Classic Poem

PSALM CIII.

A Psalm of David.

Bless thou J EHOVAH , O my soul,
Who all thy inmost powers did frame:
Let all those inmost powers conspire
To bless their author's holy name.

Bless thou, J EHOVAH , O my soul,
Nor thoughtless of his favours prove;
Who does thy every sin forgive,
Who does thy every pain remove:

Who from destruction thee redeems,
Thy threaten'd life in mercy spares;
Who crowns thee with his grace and love,
And with the tenderest of his cares:

Who thy returning appetite
With every needful good supplies;
So is thy blooming youth renew'd,
And with the vigorous eagle's vies.

The Lord his righteous judgment shews,
To succour all who are oppress'd:
Thus Moses knew and taught his ways,
And Israel's sons his acts confest.

J EHOVAH'S merciful and kind:
His wrath is slow, his mercy sure:
He will not always frown and chide,
Nor shall his anger long endure.

He treats us sinners, not as we
Deserve by our enormous deeds;
Nor our demerit makes the rule
By which his chastening hand proceeds.

As heaven's high frame is rais'd above
This humble earth on which we dwell;
So does his grace, to all that fear
His name, all human praise excel.

As far as the vast space extends
From utmost east to utmost west,
So far has he remov'd the sins
Which late our guilty souls oppress'd.

Just as a tender father's heart
With pity to his children moves,
So those who fear J EHOVAH'S name
He with compassion always loves.

He knows our frame, remembers well
We are but animated clay;
And man, frail man, like withering grass,
Has but a short uncertain day.

Like some fair flower that paints the field,
He flourishes and beauteous shows:
One blast of wind nips all his pride,
The place no more its owner knows.

But still J EHOVAH'S mercy flows
On those who him with fear adore;
From everlasting still the same,
The same when time shall be no more.

His righteousness and truth shall be
To childrens children ever shown,
Who keep his cov'nant, nor forget
T'obey the precepts which they own.

J EHOVAH , in the heavens above,
Of old prepar'd his glorious throne:
He o'er the universe extends
His boundless reign, and he alone.

O bless J EHOVAH'S sacred name,
His angels who excel in might;
Who his commands with care observe,
And to obey his voice delight.

O bless J EHOVAH'S sacred name,
Ye heavenly hosts; who to fulfil
His pleasure, with respect attend,
And are employ'd to do his will.

O bless J EHOVAH , all his works,
O'er which he reigns without controul,
Thro' his immense dominions all:
Bless thou J EHOVAH , O my soul.