University of Virginia Library

PSALM IV.

[God of my righteousness]

God of my righteousness,
Thy humble suppliant hear;
Thou hast relieved me in distress,
And Thou art always near:
Again Thy mercy show,
The peaceful answer send,
Assuage my grief, relieve my woe,
And all my troubles end.
How long, ye sons of men,
Will ye blaspheme aloud?
My honour wrong, my glory stain,
And vilify my God?

8

How long will ye delight
In vanity and vice,
Madly against the righteous fight,
And follow after lies?
Know, for Himself the Lord
Hath surely set apart
The man that trembles at His word,
The man of upright heart:
And when to Him I pray,
He promises to hear,
And help me in my evil day,
And answer all my prayer.
Ye sinners, stand in awe,
And from your sins depart;
Out of the evil world withdraw,
And commune with your heart:
In thinking of His love
Be day and night employ'd;
Be still, nor in His presence move,
But wait upon your God.
Offer your prayer and praise,
Which He will not despise,
Through Jesus Christ, your Righteousness,
Accepted sacrifice:
Offer your heart's desires;
But trust in Him alone,
Who gives whatever He requires,
And freely saves His own.
The world with fruitless pain
Seek happiness below,
“What man,” they ask, but all in vain,
“The long-sought good will show?”

9

The brightness of Thy face
Give us, O Lord, to see,
Glory on earth, begun in grace,
All happiness in Thee.
Thou hast on me bestow'd
(Most gracious as Thou art)
The taste Divine, the sovereign good,
And fix'd it in my heart;
Above all earthly bliss
The sense of sin forgiven,
The hidden joy, the mystic peace,
The antepast of heaven.
Of gospel-peace possess'd,
Secure in Thy defence,
Now, Lord, within Thine arms I rest,
And who shall pluck me hence?
Nor sin, nor earth, nor hell
Shall evermore remove,
When all renew'd in Thee I dwell,
And perfected in love.