THE

RISING VILLAGE,

WITH

OTHER POEMS.

By Oliver Goldsmith

© St. John, N.B.: John McMillan, 1834


 

THE NINETY-FIFTH PSALM.



Oh, come! and let us to the Lord
    Our grateful voices raise,
In our salvation’s strength rejoice,
    And ever sing his praise.

Let us with psalms of love and joy

5

    Into his courts repair:
Before his presence thankful come,
    And shew our gladness there.

For God, the Lord, is great and good,
    He is the God alone;

10

Above all gods a mighty king
    Upon his heavenly throne. [Page 124]

The corners of the spacious earth
    Are compassed by his hand,
The hills are his, and all their strength

15

    At his supreme command.

The sea is his, he marked its bounds
    And all its power controls;
His hand prepared and formed the lands
    Extending to the Poles.

20


Oh, come! and let us worship God,
    Fall down before his face;
In rapture kneel unto the Lord,
    The maker of our race.

He is the Lord, our gracious God,

25

    Who can our wants supply,
Like sheep we in his pastures feed,
    And on his hand rely. [Page 125]

To-day if ye will hear his voice,
    And be his people still;

30

Beware, and harden not your hearts
    Against his holy will.

As in those days when man provoked
    His mighty God above,
And tempted, in the wilderness,

35

    His goodness, power, and love.

Your fathers tempted me of old,
    And all my patience tried,
They saw my works, and proved the power
    Which had their wants supplied.

40


For forty years my sight was grieved
    By this rebellious race,
Which daily err within their hearts,
    And have not known my grace. [Page 126]

In wrath and vengeance then, I sware

45

    The kingdoms of the blest
Should never their endowment be,
    Nor their reward my rest! [Page 127]