11 Approach, ye piously disposed, 12 Let him who length of life desires, Establish peace, where 'tis begun; 15 The Lord from heaven beholds the just And, when distress'd, his gracious ear is open to their cries; 16 But turns his wrathful look on those To cut them off, and from the earth 18 He's nigh to heal the broken heart, 19 The wicked oft, but still in vain, 20 For under their affliction's weight 21 The wicked, from their wicked arts, Whilst righteous men, whom they detest, shall them and theirs survive. 22 For God preserves the souls of those To them, and their posterity, AGAINST all those that strive with me, Lord, assert my right; With such as war unjustly wage, 2 Thy bucklertake, and bind thy shield Stand up, O God, in my defence, and keep me safe from harm. 3 Bring forth thy spear; and stop their 4 Let them with shame be cover'd 'er, 5 Ther shall they fly, dispersed like chaff 6And when,through dark and slippery ways, 8 Surprised by mischief's unforeseen, Whilst my glad soul shall God's great name for this deliverance bless, And, by his saving health secured, 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." PART II. 11 False witnesses, with forged complaints, against my truth combined; 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 undeserved, my harmless life invade. 18 But as for me, when they were sick, I still in sackcloth mourn'd; I pray'd and fasted, and my prayer 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. PART III. 18 So I, before the listening world, 19 Lord, suffer not my causeless foes, With open joy, or secret signs, to mock my sad estate. 20 For they, with hearts averse to 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 Oh! 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 rejoiced, for shame their faces hide; And foul dishonour wait on those that proudly me defy'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, inspired with grateful joy; And cheerful hymns in praise of thee, 15 How different did their carriage prove, MY crafty foe, with flattering art, in times of my distress! When they, in crowds, together met, did savage joy express. The rabble too, in numerous throngs, by their example came; And ceased 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 slandering jests maliciously devise. 17 Eut, Lord. how long wilt thou look on? on my behalf appear; And save my guiltless soul, which they like ravening beats, would tear. his wicked purpose would disguise; But reason whispers to my heart, he ne'er sets God before his eyes. 2 He soothes himself, retired from sight; secure he thinks his treacherous game; Till his dark plots, exposed to light their false contriver brand with shame. S In deeds he is my foe confess'd, whilst with his tongue he speaks ine fair True wisdom's banish'd from his breast, and vice has sole dominion there. 4 His wakeful malice spends the nigh in forging his accurs'd designs; His obstinate ungenerous spite no execrable means declines, But, Lord, thy mercy, my sure hope, above the heavenly orb ascends; Thy sacred truth's unmeasured 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 sheltering 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 Ŏ let thy saints thy favour gain; to upright hearts thy truth display. 11 Whilst pride': 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 37. THOUGH wicked men grow rich or great, Yet let not their successful state thy anger or thy envy raise; 2 For they, cut down like tender grass, Or like young flowers, 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 Il needful help afford, to perfect every just design; PART II. 12 While sinful crowds, with false design, Against the righteous few combine, and grash their teeth and threatening 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 power he quells. 18 His constant care the upright guides, And over all their life presides; their portion shall for ever last: 19They,when distress o'erwhelms the earth, Shall be unmoved, and even in dearth, the happy fruits of plenty taste. 20 Not so the wicked man, 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. PART III. 21 While sinners, brought to sad decay, Still borrow on, and never pay, the just have will and power to give, 22 For such as God vouchsafes to bless, Shall peaceably the earth possess; and those he curses shall not live. is God's delights He orders all the steps aright 6 He'll make, like fight, serene and clear, 23 The good man's way. 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 fondly rise, Though wicked men with wealth ahound, 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 wavering 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 fourd; 11 Whilst humble souls possess the earth, Rejoicing still with godly mirth, with peace and plenty always crown'd. of him that moves by his command; 24 Though 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, or want o'ertake his numerous race; 26 Because compassion fill'd his heart, And he did cheerfully impart, God made his offspring's wealth increase. 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 exposed, but save; ⚫and, when he's sentenced, 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'a 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 switt as thought; And, though in every place I sought, no sign or track of him I found. S7 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." $9 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. THY chastening wrath, O Lord, restrain, though I deserve it all; Nor let at once on me the storm of thy displeasure fall. 2 In every wretched part of me 8 My flesh is one continued wound, 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 every part; 8 With sickness worn, I groan and roar through anguish of my heart. PART IL But, Lord, before thy searching eyes all my desires appear; And sure my greans have been too loud, not to have reach'd thine ear 10 My heart's oppress'd, my strength de cay'd, my eyes deprived 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 tongue with conscious guilt is ty❜d. 15 For, Lord, to thee I do appeal, my innocence to clear; Assured that thou, the righteous God, my injured cause wilt hear. 16"Ilear me," said I, "lest my proud foes spiteful joy display; "Insulting, if they see my foot "but once to go astray." 17 And, with continual grief oppress'd, 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 20 Even they whom I obliged, return I choose the path that's right. 22 Make haste to my relief, O thou, who my salvation art. PSALM 39. RESOLVED to watch o'er all my ways, I curb'd my hasty words, when I From good discourse; but that restraint 3 My heart did glow with working thoughts and no repose could take; Till strong reflection fann'd the fire, 4 Lord, let me know my term of days, 5 My life, thou kr ow'st, is but a span¡ 6 Man, like a shadow, vainly walks, On thee alone my steadfast hope 8,9 Forgive my sins; nor let me scorn'd For I was dumb, and murmur'd not, |