The First Six Verses Of The Ninetieth Psalm.

O Thou, the first, the greatest friend             Of all the human race!         Whose strong right hand has ever been             Their stay and dwelling place!         Before the mountains heav'd their heads             Beneath Thy forming hand,         Before this ponderous globe itself             Arose at Thy command;         That Pow'r which rais'd and still upholds             This universal frame,         From countless, unbeginning time             Was ever still the same.         Those mighty periods of years             Which seem to us so vast,         Appear no more before Thy sight             Than yesterday that's past.         Thou giv'st the word: Thy creature, man,             Is to existence brought;         Again thou say'st, "Ye sons of men,             Return ye into nought!"         Thou layest them, with all their cares,             In everlasting sleep;         As with a flood Thou tak'st them off             With overwhelming sweep.         They flourish like the morning flow'r,             In beauty's pride array'd;         But long ere night, cut down, it lies             All wither'd and decay'd.