PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Psalms of David Imitated in the Language of the New Testament and Applied to the Christian State and Worship
Watts, Isaac, 1674-1748 · 65,021 words · 393 reading sections
PAUSE I.
6 Could I so false, so faithless prove, To quit thy service and thy love, Where, Lord, could I thy presence shun, Or from thy dreadful glory run? 7 If up to heaven I take my flight, 'Tis there thou dwell'st enthron'd in light; Or dive to hell, there vengeance reigns, And Satan groans beneath thy chains. 8 If mounted …
135 wordsSECTION 362PAUSE II.
11 The veil of night is no disguise, No screen from thy all-searching eyes; Thy hand can seize thy foes as soon, Thro' midnight shades as blazing noon. 12 Midnight and noon in this agree, Great God, they're both alike to thee: Not death can hide what God will spy, And hell lies naked to his eye. 13 "O may these thoug…
84 wordsSECTION 363Psalm 139:2. Second Part. L. M. The wonderful formation of man.
1 'Twas from thy hand, my God, I came, A work of such a curious frame; In me thy fearful wonders shine, And each proclaims thy skill divine. 2 Thine eyes did all my limbs survey, Which yet in dark confusion lay; Thou saw'st the daily growth they took, Form'd by the model of thy book. 3 By thee my growing parts were n…
134 wordsSECTION 364PAUSE.
6 Lord, since in my advancing age I've acted on life's busy stage, Thy thoughts of love to me surmount The power of numbers to recount. 7 I could survey the ocean o'er, And count each sand that makes the shore, Before my swiftest thoughts could trace The numerous wonders of thy grace. 8 These on my heart are still im…
83 wordsSECTION 365Psalm 139:3. Third Part. L. M. Sincerity professed, and grace tried; or, The heart- searching of God.
1 My God, what inward grief I feel When impious men transgress thy will! I mourn to hear their lips profane Take thy tremendous Name in vain. 2 Does not my soul detest and hate The sons of malice and deceit? Those that oppose thy laws and thee I count them enemies to me. 3 Lord, search my soul, try every thought; Tho…
108 wordsSECTION 366Psalm 139:4. First Part. C. M. God is every where.
1 In all my vast concerns with thee In vain my soul would try To shun thy presence, Lord, or flee The notice of thine eye. 2 Thy all-surrounding sight surveys My rising and my rest, My public walks, my private ways, And secrets of my breast. 3 My thoughts lie open to the Lord Before they're form'd within: And ere my …
118 wordsSECTION 367PAUSE.
6 Lord, where shall guilty souls retire, Forgotten and unknown? In hell they meet thy dreadful fire, In heaven thy glorious throne. 7 Should I suppress my vital breath To 'scape the wrath divine, Thy voice would break the bars of death, And make the grave resign. 8 If wing'd with beams of morning light, I fly beyond …
124 wordsSECTION 368Psalm 139:5. Second Part. C. M. The wisdom of God in the formation of man.
1 When I with pleasing wonder stand, And all my frame survey, Lord, 'tis thy work; I own thy hand Thus built my humble clay. 2 Thy hand my heart and reins possest Where unborn nature grew, Thy wisdom all my features trac'd, And all my members drew. 3 Thine eye with nicest care survey'd The growth of every part; Till …
119 wordsSECTION 369Psalm 139:6. 14 17 18. Third Part. C. M. The mercies of God innumerable.
An evening psalm. 1 Lord, when I count thy mercies o'er, They strike me with surprise; Not all the sands that spread the shore To equal numbers rise. 2 My flesh with fear and wonder stands, The product of thy skill, And hourly blessings from thy hands, Thy thoughts of love reveal. 3 These on my heart by night I keep…
81 wordsSECTION 370Psalm 141. 2-5. Watchfulness, and brotherly reproof.
A morning or evening psalm. 1 My God, accept my early vows, Like morning incense in thine house, And let my nightly worship rise Sweet as the evening sacrifice. 2 Watch o'er my lips, and guard them, Lord, From every rash and heedless word; Nor let my feet incline to tread The guilty path where sinners lead. 3 O may …
112 wordsSECTION 371Psalm 142. God is the hope of the helpless.
1 To God I made my sorrows known, From God I sought relief; In long complaints before his throne I pour'd out all my grief. 2 My soul was overwhelm'd with woes, My heart began to break; My God, who all my burdens knows, He knows the way I take. 3 On every side I cast mine eye, And found my helpers gone, While friends…
147 wordsSECTION 372Psalm 143. Complaint of heavy afflictions in mind and body.
1 My righteous Judge, my gracious God, Hear when I spread my hands abroad And cry for succour from thy throne, O make thy truth and mercy known. 2 Let judgment not against me pass; Behold thy servant pleads thy grace: Should justice call us to thy bar, No man alive is guiltless there. 3 Look down in pity, Lord, and s…
334 wordsSECTION 373Psalm 144:1. 1 2. First Part. Assistance and victory in the spiritual warfare.
1 For ever blessed be the Lord, My Saviour and my shield; He sends his Spirit with his word To arm me for the field. 2 When sin and hell their force unite, He makes my soul his care, Instructs me to the heavenly fight, And guards me thro' the war. 3 A friend and helper so divine Doth my weak courage raise; He makes t…
75 wordsSECTION 374Psalm 144:2. 3 4 5 6. Second Part. The vanity of man, and condescension of God.
1 Lord, what is man, poor feeble man, Born of the earth at first! His life a shadow, light and vain, Still hasting to the dust. 2 O what is feeble dying man Or any of his race, That God should make it his concern To visit him with grace! 3 That God who darts his lightnings down, Who shakes the worlds above, And mount…
74 wordsSECTION 375Psalm 144:3. 12-15. Third Part. Grace above riches; or, The happy nation.
1 Happy the city, where their sons Like pillars round a palace set, And daughters bright as polish'd stones Give strength and beauty to the state. 2 Happy the country, where the sheep, Cattle, and corn, have large increase; Where men securely work or sleep, Nor sons of plunder break the peace. 3 Happy the nation thus…
75 wordsSECTION 376Psalm 145:1. L. M. The greatness of God.
1 My God, my King, thy various praise Shall fill the remnant of my days; Thy grace employ my humble tongue Till death and glory raise the song. 2 The wings of every hour shall bear Some thankful tribute to thine ear; And every setting sun shall see New works of duty done for thee. 3 Thy truth and justice I'll proclai…
156 wordsSECTION 377Psalm 145:2. 1-7 11-13. First Part. The greatness of God.
1 Long as I live I'll bless thy Name, My King, my God of love; My work and joy shall be the same In the bright world above. 2 Great is the Lord, his power unknown, And let his praise be great: I'll sing the honours of thy throne, Thy works of grace repeat. 3 Thy grace shall dwell upon my tongue; And while my lips rej…
151 wordsSECTION 378Psalm 145:3. 7 &c. Second Part. The goodness of God.
1 Sweet is the memory of thy grace, My God, my heavenly king; Let age to age thy righteousness In sounds of glory sing. 2 God reigns on high, but not confines His goodness to the skies; Thro' the whole earth his bounty shines, And every want supplies. 3 With longing eyes thy creatures wait On thee for daily food, Thy…
121 wordsSECTION 379Psalm 145:4. 14 17 &c. Third Part. Mercy to sufferers; or, God hearing prayer.
1 Let every tongue thy goodness speak, Thou sovereign Lord of all; Thy strengthening hands uphold the weak, And raise the poor that fall. 2 When sorrow bows the spirit down, Or virtue lies distrest Beneath some proud oppressor's frown, Thou giv'st the mourners rest. 3 The Lord supports our tottering days, And guides …
170 wordsSECTION 380Psalm 146:1. L. M. Praise to God for his goodness and truth.
1 Praise ye the Lord, my heart shall join In work so pleasant, so divine, Now, while the flesh is mine abode, And when my soul ascends to God. 2 Praise shall employ my noblest powers, While immortality endures; My days of praise shall ne'er be past, While life and thought and being last. 3 Why should I make a man my …
193 wordsSECTION 381Psalm 146:2. As the 113th Psalm. Praise to God for his goodness and truth.
1 I'll praise my Maker with my breath; And when my voice is lost in death Praise shall employ my nobler powers: My days of praise shall ne'er he past While life and thought and being last, Or immortality endures. 2 Why should I make a man my trust? Princes must die and turn to dust; Vain is the help of flesh and blood…
245 wordsSECTION 382Psalm 147:1. First Part. The divine nature, providence and grace.
1 Praise ye the Lord; 'tis good to raise Our hearts and voices in his praise; His nature and his works invite To make this duty our delight. 2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem, And gathers nations to his Name: His mercy melts the stubborn soul, And makes the broken spirit whole. 3 He form'd the stars, those heavenly flam…
110 wordsSECTION 383PAUSE.
5 Sing to the Lord, exalt him high, Who spreads his cloud all round the sky, There he prepares the fruitful rain, Nor lets the drops descend in vain. 6 He makes the grass the hills adorn, And clothes the smiling fields with corn, The beasts with food his hands supply, And the young ravens when they cry. 7 What is the…
114 wordsSECTION 384Psalm 147:2. Second Part. Summer and winter.
A song for Great Britain. 1 O Britain, praise thy mighty God, And make his honours known abroad, He bid the ocean round thee flow; Not bars of brass could guard thee so. 2 Thy children are secure and blest; Thy shores have peace, thy cities rest; He feeds thy sons with finest wheat, And adds his blessing to their mea…
170 wordsSECTION 385Psalm 147:3. 7-9 13-18. C. M. The seasons of the year.
1 With songs and honours sounding loud Address the Lord on high; Over the heavens he spreads his cloud, And waters veil the sky. 2 He sends his showers of blessing down To cheer the plains below; He makes the grass the mountains crown, And corn in vallies grow. 3 He gives the grazing ox his meat, He hears the ravens …
192 wordsSECTION 386Psalm 148:1. P. M. Praise to God from all creatures.
1 Ye tribes of Adam, join With heaven, and earth, and seas, And offer notes divine To your Creator's praise: Ye holy throng Of angels bright, In worlds of light, Begin the song. 2 Thou sun with dazzling rays, And moon that rules the night, Shine to your Maker's praise, With stars of twinkling light: His power declare,…
135 wordsSECTION 387PAUSE.
5 Let all the earth-born race, And monsters of the deep, The fish that cleave the seas, Or in their bosom sleep, From sea and shore Their tribute pay, And still display Their Maker's power. 6 Ye vapours, hail, and snow, Praise ye Th' almighty Lord, And stormy winds that blow To execute his word: When lightnings shine,…
204 wordsSECTION 388Psalm 148:2. Paraphrased. L. M. Universal praise to God.
1 Loud hallelujahs to the Lord, From distant worlds where creatures dwell: Let heaven begin the solemn word, And sound it dreadful down to hell. Note. This psalm may be sung to the tune of the old 112th or 127th Psalm, if these two lines be added to every stanza, viz. Each of his works his Name displays, But they can…
377 wordsSECTION 389Psalm 148:3. S. M. Universal praise.
1 Let every creature join To praise th' eternal God; Ye heavenly hosts, the song begin, And sound his Name abroad. 2 Thou sun with golden beams, And moon with paler rays; Ye starry lights, ye twinkling flames, Shine to your Maker's praise. 3 He built those worlds above, And fix'd their wondrous frame; By his command …
132 wordsSECTION 390PAUSE I.
7 Let earth and ocean know They owe their Maker praise; Praise him, ye watery worlds below, And monsters of the seas. 8 From mountains near the sky Let his high praise resound, From humble shrubs and cedars high, And vales and fields around. 9 Ye lions of the wood, And tamer beasts that graze, Ye live upon his daily …
134 wordsSECTION 391PAUSE II.
13 Monarchs of wide command, Praise ye th' eternal King; Judges, adore that sovereign hand Whence all your honours spring. 14 Let vigorous youth engage To sound his praises high; While growing babes, and withering age, Their feebler voices try. 15 United zeal be shown, His wondrous fame to raise; God is the Lord: his…
85 wordsSECTION 392Psalm 149. Praise God, all his saints; or, The saints judging the world.
1 All ye that love the Lord, rejoice, And let your songs be new; Amidst the church with cheerful voice His later wonders shew. 2 The Jews, the people of his grace, Shall their Redeemer sing; And Gentile nations join the praise, While Zion owns her King. 3 The Lord takes pleasure in the just, Whom sinners treat with s…
192 wordsSECTION 393Psalm 150. 1 2 6.
A song of praise. 1 In God's own house pronounce his praise, His grace he there reveals; To heaven your joy and wonder raise, For there his glory dwells. 2 Let all your sacred passions move, While you rehearse his deeds; But the great work of saving love Your highest praise exceeds. 3 All that have motion, life, and…
296 wordsSource & rights
Public domain in the USA; original historical text digitized by Project Gutenberg.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.