Psalm V. Verba mea auribus percipe, &c.
I
Lord to my earnest Prayers incline Thyne ear,
And those desires, which Thou first gav'st me, hear!
Attend, my King, my God, unto my cry,
For to Thy Name alone I fly!
If thou art longer silent, what that meant
I'll ask no more, but still will pray,
And hasten with my calls the day,
And silence then shall witness Thy assent.
II
To Heaven I'll look, and pray with confidence,
For I am sure of help, and pitty thence;
I know Thou canst not wickedness indure,
Nor shall the wicked be secure,
Hated by Thee, as Thee he ne're did mind;
His own day dazles his weak sight,
And how then can he bear Thy light?
If his own dazles, Thyne will strike him blind.
III
Thou shalt destroy him, and his lying tongue
Shall to himself alone do all the wrong;
That blood of other men, which he has shed,
Shall justly fall on his own head.
Whilst to Thy Temple I will come with praise,
And make Thy love the subject bee,
Whence I'll take wing to mount to Thee,
And in my flight tow'rds Heav'n, Thy glory raise.
IV
O, bring me thither, and make strait my way,
And let me see the snares my Enemies lay!
Be Thou my guide; that I the path may know,
And lead me, where I ought to go!
I dare not trust them though they seem to bless,
For even their flatteries poyson have;
Their tongue is death, their throat the grave,
Wicked their hands, their heart is wickedness.
V
Destroy them, Lord, but not by Thy right hand,
That signal justice from their own command!
By their own secret counsels let them fall,
And send those plagues, for which they call!
In their transgressions let them be o'rethrown,
Burst with that pride, with which they sweld,
For against Thee they have rebell'd,
And let the Curse they suffer be their own!
VI
But let all those, who trust in Thee, rejoyce,
And where their hearts are, lift on high their voice!
Let them be fearless who adore Thy Name,
Preserv'd by their own heavenly flame!
For Thou all times the Righteous wilt defend,
Thy mighty Power shall be his shield,
Never o'recome, he ne're shall yield,
But certain Conquest shall his arms attend!
