THE
XXIII
D
PSALM
.
The
Lord
is
my
shepherd
,
my
guardian
and
guide
,
For
the
wants
of
his
creatures
the
Lord
doth
provide
;
E'er
since
I
was
born
it
is
he
that
hath
crown'd
The
life
that
he
gave
me
with
blessings
around
.
While
yet
on
the
breast
a
poor
infant
I
hung
,
Ere
time
had
unloosen'd
the
strings
of
my
tongue
,
He
gave
me
the
help
which
I
could
not
then
ask
,
And
now
,
oh
my
tongue
,
let
his
praise
be
thy
task
!
Thro'
my
tenderest
years
,
with
as
tender
a
care
,
My
soul
like
a
lamb
in
his
bosom
he
bare
;
To
the
brook
he
would
lead
me
whene'er
I
had
need
,
And
point
out
the
pasture
where
best
I
might
feed
;
No
harm
would
approach
me
,
for
he
was
my
shield
From
the
birds
of
the
air
and
the
beast
of
the
field
;
The
wolf
to
devour
me
would
often
times
prowl
,
But
the
Lord
was
my
shepherd
,
and
guarded
my
soul
.
How
oft
in
my
youth
have
I
wandered
astray
,
And
still
he
hath
set
me
again
on
the
way
;
When
lost
in
dark
error
no
path
I
could
meet
,
His
word
like
a
lanthorn
hath
guided
my
feet
;
What
wond'rous
escapes
to
his
kindness
I
owe
,
When
rash
and
unthinking
I
sought
my
own
woe
;
My
soul
had
long
since
been
gone
down
to
the
deep
,
If
the
Lord
had
not
watched
when
I
was
asleep
.
Whene'er
at
a
distance
he
sees
me
afraid
,
O'er
the
hills
and
high
mountains
he
comes
to
my
aid
,
Then
leads
me
back
gently
,
and
bids
me
abide
In
the
midst
of
his
flock
,
and
feed
close
by
his
side
;
How
happy
if
there
I
could
ever
remain
All
the
days
of
my
life
,
and
not
wander
again
;
Yea
,
blest
are
the
people
,
and
happy
thrice
told
,
Who
obey
the
Lord's
voice
and
abide
in
his
fold
.
The
fold
it
is
full
,
and
the
pasture
is
green
,
All
is
friendship
and
love
,
and
no
enemy
seen
;
There
the
Lord
dwells
amongst
us
upon
his
own
hill
,
And
the
mountains
all
round
with
his
presence
doth
fill
,
Himself
in
the
midst
with
a
provident
eye
,
Regarding
our
wants
and
procuring
supply
;
He
prepareth
all
things
for
our
safety
and
food
,
We
gather
his
gifts
,
and
are
filled
with
good
.
When
he
leads
forth
the
flock
we
all
gladly
obey
For
the
Lord
is
himself
both
our
leader
and
way
,
The
hills
smoke
with
incense
where
e'er
he
hath
trod
,
And
a
sacred
perfume
shews
the
footsteps
of
God
,
Whilst
blest
with
his
presence
the
valleys
beneath
A
sweet
smelling
savour
do
constantly
breathe
;
He
reneweth
the
face
of
each
living
thing
,
And
the
glad
Earth
enjoys
a
perpetual
spring
.
Or
if
a
far
different
scene
he
prepare
,
And
we
march
thro'
the
wilderness
barren
and
bare
,
By
his
wonderful
work's
we
see
plainly
enough
That
the
earth
is
the
Lord's
and
the
fullness
thereof
;
When
hungry
and
thirsty
we're
ready
to
faint
,
He
seeth
our
need
and
prevents
our
complaint
;
The
rain
at
his
word
brings
us
bread
from
the
sky
,
And
rocks
become
rivers
when
nature
is
dry
.
From
the
fruitfullest
hill
to
the
barrenest
rock
The
Lord
hath
made
all
for
the
sake
of
his
flock
,
And
the
flock
in
return
the
Lord
always
confess
,
Their
joy
in
abundance
,
their
hope
in
distress
;
He
beholds
in
our
welfare
his
glory
display'd
,
And
we
deem
ourselves
happy
when
he
is
obey'd
;
With
a
cheerful
regard
we
attend
to
his
ways
,
Our
attention
is
prayer
,
and
our
cheerfulness
praise
.