12 But thou, O Lord, at length arise;
Stretch forth thy mighty arm;
And, by the greatness of thy pow'r,
Defend the poor from harm.
13 No longer let the wicked vaunt,
And proudly boasting say,
"Tush, God regards not what we do;
"He never will repay."
14 But sure thou seest, and all their deeds Impartially dost try;
The orphan, therefore, and the poor
On thee for aid rely.
15 Defenceless let the wicked fall,
Of all their strength bereft;
Confound, O God, their dark designs,
Till no remains are left.
16 Assert thy just dominion, Lord,
Which shall for ever stand;
Thou, who the heathen didst expel
From this thy chosen land.
17 Thou dost the humble suppliants hear
That to thy throne repair;
Thou first prepar'st their hearts to pray,
And then accept'st their pray'r.
18 Thou in thy righteous judgment weigh'st
The fatherless and poor;
That so the tyrants of the earth
May persecute no more.
1 SINCE I have plac'd my trust in God,
A refuge always nigh,
Why should I, like a tim'rous bird,
To distant mountains fly?
2 Behold, the wicked bend their bow,
And ready fix their dart;
Lurking in ambush to destroy
The man of upright heart.
3 When once the firm assurance fails
Which publick faith imparts,
'Tis time for innocence to fly
From such deceitful arts.
4 The Lord hath both a temple here,
And righteous throne above;
Whence he surveys the sons of men,
And how their counsels move.
5 If God the righteous, whom he loves,
For trial does correct;
What must the sons of violence,
Whom he abhors, expect!
6 Snares, fire, and brimstone on their heads Shall in one tempest show'r;
This dreadful mixture his revenge
Into their cup shall pour.
7 The righteous Lord will righteous deeds. With signal favour grace;
And to the upright man disclose
The brightness of his face.
PSALM XII.
1 SINCE godly men decay, O Lord,
Do thou my cause defend;
For scarce these wretched times afford
One just and faithful friend.
2 One neighbour now can scarce believe
What t'other doth impart:
With flatt'ring lips they all deceive,
And with a double heart.
3 But lips that with deceit abound
Can never prosper long;
God's righteous vengeance will confound The proud blaspheming tongue. 4 In vain those foolish boasters say,
"Our tongues are sure our own; "With doubtful words we will betray, "And be controll'd by none."
s For God, who hears the suff'ring poor,
And their oppression knows,
Will soon arise and give them rest,
In spite of all their foes.
6 The word of God shall still abide,
And void of falshood be,
As is the silver, sev'n times tried,
From drossy mixture free.
7 The promise of his aiding grace
Shall reach the purpos'd end;
His servants from this faithless race
He ever shall defend.
8 Then shall the wicked be perplex'd,
Nor know which way to fly;
When those, whom they despis'd and vex'd, Shall be advanc'd on high.
HOW long wilt thou forget me, Lord!
Must I for ever mourn?
How long wilt thou withdraw from me,
Oh! never to return?
2 How long shall anxious thoughts my soul, And grief my heart oppress!
How long my enemies insult,
And I have no redress?
30 hear, and to my longing eyes
Restore thy wonted light!
And suddenly, or I shall sleep
In everlasting night.
4 Restore me, lest they proudly boast
'Twas their own strength o'ercame;
Permit not them that vex my soul
To triumph in my shame.
5 Since I have always plac'd my trust
Beneath thy mercy's wing,
Thy saving health will come, and then
My heart with joy shall spring:
6 Then shall my song, with praise inspir'd,
To thee, my God, ascend;
Who to thy servant in distress
Such bounty didst extend.
PSALM XIV.
SURE wicked fools must needs suppose
That God is nothing but a name;
Corrupt and lewd their practice grows,
No breast is warm'd with holy flame.
2 The Lord look'd down from heav'n's high tow'r,
And all the sons of men did view,
To see if any own'd his pow'r,
If any truth or justice knew.
3 But all, he saw, were gone aside,
All were degen'rate grown and base;
None took religion for their guide,
Not one of all the sinful race.
4 But can these workers of deceit
Be all so dull and senseless grown;
That they like bread my people eat,
And God's almighty pow'r disown?
5 How will they tremble then for fear,
When his just wrath shall them o'ertake;
For to the righteous God is near,
And never will their cause forsake. 6 Ill men in vain with scorn expose
Those methods which the good pursue;
Since God a refuge is for those
Whom his just eyes with favour view.
7 Would he his saving pow'r employ
To break his people's servile band;
Then shouts of universal joy
Should loudly echo through the land.
PSALM XV.
LORD, who's the happy man that may
To thy blest courts repair?
Not, stranger-like, to visit them,
But to inhabit there?
2 "Tis he, whose ev'ry thought and deed
By rules of virtue moves;
Whose gen'rous tongue disdains to speak
The thing his heart disproves.
3 Who never did a slander forge
His neighbour's fame to wound;
Nor hearken to a false report,
By malice whisper'd round.
4 Who vice in all its pomp and pow'r
Can treat with just neglect;
And piety, though cloth'd in rags,
Religiously respect.
5 Who to his plighted vows and trust
Has ever firmly stood;
And, though he promise to his loss,
He makes his promise good.
Whose soul in usury disdains
His treasure to employ ;
Whom no rewards can ever bribe
The guiltless to destroy.
7 The man, who by this steady course
Has happiness insur'd,
When earth's foundation shakes, shall stand,
By Providence secur'd.
PROTECT me from my cruel foes,
And shield me, Lord, from harmi,
Because my trust I still repose
On thy Almighty arni.
2 My soul all help but thine does slight,
All gods but thee disown;
Yet can no deeds of mine requite
The goodness thou hast shown.
3 But those that strictly virtuous are,
And love the thing that's right,
To favour always and prefer
Shall be my chief delight.
4 How shall their sorrows be increas'd,
Who other gods adore!
Their bloody off'rings I detest,
Their very names abhor.
5 My lot is fail'n in that blest land
Where God is truly known;
He fills my cup with lib'ral hand;
'Tis he supports my throne.
6 In nature's most delightful scene
My happy portion lies;
The place of my appointed reign
All other lands outvies.
7 Therefore my soul shall bless the Lord,
Whose precepts give me light,
And private counsel still afford
In sorrow's dismal night.
8 I strive each action to approve
To his all-seeing eye;
No danger shall my hopes remove,
Because he still is nigh.
9 Therefore my heart all grief defies,
My glory does rejoice;
My flesh shall rest in hope to rise,
Wak'd by his pow'rful voice.
10 Thou, Lord, when I resign my breath,
My soul from hell shalt free;
Nor let thy Holy One in death
The least corruption see.
11 Thou shalt the paths of life display,
That to thy presence lead;
Where pleasures dwell without allay,
And joys that never fade.
1 TO my just plea and sad complaint,
Attend, O righteous Lord,
And to my pray'r, as 'tis unfeign'd,
A gracious ear afford.
2 As in thy sight I am approv'd,
So let my sentence be;
And with impartial eyes, O Lord,
My upright dealing see.
3 For thou hast search'd my heart by day,
And visited by night;
And on the strictest trial found
Its secret motions right.
Nor shall thy justice, Lord, alone
My heart's designs acquit;
For I have purpos'd that my tongue
Shall no offence commit.
4 1 know what wicked men would do
Their safety to maintain;
But me thy just and mild commands
From bloody paths restrain.
5 That I may still, in spite of wrongs,
My innocence secure;
O guide me in thy righteous ways,
And make my footsteps sure.
6 Since heretofore I ne'er in vain
To thee my pray'r addrest;
O now, my God, incline thine ear
To this my just request,
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