The glorious subject of my tuneful song

Verse 1

The glorious subject of my tuneful song Be thou, O God—--to thee my strains belong. While lasts the sun, while times to times succeed, Thy goodness in my numbers shall be read.

Verse 2

For sure the orbs in yon etherial plain To their primoeval nought return again, Ere thou the wonders of thy mercy cease, Or 'gainst thy sacred covenant transgress.

Verse 3

Thy sacred covenant with David made,

Verse 4

That, while yon lights the fields of air pervade, While stands this solid earth upon her base, While knows old ocean his appointed space, His progeny shall sit upon the throne, And Israel's faithful tribes their rule shall own.

Verse 5

Thee, great Jehovah, thee the heav'nly host Adore, and make thy mighty works their boast; Thy truth the righteous make their constant theme, Sing all thy mercies, and extol thy name.

Verse 6

With thee compar'd, O Lord, how meanly shew The thrones above, the sceptred kings below?

Verse 7

Th' etherial myriads tremble at thy nod; Fear earth's imperious lords th' Almighty God,

Verse 8

Dread God of battles, who is like to thee? Who mates thy pow'r, thy truth, thy majesty?

Verse 9

Thou rein'st the fury of the swelling main, And dost the madness of her waves restrain;

Verse 10

Th' Egyptian tyrant felt thy vengeful hand; Feel all, who dare thy sov'reign rule withstand: Thine are the bright celestial worlds above-- Thine is the earth--by thy command they move; Earth's varied blessings to thy love we owe; From thee, Creator-Lord, from thee they flow.

Verse 11

Thee the rude north, and rainy south, obey, And where the sun begins, where ends the day, Blest Tabor seated in the glowing west, Bright Herman, gladden'd by the beamy east,

Verse 12

Strong is thy arm, resistless is thy hand;

Verse 13

Nigh to thy throne bright truth, stern juftice, stand; Full in thy view sweet clemency appears, Blest attribute! that calms our pious fears.

Verse 14

Thrice happy they, that hear thy gracious call, Flock to thy fane, and 'fore thy altar fall! On them with kindliest ray thy light shall shine;

Verse 15

Daily they feel the joys of love divine; Rais'd by thy goodness to the highest bliss,

Verse 16

Pow'r, empire, glory, shall they long possess;

Verse 17

Their strong support, their mighty leader thou, They gain a glorious conquest o'er the foe.

Verse 18

His sacred prophet hear, ye sons of men; By him th' Almighty speaks, nor speaks in vain: "David, my servant, from his low estate, "I've rais'd, and plac'd him on the royal seat; "With kingly majefty I've him array'd, "And sprinkled with my sacred oils his head.

Verse 19

"To him I'll strength and nervous force impart, "And with firm courage fortify his heart;

Verse 20

"Brave, he shall scorn the foe's proud menaces, "Nor villain-schemes shall have 'gainst him success:

Verse 21

"True to my word, assistance I'll supply, "And 'bove the clouds will raise his glory high.

Verse 22

"E'en from the sea the nations he shall sway, "To where Euphrates rolls his rapid way:

Verse 23

"Me his support, his father he shall call, "To me, as to his God, shall prostrate fall:

Verse 24

"Him with peculiar honour I will grace, "As loves the sire the first-born of his race; "'Bove other potentates I'll raise his name, "And set him foremost in the lifts of fame.

Verse 25

"Nor to the present is my love confin'd, "Nor to himself alone the sanctions bind;

Verse 26

"I'll to his progeny the throne secure, "And, long as beams the sun, shall last their pow'r;

Verse 27

"But, if his children from my statutes stray,

Verse 28

"Spurn at my laws, and not my will obey,

Verse 29

"Soon for the vile transgression they shall smart, "And soon I'll punish their rebellious heart.

Verse 30

"Yet shan't my mercy my own David leave; "My covenant I made not, to deceive;

Verse 31

"Faithful and firm, I'll to my word remain; "What once I've said, shall man oppose in vain.

Verse 32

"And by my holy self to him I swore, (And ne'er shall he my broken oath deplore)

Verse 33

"Till dies the world, till time no more runs on, "His blest posterity shall fill the throne;

Verse 34

"To this be witness, all ye lights above; "When fails his race, no more your orbits move."

Verse 35

Thy gracious promise this--but now, alas! From thy anointed thou hast hid thy face;

Verse 36

Thy covenant forgot, and now cast down, For hostile feet to trample on, his crown.

Verse 37

His cities thou'st laid open to the foe; Their walls dismantled, and their tow'rs brought low.

Verse 38

We're fall'n a prey to all the nations round; With their insulting taunts our souls they wound;

Verse 39

Supported by thy hand, victorious they Highly exult, and with success are gay.

Verse 40

Edgeless our swords, we vainly dare the field, Are soon defeated, and with shame we yield;

Verse 41

Our pride, our glory, in the dust are laid, And dreadful dreary darkness shades our head;

Verse 42

In vile dishonour, in distress we lie, Few are our days, and immature we die.

Verse 43

How long, O Lord, will last thy dreadful ire? Shall burn thy fury like consuming fire?

Verse 44

Remember, Lord; how short the life of man; Surely thou'st not created us in vain!

Verse 45

But a few days we breathe the vital air, And those few days are clouded all with care, From death's dire call not one his soul can save, And soon we're mould'ring in the gloomy grave.

Verse 46

Where are thy wonted tender mercies flown; When first thou set'st thy David on a throne?

Verse 47

O view the killing scorn, the sore distress, Wherewith our impious foes thy tribes distress; Their shocking insults in my breast I bear, While they their horrid blasphemies declare;

Verse 48

With insolent derision while they say, "He'll come your promis'd king await the day "Your Christ will come (they cry) the prince of peace, "And then, belike, your miseries will cease!"

Verse 49

But let them sneer to their confusion, they Shall feel his terrors at th' appointed day; Our Christ will come thy judgments he'll proclaim, And all the earth shall tremble at thy name.