

Paraphrase on the Psalms of David - Psalm 101

Of justice I and mercy sing,
Which, Lord, from Thee their Fountain spring,
The graces that adorn a king.

Grave wisdom shall my steps direct,
No vice my heart nor roof infect.
When wilt Thou visit Thine elect?

No pleasure shall mine eyes misguide:
WhOfrom the track of virtue slide,
Just hate shall from my soul divide.

Who mischief in their hearts contrive,
Delight in wrong, in factions strive,
I from my peaceful court will drive.

Who hath his friend with slander strook,
I will cut off; nor ever brook