11 Whilst pride's insulting foot would spurn, And wicked hands my life surprise, 12 Their mischiefs on themselves return; Down, down they're fall'n, no more to rise. PSALM XXXVII. TH HOUGH wicked men grow rich or great, 2 For they, cut down like tender grass, Secure from danger and from want: 4 Make his commands thy chief delight; And he, thy duty to requite, Shall all thy earnest wishes grant. 5 In all thy ways trust thou the Lord, And he will needful help afford, To perfect every just design; 6 He'll make, like light, serene and clear, Thy clouded innocence appear, And as a mid-day sun to shine. 7 With quiet mind on God depend, Nor let thy anger fondly rise, 8 From anger cease, and wrath forsake; Thy wav'ring heart espouse their crime; 9 For God shall sinful men destroy; Whilst only they the land enjoy, Who trust on him, and wait his time. 10 How soon shall wicked men decay! Their place shall vanish quite away, Nor by the strictest search be found; With peace and plenty always crown'd. 12 While sinful crowds, with false design, And gnash their teeth and threat'ning stand; 13 God shall their empty plots deride, And laugh at their defeated pride: He sees their ruin near at hand. 14 They draw the sword, and bend the bow, The poor and needy to o'erthrow, And men of upright lives to slay ; 15 But their strong bow shall soon be broke, Their sharpen'd weapon's mortal stroke Through their own hearts shall force its 19 They, when distress o'erwhelms the earth, Shall be unmov'd, and even in dearth, The happy fruits of plenty taste. 20 Not so the wicked man, and those Who proudly dare God's will oppose; Destruction is their hapless share: Like fat of lambs, their hopes, and they, And vanish into smoke and air. 21 While sinners, brought to sad decay, The just have will and power to give; 22 For such as God vouchsafes to bless, Shall peaceably the earth possess And those he curses shall not live. 23 The good man's way is God's delight; He orders all the steps aright Of him that moves by his command; 24 Though he sometimes may be distress'd, Yet shall he ne'er be quite oppress'd; For God upholds him with his hand. 25 From my first youth, till age prevail'd, I never saw the righteous fail'd, Or want o'ertake his num'rous race; 26 Because compassion fill'd his heart, And he did cheerfully impart, God made his offspring's wealth increase. 27 With caution shun each wicked deed, In virtue's ways with zeal proceed, And so prolong your happy days; 28 For God, who judgment loves, does still Preserve his saints secure from ill, While soon the wicked race decays. 29, 30, 31 The upright shall possess the land; His portion shall for ages stand; His mouth with wisdom is supply'd; His tongue by rules of judgment moves; His heart the law of God approves; Therefore his footsteps never slide. PART IV. 32 In wait the watchful sinner lies, In vain the righteous to surprise; In vain his ruin does decree: 33 God will not him defenceless leave, To his revenge expos'd, but save; And, when he's sentenc'd, set him free. 34 Wait still on God; keep his command, And thou, exalted in the land, Thy bless'd possession ne'er shall quit: Thou shalt a safe spectator sit. That spreads its pleasant branches round: 36 But he was gone as swift as thought; And, though in every place I sought, 1 No sign or track of him I found. 87 Observe the perfect man with care, And mark all such as upright are; Their roughest days in peace shall end. 38 While on the latter end of those Who dare God's sacred will oppose, A common ruin shall attend. 39 God to the just will aid afford; Their only safeguard is the Lord; Their strength in time of need is he: 40 Because on him they still depend, The Lord will timely succour send, And from the wicked set them free. PSALM XXXVIII. HY chast'ning wrath, O Lord, restrain, Nor let at once on me the storm 2 In every wretched part of me 3 My flesh is one continued wound, 4 My sins, which to a deluge swell, 5 Stench and corruption fill my wounds; My folly's just return; 6 With trouble I am warp'd and bow'd, And all day long I mourn. 7 A loath'd disease afflicts my loins, Infecting every part; 8 With sickness worn, I groan and roar Through anguish of me heart. PART II. 9 But, Lord, before thy searching eyes And sure my groans have been too loud, 10 My heart's oppress'd, my strength decay'd, My eyes depriv'd of light; 11 Friends, lovers, kinsmen gaze aloof On such a dismal sight. 12 Meanwhile, the foes that seek my life Vent slanders, and contrive all day 13 But I, as if both dear and dumb, 14 Quite deaf and dumb, like one whose tongue With conscious guilt is ty❜d. 15 For, Lord, to thee I do appeal, My innocence to clear; Assur'd that thou, the righteous God, My injur'd cause wilt hear. 16 "Hear me," said I, "lest my proud foes "A spiteful joy display; "Insulting, if they see my foot "But once to go astray." 17 And, with continual grief oppress'd, To sink I now begin; 18 To thee, O Lord, I will confess, 19 But whilst I languish, my proud foes 20 Even they whom I oblig'd, return I choose the path that's right. 22 Make haste to my relief, O thou, Who my salvation art. PSALM XXXIX. 13 My heart did glow with working thoughts, And no repose could take; Till strong reflection fann'd the fire, 4 Lord, let me know my term of days, 5 My life, thou know'st, is but a span; 6 Man, like a shadow, vainly walks, 7 Why then should I on worthless toys On thee alone my steadfast hope 8, 9 Forgive my sins; nor let me scorn'd For Iwas dumb, and murmur'd not, 10 The dreadful burden of thy wrath Lest my frail flesh, too weak to bear 11 For when thou chast'nest man for sin, (So vain a thing is he) like cloth By fretting months decay'd. 12 Lord, hear my cry, accept my tears, Who sojourn like a stranger here, 13 O! spare me yet a little time; Waited meekly for the Lord, Till he vouchsaf'd a kind reply; And heard from heaven my humble cry. And suffer'd not my steps to stray, 3 The wonders he for me has wrought Shall fill my mouth with songs of praise; And others, to his worship brought, To hopes of like deliv'rance raise. 4 For blessings shall that man reward, 5 Who can the wondrous works recount The power of numbers, speech, and thought. 6 I've learnt that thou hast not desir'd Off'rings and sacrifice alone; Nor blood of guiltless beasts requir'd For man's transgression to atone. 7 I therefore come-come to fulfil The oracles thy books impart; 8 "Tis my delight to do thy will; Thy law is written in my heart. PART II. 9 In full assemblies I have told Thy truth and righteousness at large; Nor did, thou know'st, my lips withhold From uttering what thou gav'st in charge: 10 Nor kept within my breast confin'd Thy faithfulness and saving grace; To others, Lord, extend to me; Thy truth my safe protection be. The hairs of this afflicted head; 13 But, Lord, to my relief draw near, And add to that deliv'rance speed. 14 Confusion on their heads return, Who to destroy my soul combine; Let them, defeated, blush and mourn, Ensnar'd in their own vile design. 15 Their doom let desolation be, With shame their malice be repaid, Who mock'd my confidence in thee, And sport of my affliction made. 16 While those who humbly seek thy face, To joyful triumphs shall be rais'd; And all who prize thy saving grace, With me resound, The Lord be prais❜d. 17 Thus, wretched though I am and poor, Of me th' Almighty Lord takes care; Thou God, who only can'st restore, To my relief with speed repair. PSALM XLI. APPY the man whose tender care H Relieves the poor distress'd! When troubles compass him around, 2 The Lord his life, with blessings crown'd, In safety shall prolong; And disappoint the will of those "When shall he die," say they, "and men "Forget his very name?" 6 Suppose they formal visits make, They gather mischief in their hearts, 7,8 With private whispers, such as these, To hurt me they devise: "A sore disease afflicts him now; "He's fall'n, no more to rise." 9 My own familiar bosom-friend, On whom I most rely'd, Has me, whose daily guest he was, With open scorn defy'd. 10 But thou my sad and wretched state, In mercy, Lord, regard; And raise me up, that all their crimes Because thou suffer'st not my foes 12 Thy tender care secures my life 13 Let therefore Israel's Lord and God PSALM XLII. S pants the hart for cooling streams, So longs my soul, O God, for thee, 2 For thee, my God, the living God, 3 Tears are my constant food, while thus Insulting foes upbraid; "Deluded wretch! where's now thy God? "And where his promis'd aid?" 4 I sigh, whene'er my musing thoughts When I, with troops of pious friends When I advanc'd with songs of praise, And led the joyful sacred throng, 5 Why restless, why cast down, my soul? Trust God; who will employ His aid for thee, and change these sighs 6 My soul's cast down, O God! but thinks On thee and Sion still; From Jordan's bank, from Hermon's heights, And Mizar's humbler hill. 7 One trouble calls another on, And, gath'ring o'er my head, Fall spouting down, till round my soul 8 But when thy presence, Lord of life, 9 God of my strength, how long shall I, To my oppressor's scorn? 10 My heart is pierc'd, as with a sword, While thus my foes upbraid: "Vain boaster, where is now thy God? 11 Why restless, why cast down, my soul? PSALM XLIII. UST Judge of heav'n, against my foes O set me free, my God, from those 2 Since thou art still my only stay, Whilst me insulting foes oppress? And in thy sacred temple pray. And well-tun'd harps, with songs of praise, 5 Why then cast down, my soul? and why PSALM XLIV. Lord, our fathers oft have told Thy wonders, in their days perform❜d, 2 How thou, to plant them here, didst drive Of thy avenging hand. 3 For not their courage, nor their sword, 4 As thee their God our fathers own'd, O! therefore, as thou didst to them, 5 Through thy victorious name, our arms, The proudest foes shall quell; And crush them with repeated strokes, 6 I'll neither trust my bow nor sword, 7 But thee, who hast our foes sulidu'd, 9 But thou hast cast us off; and now For thou no more vouchsaf'st to lead 10 Since when, to every upstart foe 11 To slaughter doom'd, we fall, like sheep, Into their butch'ring hands; Or (what's more wretched yet) survive, 12 Thy people thou hast sold for slaves, But their disgrace, may grow. 13, 14 Reproach'd by all the nations round, The heathen's by-word grown; Whose scorn of us is both in speech 115 Confusion strikes me blind; my face In conscious shame I hide; 16 While we are scoff'd, and God blasphem'd By their licentious pride. PART III. 17 On us this heap of woes is fall'n; All this, we have endur'd; Yet have not, Lord, renoune'd thy name, 18 But in thy righteous paths have kept 19 Though thou hast broken all our strength, And we almost despair. 20 Could we, forgetting thy great name, On other gods rely, 21 And not the Seacher of all hearts The treach'rous crime descry? 22 Thou see'st what suff'rings, for thy sake, We every day sustain; All slaughter'd, or reserv'd like sheep 23 Awake, arise; let seeming sleep Nor let us, Lord, who sue to thee, 24 O! wherefore hidest thou thy face 25 Whose souls and bodies sink to earth 26 Arise, O Lord, and timely haste PSALM XLV. W Indited by my heart, THILE I the King's loud praise rehearse, My tongue is like the pen of him 2 How matchless is thy form, O King! 5 Gird on thy sword, most mighty Prince; And clad in rich array, With glorious ornaments of power, 4 Ride on in state, and still protect Whilst thy right hand, with swift revenge, 5 How sharp thy weapons are to them Down, down they fall, while through their heart The feather'd arrow flies. 6 But thy firm throne, O God, is fix'd, Thy sceptre's sway shall always last, 7 Because thy heart, by justice led, 8 With cassia, aloes, and myrrh, Which, from the stately wardrobe brought, 9 Among the honourable train PART II. 10 But thou, O royal bride, give ear, 11 So shall thy beauty charm the King, For he is now become thy Lord; To him due rev'rence pay. 12 The Tyrian matrons, rich and proud, 13 The King's fair Daughter's fairer soul Adorn'd with costly skill. 14 She in her nuptial garments dress'd, Shall to the King be brought. 16 Thou, in thy royal Father's room, Whom thou to diff'rent realms may'st send, To govern and protect; 17 Whilst this my song to future times And makes the world, with one consent, G PSALM XLVI. OD is our refuge in distress; A present help when dangers press; 2, 3 Though earth were from her centre tost, And mountains in the ocean lost, Torn peace-meal by the roaring tide. 4 A gentler stream with gladness still The city of our Lord shall fill, The royal seat of God most high: 6 In tumults when the heathen rag'd, He thunder'd, and dispers'd their powers: 7 The Lord of hosts conducts our arms, Our tower of refuge in alarms, Our fathers' Guardian-God and ours. 8 Come, see the wonders he hath wrought, On earth what desolation brought; How he has calm'd the jarring world: And earth her Sov'reign Lord confess : lo PSALM XLVII. All ye people, clap your hands, 5, 6 God is gone up, our Lord and King, With shouts of joy, and trumpets' sound, To him repeated praises sing, And let the cheerful song rebound. 7, 8 Your utmost skill in praise be shown, For him who all the world commands, Who sits upon his righteous throne, And spreads his sway o'er heathen lands. 9 Our chiefs and tribes that far from hence To serve the God of Abr'am came, Found him their constant sure defence: How great and glorious is his name! PSALM XLVIII. HE Lord, the only God, is great, In Sion, on whose happy mount, 2 Her towers, the joy of all the earth, 3 God in her palaces is known; 4 Confed'rate kings withdrew their siege, And of success despair'd. 5 They view'd her walls, admir'd, and fled, With grief and terror struck; 6 Like women, whom the sudden pangs Of travail had o'ertook. 7 No wretched crew of mariners Appear like them forlorn, When fleets from Tarshish' wealthy coasts By eastern winds are torn. 8 In Sion we have seen perform'd A work that was foretold, In pledge that God, for times to come, 9 Not in our fortresses and walls Did we, O God, confide; In which thou dost reside. 11 Let Sion's mount with joy resound; In songs his judgments to extol, Who this deliv'rance wrought. 14 This God is ours, and will be ours, |