Lord, I thy present help implore,
Respect my voice, and meet
My breathings as they soar
Towards thy holy seat

The pray'r which I set forth receive
As frankincense and nard,
And as a gift at eve
My lifted hands regard.

Set thou a watch my mouth to ward
From inadvertent slips,
And lock, O gracious Lord,
The portal of my lips.

O let my heart be clean and chaste,
Nor let my members share
In wicked works, nor taste
Of Mammon's tempting fare

No, let the righteous rather thwart
And friendly smite my cheek,
I would not then retort,
But be resign'd and meek.

But let not what they give for balm
Increase my raging smart;
Nay, I will pray my psalm
Against their hand and heart

Let such false judges as commend
Their harsh precarious prose,
To this my song attend,
Which in sweet measure flows.

Our bones beside the grave are straw'd
From life's extinguish'd spark,
Like timber cast abroad,
Which woodmen fell and bark.

But, holy Lord, and God most just,
To thee mine eyes I turn;
In thee I put my trust,
Nor thou my spirit spurn

Preserve me from the cover'd mines
That impious men have made,
And from the dark designs
Which traitors have assay'd

Let sly deceivers be confus'd
As they their bounds infringe;
But let my soul be loos'd
From every net and springe.