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12 When he inquiry makes for blood,
He'll call the poor to mind:
The injur'd humble man's complaint
Relief from him shall find.
13 -Take pity on my troubles, Lord,
Which spiteful foes create,
Thou that hast rescu'd me so oft
From death's devouring gate.
14 In Sion then I'll sing thy praise,
To all that love thy name;
And, with loud shouts of grateful joy,
Thy saving power proclaim.
15 Deep in the pit they digg'd for me,
The heathen pride is laid;
Their guilty feet to their own snare
Are heedlessly betray'd.

16 Thus, by the just returns he makes,
The mighty Lord is known;
While wicked men by their own plots,
Are shamefully o'erthrown.
17 No single sinner shall escape,
By privacy obscur'd;
Nor nation, from his just revenge,

By numbers be secur'd.

18 His sufiring saints, when most dis

tress'd,

He ne'er forgets to aid;
Their expectations shall be crown'd,
Though for a time delay'd.

19 Arise, O Lord, assert thy power, And let not man o'ercome; Descend to judgment, and pronounce

The guilty heathen's doom.

20 Strike terror through the nations

round,

Till, by consenting fear, They to each other, and themselves,

But mortal men appear.

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Why hid'st thou now thy face,

When dismal times of deep distress,

Call for thy wonted grace?

2 The wicked, swell'd with lawless pride,

Have made the poor their prey;

Which they for others lay.

And sordid wretches, whom God hates,
Perversely they commend.

4 To own a power above themselves,
Their haughty pride disdains;
And therefore in their stubborn mind
No thought of God remains.
5 Oppressive methods they pursue,
And all their foes they slight;
Because thy judgments unobserv'd,
Are far above their sight.

6 They fondly think their prosp'rous

state

Shall unmolested be;

They think their vain designs shall

thrive,

From all misfortunes free.

7 Vain and deceitful is their speech, With curses fill'd, and lies;

By which the mischief of their heart They study to disguise.

8 Near public roads they lie conceald, And all their art employ, The innocent and poor at once

To rifle and destroy.

9 Not lions, couching in their dens,
Surprise their heedless prey
With greater cunning, or express
More savage rage than they.
10 Sometimes they act the harmless man,
And modest looks they wear;
That so deceiv'd, the poor may less
Their sudden onset fear.

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O let them fall by those designs

17 Thou hear'st the humble supplicants

That to thy throne repair;

And then accept'st their prayer.

For straight they triumph, if success Thou first prepar'st their hearts to pray,

Their thriving crimes attend;

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18 Thou, in thy righteous weigh'st

The fatherless and poor; That so the tyrants of the earth

May persecute no more.

PSALM XI.

SINCE

judgment 7 The promise of his aiding grace
Shall reach its purpos'd end;
His servants from this faithless race
He ever shall deferid.

I have plac'd my trust in God,

A refuge always nigh,

Why should I, like a tim'rous bird,

To distant mountains fly?

2 Behold, the wicked bend their bow,

And ready fix their dart,

Lurking in ambush to destroy

The men of upright heart.

8 Then shall the wicked be perplex'd, Nor know which way to fly;

When those whom they despis'd and vex'd,

Shall be advanc'd on high.

PSALM XIII.

OW long wilt thou forget me, Lord?
Must I I for ever mourn?

3 When once the firm assurance fails, 2 How long shall anxious thoughts my

Which public faith imparts,

Tis time for innocence to fly

From such deceitful arts.

4 The Lord hath both a temple here,

And righteous throne above;

Where he surveys the sons of men,

And how their councils move.

5 If God the righteous, whom he loves,

For trial does correct,

What must the sons of violence,

Whom he abhors, expect?

8 Snares, fire, and brimstone, on their

heads

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Do thou my cause defend;
For scarce these wretched times afford
One just and faithful friend.
2 One neighbour now can scarce believe
What t'other does impart;
With flatt'ring lips they all deceive,
And with a double heart.
3 But lips that with deceit abound
Can never prosper long;
God's righteous vengeance will

H

How long wilt thou withdraw from me,

Oh! never to return?

soul,

And grief my heart oppress?

How long my enemies insult,
And I have no redress?

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high tower,

And all the sons of men did view, To see if any own'd his power; If any truth or justice knew. con-3 But all, he saw, were gone aside, All were degen'rate grown and base; None took religion for their guide, Not one of all the sinful race. 4 But can these workers of deceit Be all so dull and senseless grown, That they, like bread, my people eat, And God's almighty power disown? 5 How will they tremble then for fear, When his just wrath shall them o'ertake?

found

The proud blaspheming tongue.
4 In vain those foolish boasters say,
'Our tongues are sure our own;
With doubtful words we'll still betray,
And be controll'd by none.'
5 For God, who hears the suff'ring poor,
And their oppression knows,
Will soon arise and give them rest,
In spite of all their foes.
6 The word of God shall still abide,
And void of falsehood be,
As is the silver, seven times try'd,
From drossy mixture free.

For to the righteous God is near,
And never will their cause forsake.
6 Ill men, in vain, with scorn expose
Those methods which the good pursue;
And shield me, Lord, from harm;
Because my trust I still repose
On thy almighty arm.

Since God a refuge is for those

Whom his just eyes with favour view. 7 Would he his saving power employ To break his people's servile band, Then shouts of universal joy

Should loudly echo through the land.

PSALM XV.

17 Therefore my soul shall bless the Lord,
Whose precepts give me light;
And private counsel still afford
In sorrow's dismal night.
8 I strive each action to approve
To his all-seeing eye;
No danger shall my hopes remove,
Because he still is nigh.

TORD, who's the happy man that may 9 Therefore my heart all grief defies,

To thy best courts repair, Not stranger-like, to visit them,

But to inhabit there?

2 'Tis he, whose every thought and deed By rules of virtue moves; Whose gen'rous tongue disdains to speak The thing his heart disproves. 3 Who never did a slander forge, His neighbour's fame to wound;

Nor hearken to a false report,

By malice whisper'd round.

4 Who vice, in all its pomp and power, Can treat with just neglect; And piety, though cloth'd in rags,

Religiously respect.

5 Who to his plighted vows and trust Has ever firmly stood;

And though he promise to his loss,
He makes his promise good.
6 Whose soul in usury disdains
His treasure to employ;

Whom no rewards can ever bribe

The guiltless to destroy. 7 The man, who by his steady course

Has happiness insur'd, When earth's foundation shakes, shall

stand,

By providence secur'd.

PSALM XVI.

PROTECT me from cruel foes

My flesh shall rest, in hope to rise,
Wak'd by his pow'rful voice.

10 Thou, Lord, when I resign my breath,
My soul from hell shalt free;
Nor let thy Holy One in death
The least corruption see.

11 Thou shalt the paths of life display,
Which to thy presence lead;
Where pleasures dwell without allay,
And joys that never fade.

PSALM XVII.

Tens 10 my just plea and sad complaint, righteous Lord;

And to my prayer, as 'tis unfeign'd,
A gracious ear afford.
2 As in thy sight I am approv'd,
So let my 'sentence be;
And with impartial eyes, O Lord,

My upright dealing see.

3 For thou hast search'd my heart by day,
And visited by night;
And, on the strictest trial, found
Its secret motions right.

Nor shall thy justice, Lord, alone
My heart's designs acquit;
For I have purpos'd that my tongue
Shall no offence commit.

4 I know what wicked men would do
Their safety to maintain;
But me thy just and mild commands
From bloody paths restrain.
5 That I may still, in spite of wrongs,
My innocence secure,

O guide me in thy righteous ways,
And make my footsteps sure.
6 Since, heretofore, I ne'er in vain
To thee my prayer address'd;
O! now, my God, incline thine ear
To this my just request.

7 The wonders of thy truth and love
In my defence engage;

Thow, whose right hand preserves thy

saints

From their oppressor's rage.

2 My soul all help but thine does slight,
All gods but thee disown;
Yet can no deeds of mine requite
The goodness thou hast shown.
3 But those that strictly virtuous are,
And love the thing that's right,

To favour always, and prefer,
Shall be my chief delight.

4 How shall their sorrows be increas'd,

Who other gods adore! Their bloody off 'rings I detest, Their very names abhor.

5 My lot is fall'n in that blest land
Where God is truly known;

He fills my cup with lib'ral hand,
'Tis he supports my throne.
6 In nature's most delightful scene
My happy portion lies;
The place of my appointed reign
All other lands outvies.

PART II.

8, 9 O! keep me in thy tend'rest care;
Thy shelt'ring wings stretch out,
To guard me safe from savage foes,
That compass me about:

10 O'ergrown with luxury, enclos'd
In their own fat they lie;

And with a proud blaspheming mouth, 19 He left the beauteous realms of light,

Both God and man defy.

11 Well may

now

ey boast, for they have

My paths encompass'u round;

Whiist heaven bow'd down its awful

head

Beneath his feet substantial night Was like a sable carpet spread.

Their eyes at watch, their bodies bow'd, 10 The chariot of the King of kings,

And couching on the ground;

12 In posture of a lion set,

When greedy of his prey;

Or a young lion, when he lurks

Within a covert way.

13 Arise, O Lord, defeat their plots,
Their swelling rage control;
From wicked men, who are thy sword,
Deliver thou my soul:

14 From wordly men, thy sharpest

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No change of time shan ever shock

My firm affection, Lord, to thee;
For thou hast always been my rock,
A fortress and defence to me.
Thou, my deliv'rer art, my God;

My trust is in thy mighty power;
Thou art my shield from foes abroad,
At home my safeguard and my tower.
3 To thee I will address my prayer,
To whom all praise we justly owe;
So shall 1, by thy watchful care,

Be guarded from my treach'rous foe. 4, 5 By floods of wicked men distress'd, With seas of sorrow compass'd round, With dire infernal pangs oppress'd,

In death's unwieldy fetters bound'; 6 To heaven I made my mournful

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Which active troops of angels drew,

On a strong tempest's rapid wings, With most amazing swiftness flew. 11, 12 Black watery mists and clouds

conspir'd,

With thickest shades his face to veil; But at his brightness soon retir'd,

And fell in showers of fire and hail. 13 Through heaven's wide arch a thun

d'ring peal

God's angry voice did loudly roar; While earth's sad face with heaps of hail And flakes of fire was cover'd o'er. 14 His sharpen'd arrows round he threw, Which made his scatter'd foes retreat; Like darts his nimble lightnings flew, And quickly finish'd their defeat. 15 The deep its secret stores disclos'd, The world's foundation naked lay; By his avenging wrath expos'd, Which fiercely rag'd that dreadful day. PART III.

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16 The Lord did on my side engage; From heaven, his throne, my cause upheld;

And snatch'd me from the furious rage Of threat'ning waves, that proudly

4

swell'd.

17 God his resistless power employ'd My strongest foes' attempts to break; Who else with ease had soon destroy'd The weak defence that I could make. 18 Their subtle rage had near prevail'd, When I distress'd and friendless lay; But still, when other succours fail'd, God was my firm support and stay. 19 From dangers that enclos'd me round, He brought me forth and set me free; For some just cause his goodness found,

That mov'd him to delight in me. 20 Because in me no guilt remains, God does his gracious help extend; My hands are free from bloody stains; Therefore the Lord is still my friend. 21, 22 For I his judgments keep in sight, In his just paths I always trod; I never did his statutes slight,

Nor loosely wander'd from my God. 23, 24 But still my soul, sincere and

pure,

Did even from darling sins refrain; His favours therefore yet endure, Because my heart and hands are clean. PART IV.

25, 26 Thou suit'st, O Lord, thy righte To various paths of human-kind;

ous ways

They who for mercy merit praise,
With thee shall wondrous mercy find.
Thou to the just shalt justice show;
The pure thy purity shall see:
Such as perversely choose to go,

Shall meet with due returns from thee.. 27, 28 That he the humble soul will save, And crush the haughty's boasted

might,

In me the Lord an instance gave, Whose darkness he has turn'd to light. 29 On his firm succour I rely'd,

And did o'er num'rous foes prevail; Nor fear'd, whilst he was on my side,

The best defended walls to scale. 50 For God's design shall still succeed, His word will bear the utmost test; He's a strong shield to all that need, And on his sure protection rest. 31 Who then deserves to be ador'd,

But God, on whom my hopes depend?
Or who, except the mighty Lord,

Can with resistless power defend?
PART V.

62, 33 'Tis God that girds my armour on,
And all my just designs fulfils;
Through him my feet can swiftly run,
And nimbly climb the steepest hills.
34 Lessons of war from him I take,

And manly weapons learn to wield;
Strong bows of steel with ease I break,
Forc'd by my stronger arms to yield.
65 The buckler of his saving health
Protects me from assaulting foes;
His hand sustains me still; my wealth
And greatness from his bounty flows.
66 My goings he enlarged abroad,
Till then to narrow paths confined;
And, when in slipp'ry ways I trod,

The method of my steps design'd.
67 Through him I num'rous hosts defeat,
And flying squadrons captive take;
Nor from my fierce pursuit retreat,
Till I a final conquest make.

38 Cover'd with wounds, in vain they try
Their vanquish'd heads again to rear;
Spite of their boasted strength, they lie
Beneath my feet, and grovel there.

39 God, when fresh armies take the field,
Recruits my strength, my courage

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My conq'ring feet in triumph press;

42 Like flying dust, which winds pursue, Their broken troops I scatter'd round; Their slaughter'd bodies forth I threw, Like loathsome dirt, that clogs the ground.

PART VI.

43 Our factious tribes, at strife till now,
By God's appointment me obey;
The heathen to my sceptre bow,

And foreign nations own my sway.
44 Remotest realms their homage sena,
When my successful name they hear;
Strangers for my commands attend,
Charm'd with respect, or aw'd by fear.
45 All to my summons tamely yield,

Or soon in battle are dismay'd;
For stronger holds they quit the field,
And still in strongest holds afraid.
46 Let the eternal Lord be prais'd,

The rock on whose defence I rest!
To highest heavens his name be rais'd,
Who me with his salvation blest!
47 'Tis God that still supports my rights
His just revenge my foes pursues;
'Tis he, that, with resistless might,

Fierce nations to my yoke subdues. 48 My universal safeguard he!

From whom my lasting honours flow;
He made me great, and set me free
From my remorseless bloody foe.
49 Therefore, to celebrate his fame,
My grateful voice to heaven I'll raiso
And nations, strangers to his name,
Shall thus be taught to sing his praise
50 God to his king deliv'rance sends;
Shows his anointed signal grace;
His mercy evermore extends

To David and his promised race.'

THE

PSALM XIX.

HE heavens declare thy glory, Lord,
Which that alone can fill;
The firmament and stars express
Their great Creator's skill.
2 The dawn of each returning day
Fresh beams of knowledge brings;
And from the dark returns of night
Divine instruction springs.

3 Their pow'rful language to no realm
Or region is confin'd;
Tis nature's voice, and understood
Alike by all mankind.

4 Their doctrine does its sacred sense
Through earth's extent display;
Whose bright contents the circling sun
Does round the world convey.

Aided by him, I root out those

Who hate and envy my success.

5 No bridegroom on his nuptial day

No giant does like him rejoice

To run his glorious race.

6 From east to west, from west to east,

His restless course he goes;

41 With loud complaints all friends they Has such a cheerful face;

try'd;

But none was able to defend;

At length to God for help they cry'd;

But God would no assistance lend.

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