Unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman wakens in vain.

It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit down at your meal late, And so eat the bread of toil; for he gives to his loved ones sleep.

Children too are a gift from the Lord, they are a reward.

As arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of youth.

Happy indeed is the man whose quiver is full of them, He shall not be put to shame when he argues with foes in the court.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Curtis Publishing Company_

_"Lo, Children are a Heritage of the Lord"_

Painted by W. L. Taylor]

G.o.d'S GOODNESS AND MERCY

The Lord is gracious and merciful, Patient, and full of loving-kindness.

The Lord is good to all, Showing mercy to all his creatures.

All thy works give thee thanks, O Lord, And those who love thee praise thee, They speak of thy glorious rule, And proclaim thy mighty power, That men may know thy great deeds, And the glorious splendor of thy rule.

Thy rule is an everlasting rule, Thy dominion endures forever.

The Lord lifts up all who fall, And raises up all who are bowed down.

The eyes of all wait for thee, And thou givest them food in due season.

Thou it is who openest thy hand, And satisfiest the desires of all creatures.

The Lord is righteous in all his ways, And gracious in all his acts.

He is near all who call upon him, To all who call upon him in truth.

He fulfils the desire of his worshippers, He hears their cry and saves them.

He takes care of all who love him, But destroys all those who do wrong.

My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord.

Let all flesh praise his holy name forever.

G.o.d THE ALL-SEEING

O Lord, thou searchest and knowest me, Whether I sit or stand, thou knowest, Thou readest my thought afar off, When I walk or lie down thou dost know it.

Thou knowest all my ways.

There is not a word on my tongue That thou, O Lord, dost not know!

Behind and before thou enfoldest me, Over me thou dost lay thy hand.

Such knowledge for me is too wonderful!

Too high, I cannot attain it.

Where shall I go from thy spirit, Where shall I flee from thy presence?

If I climb into heaven, thou art there, If I lie down in the grave, thou art there.

Should I take the wings of the morning, And dwell on the most distant sea, Even there thy hand would grasp me, Thy right hand would hold me fast.

If I say, "The darkness will hide me, And the night throw its curtain about me,"

Even darkness for thee is not dark, But the night shines clear as the day.

Thou didst form my vital parts, Thou didst make me from the beginning, I thank thee, for I am wonderfully made; Fearful and marvellous are thy works.

How precious to me are thy thoughts, O G.o.d!

How great is the sum of them all!

Should I count them, they would be more than the sand; When I awake, I am still with thee.

Search me, O G.o.d, and know my heart, Try me, and know my secret thoughts, And see if I have any evil in me, And lead me in the way to eternal life.

G.o.d WHO ALWAYS WATCHES OVER HIS PEOPLE

I will lift up my eyes to the hills; from whence comes my help?

My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you does not slumber; Behold, he who keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps!

The Lord is your protector; the Lord is your shade upon your right hand; The sun shall not smite you by day, nor the moon by night!

The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will preserve your life; The Lord will protect your going out and your coming in forevermore!

G.o.d WHO PROTECTS FROM ALL DANGER

Give thanks to the Lord, for his goodness, For his love endures forever.

Let those he has redeemed say so, Whom he has set free from the hand of the foe, And gathered together from many lands, From the east, from the west, From the north and the south.

Some strayed in the barren wilderness, Finding no inhabited city, Hungry, indeed, and thirsty, Their very life ebbing away.

Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, And he saved them from their distresses.

He led them along the right way, Till they reached an inhabited city.

Let them praise the Lord for his love, And his wonderful works unto men!

For he satisfies the longing soul, And the hungry he fills with good things.

Some dwelt in darkness and gloom, Being bound in affliction and iron, Because they had rebelled against G.o.d, And despised the counsel of the Most High.

He humbled their heart with sorrow; When they fell, there was none to help them.

Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, And he saved them from their distresses.

Out of darkness and gloom he brought them, And broke their bonds in pieces.

Let them praise the Lord for his love, And his wonderful works unto men!

For he shattered the gates of bra.s.s, And hewed bars of iron asunder.

Fools because of their wrong-doing, And because of their sins were afflicted; They hated all kinds of food, And drew near to the gates of death.

Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, And he saved them from all their distresses.

He sent his command to heal them, And saved their life from destruction.

Let them praise the Lord for his love, And his wonderful works unto men!

Let them sacrifice to him a thank-offering, And with joy recount his deeds.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Curtis Publishing Company_

_"I will Lift up mine Eyes unto the Hills"_

Painted by W. L. Taylor]