A translation of the psalms of David :: :: University of Virginia Library

The God of Jacob's host
Is my defence and light,
Why should I quit my post,
Or shun the day of fight?
Christ Jesus is my strength and aid,
Why, therefore, should I be dismay'd?

When wicked men advanc'd
Embattel'd troops and bands,
And impious words inhanc'd
By violence of hands;
The Lord abash'd the pow'rs of hell,
And back they went, and down they fell.

Tho' hostile pow'rs increase,
Conspiracies to plan
Against my realm and peace,
I will asert the man;
Tho' war against me be declared,
My faith shall never be impair'd.

I have desired a boon,
By which I will abide,
With angels to commune,
And in thy house reside;
With champions in their Saviour bold,
Which now God's beauteous face behold.

For tho' the heathen chafe
And troublous times predict,
The Lord shall keep me safe
From these that would afflict;
Yea he shall in his temple seat,
And place upon a rock my feet.

And while my threatners halt,
That come so big with dread,
My Saviour shall exalt
The honours of my head,
To baffle the surrounding foes,
Who seek thy servant to depose.

I therefore will devote
In joyfulness divine,
Instead of ram or goat,
Myself before thy shrine.
With songs I will thy praises chant,
And in familiar talk descant.

To these my pray'rs attend,
As in thy house I kneel;
In pity condescend,
O Lord, to my appeal;
In mercy to my fervent suit
Thy blessed Comforter depute.

The holy spirit proves
The workings of my breast,
And as its impulse moves,
My heart is thus addrest.
“Seek ye my face”—resign'd and meek,
Thy face, Lord Jesus, will I seek.

O do not disengage
From my request thine ear,
Nor in this vicious age,
From David disappear,
Nor cast the servant of thy crust
From his dependence in disgust.

Thou hast from spite and spies
Been still my soul's resource,
And thy benign supplies
Have kept a constant course:
O leave me not—my measure still,
Thou God of my salvation, fill.

When all the ties direct
Of love no longer bind,
When fleshy sires neglect
And mothers prove unkind,
Then God receives me as his ward,
The child and orphan of the Lord.

O train me in the track
Of thine eternal way,
O Lord, and lead me back
From whence I went astray;
Because the traitors over-reach
Thy servant, and his truth impeach.

Surrender not my cause
To prejudice, the hate
Of rebels to thy laws
From virulence innate;
For on my fame they have let loose
False accusation and abuse.

I should have been depriv'd
Of spirits in my need,
But that I strength deriv'd
From this my steadfast creed;
That I shall God's perfections know,
Where life is in eternal flow.

O tarry thou in hope,
Expecting God's good hour,
And pray for strength to cope
With every adverse pow'r;
And he, the Comforter, shall bless
Thy soul, which in thy faith possess.

John xviii. ver. 6.