BY the Bishops, the Clergy, and the Laity of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, in Convention, this 13th day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eightynine

This Translation of the Whole Book of Psalms into Metre, with hymns, is set forth, and allowed to be sung in all Congregations of the said Church, before and after Morning and Evening Prayer, and also before and after Sermons, at the discretion of the Minister.

And it shall be the duty of every Minister of any Church, either by standing directions or from time to time, to appoint the Portions of Psalms which are to be sung.

And further, it shall be the duty of every Minister, with such assistance as he can obtain from persons skilled in music, to give order concerning the Tunes to be sung, at any time, in his Church: And, especially, it shall be his duty, to suppress all light and unseemly music, and all indecency and irreverence in the performance, by which vain and ungodly persons profane the service of the Sanctuary.

1

PSALMS OF DAVID,

IN METRE.

PSALM I.

How blest is

he, who ne'er consents

By ill advice to walk,

Nor stands in sinners' ways, nor sits

Where men profanely talk;
2 But makes the perfect law of God
His business and delight;
Devoutly reads therein by day,
And meditates by night.

3 Like some fair tree, which, fed by streams, With timely fruit does bend,

He still shall flourish, and success
All his designs attend.

4 Ungodly men and their attempts,
No lasting root shall find;
Untimely blasted and dispers'd
Like chaff before the wind.

5 Their guilt shall strike the wicked dumb
Before their Judge's face :
No formal hypocrite shall then
Among the saints have place.

6 For God approves the just man's ways;

1

To happiness they tend :

But sinners, and the paths they tread,
Shall both in ruin end.

W

PSALM Μ.

ITH restless and ungovern'd rage,
Why do the heathen storm?

Why in such rash attempts engage,
As they can ne'er perform?
2 The great in council and in might
Their various forces bring;
Against the Lord they all unite,
And his anointed King.