Though in the paths of death I tread,
With gloomy horrors overspread,
My steadfast heart shall fear no ill,
For Thou, O Lord, art with me still;
Thy friendly crook shall give me aid,
And guide me through the dreadful shade.

Though in a bare and rugged way,
Through devious, lonely wilds I stray,
Thy bounty shall my wants beguile;
The barren wilderness shall smile,

With sudden greens and herbage crowned,
And streams shall murmur all around.

JOSEPH ADDISON

76

PSALM XXV

[This is the first of the acrostical or alphabetical Psalms. The verses begin with the letters of the Hebrew alphabet in their succession. The translator has preserved the spirit of the original by adhering to the same rule in translation. There is, occasionally, in the Hebrew, an omission of a single letter in its order. The translator has allowed himself the same latitude.]

A spires my soul to Thee, O Lord;
My hopes on Thee, my God, repose;
Be never shame those hopes' reward,
Nor give the triumph to my foes.

Come shame on none that wait on Thee,
But on the crowds that joy in ill;
Direct me Thy just ways to see,
And lead me in Thy perfect will.

E xpecting Thy delivering feet,

My God, I hark from morn till eve;
Forget not Thou Thy mercies sweet,
Nor e'er Thine ancient favor leave.

G race is Thine own; in grace forget
My rebel steps; my wandering youth;
Hold me in kind remembrance yet,
And lead a sinner in Thy truth.

Just is the Lord; in judgment's hour

His hand shall guard th'afflicted cause; K ind is the Lord; and kind His power

Enfolds the heart that loves His laws.

Lord, for Thy sake blot out my shame, Though broad and deep its blackness be: Mine be his lot who fears Thy name,

And free and peaceful walks with Thee. No ill shall shake his household shrine; His seed their own fair land shall hold; On such the faithful Lord shall shine, Till all His secret truth be told.

Patient, I keep my Lord in sight;

He from the snare my feet shall free: Return with Thy bright mercy's light, And all my dark'ning troubles see.

See how my heart's sad path they crowd;
See all my foes arrayed for strife:
They hate with hatred fierce and loud:
Forgive my sin; redeem my life

Up to Thy throne my hopes arise;
Thy truth and grace my shield bestow;
Waiting on Thee, my spirit cries,

Redeem Thine Israel, Lord, from woe!

REV. GEORGE BURGESS

77

PSALM XXIX

In the beauty of holiness, worship the Lord;
Exalt Him, ye nations, and bow to His word;
Ye mighty, His power and wisdom proclaim,
And give Him the glory due unto His name.

It is He that we hear in the storm's wild commotion;
And the voice of the Lord is on the wild ocean;
The cedars of Lebanon bow at His voice,

While men in His temple adore and rejoice.

'Tis the Lord in the deep-rolling thunder we hear, While the untrodden wilderness trembles with fear; O'er the high-tossing billows unseen is His way; Him the floods, and the flames, and the whirlwinds obey.

He spreads o'er His people the wings of His love, And gives them the peace which descends from above;

Then give Him the glory and praise evermore,
And join with all Nature His name to adore.

78

PSALM XLII

MRS. FOLLEN

As the frightened, stricken deer
Pants for cooling water-brooks,
So my spirit thirsts for Thee,
So to Thee, my God, it looks.

Night and day have seen my tears;
I have felt Thy chastening rod;
When shall I be nearer Thee,
When behold the living God?

O'er departed hours I mourn,
When I joyful sang Thy praise
With the grateful, happy throng
Who love to keep Thy holy days.

Why art thou cast down, my soul?
Why disquieted in vain?

Hope in God, for thou shalt yet
Praise His boundless love again.

O my God, my spirit faints;
Waves of sorrow o'er me roll;
Terror, like a sullen deep,

Overwhelms my sinking soul.

Yet Thy lovingkindness, Lord,
Smooths affliction's stormy sea;
In the night I hear Thy voice,
Morning lifts my heart to Thee.

Why art thou cast down, my soul?
Faint not at the chastening rod!
Hope in Him; He is thy all,

Thy salvation and thy God.

MRS. FOLLEN

79

PSALM LXI

Wilt thou listen, O God, to my prayer;
Unto Thee for relief will I cry;

Lead my heart, overwhelmed with despair,
To the Rock that is higher than I.

O Thou Refuge for all the oppressed,
Thy praises, O Lord, I will sing,
Thou art ever my shelter of rest;

I will rest in the shade of Thy wing.

For my prayer, O my God, Thou wilt hear,
And a blessed inheritance give

To those who shall serve Thee with fear,
And in holy obedience live.

MRS. FOLLEN