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In Thee the sovereign rule remains
Of earth and heaven; Thee, Lord, alone,
The world and all that it contains,
Their maker and preserver own.

Mighty thine arm, and strong thine hand,
Yet Thou with justice, Lord, dost reign;
Though absolute is thy command,

Mercy and truth Thou dost maintain.

How blest the people, who can place
Their daily hope and joy in Thee;
Thy loving-kindness and thy grace
The glory of their strength shall be.

PSALM 90.

The eternity of God and the frailty of man.

LORD, Thou hast been from age to age
Thy people's sure abode;

Before the heaven or earth was made,
Eternally our God!

A thousand ages, in thy sight,

Like yesterday are gone,

Short as the midnight watch that flies

Before the rising sun.

Man is like grass, though fresh and fair

Its morning beauty shews,

'Tis all cut down and withered

Before the evening's close.

Then teach us, Lord, how brief our years,

How few our days may be,

That we in wisdom's path may walk,

And fix our hearts on Thee.

PSALM 91.

The security of the righteous under the protection of God.

WHOSO hath God his guardian made,
Shall under the Almighty's shade
In peace securely stay;

No terrors that surprise by night
His guiltless bosom shall affright,
Nor shafts that fly by day.

God's tender love and watchful care
Shall guard him from the hostile snare,
With his most sure defence;
He over him his wings shall spread,
And shield his unprotected head
From death and pestilence.

The Lord will answer when he calls,
And rescue him when ill befalls,

In honour and renown

Exalt, and when in sweet content
His long and happy life is spent,
Will with salvation crown.

PSALM 92.

Thanksgiving the duty and the delight of the Christian.

How good and pleasant too it is

To thank Thee, Lord most high!
And with repeated hymns of praise,
Thy name to magnify :

With every morning's early dawn,
Thy goodness to recite,

And of thy constant truth to tell,

Amid the shades of night.

How doth my heart delight, O Lord,
Thy counsels deep to trace;
How doth my tongue rejoice to sing
The wonders of thy grace!

While fools thy glorious works behold
With unregarding eye,

To Thee be all our praises sung,
Our God and King most high.

PSALM 93.

The majesty and power of God.

THE Lord, our God, a King remaineth,
Robed in his own glorious light;
God hath robed Himself, and reigneth,
Girded with celestial might.

In her everlasting station

Thou hast placed the earth so sure; Thou hast laid thy throne's foundation From eternity secure.

Lord, the water-floods have risen,

And the waves, with boisterous roar Bursting from their ocean-prison, Madly rage upon the shore.

Mighty are the waves of ocean,
Mightier far our God arose ;
He alone can still their motion,
And the angry deep compose.

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PSALM 95.

An exhortation to join in public prayer and praise to God.

O COME loud anthems let us sing
Loud thanks to our Almighty King,
For we our voices high should raise
When our salvation's rock we praise.
Into his presence let us haste
To thank Him for his favours past;
To Him address in joyful songs,
The praise that to his name belongs.
O let us to his courts repair,
And bow with adoration there;
Down on our knees devoutly all
Before the Lord our Maker fall.

He is our God, our Shepherd He,
The people of his pasture we,
The flock, that guided by his care,
The blessings of his bounty share.

PSALM 96.

The whole Creation invited to join in celebrating the praises of the Redeemer.

SING to the Lord a new made song,
Let earth, in one assembled throng

Her great Redeemer's praise resound;
Sing to the Lord and bless his name,
From day to day his praise proclaim,

Who hath us with salvation crowned.

CHORUS.

To Heathen lands his fame rehearse,
His wonders to the universe.

He comes with truth and mercy crowned,
Beauty and strength his throne surround,
His love shall fallen man restore;
Let, therefore, heaven new joys confess,
Its heavenly mirth let earth express,
And ocean its applauses roar.

CHORUS.

Each mute inhabitant rejoice,
And for his triumph find a voice.

PSALM 97.

The universal reign of the Messiah.

THE Lord is King, let all the earth,
And isles, rejoice with rev'rent mirth;
Though clouds and darkness round Him fold,
Mercy and truth his throne uphold.

The heavens his righteousness declare,
And all the earth his glories share;
Ye idle gods before Him fall,
And worship Him the God of all.

O ye that love his holy name,
Shun every work of sin and shame;
He guards his faithful people well,
And saves them from the snares of hell.

The seeds are sown of glorious light,
And gladness for the heart that's right;
Let all with thankful lips confess,
And triumph in his holiness.

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