When he surveys the sons of men, 5 If God the righteous, whom he loves, What must the sons of violence, 6 Snares, fire, and brimstone, on their heads Shall in one tempest show'r; This dreadful mixture his revenge 7 The righteous Lord will righteous deeds With signal favour grace, 1 And to the upright man disclose SINCE PSALM XII. INCE godly men decay, O Lord, For scarce these wretched times afford 2 One neighbour now can scarce believe 3 But lips that with deceit abound 4 In vain those foolish boasters say, 5 For God, who hears the suff'ring poor, Will soon arise and give them rest, 6 The word of God shall still abide, As is the silver, sev'n times try'd, 7 The promise of his aiding grace 8 Then shall the wicked be perplex'd, 1 When those whom they despis'd and vex'd, HOW PSALM XIII. OW long wilt thou forget me, Lord? How long wilt thou withdraw from me, Oh, never to return? 2 How long shall anxious thoughts my soul, 3 Oh! hear, and to my longing eyes And suddenly, or I shall sleep 4 Restore me, lest they proudly boast 5 Since I have always plac'd my trust Thy saving health will come; and then 6 Then shall my song, with praise inspir'd, 1 Who to thy servant in distress Such bounty didst extend. SURE PSALM XIV. 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, If any truth or justice knew. 3 But all, he saw, were gone aside, All were degen'rate grown and base; 4 But can these workers of deceit That they, like bread my people eat, 5 How will they tremble then for fear, And never will their cause forsake. Whom his just eyes with favour view. Should loudly echo through the land. L ORD, who's the happy man that may Not, stranger-like, to visit them, But to inhabit there? 2 "Tis he, whose ev'ry thought and deed Whose gen'rous tongue disdains to speak 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, And piety, though cloath'd in rags, 5 Who to his plighted vows and trust And though he promise to his loss, 6 Whose soul in usury disdains His treasure to employ ; The guiltless to destroy. 7 The man, who by his steady course Has happiness insur'd, ric When earth's foundation shakes, shall stand, By Providence secur'd. 2 1 PSALM XVI. PROTECT me from my cruel foes, And shield me, Lord, from harm : Because my trust I still repose On thy Almighty arm. 2 My soul all help but thine does slight, 3 But those that strictly virtuous are, 4 How shall their sorrows be increas'd, Their bloody off'rings I detest, 5 My lot is fall'n in that blest land The place of my appointed reign. 7 Therefore my soul shall bless the Lord, 8 I strive each action to approve No danger shall my hopes remove, 3 9 Therefore my heart all grief defies, 5 My flesh shall rest, in hope to rise, 10 Thou, Lord, when I resign my breath, Nor let thy Holy One in death 11 Thou shalt the paths of life display, PSALM XVII. To my just plea and sad complaint And to my pray'r, as 'tis unfeign'd, 2 As in thy sight I am approv'd, And with impartial eyes, O. Lord, 3 For thou hast search'd my heart by day, And, on the strictest trial, found Its secret motions right. Nor shall thy justice, Lord, alone For I have purpos'd that my tongue 4 I know what wicked men would do, But me thy just and mild commands 5 That I may still, in spite of wrongs, O guide me in thy righteous ways, 6 Since, heretofore, I ne'er in vain 7 The wonders of thy truth and love In my defence engage; 3 Thou, whose right hand preserves thy saints PART H. 3,9 O! keep me in thy tend'rest care; Thy shelt'ring wings stretch out, To guard me safe from savage foes, That compass me about: 10 O'ergrown with luxury, enclos'd In their own fat they lie; And, with a proud blaspheming mouth, Well may they boast, for they have now |