Let my eyes thy laws behold,
Wondrous things to me unfold!
2 Pilgrim in the earth, I stray,—
Let me not forsake thy way;
Keen the thirstings of my soul,
Lord, to know thy law's control!
8 Humble Thou the scornful pride,
Turning from thy laws aside
Scorn and shame from me remove,
For thy statutes I do love!
4 Falsely though my foes accuse,
On thy law I yet will muse;
Thy good word is my delight,
Thou wilt guide my steps aright!
XII VER. 78. (v. 25-32.) Prentiss. Nuremburg.
Quickening by God's Word.
Aff 1 CLEAVING to the dust, O Lord,
Quicken me by thy good word;
I my ways to Thee confess'd,
Thou hast heard and made me blest!
2 Thy right way, O make me know,
Then thy wondrous works I'll show ;—
Now my soul doth melt for care,
Let thy word my strength repair.
3 Hollow ways from me remove,
Let me thy good law approve ;
Path of truth is my free choice,
In thy judgments I rejoice.
4 To thy word do I adhere ;
Save me then from shame and fear;
With sweet joy enlarge my heart,
mf Then from Thee I'll ne'er depart!
XIII VERSION.-7s. (v. 33–40.) Edyfield. Kimball.
Aff 1 TEACH thy statutes, God of light!
Then I'll keep thy laws aright;
Give me vision of thy way,
Then from Thee I ne'er shall stray.
2 In thy law O guide me still,
For I greatly love thy will;
To thy word my heart incline,
Check all selfishness of mine.
3 Turn from objects vain my eyes,
Make me in thy path-way wise:
Let thy word confirm my soul,
Let thy fear my steps control.
4 Base reproach from me remove,
All thy ways are truth and love:
How I've long'd thy truth to know?
Then let mercies to me flow!
XIV VERSION.-7s. (v. 41-49.) Grant. Edyfield.
Delight in the Truth.
Aff 1 LET thy mercies come to me,
Then salvation I shall see,-
To reproach can then reply,
Since on Thee my hopes rely.
2 Take not, Lord, thy word away;
On thy judgments do I stay,
And shall feel thy law's control,
While eternal ages roll!
mf 3 I will walk at liberty,
For thy word shall make me free;
With proud kings my tongue is bold,
Thy good statutes to unfold.
4 In thy truth will I delight,
For thy word beams on me bright;
Thy commandments will I keep,
On them meditating deep.
XV VERSION.-78. (v. 49-56.) Grant. Edyfield.
Delight in the Word.
Aff 1 PROMIS'D blessings let me see,
For thy truth I trust, O Lord!
This in sorrow comforts me,-
I am quicken'd by thy word.
2 Me in scorn do proud men hold,
Yet from Thee I've not declin'd:
Viewing, Lord, thy ways of old,
I the sweetest comfort find.
3 Horror hath my soul dismayed,
Seeing men who sin and rage:
Lord, thy laws my songs are made
In my house of pilgrimage.
aff 4 And thy name in darkest night
Has assuag'd my griefful mood;
Thus I taste of sweet delight,—
Joy, that comes to all the good!
XVI VER.-78. (v. 57-64.) Wilmot. Nuremburg.
God's Law obeyed.
Aff 1 THOU'RT my portion, Lord on high;
I have said, I'll keep thy word:
Thee I've sought most earnestly;
Thy rich gifts to me accord.
2 Lord, I've thought upon my way,
And to Thee have turn'd my feet ;
Quick, not yielding to delay,
I have render'd homage meet.
3 Robb'd by bands of wicked men,
Yet from Thee I've not declined;
Thee at night I'll praise again
For thy judgments right and kind.
4 My companions fear thy name,
Steadfast walk in thy good way;
mf Earth and heav'n thy love proclaim ;
Lord! thy word make me obey!
XVII VERSION.-78. (v. 65-72.) Lincoln. Wilson.
Benefit of Afflictions.
aff 1 GOOD, according to thy word,
Are thy dealings, O my Lord!
Give me holiness and light,
For thy truth is my delight.
2 Free from sorrow, I did stray ;-
Now thy precepts I obey};
Thou art good to me, my God!
Teach me by affliction's rod.
3 Though traduc'd by proud men's lies,
On thy truth my soul relies;
While their joys all goodness blight,
In thy law is my delight.
4 Lord, 't is good to feel thy rod,
Thus I learn thy law, O God!
Which of more esteem I hold,
Than the yellow heaps of gold.
XVIII VERSION.—7s. (v. 73–80.) Wilmot. Wilson.
Prayer for Mercy.
Aff 1 THOU hast built my wondrous frame,
Teach me, Lord, to love thy name;
They rejoice, who fear Thee, Lord,
For I trusted in thy word.
2 All thy judgments, Lord, are right;
Mercy shines in sorrow's night;
O, let mercies comfort me,
For thy promises are free!
3 Let me tender mercies prove,
Let me live, for Thee I love:-
Break the pride of causeless foes;
In thy truth my hopes repose.
4 They, who fear Thee, with me join ;
All in righteous cause combine;
Make me in thy statutes sound,
Then shall shame no hopes confound.
XIX VERSION.-78. (v. 81-88.) Grant. Edyfield.
Reliance on the Word, and Prayer.
Aff 1 FOR salvation, Lord, I sigh,
On thy word my hopes rely;
Weeping, I do ask for rest;
Render, Lord, my sorrows blest.
2 Lo, my shrivell'd frame decayed!
Yet from Thee have I not strayed:
Longer must I bear my woes,
Ere Thou judge my raging foes?
3 Proud men dug a pit for me
In atrocious enmity:
Lord, thy statutes all are true,
Grant me thy protection due.
4 Lord, my heart with sorrow breaks,
Yet my soul ne'er Thee forsakes ;
Make me now alive to Thee,
So from guilt shall I be free!
XX VER. 78. (v. 89-96.) Prentiss. Nuremburg.
God's Law immutable.
1 EVER, Lord, in heav'n above
Stands thy word in truth and love ;
Earth thy statutes doth obey:
Fixed law shall ne'er decay.
2 All thy ordinance fulfil,
All are servants of thy will:
I had died in sorrow's night,
But thy law was my delight!
3 With thy law I ne'er will strive,
'Thou hast made my soul alive:
I am thine; thy word I love;
Let me thy salvation prove.
4 Lord, my foes have lain in wait,
Yet thy truth I meditate;
To perfection bounds I see,
But thy word runs boundlessly!
XXI VERSION.-7s. (v. 97-104.) Wilmot. Wilson.
Excellence of God's Word.
Aff 1 O, HOW much I love thy word,
Which I daily ponder, Lord?—
Word, which makes thy servant wise,
Wiser than my enemies.
2 Learned teachers I excel,
For I know thy records well;
I surpass philosophers;
Wisdom thy good word confers.
3 Turning from all evil ways,
Thee I serve, and give Thee praise;
From thy precepts I've not strayed,
Thou thy judgments hast displayed.
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