3 He guides our feet, he guards our way; His morning smiles bless all the day; He spreads the evening veil, and keeps The silent hours while Israel sleeps.

4 Israel

a name divinely blest,
May rise secure, securely rest;
Thy holy Guardian's wakeful eyes
Admit no slumber nor surprise.

146

C. M.

WATTS.

Preservation by Day and Night. Ps. 121.

1 TO heaven I lift my waiting eyes;
There all my hopes are laid;

The Lord that built the earth and skies
Is my perpetual aid.

2 Their feet shall never slide to fall
Whom he designs to keep;
His ear attends the softest call;
His eyes can never sleep.

3 He will sustain our weakest powers
With his almighty arm,

And watch our most unguarded hours
Against surprising harm.

4 Israel, rejoice, and rest secure ;
Thy keeper is the Lord;

His wakeful eyes employ his power
For thine eternal guard.

5 Nor scorching sun, nor sickly moon,
Shall have his leave to smite;

He shields thy head from burning noon,
From blasting damps at night.

6 He guards thy soul, he keeps thy breath,
Where thickest dangers come;

Go and return, secure from death,
Till God commands thee home.

147

C. M.

WATTS.

Protection, Victory, and Deliverance. Ps. 91.

1 YE sons of men, a feeble race,
Exposed to every snare,

Come, make the Lord your dwelling-place,
And try and trust his care.

2 He'll give his angels charge to keep
Your feet in all your ways;

To watch your pillow while you sleep,
And guard your happy days.

3"Because on me they set their love,
I'll save them," saith the Lord;
"I'll bear their joyful souls above
Destruction and the sword.

4 "My grace shall answer when they call; In trouble I'll be nigh;

My power shall help them when they fall, And raise them when they die.

5 "Those that on earth my name have known, I'll honor them in heaven;

There my salvation shall be shown,
And endless life be given."

148

C. M.

STERNHOLD.

The divine Shepherd. Ps. 23.

1 MY Shepherd is the living Lord;
I therefore nothing need:

In pastures fair, with waters calm,
He sets me forth to feed.

2 He did convert and glad my soul,
And brought my mind in frame
To walk in paths of righteousness
For his most holy name.

3 Yea, though I walk in vale of death,
Yet will I fear no ill

Thy rod, thy staff doth comfort me,
And thou art with me still.

4 And in the presence of my foes
My table thou shalt spread;
Thou shalt, O Lord, fill full my cup,
And thou anoint my head.

5 Through all my life thy favor is
So frankly showed to me,
That in thy house forevermore
My dwelling-place shall be.

149

C. M.

TATE & BRADY.

God our Shepherd. Ps. 23.

1 THE Lord himself, the mighty Lord,
Vouchsafes to be my Guide;

The Shepherd, by whose constant care
My wants are all supplied.

2 In tender grass he makes me feed,
And gently there repose;

Then leads me to cool shades, and where
Refreshing water flows.

3 He does my wandering soul reclaim,
And, to his endless praise,
Instruct with humble zeal to walk
In his most righteous ways.

4 I pass the gloomy vale of death,
From fear and danger free;
For there his aiding rod and staff
Defend and comfort me.

5 In presence of my spiteful foes,
He does my table spread;

He crowns my cup with cheerful wine,
With oil anoints my head.

6 Since God doth thus his wondrous love
Through all my life extend,
That life to him I will devote,
And in his temple spend.

150

L. M.

WATTS.

God our Shepherd. Ps. 23.

1 MY Shepherd is the living Lord;

Now shall my wants be well supplied; His providence and holy word

Become my safety and my guide.

2 In pastures where salvation grows,

He makes me feed, he makes me rest; There living water gently flows, And all the food divinely blest.

3 My wandering feet his ways mistake;
But he restores my soul to peace,
And leads me, for his mercy's sake,
In the fair paths of righteousness.

4 Though I walk through the gloomy vale,
Where death and all its terrors are,
My heart and hope shall never fail,
For God my Shepherd's with me there.
5 Amidst the darkness and the deeps,
Thou art my comfort, thou my stay ;
Thy staff supports my feeble steps;
Thy rod directs my doubtful way.

151

S. M.

WATTS.

God our Shepherd. Ps. 23.

1 THE Lord my Shepherd is;
I shall be well supplied;
Since he is mine, and I am his,
What can I want beside?

2 He leads me to the place

Where heavenly pasture grows, Where living waters gently pass, And full salvation flows.

3 If e'er I go astray,

He doth my soul reclaim,

And guides me in his own right way,

For his most holy name.

4 While he affords his aid,

I cannot yield to fear;

Though I should walk thro' death's dark shade,
My Shepherd's with me there.