 | Thoughts in Verse |  |
THIRTY-NINTH PSALM.
I said, I will take heed unto my going,
That I may keep from sinning with my tongue;
And keep my mouth at all times with a bridle;
When wicked ones are near, I will be dumb.
That I may keep from sinning with my tongue;
And keep my mouth at all times with a bridle;
When wicked ones are near, I will be dumb.
I held my peace, was as the dumb with silence,
Whenever I within their presence stood,
Though stirred with sorrow, sore vexed, out of patience,
I held my peace, even from speaking good.
Whenever I within their presence stood,
Though stirred with sorrow, sore vexed, out of patience,
I held my peace, even from speaking good.
Yet still my heart was burning, hot within me,
The fire was burning while I mused long;
Fierce thoughts of vengeance, surged and warred within me!
Then calm with peace, I pleaded with my tongue.
The fire was burning while I mused long;
Fierce thoughts of vengeance, surged and warred within me!
Then calm with peace, I pleaded with my tongue.
Make me to know mine end, O Lord, the measure
Of all the days thou hast allotted here;
That I in wisdom and in truth may treasure
Each day, each hour, each moment of the year.
Of all the days thou hast allotted here;
That I in wisdom and in truth may treasure
Each day, each hour, each moment of the year.
54
Teach me to cherish all the time Thou sendest,
To the best use the smallest fraction give;
To ne'er forget how frail I am; Thou lendest
All of the strength by which I move and live.
To the best use the smallest fraction give;
To ne'er forget how frail I am; Thou lendest
All of the strength by which I move and live.
Behold Thou mak'st my days as 'twere a hand breadth,
And all mine age fades into nothingness;
Before Thee as I stand my aching heart saith:
Man is but vanity and show when at his best.
And all mine age fades into nothingness;
Before Thee as I stand my aching heart saith:
Man is but vanity and show when at his best.
In a vain show most surely each man walketh,
With care his life disquieteth in vain;
And to himself great sums of riches heapeth,
Then dies, and knoweth not who reaps his gain.
With care his life disquieteth in vain;
And to himself great sums of riches heapeth,
Then dies, and knoweth not who reaps his gain.
And now, O Lord, I wait for thy salvation,
Surely my hope is centered, Lord, in Thee.
Deliver me from sin—from all transgression,
Nor to the foolish a by-word may I be.
Surely my hope is centered, Lord, in Thee.
Deliver me from sin—from all transgression,
Nor to the foolish a by-word may I be.
I was as dumb, my mouth I would not open,
Because in mercy Thou convictest me;
I am consumed by thy stroke of justice;
Remove Thy hand, O Lord, regard my plea.
Because in mercy Thou convictest me;
I am consumed by thy stroke of justice;
Remove Thy hand, O Lord, regard my plea.
When Thou in wrath correctest man for folly,
Like as a moth his beauty fades away.
When we oppose to Thee our strength, most surely
We realize that man is vanity.
Like as a moth his beauty fades away.
When we oppose to Thee our strength, most surely
We realize that man is vanity.
Hear, now, my prayer, give ear unto my crying!
Hold not thy peace, when I am filled with fear!
For in thy sight, I know I am a stranger
And a sojourner, as were my fathers here.
Hold not thy peace, when I am filled with fear!
55
And a sojourner, as were my fathers here.
Spare me, O Lord, for am I not a lover
Of thy great law, and all thy truth adore?
Spare me, O Lord, that I may strength recover,
Before I go, and hither come no more.
Of thy great law, and all thy truth adore?
Spare me, O Lord, that I may strength recover,
Before I go, and hither come no more.
| Thoughts in Verse | |