Part I.

ALEPH .

B LEST are the undefil'd who God obey,
Seek with their hearts, nor from His precepts stray.
No tempting vice shall those from virtue draw,
Who with unfainting zeal observe His law.
Lord, by Thy sacred rule my steps direct.
Those shall not blush who Thy commands affect.
Thy justice learnt, my soul shall sing Thy praise.
Forsake me not, O guide me in Thy ways.

Part II.

BETH .

Young man, thy actions by His precepts guide;
From these let not Thy zealous servant slide.
Thy word, writ in my heart, shall curb my will.
O teach me how I may Thy laws fulfill!
Those by Thy tongue pronounc'd I will unfold.
Thy testaments by me more priz'd than gold.
On these I meditate, admire; there set
My soul's delight; these never will forget.

Part III.

GIMEL .

O let me live t' observe Thy laws: mine eyes
Illuminate to view those mysteries.
Me, a poor pilgrim, with Thy truth inspire,
For Whom my soul ev'n fainteth with desire.
The proud is curs'd, who from Thy precepts strays.
Bless and preserve my soul, which these obeys.
No hate of princes from Thy law deters:
My study, my delight, my counsellers.

Part IV.

DALETH .

My down-cast soul, as Thou hast promis'd, raise.
Thou know'st my thoughts, direct me in Thy ways.
Inform, and I Thy wonders will profess.
O strengthen me that labour in distress!
Shew Thy clear paths, false error's mist remov'd.
I have Thy chosen truth and judgments lov'd.
To these I cleave; O shield me from disgrace.
Enlarge my heart to run that heav'nly race.

Part V.

HE .

Teach Thou, and I Thy statutes will observe;
Nor from that sacred knowledge ever swerve.
My soul to those delightful paths confine;
From avarice purge, and to Thy laws incline.
Divert from vain desires, my darkness clear;
Confirm the soul devoted to Thy fear.
Free from fear'd shame. Thy judgments are upright.
O quicken me who in Thy word delight.

Part VI.

VAU .

His soul protect who on Thy word relies,
And silence my reproachful enemies.
O Thou my hope, in me Thy truth preserve,
So I Thy laws for ever shall observe;
Will freely walk in Thy affected way,
Will boldly before kings Thy truth display;
For in Thy statutes I my comfort place,
Those study, love, and with my soul embrace.

Part VII.

ZAIN .

Think of Thy promise which my hopes hath fed,
All storms appeas'd, and rais'd me from the dead.
Nor for proud scoffs have I Thy laws declin'd;
Confirm'd, when I Thy judgments call to mind.
They, who Thy laws desert, incense my rage:
Sung in the mansion of my pilgrimage.
Thy Name, Great God, I prais'd, when others slept;
This comfort had, since I Thy statutes kept.

Part VIII.

CHETH .

Thou art my portion: I will Thee adore.
Thy laws observe, and promis'd grace implore.
My actions by Thy sacred rules direct,
And Thy commands with forward zeal effect.
The wicked rob, but I Thy statutes prize;
At midnight to applaud Thy justice rise.
Who fear and keep Thy laws, such are my friends.
Instruct; Thy mercy through the world extends.

Part IX.

TETH .

Thou to Thy servant hast perform'd Thy word:
Discerning knowledge to his faith afford.
Thou Sea of Goodness, that my soul conforms
Unto Thy statutes by affliction's storms.
The proud, fat at the heart, base slanders raise;
But I will trust in Thy affected ways.
Me bless'd affliction to Thy courts hath brought.
Thy laws more priz'd than ships with treasure fraught.

Part X.

JOD .

Inform me, my Creator, in Thy laws,
That Thine may see Thy observer with applause.
Thou, Ever-just, in favour dost correct.
With promis'd mercy comfort Thine elect.
That I may live, who in Thy precepts joy;
Those keep: the proud, who causeless hate, destroy.
Who fear and know Thy laws, to me unite:
O, lest I perish, guide me by their light!

Part XI.

CAPH .

With expectation faint, and blind, yet still
My soul expects. Thy promise, Lord, fulfill.
I, though a bladder, on Thy word depend.
Confound my foes; when shall my sorrows end?
The proud have pitch'd their toils, infring'd Thy laws:
O Sacred Justice, snatch me from their jaws!
They had almost devour'd, but I affect
Thy precepts: quicken, and by those direct.

Part XII.

LAMED .

Thy faithful promises are fix'd above,
Firm as the poles, or earth, which never move;
By Thy eternal ordinance dispos'd.
Thy laws my life; else grief my eyes had clos'd.
Nor will I these forget; by these renew'd.
Thy chosen save, who hath Thy truth pursu'd.
The wicked chase my soul, which Thee obeys:
Thy word shall last when heav'n and earth decays.

Part XIII.

MEM .

O how I love Thy laws! those exercise!
By them made wiser than my enemies.
More than my teachers know, more than the old;
With virtue these inflame, from vice withhold.
That they may guide me, I have cleans'd my heart,
And from Thy precepts never will depart;
Than Hermon's honey to my taste more sweet.
By-ways I hate; by Thine become discreet.

Part XIV.

NUN .

Thy word my light; a lamp to guide my way.
I sware t'observe Thy truth, and will not stray.
My wounded soul with promis'd mercy heal;
Accept my off'rings, and Thy will reveal.
Although inclos'd with death, though foes have laid
Snares for my soul, yet have I Thee obey'd.
My comforts, my eternal heritage:
O may I keep them till I die through age!

Part XV.

SAMECH .

I love Thy law, my hate to sin is great:
O Thou, my hope, my shield, my safe retreat!
My will shall Thine obey. Hence, you profane!
Lord, save my soul, nor let me hope in vain.
Uphold, and I Thy justice shall applaud.
Thou hast entrapp'd Thy foes in their own fraud,
Cast out like dross. My heart affects Thy path,
Yet trembles with the horror of Thy wrath.

Part XVI.

AIN .

O leave me not to my outrageous foes,
Nor to their scorn my righteous soul expose.
Mine eyes ev'n fail while I Thy aid expect.
Be merciful, and in Thy ways direct.
Enlarge my mind Thy ways to understand:
'Tis time; for they infringe Thy just command,
Which more than gold, than gold refin'd I prize;
In all upright. But hate deceitful lies.

Part XVII.

PE .

Thy Word, the Gate of Life, ev'n babes inspires
With knowledge; this my obsequious soul admires:
This I with thirsty appetite devour.
Thy streams of mercy on Thy servant pour.
Compose my steps, so shall not sin subject,
Nor man oppress; for I Thy laws affect.
Shine on my soul, Thy statutes teach: mine eyes
Shed show'rs of tears when men Thy laws despise.

Part XVIII.

TSADDI .

As Thou Thyself, so all Thy laws are just,
Faithful to those who in Thy promise trust.
Zeal hath consum'd me, for my foes' neglect
Of Thy pure laws, which I in heart affect.
Those to observe, though mean and scorn'd, intend.
Truth crowns Thy word; Thy justice without end.
These in my grief and trouble comfort give.
Inform with knowledge, that my soul may live.

Part XIX.

COPH .

O hear my cries! preserve his life, who will
Thy laws obey, and just commands fulfill.
My eyes out-watch the night; my cries prevent
The early morn, in due devotion spent.
Hear, and revive; Thy justice execute
On lawless men; preserve from their pursuit.
Thy oft-tried mercy ever is at hand:
Thy judgments on eternal bases stand.

Part XX.

RESCH .

Behold my sorrows, patronise my cause.
Thy Word perform to him that keeps Thy laws.
Death shall devour who Thy commands neglect.
Thou, Great in Mercy, my sought life protect.
In all extremes I have Thy will observ'd,
Griev'd when transgressors from Thy statutes swerv'd.
To me, who love Thy laws, Thy grace extend.
Thy truth began with time, and knows no end.

Part XXI.

SCHIN .

Tyrants oppress: Thy Word restrains my mind,
Wherein I joy, like those who treasure find,
Fraud I abhor, enamour'd on Thy ways.
Sev'n times a day my lips Thy justice praise.
Who love Thy laws, sweet peace and safety bless.
In Thee I hope, nor Thy just Will transgress.
Thy Word observe; Thy Statutes I affect,
Which through these human seas my course direct.

Part XXII.

TAU .

Accept my pray'rs: with knowledge, Lord, endue;
From death redeem, since to Thy promise true.
Thy statutes taught, I will Thy praise resound,
Thy Word extoll, and laws with justice crown'd;
These are my choice: uphold with Thy right Hand
Who feed on hope, and joy in Thy command.
Prolong my life, that I Thy praise may sing.
Lord, Thy stray'd sheep back to Thy pasture bring.