A TRANSLATION OF CERTAIN PSALMS. 103 



But who considers duly of thine ire ? 



Or doth the thoughts thereof wisely embrace ? 

 For thou, O God, art a consuming fire : 



Frail man, how can he stand before thy face ? 

 If thy displeasure thou dost not refrain, 

 A moment brings all back to dust again. 



Teach us, O Lord, to number well our days, 



Thereby our hearts to wisdom to apply ; 

 For that which guides man best in all his ways, 

 Is meditation of mortality. 



This bubble light, this vapour of our breath, 

 Teach us to consecrate to hour of death. 



Return unto us, Lord, and balance now, 

 With days of joy, our days of misery; 

 Help us right soon, our knees to thee we bow, 

 Depending wholly on thy clemency ; 



Then shall thy servants both with heart and voice, 

 All the days of their life in thee rejoice. 



Begin thy work, O Lord, in this our age, 



Shew it unto thy servants that now live ; 

 But to our children raise it many a stage, 

 That all the world to thee may glory give. 

 Our handy-work likewise, as fruitful tree, 

 Let it, O Lord, blessed, not blasted be. 



