By the Bishops, the Clergy, and the Laity of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, in Convention, this 13th day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine TH HIS translation of The Whole Book of Psalms into Metre, with Hymns, is set forth, and allowed to be sung in all Congregations of the said Church, before and after Morning and Evening Prayer, and also before and after Sermons, at the discretion of the Minister. And it shall be the duty of every Minister of any Church, either by standing directions, or from time to time, to appoint the Portions of Psalms which are to be sung. And, further, it shall be the duty of every Minister, with such assistance as he can obtain from persons skilled in music, to give order concerning the tunes to be sung, at any time, in his Church; and, especially, it shall be his duty to suppress all light and unseemly music, and all indecency and irreverence in the performance; by which vain and ungodly persons profane the service of the sanctuary, セメ 5946 . Al THE PSALMS OF DAVID, IN METRE. PSALM 1. OW blessed is he who ne'er consents 1 HOW By ill advice to walk, Nor stands in sinners' ways, nor sits 2 But makes the perfect law of God 3 Like some fair tree, which, fed by streams, With timely fruit does bend, We still shall flourish, and success 4 Ungodly men, and their attempts, Untimely blasted, and dispersed Like chaff before the wind. 5 Their guilt shall strike the wicked dumb Before their Judge's face; No formal hypocrite shall then Among the saints have place. 6 For God approves the just man's ways; To happiness they tend ; 1 But sinners, and the paths they tread, PSALM 2. WITH restless and ungoverned rage Why do the heathen storm? Why in such rash attempts engage 2 The great in counsel and in might 3 "Must we submit to their commands ?" "No; let us break their slavish bands, 4 But God, who sits enthroned on high, 5 Thick clouds of wrath divine shall break And thus will he in thunder speak 6 "Though madly you dispute my will, 7 Attend, O earth, whilst I declare "Thou art my Son; this day, my heir, 8 "Ask, and receive thy full demands; 9 "Thy threatening sceptre thou shalt shake, "And crush them every where, "As massy bars of iron break "The potter's brittle ware." 10 Learn then, ye princes; and give ear, Ye judges of the earth; 11 Worship the Lord with holy fear; 12 Appease the Son with due respect, 13 If but in part his anger rise, Who can endure the flame? 1 Then blessed are they, whose hope relies H% PSALM 3. OW many, Lord, of late are grown And, as their numbers hourly rise, So does their rage increase. 2 Insulting, they my soul upbraid, And him whom I adore ; "The God in whom he trusts," say they, 3 But thou, O Lord, art my Defence; 4 Since, whensoe'er, in like distress, 5 Guarded by him, I laid me down 6 No force nor fury of my foes 7 Arise, and save me, O my God, 8 Salvation to the Lord belongs; His blessings he extends to all That on his power depend. PSALM 4. LORD, thou art my righteous Judge ; Thou still redeem'st me from distress; 2 How long will ye, O sons of men, How long your vain designs pursue, 3 Consider that the righteous man And, when to him I make my prayer, 4 Then stand in awe of his commands, 5 The place of other sacrifice 6 While worldly minds impatient grow 7 So shall my heart o'erflow with joy, Than theirs, who stores of corn and wine 8 Then down in peace I'll lay my head, 1L PSALM 5. ORD, hear the voice of my complaint, 2 To thee alone, my King, my God, Will I for help repair. 3 Thou, in the morn, my voice shalt hear, And, with the dawning day, To thee devoutly I'll look up, To thee devoutly pray. 4 For thou the wrongs that I sustain Who from thy sacred dwelling-place |