PSALM CXIX.

George Burgess

All blessings crown the stedfast heart,
That seeks the living Lord,
From his dear paths will ne'er depart,
Nor touch the deed abhorr'd.

As thou our souls hast charged and bound
Thy precepts to fulfil,
So, would that all my ways were found
Where points thy holy will!

Asham'd no more, its upright praise
My soul shall lift to thee,
When all thy laws, in all my ways,
My guiding word shall be.

An holy joy my breast shall swell,
When none is e'er forgot:
I love thy bless'd commandments well;
O Lord, forsake me not!

By what strong aid shall e'er a youth
Preserve his footsteps pure?
By following still thy word of truth
With stedfast eye and sure.

But one chief wish my bosom feels,
From thee to stray no more:
But one rich gain my heart conceals,
Thy word's protecting store.

Bless'd be thy name, O Lord my God!
To me thy laws unfold:
And loud my lips shall tell abroad
Whatever thy lips have told.

Beyond the wealth of golden mines,
Thy precepts are my joy:
The way where thy commandment shines
Shall all my cares employ.

Bright beams are there, with gladness bright,
And heav'nly raptures flow:
I will not lose the rich delight
Which thy pure words bestow.

Cheer thou thy servant's toil, O Lord,
And bless'd requital give;
That, strengthen'd by thy large reward.
My heart may hear and live.

Chase thou mine eyes' dark mist away;
Thy wond'rous depths unfold;
Nor, while a stranger here I stray,
Thy guiding laws withhold.

Constant as life's unchecked decline,
To thy dear word I flee;
And still my thirsty heart must pine,
With longing, Lord, for thee.

Curs'd is the bold transgressor's path,
But I thy laws have kept:
Oh, turn from me the shame and wrath
That o'er the proud have swept.

Chiefs in their seat against me spake,
But still thy servant's mind
For wiser guides thy laws shall take,
And there its rapture find.

Down to the dust my spirit cleaves;
Oh, let thy spirit move:
And as my heart thy truth believes,
So now that truth approve.

Declaring all thy precepts' praise.
Thou heard'st my faithful song:
Oh, teach me more thy works and ways,
And still my strain prolong.

Drooping and faint, my spirit sinks;
Oh, let thy spirit move;
As on thy truth thy servant thinks,
So now that truth approve.

Draw, draw me from the path of lies,
And give thy law of grace:
There, there shall rest my joyful eyes,
And love thy steps to trace.

Delighted to thy word I cling;
Oh, let not shame be mine;
But spread my spirit's chainless wing,
To mount thy paths divine.

Enlighten, Lord, mine eyes to learn,
That I may ne'er depart,
But keep the precepts I discern,
And keep with all my heart.

Establish there my cheerful choice,
Where all thy truth is told;
And let me more in thee rejoice,
Than e'er in hoards of gold.

Engage mine eyes, no more to stray,
By snares of folly led;
And quicken on thy righteous way
My firm and cheerful tread.

E'en as thy fear thy servant owns,
So let thy truth be clear;
And turn the scorner's mocking tones
That pour a baser fear.

Esteeming all thy judgments just,
Lo, how for each I long!
Oh, warm with life this sinful dust,
And make my virtue strong.

Free let thy bounteous mercy, Lord,
To me its treasures ope;
Free, the salvation of thy word,
Rewarding all my hope.

Fill thou my lips with answers bold,
When scorners would dismay:
My stedfast heart thy truth shall hold;
Take not that truth away.

For on thy laws, that cannot change,
Forever hangs my fear;
And free and far my step may range,
Beneath thy precepts clear.

Fearless and not asham'd I stand.
Where monarchs hold their seat;
And witness to thy dread command,
And speak thy mercies sweet.

Folding thy law within my arms,
I rise in thought above;
And, musing on its sacred charms,
My heart o'erflows with love.

Give, Lord, thy servant's fainting breast
In thy remembrance place;
As thou hast made my hope to rest
On thine own word of grace.

Glad comfort thence my soul sustains,
Though dark'ning woes be near;
And life and joy run through my veins,
When once thy voice I hear.

Great was the scorn of mockers bold,
But ne'er from thee I turn'd;
I thought on all thy deeds of old,
And heav'nly solace learn'd.

Grief burns my heart for them that roam
To paths of fearful wrong:
But here, amidst my pilgrim home,
Thy precepts are my song.

Good thoughts of these, in silent night,
Have hover'd where I slept;
And this was still my sure delight,
That I thy cov'nant kept.

Hope of my soul, her endless part,
Lord my God, art thou!
Before thy throne, with prostrate heart,
I make my pray'r and vow.

Have mercy, as thy word is true,
For still, thy ways to tread,
With vigorous step and eager view,
My cheerful soul has sped.

Hot was the rage of murd'rous bands
That round my footsteps hung;
But still to thy most just commands
My stedfast mem'ry clung.

High from my midnight couch shall soar
The solemn voice of praise;
And sleep shall flee while I adore
Thy righteous words and ways.

His friend am I who dearest holds
Thy fear and sacred cause:
O Lord, whose love all earth enfolds,
Oh, teach me thou thy laws.

In kindness o'er thy servant's head,
Thy promise. Lord, is true:
Oh, let thy light and love be shed
On my believing view.

I wander'd far in thoughtless days,
Ere yet thy chast'nings fell:
But now I keep thy sacred ways,
And love thy statutes well.

Ill paths were mine; but good art thou,
And good are all thy deeds:
Oh, teach me ev'ry precept now,
That tow'rd thy presence leads.

Impious and false, with lux'ry swell'd,
The proud my purpose wrest:
But fast thy cov'nant I have held,
With true and joyful breast.

It was but good, that, taught to weep,
I learn'd thy law and fear,
Than gold's or silver's richest heap
Ten thousand times more dear.

Join'd and accomplish'd by thy hands,
My frame and spirit live:
Then, teach me, Lord, thy good commands,
And sacred wisdom give.

Joy on the upright brow shall shine
Of them that fear thy name;
For their strong hope was fix'd with mine,
And they with me o'ercame.

Just are thy judgments, Lord, on me,
And true thy chast'ning stroke;
But let me still thy comforts see,
As thy kind promise spoke.

Judge me in mercy for my life,
While o'er thy laws I bend;
And on the proud man's causeless strife
Let scorn and woe descend.

Journeying with me let those be found,
Who know and dread thy name;
And in thy statutes, firm and sound,
Preserve my heart from shame.

Kindled with hope, yet faint for fear,
With longing, failing eyes,
\"When shall thy comforts. Lord, appear?\"
My drooping spirit cries.

Kept by the trust thy word hath woke,
My step no more.declines,
Though, like the shriv'lling flask in smoke,
My with'ring bosom pines.

Known to my God are all my days;
How many. Lord, are all?
And when, on mine oppressor's ways
Shall thy dread judgment fall?

Keen is the blow, and deep the snare
Which they who scorn thy laws
Against thy servant, Lord, prepare:
Shield thou his righteous cause!

Kindly my lamp of life relume,
That I may keep thy will:
Almost my foes that life consume,
But I will love thee still.

Long as the rolling years shall glide,
Or heav'n its arch uphold,
Thy promise. Lord, shall firm abide,
Thy truth shall still be told.

Low in the depths thy sov'reign hand
Earth's strong foundations laid;
And all things serve at thy command,
As all by thee were made.

Light, life and joy thy precepts gave,
Thy precepts unforgot:
Else deep within the gloomy grave
Had clos'd my sorrowing lot.

Lord, I am thine: oh, save me yet,
As I thy truth have sought,
As, while the proud my path beset,
On thee alone I thought.

Lo, I have seen the utmost end
Of all things perfect here:
But thy commands so broad extend,
No thought can bound their sphere.

My God, how dear within my heart
Thy priceless laws abide!
The livelong day they ne'er depart,
Forever at my side.

More wise, while these my thoughts engage,
Than all my godless foes;
More wise than many an ancient sage,
Whose guidance once I chose;

Musing on these with still delight,
And clinging stedfast there,
I turn my feet, and hide my sight,
From each bewildering snare.

Matured by thy kind words and wise
In thy true judgments' ways.
To thee, to thee, my spirit flies,
From thee no more she strays.

Most sweet the words that teach thy will,
Of all I taste most sweet!
More sweet than honeyed hives distil,
They guard my tempted feet.

Night closes round my pathway lone,
And darkness dims my sight;
But there thy word's fair beams are thrown,
Thy lamp of living light.

Not from the service I have sworn
Shall e'er my footstep move:
Oh, give me life while here I mourn;
Oh, yet thy truth approve.

No heartless song my lips shall lift,
To tell my Maker's praise:
Then take, O Lord, their willing gift,
And teach me all thy ways.

New perils throng, new foes ensnare,
But I thy truth obey:
My life within my hand I bear,
But never more shall stray.

Nearest the fountains of my heart,
Thy holy statutes shine;
I choose them for mine endless part,
And joy to deem them mine.

Oh, how I hate the idle dreams
Of men that love deceit!
But thy dear word's unfading beams
To me are always sweet.

O Lord, my shield and refuge strong,
To thee my trust shall cling!
Depart, depart, ye guilty throng,
For I will serve my King.

On me thy word of grace perform;
My stedfast hope defend;
That still unharm'd, unsham'd and warm,
Mine eye to thee may tend.

O'erthrown and trod beneath my feet,
And cast like dross away,
Are earth's proud sons, who left thy seat,
In falsehood's maze to stray.

O'er all my flesh cold terror steals,
Thy judgments' awful fear:
But still what thy just word reveals
To me, O Lord, is dear.

Pure are the deeds, and good, and just,
That still my hands engage:
Then leave me not, O Lord my trust,
To mine oppressor's rage.

Pledg'd be thy might, to ward my harm;
Nor let the proud prevail;
For, waiting for thy word and arm,
My weary eyelids fail.

Pour on my head thy promis'd grace,
And guide in wisdom's way:
I love, O Lord, thy servants' place;
Oh, teach me to obey.

Prolong no more the ling'ring time,
Nor judgment's hand withdraw:
For now the bands, whose joy is crime,
Annul thy sov'reign law.

Priz'd more than gold, than gold most bright,
I guard thy words within,
Deem all my God's commandments right,
And shun the paths of sin.

Righteous and glorious is thy word;
My soul shall clasp it still:
Like dawning morn, its beams are pour'd,
To light the humble will.

Rising to thee, my spirit glows
With streams of sacred fire;
My panting lips and breast unclose,
And pant with warm desire.

Reveal on me the wonted grace
That crowns the righteous head:
And where thy word the path shall trace,
Oh, guide my peaceful tread.

Redeem me from the scourge of guilt,
And break th' oppressors' bands;
And be my will whate'er thou wilt,
My joy thy wise commands.

Rivers of waters, from mine eyes.
For sinners' woes descend;
Oh, let thy smile of light arise,
Till all my sorrows end.

Sacred and true, O righteous Lord,
Thy judgments just abide;
And all thy holy words record,
Is truth most sure and tried.

Sad that my foes thy precepts spurn,
My zeal consumes my breast;
But tow'rd those spotless words I turn,
And find my chosen rest.

Small is my name, and men of pride
Have scorn'd my lowly lot;
But still thy word was all my guide,
Thy truth was ne'er forgot.

Still are thy judgments just and true,
While endless ages roll;
My joy when clouds o'erhung my view,
And anguish found my soul.

Sure is the justice thou shalt speak,
While endless ages fly:
Oh give me light, thy truth to seek,
And I shall never die.

To thee my inmost bosom sigh'd,
\"Oh, hear me, Lord, above!\"
\"Oh, save me,\" at thy feet I cried,
\"To keep the laws I love.\"

Thus, hoping in thy promise kind,
I call before the dawn;
Thus holy musings throng my mind,
Ere evening's shades he drawn.

Then, Lord of love, thou good and just,
Hear thou my constant voice;
And warm with life my drooping trust,
And bid my hope rejoice.

They come, O Lord, who, far from thee,
Tread all the paths of ill:
And near they draw, to thrust at me;
But thou art nearer still!

True are thy laws, thy promise truth;
They change not, nor depart:
I know them from my utmost youth,
Eternal, as thou art.

Upon my griefs vouchsafe to look,
And haste, O Lord, to save;
For ne'er my heart the rule forsook,
Which thy commandments gave.

Urge thou my cause with conqu'ring strife,
When lawless foes condemn;
And give the quick'ning grace and life.
That ne'er shall dwell with them.

Unnumbered are thy mercies, Lord;
Unnumber'd are my foes:
Oh, give me still thy quick'ning word,
As I thy judgments chose.

Ungodly deeds my sorrows wake,
While on their guilt I gaze:
Oh, give me life for love's dear sake,
As I have lov'd thy ways.

Unchang'd as first thy word was pass'd,
Its quick'ning truths abide;
And firm thy judgments, Lord, shall last,
While endless ages glide.

Vainly have princes on my tread
With causeless hatred hung;
I held thy laws in deeper dread,
And there rejoicing clung.

Vice, with its charms and hidden toils,
Repels my loathing sight:
But more than all a victor's spoils,
Thy laws are my delight.

Varying my pray'r with varying day,
Sev'n times on thee I call:
For peace is theirs, who love thy way,
And they shall never fall.

Veil'd from my sight, yet always near,
Thy succ'ring arm I trust,
And walk securely in thy fear,
And keep thy cov'nant just.

Vig'rous and firm, my steps advance,
Where'er thy law is shown;
For well to thine all-searching glance
My loneliest ways are known.

Whene'er I call, O Lord, give ear,
And prove thy promise true:
Whene'er I cry, O Saviour, hear,
And all thy truth renew.

With light and succour crown my ways;
And teach my willing heart:
So shall my lips break forth in praise,
My tongue thy words impart.

Whate'er the path thy laws command,
They all are justice still:
Oh, hold me by thy gracious hand,
As I would choose thy will.

Waiting and longing for thy might,
I joy to own thy laws:
Then give me life to praise aright;
And shield my righteous cause.

Wide from thy fold, my only home,
A wand'ring sheep, I flee:
Oh, seek me. Lord, where'er I roam,
For still I turn to thee.