PSALM XXXVI. 1 MY crafty foe, with flatt'ring art, He ne'er sets God before his eyes. Their false contriver brand with shame. 3 In deeds he is my foe confest, Whilst with his tongue he speaks me fair; No execrable means declines. 7 Since of thy goodness all partake, 10 O! let thy saints thy favour gain; To upright hearts thy truth display. 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. 1 THOUGH wicked men grow rich or great, Yet let not their successful state Thy anger or thy envy raise: 2 For they, cut down like tender grass, 3 Depend on God, and him obey; Shall all thy earnest wishes grant. 5 In all thy ways trust thou the Lord, 6 He'll make, like light, serene and clear, 7 With quiet mind on God depend, 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; 11 Whilst humble souls possess the earth, Rejoicing still with godly mirth, With peace and plenty always crown'd. The Second Part. 12 While sinful crowds, with false design, Against the righteous few combine, 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 bows shall soon be broke, Their sharpen'd weapon's mortal stroke Through their own hearts shall force its way. 16 A little, with God's favour blest, That's by one righteous man possest, 18 His constant care the upright guides, And over all their life presides; Their portion shall for ever last: 19 They, when distress o'erwhelms the earth, 20 Not so the wicked men, and those And vanish into smoke and air. The Third Part. 21 While sinners, brought to sad decay, Still borrow on and never pay, The just have will and pow'r 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 supplied; 32 In wait the watchful sinner lies, And, when he's sentenc'd, set him free. 34 Wait still on God, keep his command, Thy bless'd possession ne'er shall quit: Thou shalt a safe spectator sit. 35 The wicked I in power have seen, And like a bay tree, fresh and green, That spreads its pleasant branches round; 36 But he was gone as swift as thought, And, though in ev'ry place I sought, No sign or track of him I found. 37 Observe the perfect man with care, 39 God to the just will aid afford, PSALM XXXVIII. THY chast'ning wrath, O Lord, restrain, Nor let at once on me the storm 2 In ev'ry wretched part of me Thy heavy hand's afflicting weight 3 My flesh is one continued wound, 4 My sins, that to a deluge swell, 5 Stench and corruption fill my wounds, 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 ev'ry part; s With sickness worn, I groan and roar, Through anguish of my heart. The Second Part. 9 But, Lord, before thy searching eyes And sure my groans have been too loud 10 My heart's opprest, my strength's decay'd, 11 Friends, lovers, kinsmen, gaze aloof 12 Meanwhile the foes that seek my life, 13 But I, as if both deaf and dumb, 14 Quite deaf and dumb, like one whose tongue With conscious guilt is tied. 15 For, Lord, to thee I do appeal, Assur'd that thou, the righteous God, 16 "Hear me," said I," lest my proud foes "But once to go astray." 17 And, with continual grief opprest, To sink I now begin: 18 To thee, O Lord, I will confess, 19 But whilst I languish, my proud foes 20 E'en they, whom I oblig'd, return And are my enemies, because 22 Make haste to my relief, O thou, 1 RE PSALM XXXIX. ESOLV'D to watch o'er all my ways, I curb'd my hasty words when 1 The wicked prosp'rous saw. 2 Like one that's dumb I silent stood, And did my tongue refrain From good discourse; but that restraint |