Psalm LXXI. In te Domine speravi non confundar! &c.
I
Thou art my hope, O God, in whom I trust,
Let not my Confidence procure me shame;
But save me in Thy Truth, for Thou art Just,
And in my great escape consult Thy Name,
Lest those, who know Thee not, its care should blame!
To my Complaints, and cryes incline Thine Ear,
And by Thy Help make me assur'd that Thou dost hear!
II
Be Thou my Rock, where till the Storm is past,
Above the Floods I may securely stand!
Thy promis'd aids for me send out at last,
Who art my Rock at Sea, my Fort at Land,
And by Thine save me from my Enemies hand!
The bloody hands of fierce and cruel Men,
And all their shafts on their own heads return again!
III
For Thou, O Lord, my ancient hope hast been,
And from my youth I have Thy Mercies known;
Thy Power was in my first conception seen,
When from the Womb Thou did'st Thy Servant own;
And thence He into Thy great arms was thrown.
Praise is the least that I can offer Thee
For all the care, which then, and since Thou took'st of me
IV
But, Lord, despis'd I'me made the scorn of all,
A greater Wonder Now than heretofore;
Yet still Thou art my God, on whom I call,
My Magazeen, where's laid up all my store:
Nor till Thou sav'st me, will I give Thee o're:
And then my Song shall glory in Thy Praise,
And I'll both honour, and admire Thee all my dayes.
V
Now that I'm Old, my God, and feeble grown,
And both my eyes, and strength together fail,
Leave me not now, by them to be o'rethrown,
Who with continuall plots my life assail,
And or to dye resolve, or to prevail!
Who say, “We'll fight, o'recome, pursue, and take,
“And him, whom God ha's left, Our Slave & Captive make.
VI
Thou, who all this, and more then this dost hear,
Make haste to help me, and no longer stay!
Let those, who thought Thee farr off, find Thee near,
When in consuming flames they melt away,
And to Eternal Wrath are made a prey!
Let shame, Reproach and Scorn their Portion be,
And all the snares their malice had design'd for me!
VII
Then to Thy Name I'll make new Songs of Praise,
By this experience taught to doubt no more;
Recount of Thy great Wonders all my dayes,
And of Thy Righteous Mercies, boundless store,
Which I sufficiently can ne'r adore:
By Thine own Power, I'll of Thy Power rehearse,
And make Thy Righteousness the subject of my Verse.
VIII
Thou from my Infancy hast made me see
Thy Wond'rous Works, which I abroad have shown,
Now that I'm Old continue them to me,
That I may perfect what I have begun,
And tell Posterity, what Thou hast done!
How great Thy Bounty is, How great Thy Love,
Like whom there's none below, like whom there's none above!
IX
Great, and sore troubles, for Thy hand I've born;
But know Thou wilt restore my joyes again:
And when from death Thou shalt my Soul return,
Thy Comforts shall exceed my present pain,
And on my Throne I shall be fixt again;
Shall to my Harp of all Thy Favours sing,
Who art the Holy God, my Hope, and Israel's King.
X
The joy that's in my heart, my mouth shall speak,
And all my Life be one continu'd Song;
My Soul, whose wringing fetters Thou did'st break,
Shall find, or make its passage by my tongue,
And think no time for Thy great praise too long:
For Thou to th' Earth my Enemies hast thrown,
And in Thy Wrath on them, Thy Care of me made known.
