PSALM CII.

George Burgess

My days, like mounting smoke-wreaths, pass;
My heart is parch'd, like wither'd grass;
A fire my fleshless bones devours,
And groans consume my fasting hours.

As pines the bird of marshes lone,
As makes the owl her desert moan,
As from the tow'r the sparrow cries.
So pours my soul its ceaseless sighs.

My foes' reproach each day I bear,
My banded foes destruction swear,
And ashes strew my lowly board,
And tears amidst my cup are pour'd.

Thy chastening wrath hath sent the blow,
Thou lift'st me high, thou lay'st me low;
My days, like sinking shadows, fly,
And, parch'd like with'ring grass, I lie.

But thou, O Lord, art still the same;
Age tells to age thine endless name;
And thou shalt yet for Sion rise,
And view her wastes with pitying eyes.

Now hastes the time, the time fulfill'd;
The Lord his city's walls shall build:
Thy servants watch her prostrate tow'rs,
And love the dust that hides her bow'rs.

Then, when her head his Sion rears,
And God's own glorious arm appears,
All kings of earth shall praise thy throne,
All realms shall fear thee, Lord, alone.

For God shall hear the humble pray'r,
And make the suff'rer's cause his care;
Till future times his praise record,
And unborn nations bless our Lord.

From his bright, holy place above
Looks o'er the earth the Lord of love,
And hears the captive's lonely sigh,
And saves the guiltless, doom'd to die.

So, Sion's mount his name shall tell,
So, Salem's tow'rs his praise shall swell,
When nations come in mingling throngs,
And pay the Lord their thousand songs.

He bow'd my strength amidst my way.
And hung with clouds my closing day:
'Oh, not,' I cried, 'so swift, so soon!
Remove me not, my God, at noon!

Thy years their course eternal keep,
While ages on to ages sweep;
Thy might the earth's foundations laid,
Thy hands the heav'n's bright arch array'd.

They all shall pass, but thou shalt stand;
They all shall fade beneath thine hand;
And, like a vesture's crumbling fold,
Shall earth and heav'n be wrapp'd and roll'd.

But thou nor change nor end canst know,
And while thy years eternal flow,
Thy servants' seed thy light shall see,
Their children's children dwell with thee.'