The poetical works of John Nicholson ... Carefully edited from the original editions, with additional notes and a sketch of his life and writings. By W. G. Hird |
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PSALM XVIII. PARAPHRASED
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 | The poetical works of John Nicholson |  |
PSALM XVIII. PARAPHRASED
(from verses 6 to 16).
When in the temple of his God
In sorrow Israel's monarch prayed,
Revenge!—the great Eternal vowed;
The earth—the heav'ns were sore afraid!
In sorrow Israel's monarch prayed,
Revenge!—the great Eternal vowed;
The earth—the heav'ns were sore afraid!
233
When frowned the Great Eternal King,
All nature trembled at His look;
Heav'n's choristers all ceased to sing,
While the eternal pillars shook!
All nature trembled at His look;
Heav'n's choristers all ceased to sing,
While the eternal pillars shook!
Wild rolled the clouds of darkest hue,
And wrapped the day in sable vest,—
The affrighted sun his light withdrew,
And thunders rolled from east to west!
And wrapped the day in sable vest,—
The affrighted sun his light withdrew,
And thunders rolled from east to west!
Earth trembled, and the ocean roar'd;
The clouds all blush'd with cheeks of flame;
Dread terrors veil'd the mountains o'er,
And earthquakes shook old Nature's frame!
The clouds all blush'd with cheeks of flame;
Dread terrors veil'd the mountains o'er,
And earthquakes shook old Nature's frame!
The bending heav'ns obeisance made,
As He on fiery cherubs rode;
Beneath His feet the darkest shade
Rolled as a chariot for its God!
As He on fiery cherubs rode;
Beneath His feet the darkest shade
Rolled as a chariot for its God!
The stars had from their orbits fled,
And melted all created things,
Had not the darkness wrapped His head,
As high He rode on whirlwinds' wings.
And melted all created things,
Had not the darkness wrapped His head,
As high He rode on whirlwinds' wings.
The channels of the mighty deep,—
The centre of the world was bare;
The earth—the ocean could not keep
Their stations, when their God was there!
The centre of the world was bare;
The earth—the ocean could not keep
Their stations, when their God was there!
234
As heralds He the lightnings sent,
The thunder was His trumpet strong;
Devouring clouds before Him went,—
Hail, fire, and storms flew swift along!
The thunder was His trumpet strong;
Devouring clouds before Him went,—
Hail, fire, and storms flew swift along!
His enemies His arrows felt,
And as a shadow fled away:
Thus Israel's foes to nothing melt,
When faithful to their God they pray.
And as a shadow fled away:
Thus Israel's foes to nothing melt,
When faithful to their God they pray.
| The poetical works of John Nicholson | |