The Psalms of David Part 24

6 Vain hopes, and vain inventions all To 'scape the rage of h.e.l.l!

The mighty G.o.d on whom I call Can save me here as well.

PAUSE.

7 By morning light I'll seek his face, At noon repeat my cry, The night shall hear me ask his grace, Nor will he long deny.

8 G.o.d shall preserve my soul from fear, Or shield me when afraid; Ten thousand angels must appear If he command their aid.

9 I cast my burdens on the Lord, The Lord sustains them all; My courage rests upon his word That saints shall never fall.

10 My highest hopes shall not be vain, My lips shall spread his praise; While cruel and deceitful men Scarce live out half their days.

Psalm 55:2. 15-17 19 22. S. M.

Dangerous prosperity; or, Daily devotions encouraged.

1 Let sinners take their course, And choose the road to death; But in the worship of my G.o.d I'll spend my daily breath.

2 My thoughts address his throne When morning brings the light; I seek his blessing every noon, And pay my vows at night.

3 Thou wilt regard my cries, O my eternal G.o.d, While sinners perish in surprise Beneath thine angry rod.

4 Because they dwell at ease, And no sad changes feel, They neither fear nor trust thy Name, Nor learn to do thy will.

5 But I with all my cares Will call upon the Lord, I'll cast my burdens on his arm, And rest upon his word,

6 His arm shall well sustain The children of his love; The ground on which their safety stands No earthly power can move.

Psalm 56.

Deliverance from oppression and falsehood; or, G.o.d's care of his people, in answer to faith and prayer.

1 Thou, whose justice reigns on high, And makes th' oppressor cease, Behold how envious sinners try To vex and break my peace!

2 The Sons of violence and lies Join to devour me, Lord; But as my hourly dangers rise, My refuge is thy word.

3 In G.o.d most holy, just, and true, I have repos'd my trust; Nor will I fear what flesh can do, The offspring of the dust.

4 They wrest my words to mischief still, Charge me with unknown faults; Mischief doth all their councils fill, And malice all their thoughts.

5 Shall they escape without thy frown?

Must their devices stand?

O cast the haughty sinner down, And let him know thy hand!

PAUSE.

6 G.o.d counts the sorrows of his saints, Their groans affect his ears; Thou hast a book for my complaints, A bottle for my tears.

7 When to thy throne I raise my cry The wicked fear and flee; So swift is prayer to reach the sky, So near is G.o.d to me.

8 In thee, most holy, just, and true, I have repos'd my trust; Nor will I fear what man can do, The offspring of the dust.

9 Thy solemn vows are on me, Lord, Thou shalt receive my praise; I'll sing, "how faithful is thy word, "How righteous all thy ways!"

10 Thou hast secur'd my soul from death; O set thy prisoner free, That heart and hand, and life and breath May be employ'd for thee.

Psalm 57.

Praise for protection, grace, and truth.

1 My G.o.d, in whom are all the springs Of boundless love and grace unknown, Hide me beneath thy spreading wings Till the dark cloud is overblown.

2 Up to the heavens I send my cry, The Lord will my desires perform; He sends his angel from the sky, And saves me from the threatening storm.

3 Be thou exalted, O my G.o.d, Above the heavens where angels dwell: Thy power on earth be known abroad, And land to land thy wonders tell.

4 My heart is fix'd; my song shall raise Immortal honours to thy Name; Awake, my tongue, to sound his praise, My tongue, the glory of my frame.

5 High o'er the earth his mercy reigns, And reaches to the utmost sky; His truth to endless years remains, When lower worlds dissolve and die.

6 Be thou exalted, O my G.o.d, Above the heavens where angels dwell; Thy power on earth be known abroad, And land to land thy wonders tell.

Psalm 58. As the 113th Psalm.

Warning to magistrates.

1 Judges, who rule the world by laws, Will ye despise the righteous cause, When th' injur'd poor before you stands?

Dare ye condemn the righteous poor, And let rich sinners 'scape secure, While gold and greatness bribe your hands?

2 Have ye forgot, or never knew, That G.o.d will judge the judges too?

High in the heavens his justice reigns?

Yet you invade the rights of G.o.d, And send your bold decrees abroad, To bind the conscience in your chains.

3 A poison'd arrow is your tongue, The arrow sharp, the poison strong, And death attends where'er it wounds: You hear no counsels, cries or tears; So the deaf adder stops her ears Against the power of charming sounds.

4 Break out their teeth, eternal G.o.d, Those teeth of lions dy'd in blood; And crush the serpents in the dust: As empty chaff when whirlwinds rise, Before the sweeping tempest flies, So let their hopes and names be lost.

5 Th' Almighty thunders from the sky, Their grandeur melts, their t.i.tles die, As hills of snow dissolve and run, Or snails that perish in their slime, Or births that come before their time, Vain births, that never see the sun.

6 Thus shall the vengeance of the Lord Safety and joy to saints afford; And all that hear shall join and say, "Sure there's a G.o.d that rules on high, "A G.o.d that hears his children cry, "And will their sufferings well repay."

Psalm 60. 1-5 10-12.

On a day of humiliation for disappointments in war.

1 Lord, hast thou cast the nation off?

Must we for ever mourn?

Wilt thou indulge immortal wrath?