Though wicked men with wealth abound,
And with success the plots are crowned
Which they maliciously devise.

8 From anger cease, and wrath forsake:
Let no ungoverned passion make

Thy wavering heart espouse their crime; 9 For God shall sinful men destroy; Whilst only they the land enjoy,

Who trust on him, and wait his time. 10 How soon shall wicked men decay! Their place shall vanish quite away,

Nor by the strictest search be found; 11 Whilst humble souls possess the earth, Rejoicing still with godly mirth,

With peace and plenty always crowned.

PART II.

12 While sinful crowds, with false design, Against the righteous few combine,

And gnash their teeth, and threatening stand, 13 God shall their empty plots deride, And laugh at their defeated pride:

He sees their ruin near at hand.

14 They draw the sword, and bend the bow, The poor and needy to o'erthrow,

And men of upright lives to slay ;

15 But their strong bows shall soon be broke; Their sharpened weapon's mortal stroke

Through their own hearts shall force its way.

16 A little, with God's favour blessed,
That's by one righteous man possessed,
The wealth of many bad excels;
17 For God supports the just man's cause;
But as for those that break his laws,
Their unsuccessful power he quells.
18 His constant care the upright guides,
And over all their life presides;

Their portion shall for ever last :
19 They, when distress o'erwhelms the earth,
Shall be unmoved, and, even in dearth,
The happy fruits of plenty taste.

20 Not so the wicked man, and those
Who proudly dare God's will oppose;
Destruction is their hapless share:

Like fat of lambs, their hopes, and they,
Shall in an instant melt away,

And vanish into smoke and air.

PART III.

21 While sinners, brought to sad decay, Still borrow on, and never pay,

The just have will and power to give ; 22 For such as God vouchsafes to bless Shall peaceably the earth possess,

And those he curses shall not live. 23 The good man's way is God's delight; He orders all the steps aright

Of him that moves by his command ; 24 Though he sometimes may be distressed, Yet shall he ne'er be quite oppressed, For God upholds him with his hand. 25 From my first youth, till age prevailed, I never saw the righteous failed,

Or want o'ertake his numerous race; 26 Because compassion filled his heart, And he did cheerfully impart,

God made his offspring's wealth increase. 27 With caution shun each wicked deed, In virtue's ways with zeal proceed, And so prolong your happy days; 28 For God, who judgment loves, does still Preserve his saints secure from ill,

While soon the wicked race decays. 29, 30, 31 The upright shall possess the land; His portion shall for ages stand;

His mouth with wisdom is supplied;
His tongue by rules of judgment moves;
His heart the law of God approves ;
Therefore his footsteps never slide.

PART IV.

32 In wait the watchful sinner lies, In vain, the righteous to surprise, In vain his ruin does decree:

33 God will not him defenceless leave To his revenge exposed, but save;

And, when he's sentenced, set him free.

34 Wait still on God; keep his command,
And thou, exalted in the land,

Thy blessed possession ne'er shall quit:
The wicked soon destroyed shall be,
And at his dismal tragedy

Thou shalt a safe spectator sit.

35 The wicked I in power have seen, And like a bay-tree, fresh and green, That spreads its pleasant branches round: 36 But he was gone as swift as thought; And, though in every place I sought, No sign or track of him I found. 37 Observe the perfect man with care, And mark all such as upright are; Their roughest days in peace shall end: 38 While on the latter end of those Who dare God's sacred will oppose, A common ruin shall attend. 39 God to the just will aid afford; Their only Safeguard is the Lord; Their Strength in time of need is he: 40 Because on him they still depend, The Lord will timely succour send, And from the wicked set them free.

PSALM 38.

HY chastening wrath, O Lord, restrain,
Though I deserve it all;

Nor let at once on me the storm

Of thy displeasure fall.

2 In every wretched part of me
Thy arrows deep remain;

Thy heavy hand's afflicting weight
I can no more sustain.

3 My flesh is one continued wound,
Thy wrath so fiercely glows:
Betwixt my punishment and guilt
My bones have no repose.

4 My sins, which to a deluge swell,
My sinking head o'erflow,

And, for my feeble strength to bear,
Too vast a burden grow.

5 Stench and corruption fill my wounds, My folly's just return;

6 With trouble I am warped and bowed, And all day long I mourn.

7 A loathed disease afflicts my loins, Infecting every part;

8 With sickness worn, I groan and roar Through anguish of my heart.

PART II.

9 But, Lord, before thy searching eyes
All my desires appear;

And sure my groans have been too loud,
Not to have reached thine ear.

10 My heart's oppressed, my strength decayed, My eyes deprived of light;

11 Friends, lovers, kinsmen

gaze aloof On such a dismal sight.

12 Meanwhile, the foes that seek my life
Their snares to take me set,

Vent slanders, and contrive all day
To forge some new deceit:-

13 But I, as if both deaf and dumb,
Nor heard, nor once replied;

14 Quite deaf and dumb, like one whose tongue With conscious guilt is tied.

15 For, Lord, to thee I do appeal,
My innocence to clear,

Assured that thou, the righteous God,
My injured cause wilt hear.

16 "Hear me," said I, "lest my proud foes

66

"A spiteful joy display;

Insulting, if they see my foot
"But once to go astray."

17 And, with continual grief oppressed,

To sink I now begin;

18 To thee, O Lord, I will confess,
To thee bewail my sin.

19 But, whilst I languish, my proud foes
Their strength and vigour boast;
And they that hate me without cause
Are grown a dreadful host.

20 Even they whom I obliged return
My kindness with despite,
And are my enemies, because
I choose the path that's right.
21 Forsake me not, O Lord my God,
Nor far from me depart;

22 Make haste to my relief, O thou
Who my Salvation art.

1

PSALM 39.

RESOLVED to watch o'er all my ways,

I kept my tongue in awe;

I curbed my hasty words, when I

The wicked prosper saw.

2 Like one that's dumb, I silent stood,
And did my tongue refrain

From good discourse; but that restraint
Increased my inward pain.

3 My heart did glow with working thoughts, And no repose could take,

Till strong reflection fanned the fire,
And thus at length I spake :-

4 Lord, let me know my term of days,
How soon my life will end;

The numerous train of ills disclose,
Which this frail state attend.

5 My life, thou know'st, is but a span;
A cipher sums my years;
And every man, in best estate,
But vanity appears.

6 Man, like a shadow, vainly walks,
With fruitless cares oppressed;
He heaps up wealth, but cannot tell
By whom 'twill be possessed.

7 Why, then, should I on worthless toys
With anxious cares attend?

On thee alone my steadfast hope
Shall ever, Lord, depend.

8, 9 Forgive my sins; nor let me scorned
By foolish sinners be;

For I was dumb, and murmured not,
Because 'twas done by thee.