PSALM 3.

The righteous secure in God's protection.

THOU, O great God, art my defence,
On Thee my hopes rely;
Thou art my glory, and shall yet
Lift up my head on high.

For whensoe'er, in my distress
I called upon thy name,
Out of thy holy mount, the voice
Of answering mercy came.

Secure in thy protecting care
I laid me down and slept;
I rose in safety, for my God
His watch around me kept.

Salvation to the Lord belongs,
He only can defend;

His blessing He extends to all
Who on his power depend.

PSALM 4.

Self communion and trust in God.

CONSIDER that the righteous man

Is God's peculiar choice,

And when to Him he makes his prayer

He always hears his voice.

Then stand in awe before the Lord,

From sinful ways depart;

And in your chamber, secretly,

Examine well your heart.

While worldly men on earthly stores
Their hopes and wishes place,
Grant me, O Lord, thy countenance,
Thy favour, and thy grace.

Then peacefully I'll take my rest,
Secure, since Thou art near;
With thy protecting presence blest,
We've nothing, Lord, to fear.

PSALM 5.

Prayer, public and private, the resource of the faithful.

LORD, hear the voice of my complaint,

Accept my secret prayer;

To Thee alone, my King and God,

Will I for help repair.

Thou in the morn my voice shalt hear,

And with returning day,

To Thee devoutly I'll look up,

To Thee devoutly pray.

To thy loved courts I will repair
To supplicate thy grace,
And rev'rently in worship look
To thy most holy place.

To righteous men, Thou righteous Lord,
Thy blessing wilt extend;

And with thy favour all thy saints,

As with a shield defend.

PSALM 6.

Deprecation of God's wrath, and supplication for mercy.

In mercy, not in wrath, rebuke
My troubled soul, O Lord,
That faints before thy angry look,
And trembles at thy word.

My wearied heart bemoans its sin,
Oppresed with doubts and fears;
I water every night my couch
With unavailing tears.

Haste then, O Lord, thy power display
To sanctify and save;

In death I cannot sing thy praise,

Nor thank Thee in the grave

Let all my foes and fears depart,
Nor tempt me to despair;
My Saviour comes to cheer my heart,
My God hath heard my prayer.

PSALM 8.

God's goodness to man in the works of creation and redemption.

O GOD, our Lord, in earth how great
Is thy most glorious name;
Above the highest firmament

Exalted is thy name.

When thoughtful, we the heavens survey,
Framed by thy power divine,

The sun, the moon, and all the stars,

In order as they shine:

Lord! what is man's frail, fallen race,
That Thou, with power divine,
Crownst him with glory and with grace
O'er every work of thine?

O Lord! how excellent thy name!
How manifold thy ways!

Let time thy saving truth proclaim,
Eternity thy praise.

PSALM 9.

The pleasure of praise and thanksgiving.

To celebrate thy praise, O Lord,
We will our hearts prepare;
To all the listening world, thy works,
Thy wondrous works declare.

The thoughts of them shall to our souls
Exalted pleasure bring;

While to thy name, O God, most high!
Triumphant praise we sing.

All those who have thy goodness proved,
Will in thy truth confide;
Whose mercy ne'er forsook the man,
That on thy help relied.

In this thy temple, then will we
Our grateful songs express;
Proclaim thy praise till all the world
No other God confess.

PSALM 11.

God's providence and justice, the security
of the righteous.

SINCE I have placed in God my trust-
A refuge always nigh,

Why should I, like a timorous bird,
To other refuge fly?

In vain the wicked bend their bow,
And ready fix their dart,
Lurking in ambush to destroy
The man of upright heart.

For God most holy and most high,
Does from his heavenly throne
Regard the simple and the poor,
And will protect his own.

The righteous Lord all righteous deeds
Will with his favour grace,
And to the upright man disclose

The brightness of his face.

PSALM 13.

The prayer of hope under affliction.

How long wilt Thou forget to hear,
And scorn an humble suppliant's prayer?
Wilt Thou thy face for ever hide,
My sighs unheard, my prayers denied?

How long shall my presumptuous foe
Exulting triumph in my woe?
How will the powers of darkness boast
If but one praying soul be lost?