English

Preserve me, my undoubted Aid,
To Whom, thou, O my soul, hast said,
Thou art my God; no good in me,
Nor merit can extend to Thee,
But to Thy blessed saints that dwell
On earth, whose Graces most excell,
Those ravish me with pure delight.
Their sorrows shall be infinite,
Who other gods with gifts adore,
Their bloody off'rings I abhor;
Nor shall their names my lips profane,
But God my lot will still maintain;
He is my portion, He bestows
The cup that with His bounty flows.
I have a pleasant seat obtain'd,

Who shall in Thy tent abide?
On Thy holy hill reside?
He that's just and innocent,
Tells the truth of his intent,
Slanders none with venom'd tongue,
Fears to do his neighbour wrong,
Fosters not base infamies,
Vice beholds with scornful eyes,
Honours those who fear the Lord;
Keeps, though to his loss, his word;
Takes no bribes for wicked ends,
Nor to use his money lends:
Who by these directions guide
Their pure steps, shall never slide.

The fool hath said in his false heart,
God cares not what to man succeeds.
Abominable are their deeds;
All ill affects from good depart.

Jehovah man's rebellious race
Beheld from His caelestial throne;
To see if there were any one
That understood, or sought His face.

All from forsaken truth are flown;
Corrupt in body, such in soul,
Defil'd within, without as foul;
None good endeavours, no, not one.

Are all, that work iniquity,
By ignorance so blindly led?

How long? Lord, let me not
For ever be forgot?
How long, my God, wilt Thou
Contract Thy clouded brow?
How long in mind perplex'd
Shall I be daily vex'd?

How long shall he control,
Who persecutes my soul?
Consider, hear my cries;
Illuminate mine eyes;
Lest with exhausted breath
I ever sleep in death:

Lest my insulting foe
Boast in my overthrow;
And those who would destroy,
In my subversion joy.
But I, Thou ever just,
Will in Thy mercy trust;

And in Thy saving grace

Help , Lord, for godly men decay;
From mortals faith, enforced, flies:
And with their sins companions, they,
Talk of affected vanities:
Their flatt'ring tongues abound with lies;
Their double hearts bent to betray.

God shall those flatt'ring lips confound,
And tongues which swell with proud disdain:
Whose boastings arrogantly sound;
Our tongues the conquest shall obtain;
They are our own, who shall restrain?
Or to our wills prescribe a bound?

But for th' oppression of the poor,

My God, on Thee my hopes rely:
Why say they to my troubled soul,
Arise, up to your mountain fly;
Fly, quickly, like a chased fowl?

For lo! the wicked bend their bows,
Their arrows fit with secret art;
That closely they may shoot at those,
Who are upright and pure in heart.

If their foundation be destroy'd,
What can the righteous build upon?
God in His temple doth abide;
Heav'n is the Great Jehovah's throne.

His Eyes behold, His Eyelids try
The sons of men; allows the best:

Part I.

W ITHDRAW not, O my God, my Guide:
In time of trouble dost Thou hide
Thy cheerful Face?
Who want Thy grace,
The poor pursue with cruel pride:
O be they by their own
Inventions overthrown.

The wicked boast of their success;
The covetous profanely bless,
By Thee, O Lord,
So much abhorr'd.
Their pride will not Thy pow'r confess
Nor have Thy favour sought,
Or had of Thee a thought.

Part I.

T HEE will I praise with heart and voice,
Thy wondrous works aloud resound;
In Thee, O Lord, will I rejoice,
Thy Name with zealous praises crown'd.

My foes fell by inglorious flight,
Before Thy terrible aspect;
Thy pow'rful hands support my right,
Thou judgment justly dost direct.

The proud are fall'n, the heathen fly;
Oblivion shall their names entomb;

Lord ! how illustrious is Thy Name!
Whose pow'r both heav'n and earth proclaim!
Thy glory Thou hast set on high,
Above the marble-arched sky.
The wonders of Thy pow'r Thou hast
In mouths of babes and sucklings plac'd:
That so Thou might'st Thy foes confound,
And who in malice most abound,
When I pure heav'n, Thy fabric, see,
The moon and stars dispos'd by Thee,
O what is man, or his frail race,
That Thou shouldst such a shadow grace?
Next to Thy angels most renown'd,
With majesty and glory crown'd:

Part I.

O THOU that art my confidence,
And strong defence;
From those who my sad fall intend
Great God, defend;
Lest lion-like, if none control,
They tear my persecuted soul.

If I am guilty, if there be
Deceit in me,
If ill I ever to my friend
Did but intend,
Or rather have not succour'd those
Who were my undeserved foes;

Let them my stained soul pursue,
With hate subdue;