PSALM 101. (L. M.) The Magistrate's Psalm.
I
Mercy and judgment are my song;
And since they both to thee belong,
My gracious God, my righteous king,
To thee my songs and vows I bring.
II
If I am rais'd to bear the sword,
I'll take my counsels from thy word;
Thy justice and thy heavenly grace
Shall be the pattern of my ways.
III
Let wisdom all my actions guide,
And let my God with me reside;
No wicked thing shall dwell with me,
Which may provoke thy jealousy.
IV
No sons of slander, rage and strife
Shall be companions of my life;
The haughty look, the heart of pride
Within my doors shall near abide.
V
I'll search the land, and raise the just
To posts of honour, wealth, and trust:
The men that work thy holy will
Shall be my friends and favourites still.
VI
In vain shall sinners hope to rise
By flattering or malicious lies;
And while the innocent I guard,
The bold offender shan't be spar'd.
VII
The impious crew (that factious band)
Shall hide their heads, or quit the land;
And all that break the public rest,
Where I have power, shall be supprest.
The first stanza represents the mercy and judgment which the
Psalmist sings, as the due qualities of good government, which is the
proper sense of them in this psalm; and according to the double character
of David in this psalm, I have applied the first metre to
magistrates, the second to householders.
The fifth stanza can be sung only by the superior rank of magistrates,
and not the inferior.
