Or elfe my fainting foul had funk, with forrow compafs'd round.. 14 God's time with patient faith expect, who will infpire thy breast I With inward ftrength: do thou thy part, and leave to him the reft. PSALM XXVIII. LORD, my rock, to thee I cry, in fighs confume my breath; O answer, or I fhall become like thofe that fleep in death.. 2 Regard my fupplication, Lord, the cries that I repeat, 3 With weeping eyes, and lifted hands, Let me escape the finners' doom, And ever speak the perfon fair, whofe blood they mean to spill. 4 According to their crimes' extent, let juftice have its courfe ;. Relentless be to them, as they have finn'd without remorse. 5 Since they the works of God despise, From whom the cries of my diftress 8" His aiding pow'r fupports the troops, "that my juft caufe maintain : "'Twas he advanc'd me to the throne; "'tis he fecures my reign." 9 Preferve thy chofen, and proceed thine heritage to bless; 1 With plenty profper them, in peace; YE PSALM XXIX. E princes, that in might excel, your grateful facrifice prepare; God's glorious actions loudly tell, his wond'rous pow'r to all declare. 2 To his great Name fresh altars raife; devoutly due respect afford : Him in his holy temple praife, where he's with folemn ftate ador'd. 3 'Tis he that, with amazing noise, the wat❜ry clouds in funder breaks; The ocean trembles at his voice, when he from heav'n in thunder fpeaks. 4, 5 How full of pow'r his voice appears! with what majeftic terror crown'd! Which from their roots tall cedars tears, and ftrews their scatter'd branches round. 6 They, and the hills on which they grow, are fometimes hurry'd far away; And leap, like hinds that bounding go, or unicorns in youthful play. 7, 8 When God in thunder loudly fpeaks, and scatter'd flames of light'ning fends, The foreft nods, the defert quakes, and stubborn Kadesh lowly bends. 9 He makes the hinds to caft their young, and lays the beasts' dark coverts bare; While those that to his courts belong, fecurely fing his praises there. 10, 11 God rules the angry floods on high; 'LL celebrate thy praises, Lord, To raise my drooping head, and check: 2, 3 In my diftrefs I cry'd to thee, who kindly didft relieve, And from the grave's expecting jaws my hopeless life retrieve. 4 Thus to his courts ye faints of his, with fongs of praise repair; 5 With me commemorate his truth, and providential care. His wrath has but a moment's reign, his favour no decay; Your night of grief is recompens'd 6 But I, in profp'rous days prefum'd; 7 For when thou hid'ft thy face, I saw my honour laid in duft. 8 Then as I vainly had prefum'd my error I confefs'd; 9 And thus with fupplicating voice, "Do thou fend help, on whom alone 11 'Tis done! thou haft my mournful scene who late in fackcloth mourn'd. 12 Exalted thus, I'll gladly fing thy praise in grateful verse; And, as thy favours endless are, thy endless praise rehearse. 'D PSALM XXXI. EFEND me, Lord, from fhame, As juft and righteous is thy Name, 2 Bow down thy gracious ear, 3 Since thou, when foes opprefs, To guide me forth from this distress, 4 Release me from the fnare, 5 which they have clofely laid; to thee alone for aid. To thee, the God of truth, my life, and all that's mine, (For thou preferv'dft me from my youth,) I willingly refign. 6 All vain defigns I hate 7 of thofe that trust in lies; And still my foul, in ev'ry state, to God for fuccour flies. PART II. Those mercies thou haft fhown, I'll cheerfully express; For thou haft feen my ftraits, and known my foul in deep distress. 8 When Keilah's treach'rous race did all my ftrength inclofe, Thou gav'ft my feet a larger space, to fhun my watchful foes. 9 Thy mercy, Lord, display, and hear my juft complaint; 10 Sad thoughts my life opprefs; 11 My foes my fuff'rings mock'd; my neighbours did upbraid; My friends, at fight of me, were shock'd, 12 Forfook by all am I, as dead, and out of mind; And like a fhatter'd veffel lie, whose parts can ne'er be join'd. 13 Yet fland'rous words they speak, and feem my pow'r to dread; Whilft they together counfel take my guiltless blood to shed. 14 But ftill my ftedfaft truft That thou, my God, art good and just, 15 Whate'er events betide, thy wisdom times them all; 16 The brightness of thy face 17 Me from dishonour fave, who ftill have call'd on thee; 18 Do thou their tongues reftrain, 19 How great thy mercies are to fuch as fear thy Name, Which thou for thofe that truft thy care, doft to the world proclaim! 20 Thou keep'ft them in thy fight, 21 With glory and renown God's name be ever bleft; Whofe love, in Keilah's well-fenc'd town, was wond'roufly exprefs'd! 22 I said, in hasty flight, "I'm banish'd from thine eyes;" |