Psalm 127

Except the house Jehovah raise,
Fruitless is all the builder's care;
Except Jehovah guard the place.
In vain the watch is station'd there:
Nothing without His hand is done;
To make and keep are God's alone.

In vain your labour ye repeat
From earliest dawn to latest night.
The bread of care and soitow eat;
Tis God who grants the true delight,
And gives His people food and rest,
And makes them in His blessing bless'd.

His blessing makes the mother bear;
The issue of the womb is His;
The gift of God your children are;
He bids your little ones increase:
Receive them as your faith's reward.
Their heavenly Father is the Lord.

As arrows in the giant's hand,
Fly the bold youths to your defence;
Or in the gate your champions stand,
And drive the furious battle thence:
Happy the man who gladly owns
His guardians were his pious sons!

Happy the man who always sees
The Source from whence his blessings flow,
His life, his safety, and his peace,
His every comfort here below;
Who takes them as by heaven bestow'd,
And looks through all his gifts to God.
PSALM cxxviir.
Bless'd is the man that fears the Lord,
And walks in all His ways;
An earnest of his great reward
On earth his Master pays.
Thou shalt not spend thy strength in vain
For perishable food;
Thy Father shall His own sustain.
And fill thy soul with good.
Happy in Him thy soul shall be,
And on His fulness feed;
Jesus, who came from heaven for thee,
Shall be thy living Bread.
Thy wife shall as the fruitful vine
Her blooming offspring show;
Thy children shall be God's, not thine,
His pleasant plants below:
Around thy plenteous table spread
Like olive-branches fair.
Heavenward they in thy steps shall tread.
And meet their parents there.
Thus shall the man be bless'd who owns
His Maker for his Lord:
Or doubly bless'd with better sons
Begotten by the word.

The children of thy faith and prayer
Thy joyful eyes shall see;
Shall see the prosperous church, and share-
In her prosperity.

Sion again shall lift her head,
And flourish all thy days;
Thy soul shall see the faithful seed.
And bless the rising race.

Fill'd with abiding peace Divine,
With Israel's blessing bless'd.
Thou then the church above shalt join,
And gain the heavenly rest.