PSALM LXVIII.

George Burgess

So let th' ungodly's might expire,
When God shall lift his glance of fire;
While o'er his people's joyous way
That glance shall pour resplendent day.

Sing praise to God, sing praises high
To him who rides the stormy sky;
Make straight his path with glad acclaim:
The Lord Jehovah is his name.

The Father of the orphan child,
The widow's Judge and Saviour mild,
He dwells in yon celestial place,
And rules the world with glorious grace.

God brings the wand'rer home in peace,
And gives the fetter'd feet release;
But far, in regions parch'd and dry,
Th' unhumbled rebels pine and die.

Lord, when along the desert sands
From bondage came thy rescued bands,
And thy bright path their footsteps led,
Earth shook beneath the awful tread.

The heav'ns their Maker's presence knew,
And fell in drops of trembling dew;
And Sinai heav'd its pillars fast,
When God, the God of Israel, pass'd.

From thee came down a gracious show'r,
To stay thy pilgrims' fainting pow'r,
Till trod the poor the home of rest,
That thy rich love with plenty bless'd.

The Lord the word of triumph spoke;
The strain of many a songstress woke:
And kings and armies fled away,
And peaceful households shar'd the prey.

\"In servile bonds too long ye toil'd;
The dove's fair plumes were clipped and soil'd:
But now ye spread each silv'ry fold,
And soar on pinions bright with gold.\"

When monarchs, with their flying hosts,
Were strew'd through all the conquer'd coasts,
Their whit'ning bones the vallies press'd,
As white as snow on Salmon's crest.

The crags of Bashan touch the cloud;
Why scowl those envious summits proud?
A nobler mount than Bashan's swells,
Where God the Lord forever dwells.

Mid twice ten thousand chariots bright,
Mid thousand thousand hosts of light,
The Lord maintains his holy place,
As once on Sinai's trembling base.

Thou hast ascended, Lord, on high,
And captive led captivity:
Thy triumph's gifts and thine abode
On rebel man thy love bestow'd.

Bless'd be the Lord, who, day by day,
With blessings loads our happy way;
The Lord our Saviour, strong to save,
Who opes and shuts th' impris'ning grave.

The Lord the head of pride shall bow,
And spurn th' oppressor's stubborn brow,
And crush beneath his wheels of wrath
The hosts that crowd the guilty path.

For God hath said, \"I lead once more
From Bashan, from the deep sea-shore;
The blood of foes shall wash thy tread,
And stain thy dogs' fierce nostrils red.\"

My God, my King, before our eyes
How fair thy courts, thy train arise;
The chanting crowd, the minstrels sweet,
The. virgin timbrels' measured beat!

\"Oh, bless our God,\" so soars the song,
\"Oh, bless the Lord where myriads throng:
Let all that flows from Israel's spring
In one loud swell his praises bring!\"

There Jacob's youngest marshall'd stands,
And Judah's chiefs, with kingly bands;
The chiefs of northern Napht'li's host,
The chiefs of Zeb'lun's wealthy coast.

God gives thy strength: oh, strengthen still,
And all thy work, our God, fulfil:
Till kings with costly gifts shall wait
Before thy Sion's temple gate.

Rebuke the beast that shakes his reeds,
The lordly herds on countless meads;
And let the wealth of nations shine
In peaceful tribute at thy shrine.

Oh, break the hosts whose Joy is strife;
From God let kingdoms ask their life;
Let princes throng from Egypt's strand,
And Afric spread her suppliant hand.

Sing, all ye realms, high praises sing,
A royal song to God our King:
The heav'n of heav'ns bears up his wheels;
His voice, a voice of glory, peals.

O God, in sovereign might alone,
How dreadful tow'rs thy cloudy throne!
Yet thou thy people's strength shalt yield:
Oh, bless'd be God, his Israel's shield!