The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley

Have mercy, Lord, for man hath none!
From day to day he still goes on
To swallow up his prey:
My foes continual battles wage,
And strive, with unrelenting rage,
My helpless soul to slay.

Dreadful in number and in power,
I see them ready to devour;
But when to Thee I cry,
Returns my faith, retires my fear,
I feel, I feel the Saviour near,
The Lord, the Lord most high!

Through Thee I will Thy word proclaim,
And bless the mighty Jesu's name,
In whom I still confide:
Jesus is good, and strong, and true;
I will not fear what man can do,
When God is on my side.

They daily wrest the words I speak,
In all their thoughts my ruin seek,
And close in ambush lie;
They mark my steps, where'er I turn;
As not to rest their rage had sworn
Till by their hands I die.

126

But Thou, O Lord, shalt vengeance take,
And cast into the burning lake
The vessels of Thine ire;
Who Thee and all Thy people hate,
Shall feel Thy righteous anger's weight
In everlasting fire.

I now beneath their fury groan,
But Thou hast all my sufferings known,
The hasty flights I took;
Thou treasurest up my counted tears;
And all my sighs, and griefs, and fears
Are noted in Thy book.

Whenever on the Lord I cry,
My foes, I know, shall fear and fly,
For God is on my side;
Through Thee I will Thy word proclaim,
And bless the mighty Jesu's name,
And still in Him confide.

In God I trust, the good, the true;
I will not fear what flesh can do,
For Jesus takes my part:
I bless Thee, Saviour, for Thy grace,
Offer my sacrifice of praise,
And pay Thee all my heart:

For Thou hast saved my soul from death,
From sin, the world, and hell beneath;
Thou hast my sins forgiven;
That I the glorious light may see,
Walk before God, and perfect be,
And live the life of heaven.

University of Virginia Library

PSALM LVI.

[Have mercy, Lord, for man hath none!]