PSALM V. Aug. 12. 1653.

JEHOVAH, to my words give ear,
My meditation weigh,

The voice of my complaining hear

My King and God; for unto thee I pray.
Jehovah, thou my early voice

Shalt in the morning hear,

I' th' morning I to thee with choice

Will rank my pray'rs, and watch till thou appear.

For thou art not a God that takes

In wickedness delight,

Evil with thee no biding makes,

Fools or mad men stand not within thy sight.

All workers of iniquity

Thou hat'st; and them unblest

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Thou wilt destroy that speak a lie;

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The bloody' and guileful man God doth detest.

But I will in thy mercies dear

Thy numerous mercies go

Into thy house; I in thy fear

Will tow❜rds thy holy temple worship low.

20

Lord, lead me in thy righteousness,

Lead me because of those

That do observe if I transgress,

Set thy ways right before, where my step goes.
For in his falt'ring mouth unstable

No word is firm or sooth;

Their inside, troubles miserable;

An open grave their throat, their tongue they smooth.

God, find them guilty, let them fall

By their own counsels quell'd;

26. sooth] True. T. Warton.

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Push them in their rebellions all

Still on; for against thee they have rebell'd.
Then all who trust in thee shall bring
Their joy, while thou from blame

Defend'st them, they shall ever sing

And shall triumph in thee, who love thy name.
For thou Jehovah wilt be found

To bless the just man still,

As with a shield thou wilt surround

Him with thy lasting favour and good will.

PSALM VI. Aug. 13. 1653.

LORD, in thine anger do not reprehend me
Nor in thy hot displeasure me correct;
Pity me, Lord, for I am much deject ;
And very weak and faint; heal and amend me:
For all my bones, that ev'n with anguish ache,

Are troubled, yea my soul is troubled sore,
And thou, O Lord, how long? turn Lord, restore
My soul, O save me for thy goodness sake:
For in death no remembrance is of thee;

Who in the grave can celebrate thy praise?
Wearied I am with sighing out my days,
Nightly my couch I make a kind of sea ;
My bed I water with my tears; mine eye
Through grief consumes, is waxen old and dark
I' th' midst of all mine enemies that mark.
ye that work iniquity,

Depart all

Depart from me, for the voice of my weeping

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40

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The Lord hath heard, the Lord hath heard my pray'r,

My supplication with acceptance fair

The Lord will own, and have me in his keeping.

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Mine enemies shall all be blank and dash'd

With much confusion; then grown red with shame, They shall return in haste the way they came, And in a moment shall be quite abash'd.

PSALM VII. Aug. 14. 1653.*

Upon the words of Chush the Benjamite against him.

LORD my God, to thee I fly,

Save me and secure me under
Thy protection while I cry,
Lest as a lion (and no wonder)
He haste to tear my soul asunder,
Tearing and no rescue nigh.

In the dust my glory dead,
In the dust and there out-spread
Lodge it with dishonour foul.

Rise, Jehovah, in thine ire,
Rouse thyself amidst the rage
Of my foes that urge like fire

And wake for me, their fury' assuage;
Judgment here thou didst engage
And command which I desire.

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But the just establish fast,

Since thou art the just God that tries
Hearts and reins. On God is cast

My defence, and in him lies,
In him who both just and wise
Saves th' upright of heart at last.

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God is a just judge and severe,

And God is every day offended;

If the unjust will not forbear,

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His sword he whets, his bow hath bended
Already, and for him intended

The tools of death, that waits him near.