The loving-kindness of the Lord
Shall grace the sacred page;
His truth the Psalmist shall record
From age to rising age.

For I have said that mercy's reign
Henceforward shall commence;
And fed by faithfulness maintain
Her infinite expence.

I have renew'd with mine elect
My covenant of peace,
And sworn to this benign effect
To him that kept the fleece.

Thy house I will for ever build,
And in thy seed descend;
The throne of David shall be fill'd,
And flourish without end.

O Lord, the heav'ns with sapphire cield,
And all the lights that blaze,
Their truth affords a beauteous field
For social saints to praise

For who is he to heav'n referr'd,
Intelligence or form,
That can be nam'd with God the word,
In whom all life is warm?

Or what is he of most account
Amongst the pow'rs below,
That can be liken'd to the fount
From whence all honours flow?

Amidst the synod of the blest,
The Lord is greatly fear'd;
And with incessant pray'r addrest
By souls of saints inspher'd

O Lord, incomparable God,
Thy truth around we hail,
From heav'ns first convex to the sod
That sheathes the humble vale.

Thou rul'st the raging of the sea,
When surges foam and chafe;
Thou bidst contending waves agree,
To send the navy safe.

Thou hast upon th' Egyptian land
Thy dreadful vengeance hurl'd;
And scatter'd with thy mighty hand
Their host throughout the world.

Thine are the heav'ns, and bright array
That in succession shine,
The earth, thy firm foundations stay,
And all therein is thine.

Thou hast divided north and south,
Bleak wind and genial flame;
And fragrant Hermon finds a mouth,
And Tabor sings thy name.

Strong is thine arm in deeds of love,
Thy hand of peerless proof;
Thy right hand brandishes above
The heav'n's interior roof

Justice and equity beneath
Thy throne have placed their seat;
But truth and love thy spirit breathe,
And thy bright presence greet

Blest is the people, whom the voice
Of conscience calls thine own;
Lord, in thy light they shall rejoice,
And seek towards thy throne

They in thy name shall take delight,
Each consecrated hour;
And make their boast, as they recite
Thy deeds of righteous pow'r.

Thou art the glory of our strength,
In safeguard or assault;
And in the blessed Lamb at length
Our horn thou shalt exalt

For God is our redoubted fort,
And our defence sustains,
And o'er each province, coast and port
The Lord Jehova reigns.

Thy visionary word of late
Thou deignedst to disclose;
A man by grace and nature great
I have prepar'd and chose.

My servant David have I tried,
And his good deeds allow;
My holy cruse I have applied
To bless his honour'd brow.

My hand his sceptre shall uphold,
And keep him in his seat;
And my right arm shall make him bold
Opposers to defeat.

Invidious foes shall have no force
When he his troops alarms,
The son of fraud shall have recourse
To flight before his arms.

I will his enemies destroy
Myself before his eyes;
And with my bitt'rest plagues annoy
Whoe'er his worth despise

My mercy shall be with his sword,
My truth his acts adorn;
And by his fervent pray'r implor'd,
I will exalt his horn.

I likewise will advance his realm
Where distant oceans roll;
And his right hand shall hold the helm
The billows to controul.

He shall invoke my name in pray'r,
And in my service live;
“My God omnipotent to spare,
My father to forgive.”

And I his pedigree will fix
Amongst celestial things,
Whose race and rank with angels mix
Above all earthly kings.

My mercy and mine aid shall be
For ever on his side;
And by the grant I now decree
I surely will abide.

Son after son he shall endure,
His offspring will I raise;
And his succession will secure
As heav'ns eternal days.

But if the shoots of such a stem
My dictate should refuse;
And in their lives that way condemn,
Which grace to faith foreshews;

If they should break the holy laws
Which my commandments urge,
I will my zealous angel cause
Their dire offence to scourge.

But yet I will not wholly take
My kindness from his seed;
NOr void that blessed promise make
To which my truth agreed.

I will for my own glory care,
Nor change the word I past;
Once by my holiness I sware
That David's house shou'd last.

The line of his descent shall run
With deathless heroes crown'd;
Before my presence, as the sun,
His throne shall be renown'd.

His daughters shall be sweet and fair,
As is the lunar light;
That faithful type of heav'nly care,
And blessing of the night.

But thou hast with abhorrence spurn'd
And thine anointed left;
Thy love to indignation turn'd,
And of thy grace bereft.

The covenant is of no trust,
If thus his days he drag;
And o'er his crown, defil'd in dust,
His foes blaspheme and brag.

Around his borders are infring'd,
And all the tow'rs he barr'd;
The moats fill'd up, the gates unhing'd,
The strong munitions marr'd.

All those that pass along the road,
Upon his goods encroach;
And every neighbour comes to goad
His conscience with reproach

Thou liftest up the hand that throws
The spear against his breast;
Thou hast delighted all his foes
Which his domains infest.

No longer is his weapon edg'd
To boast ten thousands slain,
And victory no more is fledg'd
For his renown'd campaign.

No more his blooming honours glow
With heav'ns effulgent beam;
His eminence is levell'd low,
And made of none esteem.

The riper days thou hast cut off
Of all his better age,
And giv'n his glory to the scoff
Of obloquy and rage.

For ever, Lord, wilt thou retire
From my submissive suit,
And shall thine anger burn like fire
In this my disrepute?

Remember how my time is brief,
How urgent nature's debt;
Why hast thou fashion'd man for grief,
And unavailing sweat?

What man is he, whose strength or art
Shall his own spirit save,
Or who, when gasping to depart,
Can countermine the grave?

Lord, where is thine indulgent oath
That David should despond,
And thy good truth engag'd to both
His truncheon and his wand?

Remember how thy gallant tribes
Are with invectives stung,
And how my loathing ear imbibes
The taunts of many a tongue.

Wherewith thine enemies insult,
And call our ways perverse;
And o'er thy servants faults exult,
And their good fame asperse

Hosanna to the throne of grace—
Amen from all the throng;
Amen from him that holds his place
To lead the choir in song.