Forever blessed be the Lord, My Rock; who doth instruct me right

Verse 1

Forever blessed be the Lord, My Rock; who doth instruct me right, To guide the war; and strength affords My hands, when I engage in fight.

Verse 2

My goodness he, safeguard, and tower, My great deliverer, and my shield, In whom I trust; who, to my power, Makes tribes submit, and nations yield.

Verse 3

Lord! what is man! or his frail race! That thy concern thou him hast made!

Verse 4

Man is but vanity, his days Fly swiftly, as a passing shade.

Verse 5

Lord bow thine heavens, and come down, But touch the mountains, smoke shall rise.

Verse 6

Cast lightnings, rout, and them confound With pointed arrows from the skies.

Verse 7

From heaven, send forth thy mighty hand, Rescue, and save me, from the power Of aliens; who like waters stand, Wide gaping, ready to devour.

Verse 8

Whose mouths, with their vain boasts, abound, And utter speeches full of lies; Their right hand's plighted faith is sound, But broken leagues, and perjuries.

Verse 9

New songs to thee, O God, I'll sing; My voice, and psaltery, agree. The ten stringed instrument I'll bring, And join in hymns of praise to thee.

Verse 10

God, with salvation, kings befriends, And victory to their arms affords; His servant David, he defends, From the keen edge of hurtful swords.

Verse 11

Still save from sons of foreign land, Whose mouths speak vanity, and lies; The plighted faith of whose right hand, Is naught but fraud, and perjuries.

Verse 12

Then shall the fruits of peace abound; Our sons, like thriving plants shall grow; As polished pillars courts surround, Our blooming daughters beauteous show.

Verse 13

Our magazines be filled with store, Of every kind of pleasant grains; Our numerous flocks increasing more, In thousands spread the neighboring plains.

Verse 14

Our oxen fat, and strong, shall grow; And no invading foe be feared. No marchings out we sadly know, Nor murmurings in our streets be heard.

Verse 15

O happy are that people, who Flourish in such a state as this; Thrice happy people, that can shew, Their God, the great Jehovah is.