Lord , save me from mine enemies,
From those who thus against me rise,
Like an incensed flood;
From those who in impiety
Place their delight, and long to dye
Their hands in guiltless blood.

Lo! for my soul they lie in wait,
The mighty join their pow'r and hate,
Without my blame or crime.
Without my crime they weapons take,
And persecute my soul. Awake
My God! assist in time.

Great God of hosts, of Israel,
These all-oppressing tyrants quell,
Nor be to mercy won.

Pernicious counsellors! give you
Sincere advice, to justice true?
Or virtue but in show pursue?

Your hearts are still on mischief bent,
Your hands impure and violent,
Nor favour truth, nor wrong prevent.

Ev'n from the womb they blindly stray,
Born and perverted in one day,
Lie, slander, flatter, and betray.

Like serpents with black poison swell,
And, charm th' enchanter ne'er so well,
More deaf than asps his charms repell.

Lord, slit their tongues before they speak,
Strike out their teeth which tear the weak,

O THOU , from Whom all mercy springs,
Compassionate my sufferings,
And pity me
That trust in Thee.
O shelter with Thy shady Wings
Until these storms of woe
Clear-up, or overblow.

Thee I invoke, O Thou Most High,
Thou All-performer! from the sky
Thy angels send;
Let them defend
My soul from him that would destroy.
O send Thy mercy down,
With truth Thy promise crown.

For salvage lions girt me round,
And they whose malice knows no bound,
Their cruel words
More sharp than swords,

Lord , protect me by Thy pow'r
From such as would my life devour,
Who merciless
Strive to oppress,
Nor grant me truce one hour.

That would devour me ev'ry day,
And make my chased life their prey.
Yet, Lord, will I
On Thee rely,
When dangers most dismay.

Thy promise I will celebrate,
In constant hope Thy pleasure wait,
With patience bear
Thy stay: nor fear
Frail man, or his vain hate.

My words and deeds they daily wrest,
And in their thoughts my fall digest;
Unite in ill,
And lurk to kill;

Part I.

L ORD , to my pray'rs incline Thine ear,
Th' afflicted hear.
Nor be Thou deaf to my complaint,
For O, I faint!
Regard the sighs, the groans, the cries,
Which from my pensive soul arise.

Rais'd by the threat'nings of my foe,
Which storm-like grow,
And by bloodthirsty violence,
Truth my offence.
Who slander with their wounding tongues,
And press me unto death with wrongs.

My heart, a stranger unto rest,

Lord , for Thy promise' sake defend,
And Thy all-saving shield extend.
O hear my cries,
Which with wet eyes
And sighs to Thee ascend!

For cruel men my life pursue,
And who Thy statutes never knew.
Suppress my foes,
O side with those
Who to my soul are true!

With vengeance recompense their hate,
And in an instant ruinate.
Then will I bring
My offering,
And Thy great acts relate.

Thy Name for ever praised be,
Who from those snares hast set me free,
For lo! these eyes
My enemies'
Desir'd subversion see.

Fools , flatt'ring their own vices, say
Within their hearts, God is a name
Devis'd to make the strong obey,
To fetter nature, quench her flame;
When all this universal frame
The hands of potent fortune sway.

Secure and prosperous in ill,
The fear and thought of God exile,
To follow their rebellious will;
Think nothing that delights them vile;
Their souls with wicked thoughts defile,
And all their foul desires fulfill.

God from the tow'r of heav'n His eyes
On men and their endeavours threw;

O THOU in mischief great,
Why boast'st thou in deceit?
God's greater mercy will
Protect His servants still.
Thy tongue with fraud abounds,
And like a razor wounds;
All evil dost affect,
All that is good neglect.
Lies are thy low delight,
To virtue opposite;
Thy words with treachery
The innocent destroy.
God shall repay thy hate,
Thy structures ruinate,
And make thee curse thy birth,
Then tear thee from the earth.
The just thy fall shall see,
Fear Him and laugh at thee:
Lo, he who God forsook,

Part I.

L ORD , to a sinner mercy show;
Which since in Thee so infinite,
Let all Thy streams of mercy flow,
And purify me in Thy sight.
O wash Thou my polluted soul,
O cleanse me from my bloody deed,

That to myself appear so foul,
And now in true contrition bleed.
My sins unmask'd before Thee lie,
Who have deserv'd Thy wrath alone,
Which I confess, to testify

Part I.

T HE God of gods, Jehovah, shall convent
All from the orient to the sun's descent.
From Sion's tow'rs (of beauty the divine
And full perfection) shall His glory shine.
Nor silent comes: devouring flames before,
And round about Him horrid tempests roar.
The righteous Judge, to judge His people, shall
High heav'n and conscious earth to witness call.
Assemble all My saints, who with one mind
My testaments with sacrifice have sign'd.
Then thund'ring skies shall make His justice known,