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Paraphrase on the Psalms of David - Psalm 69

Part I.

L ORD , snatch me from the raging flood,
Now in deep eddies almost drown'd,
That struggle in the yielding mud,
There, where no bottom can be found.
The rising waves my head surround,
And with their terrors chill my blood.

Tir'd with complaining, hoarse and sore,
Sight fails my long-expecting eyes.
My hairs are not in number more
Than my uninjur'd enemies.

Paraphrase on the Psalms of David - Psalm 68

Part I.

L ET God, the God of battle, rise
And scatter His proud enemies.
O let them flee before His Face,
Like smoke which driving tempests chase.
As wax dissolves with scorching fire,
So perish in His burning ire.
But let the just with joy abound,
In joyful songs His praise resound,
Who, riding on the rolling spheres,
The Name of Great Jehovah bears.
Before His Face your joys express,
A Father to the fatherless.
He wipes the tears from widows' eyes,
The single plants in families,

Paraphrase on the Psalms of David - Psalm 67

Lord , show'r on us Thy grace,
Enrich with gifts divine.
Let Thy illustrious Face
Upon Thy servants shine.
That all below
The arched sky
May Thee and Thy
Salvation know.

Let all Thy praise rehearse
With one united voice.
Sing in melodious verse,
Eternally rejoice.
Thy pow'r obey,
Whose justice shall
Dispose of all,
All sceptres sway.

Let all extoll Thy worth;
Then shall the smiling earth
Her pleasant fruits bring forth,
Nor ever mourn in dearth.
We who implore
Thy blessings find;

Paraphrase on the Psalms of David - Psalm 66

Part I.

H APPY sons of Israel,
Who in pleasant Canaan dwell,
Fill the air with shouts of joy,
Shouts redoubled from the sky!
Sing the Great Jehovah's praise,
Trophies to His glory raise,
Say, How wonderful Thy deeds!
Lord, Thy pow'r all pow'r exceeds!
Conquest on Thy sword doth sit,
Trembling foes through fear submit.
Let the many-peopled earth,
All of high and humble birth,
Worship our Eternal King,
Hymns unto His honour sing.
Come and see what God hath wrought,
Terrible to human thought,

Paraphrase on the Psalms of David - Psalm 65

Part I.

D UE honours, Lord, on Thee attend,
Where Sion's sacred tow'rs ascend.
There Thy devoted Israelites
Shall pay their vows with solemn rites.
To Thee shall all mankind repair,
Since Thou vouchsaf'st to hear our pray'r.
Our sins Thy mercies expiate,
When burthen'd with their loathed weight.
Thrice happy he of whom Thou mak'st
Thy choice, and to Thy service tak'st;
That may within Thy courts reside,
There with Thy goodness satisfied,
And taste of that sincere delight

Paraphrase on the Psalms of David - Psalm 64

Thou Great Protector, hear my cry,
Save from my dreadful enemy.
O vindicate
From their close hate
Who for my soul in ambush lie.
From their blind rage protect
Who truth and Thee reject.

Who whet their tongues more sharp than swords,
Their arrows draw, e'en bitter words,
To wound th' upright
With fierce delight,
When time to their desire accords;
Then on a sudden shoot,
Nor fear divine pursuit.

Confirm'd in skilful malice, they
Conspire, their nets in secret lay,
And say, What eye
Can this descry?

Paraphrase on the Psalms of David - Psalm 63

To Thee, O God, my God, I pray
Before the dawning of the day.
My soul and wasting flesh
With thirsty ardour Thee desire,
In soils scorch'd with aetherial fire,
Whose drought no show'rs refresh.

That in Thy sanctuary I
May see Thy pow'r and majesty
Once more with ravish'd eyes.
My lips shall celebrate Thy praise,
Thy goodness more than length of days
Or life itself I prize.

Extoll'd while I have utterance,
To Thee will I my palms advance,
That wilt with marrow feast.
My verse Thy wonders shall recite,

Paraphrase on the Psalms of David - Psalm 62

Lord , Thou art the only scope
Of my never-fainting hope,
My salvation, my defence,
Refuge of my innocence.
Thou the rock I build upon,
Not by man to be o'erthrown.
How long will you machinate,
Persecute with causeless hate?
You shall like a tott'ring wall,
Like a batter'd bulwark, fall.
All conspire to cast me down,
From my brows to tear my crown.
Full of fraud, they bless in show,
When their thoughts with curses flow.
Yet my soul on God attends,
All my hope on Him depends.
He the rock I build upon,

Paraphrase on the Psalms of David - Psalm 61

My God, Thy servant hear,
O lend a willing ear.
In exile my sad heart
From earth's remotest part,
O'erwhelm'd with miseries,
To Thee for succour cries,
To that high Rock, O lead,
So far above my head,
That wert and art my tow'r,
Against oppressing pow'r,
For to Thy sacred court
I ever shall resort,
Secure beneath Thy wings
From all their menacings.
Ev'n Thou my suit hast sign'd,
A king by Thee design'd,
To govern such as will
Thy holy law fulfill.
Whom Thou long life wilt give,
His ages shall outlive;

Paraphrase on the Psalms of David - Psalm 60

Cast off, and scatter'd in Thine ire,
Lord, on our woes with pity look.
The land's enforc'd foundations shook,
Whose yawning ruptures sighs expire
O cure the breaches Thou hast rent,
And make her firmly permanent.

Our souls Thou hast with sorrow fed,
And mad'st us drink of deadly wine.
Yet now Thy ensigns giv'st to Thine,
Ev'n when beset with trembling dread,
That we Thy banner may display,
Whilst truth to conquest makes our way.

O hear us, who Thy aid implore,
Lord, with Thy own right hand defend,