Lord, let thy just decrees the King

1 Lord, let thy just decrees the king
In all his Ways direct;
And let his son, throughout his reign,
Thy righteous laws respect.

2 So shall he still thy people judge
With pure and upright mind,
Whilst all the helpless poor shall him
Their just protector find.

3 Then hills and mountains shall bring forth
The happy fruits of peace;
Which all the land shall own to be
The work of righteousness.

4 Whilst he the poor and needy race
Shall rule with gentle sway,
And from their humble necks shall take
Oppressive Yokes away.

5 In ev'ry heart thy awful fear
Shall then be rooted fast,
As long as sun and moon endure,
Or time itself shall last.

6 He shall descend like rain, that cheers
The meadows second birth;
Or like warm show'rs, whose gentle drops
Refresh the thirsty earth.

7 In his bless'd days the just and good
Shall be with favour crown'd;
The happy land shall ev'ry where
With endless peace abound.

8 His uncontroul'd dominion shall
From sea to sea extend;
Begin at proud Euphrate's streams,
At nature's limits end.

9 To him the savage nations round
Shall bow their servile heads:
His vanquish'd foes shall lick the dust
Where he his conquest spreads.

10 The kings of Tarshish, and the isles,
Shall costly presents bring;
From spicy Sheba gifts shall come,
And wealthy Saba's king.

11 To him shall ev'ry king on earth
His humble homage pay;
And diff'ring nations gladly join
To own his righteous sway.

12 For he shall set the needy free,
When they for succour cry;
Shall save the helpless, and the poor,
And all their wants supply.

Part II.

13 His providence for needy souls,
Shall due supplies prepare;
And over their defenceless lives
Shall watch with tender care.

14 He shall preserve and keep their souls
From fraud and rapine free;
And in his sight their guiltless blood
Of mighty price shall be.

15 Therefore shall God his life and reign
To many years extend;
Whilst eastern princes tribute pay,
And golden presents send.

16 For him shall constant pray'rs be made
Throigj all his prosp'rous days:
His just dominion shall afford
A lasting theme of praise.

17 Of useful grain, through all the land,
Great plenty shall appear:
A handful sown on mountain-tops
A mighty crop shall bear.

18 Its fruit like cedars shook by winds,
A ratt'ling noise shall yield:
The city too shall thrive, and vie,
For plenty, with the field.

19 The mem'ry of his glorious name
Through endless years shall run;
His spotless fame shall shine as bright
And lasting as the sun.

20 In him the nations of the world
Shall be completely bless'd,
And his unbounded happiness
By ev'ry tongue confess'd.

21 Then bless'd be God, the mighty Lord,
The God whom Isr'el fears;
Who only wond'rous in his works,
Beyond compare appears.

22 Let earth be with his glory fill'd;
For ever bless his name;
Whilst to his praise the list'ning world
Their glad assent proclaim.

Source: The Psalms of David: with hymns and spiritual songs: also, the catechism, confession of faith, and liturgy of the Reformed Church in the Netherlands #72