Make you his service your delight, 11 Approach, ye piously dispos'd, 12 Let him who length of life desires, tongue; His lips from falsehood free; And such as did my harm devise, 5 Then shall they fly, dispers'd like chaff Before the driving wind; God's vengeful minister of wrath 6 And when, through dark and slipp'ry ways, They strive his rage to shun, 14 The crooked paths of vice decline,Their feet shall fall into the net And virtue's ways pursue; Establish peace, where 'tis begun; 15 The Lord from heav'n beholds the just With favourable eyes; And, when distress'd, his gracious ear Is open to their cries; 16 But turns his wrathful look on those Whom mercy can't reclaim, To cut them off, and from the earth Blot out their hated name. 17 Deliv'rance to his saints he gives, When his relief they crave; 18 He's nigh to heal the broken heart, And contrite spirit save. 19 The wicked oft, but still in vain, Against the just conspire; 20 For under their affliction's weight He keeps their bones entire. 21 The wicked, from their wicked arts, Their ruin shall derive; Whilst righteous men, whom they detest, Shall them and theirs survive. 22 For God preserves the souls of those Who on his truth depend; To them, and their posterity, A PSALM XXXV. 9 Which they for me had laid: Whilst my glad soul shall God's great name For this deliv'rance bless, And, by his saving health secur'd, Who sett'st the poor and helpless man 11 False witnesses, with forg'd com plaints, And to my charge such things they laid, 12 The good which I to them had done, With evil they repaid; And did, by malice undeserv'd, 13 But as for me, when they were sick, My harmless life invade. pray'd and fasted, and my pray'r I still in sackcloth mourn'd; 14 Had they my friends or brethren To my own breast return'd. I been, I could have done no more; Nor with more decent signs of grief A mother's loss deplore. GAINST all those that strive with 15 How diff'rent did their carriage me, O Lord, assert my right; With such as war unjustly wage, 2 Thy buckler take, and bind thy shield 3 Bring forth thy spear; and stop their A course, That haste my blood to spill; Say to my soul, 'I am thy health, And will preserve thee still.' Tet them with shame be cover'd o'er, home destruction sought; And save my guiltless soul, which they True wisdom's banish'd from his breast, 18 So I, before the list'ning world, 20 For they, with hearts averse to peace, Industriously devise, Against the men of quiet minds 21 Nor with these private arts content, Aloud they vent their spite; And say At last we found him out, 'He did it in our sight.' 22 But thou, who doth both them and. me With righteous eyes survey, 23 Stir up thyself in my behalf; 24 Lord, as my heart has upright been, The triumph they design'd. 25 0! let them not, amongst themselves, In boasting language say, And vice has sole dominion there, 4 His wakeful malice spends the night In forging his accurs'd designs; His obstinate, ungen'rous spite No execrable means declines. 5 But, Lord, thy mercy, my sure hope, Above the heav'nly orb ascends; Thy sacred truth's unmeasur'd scope Beyond the spreading sky extends. 6 Thy justice like the hills remains; Unfathom'd depths thy judgments are; Thy providence the world sustains; With what assurance should the just Thy shelt'ring wings their refuge make, And saints to thy protection trust! 3 Such guests shall to thy courts be led, To banquet on thy love's repast; And drink, as from a fountain's head, Of joys that shall for ever last. 9 With thee the springs of life remain; Thy presence is eternal day: 10 0 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. * At length our wishes are complete; THOUGH wicked men grow rich or At last he's made our prey.' 26 Let such as in my harm rejoic'd, 27 Whilst they with cheerful voices shout, Who my just cause befriend; And bless the Lord, who loves to make Success his saints attend. 28 So shall my tongue thy judgments sing, Inspir'd with grateful joy; And cheerful hymns a praise of thee, Shail all my days employ. PSALM XXXVI. Y crafty foe, with flatt'ring art, Mwicked purpose would disguise; But reason wuicpers to my heart, Le ne'er sets God before his eyes. 2 He sooths himself, retrid trom sight; Secure he thinks his treach'rous game; Till his dark plots, expos'd to light, Their false contriver brand with shame. In deeds he is my foe confess'd, Whilst with his tongue he speaks me fair; great, Yet let not their successful state 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, And patiently for him attend; Nor let thy anger foudly rise, Tho' wicked men with wealth abound, And with success the plots are crown'd Which they maliciously devise. 8 From anger cease, and wrath forsake; Let no ungovern'd passion make Thy wav'ring heart espouse their crime 9 For God shall sinful men destroy; Rejoicing still with godly mirth, 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, Shall be unmov'd and ev'n in dearth, Destruction is their hapless share: Like fat of lambs, their hopes, and they, Shall in an instant melt away, And vanish into smoke and air. 21 Whilst 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 de light; He orders all the steps aright Of him that moves by his command; 25 From my first youth, till age pre vail'd, I never saw the righteous fail'd, Or want o'ertale his num'rous race; 26 Bécause compassion fill'd his heart, And he did cheerfully impart, God made his offspring's wealth in crease. 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. And thou, exalted in the land, 34 Wait still on God; keep his command, Thy blest possession ne'er shall quit: The wicked soon destroy'd shall be, And at his dismal tragedy Thou shalt a safe spectator sit. 35 The wicked I in pow'r have seen, And, like a hay-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, And mark ali such as upright are; Their roughest days in peace shall en 88 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. THY chast'ning wrath, O Lord, strain, Though I deserve it all; THY 24 Though he sometimes may be dis-Nor let at once on me the storm tress'd, Yet shall he ne'er be quite oppress'd, For God upholds him with his hand. Of thy displeasure fall 2 In ev'ry wretched part of me Thy arrows deep remain; Thy heavy hand's afflicting weight 3 My flesh is one continu'd wound, Thy wrath so fiercely glows; And, for my feeble strength to bear, 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 ev'ry part; 8 With sickness worn, I groan and roar Through anguish of my heart. PART II. 9 But, Lord, before thy searching eyes All my desires appear; And sure my groans have been too loud, Not to have reach'd thine ear. 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, Their snares to take me set'; Vent slanders, and contrive all day To forge some new deceit: 13 But I, as if both deaf and dumb, Nor heard, nor once reply'd; ! 14 Quite deaf and dumb, like one whose A spiteful joy display; Insulting, if they see my foot Put once to go astray.' 17 And, with continual grief oppress'd, To sink I new begin; 18 To thee, O Lord, I will confess, To thee bewail my sin. 19 But whilst I languish, my proud foes Their strength and vigour boast; And they that hate me without cause Are grown a dreadful host. 20 Ev'n they whom I oblig'd, return'd My kindness with despite: And are ny enemies, because I choose the path that's right. 21 Forsake me not, O Lord my God, Nor far from me depart; 22 Make haste to my relief, O thou, Who my salvation art. PSALM XXXIX. RESOLVD to watch o'er all my ways, I kept my tongue in awe; I curb'd my hasty words, when I 2 Like one that's dumb, I silent stood, And did my tongue refrain From good discourse; but that restraint Increas'd my inward pain. 3 My heart did glow with working thoughts, Till strong reflection fann'd the fire, 4 Lord, let me know my term of days, 6 7 Why then should I on worthless toys With anxious cares attend? On thee alone my steadfast hope 8, 9 Forgive my sins; nor let me scorn'& By foolish sinners be; For I was dumb, and murmur'd not, 10 The dreadful burden of thy wrath Lest my frail flesh, too weak to bear (So vain a thing is he) like cloth 13 0! spare me yet a little time; · PSALM XL. Waited meekly for the Lord, The vouchsafed a kind reply; Who did his gracious ear afford, And heard from heaven my humble cry. 2 He took me from the dismal pit, When founder'd deep in miry clay; On solid ground he plac'd my feet, And suffered not my steps to stray. 13 The wonders he for me has wrought Shall fill my mouth with songs of praise; P And others, to his worship brought, To hopes of like deliv'rance raise. 4 For blessings shall that man reward, Who on th' Almighty Lord relies; Who treats the proud with disregard, And hates the hypocrite's lisguise. 5 Who can the wondrous works recount Which thou, O God, for us hast wrought? The treasures of thy love surmount The pow'r 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; But preach'd thy love, for all design'd, That all might that, and truth, em brace. 11 Then let those mercies I declar'd To others, Lord, extend to me; Thy loving-kindness my reward, Thy truth my safe protection be. 12 For I with troubles am distress'd, Too numberless for me to bear; Nor less with loads of guilt oppress'd, That plunge and sink me to despair. As soon, alas! may I recount The hairs of this afflicted head: My vanquish'd courage they surmount, And fill my drooping soul with dread. PART III. 13 But, Lord, to my relief draw near, For never was more pressing need; In my deliv'rance, Lord, appear, 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 triumph 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. HAPPY the man whose tender care Relieves the poor distress'd! When troubles compass him around, The Lord shall give him rest. 2 The Lord his life, with blessings crown'd, In safety shall prolong; Though I have much transgress'd. men 'Forget his very name?" 6 Suppose they formal visits make, 'Tis all but empty show; They gather mischief in their hearts, And vent it where they go. 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 May meet their just reward. 11 By this I know thy gracious ear Is open, when I call;" Because thou suff'rest not my foes To triumph in my fall. 12 Thy tender care secures my life 13 Let therefore Israel's Lord and God As pants the hart for cooling streams, When heated in the chase, So longs my soul, O God, for thee, And thy refreshing grace. |