15 The Lord from heaven beholds the just
With favourable eyes;

And, when distressed, his gracious ear
Is open to their cries ;-

16 But turns his wrathful look on those
Whom mercy can't reclaim,

To cut them off, and from the earth
Blot out their hated name.

17 Deliverance to his saints he gives
When his relief they crave;

18 He's nigh to heal the broken heart, And contrite spirit save.

19 The wicked oft, but still in vain, Against the just conspire;

20 For, under their affliction's weight, He keeps their bones entire.

21 The wicked from their wicked arts
Their ruin shall derive;

Whilst righteous men, whom they detest,
Shall them and theirs survive.

22 For God preserves the souls of those
Who on his truth depend;

1

To them, and their posterity,
His blessings shall descend.

A

PSALM 35.

GAINST all those that strive with me,
O Lord, assert my right;

With such as war unjustly wage,

Do thou my battles fight.

2 Thy buckler take, and bind thy shield Upon thy warlike arm;

Stand up, O God, in my defence,

And keep me safe from harm.

3 Bring forth thy spear, and stop their course, That haste my blood to spill;

Say to my soul, "I am thy Health,

"And will preserve thee still."

4 Let them with shame be covered o'er, Who my destruction sought;

And such as did my harm devise

Be to confusion brought.

5 Then shall they fly, dispersed like chaff
Before the driving wind;

God's vengeful minister of wrath
Shall follow close behind.

6 And when, through dark and slippery ways,
They strive his rage to shun,
His vengeful ministers of wrath
Shall goad them as they run.
7 Since, unprovoked by any wrong,
They hid their treacherous snare;
And, for my harmless soul, a pit
Did, without cause, prepare ;—
8 Surprised by mischiefs unforeseen,
By their own arts betrayed,
Their feet shall fall into the net,
Which they for me had laid ;-

9 Whilst my glad soul shall God's great name
For this deliverance bless,
And, by his saving health secured,
Its grateful joy express.

10 My very bones shall say, "O Lord,
"Who can compare with thee!
"Who sett'st the poor and helpless man
"From strong oppressors free."

PART II.

11 False witnesses, with forged complaints,
Against my truth combined;

And to my charge such things they laid,
As I had ne'er designed.

12 The good which I to them had done,
With evil they repaid;

And did, by malice undeserved,
My harmless life invade.

13 But as for me, when they were sick,
I still in sackcloth mourned;

I prayed and fasted, and my prayer
To my own breast returned.

14 Had they my friends or brethren been,
I could have done no more;

Nor with more decent signs of grief
A mother's loss deplore.

15 How different did their carriage prove,
In times of my distress,

When they, in crowds together met,
Did savage joy express!

The rabble, too, in numerous throngs,
By their example, came;

And ceased not, with reviling words,
To wound my spotless fame.

16 Scoffers, that noble tables haunt,
And earn their bread with lies,

Did gnash their teeth, and slandering jests
Maliciously devise.

17 But, Lord, how long wilt thou look on? On my behalf appear;

And save my guiltless soul, which they,
Like ravening beasts, would tear.

PART III.

18 So I, before the listening world,
Shall grateful thanks express;
And, where the great assembly meets,
Thy name with praises bless.

19 Lord, suffer not my causeless foes,
Who me unjustly hate,

With open joy or secret signs,

To mock my sad estate.

20 For they, with hearts averse to peace,
Industriously devise,

Against the men of quiet minds,
To forge malicious lies.

21 Nor with these private arts content,
Aloud they vent their spite;

And say, "At last we found him out;
"He did it in our sight."

22 But thou, who dost both them and me
With righteous eyes survey,
Assert my innocence, O Lord,
And keep not far away.

23 Stir up thyself in my behalf;
To judgment, Lord, awake;

Thy righteous servant's cause, O God,
To thy decision take.

24 Lord, as my heart has upright been,
Let me thy justice find;
Nor let my cruel foes obtain
The triumph they designed.

25 O! let them not, amongst themselves,
In boasting language, say,

"At length our wishes are complete ;
"At last he's made our prey."

26 Let such as in my harm rejoiced
For shame their faces hide,
And foul dishonour wait on those
That proudly me defied ;-

27 Whilst they with cheerful voices shout,
Who my just cause befriend,

And bless the Lord, who loves to make
Success his saints attend.

28 So shall my tongue thy judgments sing,
Inspired with grateful joy ;
And cheerful hymns, in praise of thee,
Shall all my days employ.

1

PSALM 36.

MY crafty foe, with flattering art,

His wicked purpose would disguise; But reason whispers to my heart,

He ne'er sets God before his eyes.

2 He soothes himself, retired from sight; Secure he thinks his treacherous game; Till his dark plots, exposed to light,

Their false contriver brand with shame.

3 In deeds he is my foe confessed,

Whilst with his tongue he speaks me fair;
True wisdom's banished from his breast,
And vice has sole dominion there.

4 His wakeful malice spends the night
In forging his accursed designs;
His obstinate, ungenerous spite
No execrable means declines.

5 But, Lord, thy mercy, my sure hope,
Above the heavenly orb ascends;
Thy sacred truth's unmeasured scope
Beyond the spreading sky extends.

6 Thy justice like the hills remains;
Unfathomed depths thy judgments are;
Thy providence the world sustains;
The whole creation is thy care.

7 Since of thy goodness all partake,

With what assurance should the just
Thy sheltering wings their refuge make,
And saints to thy protection trust!
8 Such guests shall to thy courts be led,
To banquet on thy love's repast;
And drink, as from a fountain's head,
Of joys that shall for ever last.

9 With thee the springs of life remain;
Thy presence is eternal day:

10 O! let thy saints thy favour gain;

To upright hearts thy truth display. 11 Whilst pride's insulting foot would spurn, And wicked hands my life surprise, 12 Their mischiefs on themselves return;

1

Down, down they're fallen, no more to rise.
PSALM 37.

THO

HOUGH wicked men grow rich or great,
Yet let not their successful state
Thy anger or thy envy raise;

2 For they, cut down like tender grass,
Or like young flowers, away shall pass,
Whose blooming beauty soon decays.

3 Depend on God, and him obey,
So thou within the land shalt stay,

Secure from danger and from want: 4 Make his commands thy chief delight, And he, thy duty to requite,

Shall all thy earnest wishes grant. 5 In all thy ways trust thou the Lord, And he will needful help afford, To perfect every just design; 6 He'll make, like light, serene and clear, Thy clouded innocence appear, And as a mid-day sun to shine.

7 With quiet mind on God depend, And patiently for him attend; Nor let thy anger fondly rise,