Poems by the late John Bethune With a sketch of the author's life, by his brother |
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THE SIXTH PSALM. |
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| II. |
 | Poems by the late John Bethune |  |
THE SIXTH PSALM.
O Lord, rebuke me not in wrath,
Nor chasten in thine ire!
With mercy smoothe affliction's path,
And lift me from the mire.
Nor chasten in thine ire!
With mercy smoothe affliction's path,
And lift me from the mire.
My soul is also sad. How long,
O God, shall sorrow be
The subject of my daily song
And nightly prayer to Thee?
O God, shall sorrow be
The subject of my daily song
And nightly prayer to Thee?
Return, O Lord, in peace return,
My feeble form to save!
No thanks can issue from the urn,
No praises from the grave.
My feeble form to save!
No thanks can issue from the urn,
No praises from the grave.
In weariness and pain alone
My sleepless watch I keep,
Making to night my ceaseless moan—
My bed with tears I steep.
My sleepless watch I keep,
Making to night my ceaseless moan—
My bed with tears I steep.
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My eyes with grief grow old and dim—
O Lord solace my woes—
Let brighter hopes illumine them,
And scatter all my foes!
O Lord solace my woes—
Let brighter hopes illumine them,
And scatter all my foes!
Depart from me, ye sons of guile,
For God hath heard my voice,
And bless'd with his inspiring smile,
My spirit shall rejoice.
For God hath heard my voice,
And bless'd with his inspiring smile,
My spirit shall rejoice.
But let the brand of sin and shame
Upon my enemies fall,
And let the grief which from them came
Return upon them all.
Upon my enemies fall,
And let the grief which from them came
Return upon them all.
| Poems by the late John Bethune | |