Let high and low, and rich and poor, 3 My mouth with sacred wisdom fill'd, The sound result of prudent thoughts, 4 To parables of weighty sense 5 Why should my courage fail in times When sinners, that would me supplant, 6 Those men, that all their hope and trust In heaps of treasure place, And boast in triumph, when they see Their ill-got wealth increase, 7 Are yet unable from the grave Nor can, by force of bribes, reverse 8,9 Their vain endeavours they must quit; 10 Not wisdom can the wise exempt, But both must perish, and in death 11 For though they think their stately seats But their remembrance last in lands Which by their names they call; 13 How great their folly is, who thus 14 They all, like sheep to slaughter led, 15 But God will yet redeem my soul; 16 Then fear not thou, when worldly men Nor though their prosp'rous house increase, 17 For when they're summon'd hence by They leave all this behind; No shadow of their former pomp Within the grave they find: 20 For man, how great soe'er his state, As like a sensual beast he lives, TH PSALM L. HE Lord hath spoke, the mighty God Hath sent his summons all abroad, From dawning light, till day declines: The list'ning earth his voice hath heard, And he from Sion hath appear'd, Where beauty in perfection shines. 3, 4 Our God shall come, and keep no more Misconstru'd silence, as before; But wasting flames before him send: 5, 6 Assemble all my saints to me, That in my lasting cov❜nant live, For God himself shall sentence give. Thy God, thy only God, am I; 9 Will this alone atonement make? Nor he-goat from thy fold accept: That on a thousand hills are kept. That loosely haunt the open fields: Since the world's mine, and all it yields. To eat their flesh and drink their blood? 14 The sacrifices I require, Are hearts which love and zeal inspire, And vows with strictest care made good. 15 In time of trouble call on me, And I will set thee safe and free; And thou returns of praise shalt make. 16 But to the wicked thus saith God: How dar'st thou teach my laws abroad, Or in thy mouth my cov❜nant take? 17 For stubborn thou, confirm❜d in sin, Hast proof against instruction been, And of my word didst lightly speak: 18 When thou a subtle thief didst see, Thou gladly with him didst agree, And with adult'rers didst partake. 19 Vile slander is thy chief delight; Thy tongue, by envy mov'd, and spite, Deceitful tales does hourly spread: 20 Thou dost with hateful scandals wound 18 And yet they thought their state was blest, Thy brother, and with lies confound Caught in the flatt'rer's snare, 19 In their forefather's steps they tread; The offspring of thy mother's bed. 22 Mark this, ye wicked fools, lest I Let all my bolts of vengeance fly, Whilst none shall dare your cause to own: My strong salvation shall be shown. [AVE mercy, Lord, on me, HA As thou wert ever kind; Let me, oppress'd with loads of guilt, 2, 3 Wash off my foul offence, Have I transgress'd; and, though condemn'd, 5 In guilt each part was form❜d In guilt I was conceiv'd, and born I shall with snow in whiteness vie, 8 Make me to hear with joy Thy kind forgiving voice; That so the bones which thou hast broke May with fresh strength rejoice. 9, 10 Blot out my crying sins, Create in me a heart that's clean, PART II. 11 Withdraw not thou thy help, Nor cast me from thy sight; 12 The joy thy favour gives, And thy free Spirit's firm support With sorrow clos'd and shame; So shall my mouth thy wondrous praise 16 Could sacrifice atone, Whole flocks and herds should die; But on such off'rings thou disdain'st To east a gracious eye. 17 A broken spirit is By God most highly priz'd; By him a broken contrite heart 18 Let Sion favour find, vain, O man of lawless might, Since God, the God in whom I trust, 2 Thy wicked tongue doth sland'rous tales And, sharper than a razor set, It wounds with treach'rous lies. 3,4 Thy thoughts are more on ill than goods Thy tongue delights in words, by which 5 God shall for ever blast thy hopes, 6 The just, with pious fear, shall see 7" See there the man that haughty was, 8 But I am like those olive-plants 9 So shall my soul, with praise, O God, And on thy name with patience wait; The sons of men to view; To see if any own'd his power, 3 But all, he saw, were backward gone, None for religion car'd, not one 4 But are those workers of deceit 5 Their causeless fear shall strangely grow, Shall soon be foil'd; his hand shall throw 6 Would he his saving power employ Loud shouts of universal joy L PSALM LIV. ORD, save me, for thy glorious name, To judge my cause; accept my prayer, 3 Mere strangers, whom I never wrong'd, To ruin me design'd; And cruel men, that fear no God, Against my soul combin'd. 4, 5 But God takes part with all my friends, 7 From dreadful danger and distress G PSALM LV. IVE ear, thou Judge of all the earth, Nor from thy humble suppliant turn 2 Attend to this my sad complaint, 4, 5 My heart is rack'd with pain; my soul With fear and trembling compass'd round, 6 How often wish'd I then, that I 7, 8 Then would I wander far from hence, And in wild deserts stray, Till all this furious storm were spent, PART II. 16, 17 But I will call on God, who still At morn, at noon, and night, I'll pray; 18 God has releas'd my soul from those 19 For be, who was my help of old, 20 Whom can I trust, if faithless men To ruin me, their peaceful friend, 21 Though soft and melting are their words, Their hearts with war abound; Their speeches are more smooth than oil, And yet like swords they wound. 22 Do thou, my soul, on God depend, He aids the just, whom to supplant 23 My foes, that trade in lies and blood, Whilst I, for health and length of days, D PSALM LVI. O thou, O God, in mercy help; To crush me with repeated wrongs, 2 Continually my spiteful foes Thou see'st, who sitt'st enthron'd on high, 3 But though sometimes surpris'd by fear, Yet still for succour I depend On thy Almighty arm. 4 God's faithful promise I shall praise, In God I trust, and, trusting him, 5 They wrest my words, and make them speak A sense they never meant; Their thoughts are all, with restless spite, 6 In close assemblies they combine, They watch my steps, and lie in wait 7 Shall such injustice still escape? Let thy just wrath, too long provok❜d, 8 Thou numb'rest all my steps, since first My very tears are treasur'd up, And register'd by thee. 9 When therefore I invoke thy aid, My foes shall be o'erthrown; For I am well assur'd that God My righteous cause will own. 10, 11 I'll trust God's word, and so despise. The force that man can raise; 12 To thee, O God, my vows are due; To thee I'll render praise. 13 Thou hast retriev'd my soul from death; And thou wilt still secure The life thou hast so oft preserv'd, And make my foot-steps sure: 14 That thus protected by thy power, HY mercy, Lord, to me extend; And to thy wing for shelter haste, 3 From heaven protect me by thine arm, And truth, on which my hopes depend. With men whose teeth are spears, their words 10 Thy mercy highest heaven transcends; 7 Their throats envenom'd slander breathe; Their tongues are sharpen'd swords; "Who hears?" say they, "or, hearing, dares "Reprove our lawless words?" 8. But from thy throne thou shalt, O Lord, Their baffled plots deride; And soon to shame and scorn expose 9 On thee I wait; 'tis on thy strength 'Tis thou, O God, art my defence, 10 Thy mercy, Lord, which has so oft 11 Destroy them not, O Lord, at once; Do thou bring down their haughty pride, 12 Now, in the height of all their hopes, Whose tongues have sinn'd without restraint, 13 Nor shalt thou, whilst their race endures, 14 At ev'ning let them still persist 15 Then, as for malice now they do, 16 Whilst early I thy mercy sing, 17 To thee with never-ceasing praise, Thou art my God, the Rock from whence My health and safety spring. PSALM LX. God, who hast our troops dispers'd, As we thy just displeasure mourn, 10 lodge me safe beyond the reach 3 Thou, who so oft from spiteful foes Beneath the covert of thy wings, 5 In sign my vows are heard, once more 6 O! bless with long and prosp❜rous life 7 Confirm his throne, and make his reign And let thy truth and mercy both 8 So shall I ever sing thy praise, PSALM LXII. soul for help on God relies; M From him alone my safety flows: My Rock, my Health, that strength supplies To bear the shock of all my foes. 3 How long will ye contrive my fall, Which will but hasten on your own? You'll totter like a bending wall, Or fence of uncemented stone. 4 To make my envy'd honours less, They strive with lies, their chief delight; 2 Our strength, that firm as earth did stand, For they, though with their mouths they bless, Is rent by thy avenging hand; O! heal the breaches thou hast made: 3 Our folly's sad effects we feel; 8 Moab my slave and drudge shall be, 9 But who shall quell these mighty powers, 12 Fresh strength and courage God bestows: "Tis he treads down our proudest foes. PSALM LXI. In private curse with inward spite. 5, 6 But thou, my soul, on God rely; On him alone thy trust repose: My Rock and Health will strength supply 7 God does his saving health dispense, On him my soul shall still depend. His timely aid to us imparts. 9 The vulgar fickle are and frail; The great dissemble and betray; And, laid in truth's impartial scale, The lightest things will both outweigh.. 10 Then trust not in oppressive ways; By spoil and rapine grow not vain; Belongs, of right, to God alone. |