5 Then shall they fly, dispers'd like chaff
Before the driving wind;
God's vengeful minister of wrath
Shall follow close behind.

6 And when thro' dark and slipp'ry ways
They strive his rage to shun,
His vengeful ministers of wrath
Shall goad them as they run.
7 Since, unprovok'd by any wrong,
They hid their treach'rous snare';
And for my harmless soul a pit
Did causelessly prepare:

8 Surpris'd by mischiefs unforeseen,
By their own arts betray'd,
Their feet shall fall into the net
Which they for me had laid.

9 Whilst my glad soul shall God's great

Name

For this deliv'rance bless,

And, by his saving health secur'd,
Its grateful joy express;

10 My very bones shall say, O Lord,
Who can compare with thee,
Who sett'st the poor and helpless man
From strong oppressors free?

The Second Part.

11 False witnesses, with forg'd complaints,
Against my truth combin'd;
And to my charge such things they laid
As I had ne'er design'd.

12 The good which I to them had done, With evil they repaid;

And did, by malice undeserv'd,
My harmless life invade.

13 But as for me, when they were sick,
I still in sackcloth mourn'd;
I pray'd and fasted, and my pray'r
To my own breast return'd.

14 Had they my friends or brethren been, I could have done no more;

Nor with more decent signs of grief
A mother's loss deplore.

19 Lord, suffer not my causeless foes,
Who me unjustly hate,

With open joy, or secret signs,
To mock my sad estate.

20 For they, with hearts averse from peace,

Industriously devise

Against the men of quiet minds
To forge malicious lies.

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 dost both them and me
With righteous eyes survey,
Assert my innocence, O Lord,
And keep not far away.

23 Stir up thyself, in my behalf
To judgment, Lord, awake;

Thy righteous servant's cause, O God,
To thy decision take.

24 Lord, as my heart has upright been,
Let me thy justice find;
Nor let my cruel foes obtain
The triumph they design'd.
25 0 let them not amongst themselves
In boasting language say,

At length our wishes are complete,
At last he's made our prey.

26 Let such as in my harm rejoic'd
For shame their faces hide;
And foul dishonour wait on those
That proudly me defied:

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 in praise of thee
Shall all my days employ.

PSALM XXXVI.

In times of my distress;

When they, in crowds together met,
Did savage joy express.

The rabble too, in num'rous throngs,
By their example came,
And ceas'd not, with reviling words,
To wound my spotless fame.

16 Scoffers, that noble tables haunt,
And earn their bread with lies.
Did gnash their teeth, and sland'ring
jests

Maliciously devise.

His wicked purpose would dis-
guise;

But reason whispers to my heart,
He ne'er sets God before his eyes.

2 He soothes himself, retir'd from sight, Secure he thinks his treach❜rous

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; The whole creation is thy care. 7 Since of thy goodness all partake, With what assurance should the just Thy shelt'ring wings their refuge make,

And saints to thy protection trust. 8 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 Olet thy saints thy favour gain;

To upright hearts thy truth display. 11 Whilst pride's insulting foot would spurn,

And wicked hand my life surprise; 12 Their mischiefs on themselves return; Down, down they're fall'n, no more to rise.

PSALM XXXVII. HOUGH wicked men grow rich or great,

THO

Yet let not their successful state

Thy anger or thy envy raise :

2 For they, cut down like tender grass, Or like young flow'rs, away shall pass, Whose blooming beauty soon decays. 3 Depend on God, and him obey;

So thou within the land shalt stay, 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 ev'ry just design:

6 He'll make, like light, serene and clear,
Thy clouded innocence appear,
And as a midday sun to shine.

7 With quiet mind on God depend,
And patiently for him attend;

Nor let thy anger fondly 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 ; Whilst only they the land enjoy, Who trust on him, and wait his time. 10 How soon shall wicked men decay! Their place shall vanish quite away, Nor by the strictest search be found; 11 Whilst humble souls possess the earth, Rejoicing still with golly mirth,

With peace and plenty always crown'd.

The Second Part.

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,

The poor and needy to o'erthrow, And men of upright lives to slay; 15 But their strong bows shall soon be broke,

Their sharpen'd weapon's mortal stroke Through their own hearts shall force its way.

16 A little, with God's favour bless'd, That's by one righteous man possess'd, The wealth of many bad excels : 17 For God supports the just man's cause, But as for those that break his laws, Their unsuccessful pow'r he quells. 18 His constant care the upright guides, And over all their life presides; Their portion shall for ever last: 19 They, when distress o'erwhelms the earth,

Shall be unmov'd, and e'en in dearth The happy fruits of plenty taste. 20 Not so the wicked men, and those Who proudly dare God's will oppose

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.

The Third Part.

21 While 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 delight, He orders all the steps aright

Of him that moves by his command; 24 Tho' he sometimes may be distress'd, Yet shall he ne'er be quite oppress'd,

For God upholds him with his hand. 25 From my first youth, till age prevail'd, I never saw the righteous fail'd,

26

Or want o'ertake his num'rous race; Because 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 supplied; His tongue by rules of judgment

moves,

His heart the law of God approves,
Therefore his footsteps never slide.
The Fourth Part.

32 In wait the watchful sinner lies,
In vain the righteous to surprise;
In vain his ruin doth decree:
33 God will not him defenceless leave,
To his revenge expos'd, but save;
And, when he's sentenc'd, set him
free.

34 Wait still on God, keep his command, And thou, exalted in the land,

Thy bless'd 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 power have seen, And, like a bay 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 all such as upright are;
Their roughest days in peace shall
end:

38 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.

The Second Part.

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 opprest, 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 replied;

14 Quite deaf and dumb, like one whose tongue

With conscious guilt is tied.

15 For, Lord, to thee I do appeal,
My innocence to clear;

Assur'd that thou, the righteous God,
My injur'd cause wilt hear.

16 Hear me, said I, lest my proud foes
A spiteful joy display,
Insulting if they see my foot
But once to go astray.

17 And, with continual grief opprest,
To sink I now 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 E'en they, whom I oblig'd, return
My kindness with despite;
And are my enemies, because
I choose the path that's right.

strain,

Though I deserve it all;

Nor let at once on me the storm

Of thy displeasure fall.

2 In ev'ry wretched part of me
Thy arrows deep remain;

Thy heavy hand's afflicting weight
I can no more sustain.

3 My flesh is one continued wound,
Thy wrath so fiercely glows;
Betwixt my punishment and guilt
My bones have no repose.
4 My sins, that to a deluge swell,
My sinking head o'erflow,

And for my feeble strength to bear
Too vast a burden grow.

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.

Nor far from me depart; 22 Make haste to my relief, O thou, Who my salvation art.

PSALM XXXIX.

RESOLV'D to watch o'er all my ways,

I kept my tongue in awe;

I curb'd my hasty words when. I
The wicked prosp'rous saw.

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,

And no repose could take,
Till strong reflection fann'd the fire,
And thus at length I spake:

4 Lord, let me know my term of days,
How soon my life will end;
The num'rous train of ills disclose,
Which this frail state attend.

5 My life, thou know'st, is but a span,
A cipher sums my years;
And ev'ry man, in best estate,
But vanity appears.

6 Man like a shadow vainly walks,
With fruitless cares oppress'd;
He heaps up wealth, but cannot tell
By whom 'twill be possess'd.

7 Why then should I on worthless toys With anxious care attend?

On thee alone my steadfast hope
Shall ever, Lord, depend.

8, 9 Forgive my sins, nor let me scorn'd By foolish sinners be;

For I was dumb, and murmur'd not,
Because 'twas done by thee.

10 The dreadful burden of thy wrath
In mercy soon remove;

Lest my frail flesh too weak to bear
The heavy load should prove.

11 For when thou chasten'st man for sin
Thou mak'st his beauty fade,
(So vain a thing is he,) like cloth
By fretting moths decay'd.

12 Lord, hear my cry, accept my tears,
And listen to my pray'r;
Who sojourn like a stranger here,
As all my fathers were.

13 0 spare me yet a little time,

I

My wasted strength restore; Before I vanish quite from hence, And shall be seen no more.

PSALM XL.

WAITED meekly for the Lord,
Till he vouchsaf'd a kind reply;
Who did his gracious ear afford,
And heard from heav'n 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 suffer'd not my steps to stray. 3 The wonders he for me has wrought

Shall fill my mouth with songs of

praise;

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 disguise.

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.

The Second Part.

9 In full assemblies I have told

Thy truth and righteousness at large; Nor did, thou know'st, my lips withhold

From utt'ring 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 embrace.

11 Then let those mercies I declar'd
To others, Lord, extend to me;
Thy lovingkindness 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 on this afflicted head:
My vanquish'd courage they surmount,
And fill my drooping soul with dread.
The Third Part.

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 triumphs shall be rais'd; And all who prize thy saving grace With me resound, The Lord be prais'd.

17 Thus, wretched tho' I am and poor,

Of me th' Almighty Lord takes care; Thou, God, who only canst restore, To my relief with speed repair.

PSALM XLI.

HAPPY the man whose tender care Relieves the poor distrest;

When troubles compass him around, The Lord shall give him rest.

2 The Lord his life, with blessings crown'd,

In safety shall prolong;
And disappoint the will of those
That seek to do him wrong.

3 If he, in languishing estate,
Oppress'd with sickness lie;
The Lord will easy make his bed,
And inward strength supply.
4 Secure of this, to thee, my God,
I thus my pray'r address'd:
Lord, for thy mercy, heal my soul,
Though I have much transgress'd.

5 My cruel foes, with sland'rous words,
Attempt to wound my fame;
When shall he die, say they, and 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 relied,

Has me, whose daily guest he was,
With open scorn defied.

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
From danger and disgrace;

And thou vouchsaf'st to set me still
Before thy glorious face.

13 Let therefore Israel's Lord and God
From age to age be bless'd;
And all the people's glad applause
With loud Amens express'd.

PSALM XLII.

S
When heated in the chase;

As pants the hart for cooling streams,

So longs my soul, O God, for thee,
And thy refreshing grace.

2 For thee, my God, the living God,
My thirsty soul doth pine:
O when shall I behold thy face,
Thou Majesty divine!

3 Tears are my constant food, while thus

Insulting foes upbraid:

7 One trouble calls another on,
And gath'ring o'er my head,
Fall spouting down, till round my soul
A roaring sea is spread.

8 But when thy presence, Lord of life,
Has once dispell'd this storm,
To thee I'll midnight anthems sing,
And all my vows perform.

9 God of my strength, how long shall I,
Like one forgotten, mourn?
Forlorn, forsaken, and expos'd
To my oppressor's scorn?

10 My heart is pierc'd, as with a sword, Whilst thus my foes upbraid,

Vain boaster, where is now thy God?
And where his promis'd aid?

11 Why restless, why cast down, my soul?
Hope still, and thou shalt sing
The praise of him who is thy God,
Thy health's eternal spring.

PSALM XLIII.

JUST Judge of heav'n, against my foes

Do thou assert my injur'd right; O set me free, my God, from those That in deceit and wrong delight. 2 Since thou art still my only stay, Why leav'st thou me in deep distress? Why go I mourning all the day, Whilst me insulting foes oppress?

3 Let me with light and truth be blest, Be these my guides to lead the way, Till on thy holy hill I rest,

And in thy sacred temple pray.

4 Then will I there fresh altars raise To God, who is my only joy; And well-tun'd harps, with songs of praise,

Shall all my grateful hours employ.

5 Why then cast down, my soul? and why

[care? So much oppress'd with anxious On God, thy God, for aid rely, Who will thy ruin'd state repair. PSALM XLIV.

God?

And where his promis'd aid?

4 I sigh whene'er my musing thoughts
Those happy days present,
When I with troops of pious friends
Thy temple did frequent :

When I advanc'd with songs of praise
My solemn vows to pay,
And led the joyful sacred throng,
That kept the festal day.

5 Why restless, why cast down, my soul? Trust God, who will employ

His aid for thee, and change these sighs

To thankful hymns of joy.

6 My soul's cast down, O God, but thinks On thee and Sion still;

From Jordan's bank, from Hermon's heights,

And Mizar's humbler hill.

In our attentive ears,

Thy wonders in their days perform'd, And elder times than theirs :

2 How thou, to plant them here, didst drive

The heathen from this land; Dispeopled by repeated strokes Of thy avenging hand.

3 For not their courage, nor their sword To them possession gave;

Nor strength, that from unequal force
Their fainting troops could save:

But thy right hand and pow'rful arm,
Whose succour they implor'd;
Thy presence with the chosen race,
Who thy great Name ador'd.

4 As thee their God our fathers own'd, Thou art our sov'reign King;

O therefore, as thou didst to them,
To us deliv'rance bring.