And, for my harmless soul, a pit did, without cause, prepare; 8 Surprised by mischiefs unforeseen, by their own arts betray'd, Their feet shall fall into the net, which they for me had laid :

Assert my innocence, O Lord,

and keep not far away.

23 Stir up thyself in my behalf; to judgment, Lord, awake;

Thy righteous servant's cause, O God, to thy decision take.

And, by his saving health secured,

its grateful joy express.

10 My very bones shall say, “O Lord,
"who can compare with thee!
"Who sett'st the poor and helpless man
"from strong oppressors free."
PART II.

11 False witnesses, with forged complaints, against my truth combined;

And to my charge such things they laid, as I had ne'er design'd.

12 The good which I to them had done, with evil they repaid;

And did, by malice undeserved, my harmless life invade.

13 But as for me, when they were sick, I still in sackcloth mourn'd;

I pray'd and fasted, and my prayer to my own breast return'd.

14 Had they my friends or brethren been, I could have done no more;

Nor with more decent signs of grief

a mother's loss deplore.

15 How different did their carriage prove,
in times of my distress!
When they, in crouds, together met,
did savage joy express.

The rabble too, in numerous throngs,
by their example came;
And ceased not, with reviling words,
to wound my spotless fame.

16 Scoffers, that noble tables haunt,
and earn their bread with lies,

Did gnash their teeth, and slandering jests maliciously devise.

17 But, Lord, how long wilt thou look on? on my behalf appear;

And save my guiltless soul, which they
like ravening beasts, would tear.
ᏢᎪᎡᎢ III.

18 So I, before the listening world,
shall grateful thanks express;
And where the great assembly meets,
thy name with praises bless.

19 Lord, suffer not my causeless foes,
who me unjustly hate,
With open joy, or secret signs,

to mock my sad estate.

20 For they, with hearts averse to peace, industriously devise,

Against the men of quiet minds
to forge malicious lies.

21 Nor with these private arts content,
aloud they vent their spite;
And say," At last we found him out,
"he did it in our sight,"

22 But thou, who dost both them and me
with righteous eyes survey,

let me thy justice find; Nor let my cruel foes obtain

the triumph they design'd.

25 Oh! let them not, amongst themselves, in boasting language say,

"At length our wishes are complete;
"at last he's made our prey."

26 Let such as in my harm rejoiced,
for shame their faces hide;
And foul dishonour wait on those
that proudly me defy'd:

27 Whilst they with cheerful voices shout, who my just cause befriend;

And bless the Lord, who loves to make success his saints attend.

28 So shall my tongue thy judgments sing, inspired with grateful joy;

And cheerful hymns, in praise of thee, shall all my days employ.

PSALM 36.

MY crafty foe, with flattering art,

his wicked purpose would disguise ; But reason whispers to my heart, he ne'er sets God before his eyes.

2 He soothes himself, retired from sight; secure he thinks his treacherous game; Till his dark plots, exposed to light,

their false contriver brand with shame.

3 In deeds he is my foe confess'd, whilst with his tongue he speaks me fair; True wisdom's banish'd from his breast, and vice has sole dominion there. 4 His wakeful malice spends the night in forging his accurs'd designs; His obstinate ungenerous spite no execrable means declines.

5 But, Lord, thy mercy, my sure hope,
above the heavenly orb ascends;
Thy sacred truth's unmeasured scope
beyond the spreading sky extends.

6 Thy justice like the hills remains;
unfathom'd depths thy judgments are;
Thy providence the world sustains;
the whole creation is thy care.

7 Since of thy goodness all partake,
with what assurance should the just
Thy sheltering wings their refuge make,
and saints to thy protection trust!

8 Such guests shall to thy courts be led,
to banquet on thy love's repast;
And drink, as from a fountain's head,
of joys that shall for ever last.

9 With thee the springs of life remain ;
thy presence is eternal day:

10 O let thy saints thy favour gain; to upright hearts thy truth display.

11 Whilst pride's insulting foot would spurn, and wicked hands my life surprise,

10 My heart's oppress'd, my strength decay'd, my eyes deprived of light;

11 Friends, lovers, kinsmen gaze aloof
on such a dismal sight.

12 Meanwhile, the foes that seek my life
their snares to take me set;
Vent slanders, and contrive all day
to forge some new deceit:

13 But I, as if both deaf and dumb,
nor heard, nor once reply'd;

14 Quite deaf and dumb, like one whose tongue with conscious guilt is ty'd.

15 For, Lord, to thee I do appeal,

my innocence to clear;

Assured that thou, the righteous God,
my injured cause wilt hear.

16"Hear me," said I, "lest my proud foes
"a spiteful joy display;
"Insulting, if they see my foot

"but once to go astray."

17 And, with continual grief oppress'd, to sink I now begin;

18 To thee, O Lord, I will confess,

to thee bewail my sin.

19 But whilst I languish, my proud foes
their strength and vigour boast;
And they that hate me without cause
are grown a dreadful host.

20 Even they whom I obliged, return
my kindness with despite;
And are my enemies, because

I choose the path that's right.

21 Forsake me not, O Lord my God, nor far from me depart;

22 Make haste to my relief, O thou, who my salvation art.

PSALM 39.

RESOLVED to watch over all my ways,

I kept my tongue in awe ;

I curb'd my hasty words, when I the wicked prosper saw.

2 Like one that's dumb, I silent stood, and did my tongue refrain

From good discourse; but that restraint increased my inward pain.

3 My heart did glow with working thoughts, and no repose could take;

Till strong reflection fann'd the fire, and thus at length I spake:

4 Lord, let me know my term of days, how soon my life will end:

The numerous train of ills disclose,
which this frail state attend.

5 My life, thou know'st, is but a span;
a cypher sums my years;
And every man, in best estate,
but vanity appears.

6 Man, like a shadow, vainly walks,
with fruitless cares oppress'd;

He heaps up wealth, but cannot tell by whom 'twill be possess'd.

7 Why then should I on worthless toys with anxious cares attend?

On thee alone my steadfast hope

shall ever, Lord, depend.

8, 9 Forgive my sins; nor let me scorn'd by foolish sinners be;

For I was dumb, and murmur'd not,

because 'twas done by thee.

10 The dreadful burden of thy wrath in mercy soon remove;

Lest my frail flesh, too weak to bear the heavy load should prove.

11 For when thou chastenest man for sin, thou mak'st his beauty fade,

(So vain a thing is he!) like cloth
by fretting moths decay'd.

12 Lord, hear my cry, accept my tears,
and listen to my prayer,
Who sojourn like a stranger here,
as all my fathers were.

13 0! spare me yet a little time;
my wasted strength restore,
Before I vanish quite from hence,
and shall be seen no more.
PSALM 40.

I wilt he vouchsafed a kind reply;
Who did his gracious ear afford,

WAITED meekly for the Lord,

and heard from heaven my humble cry.

2 He took me from the dismal pit,
when founder'd deep in miry clay;
On solid ground he placed my feet,
and suffer'd not my steps to stray.

3 The wonders he for me has wrought
shall fill my mouth with songs of praise;
And others, to his worship brought,
to hopes of like deliverance raise.

4 For blessings shall that man reward,
who on the Almighty Lord relies;
Who treats the proud with disregard,
and hates the hypocrite's disguise.

5 Who can the wondrous works recount which thou, O God, for us hast wrought?

The treasures of thy love surmount

the power of numbers, speech, and thought. 6 I've learnt that thou hast not desired offerings and sacrifice alone; Nor blood of guiltless beasts required for man's transgression to atone. 7 I therefore come-come to fulfil the oracles thy books impart; 8 'Tis my delight to do thy will; thy law is written in my heart. PART II.

9 In full assemblies I have told

thy truth and righteousness at large; Nor did, thou know'st, my lips withhold from uttering what thou gav'st in charge: 10 Nor kept within my breast confined thy faithfulness and saving grace; But preach'd thy love, for all design'd, that all might that, and truth, embrace. 11 Then let those mercies I declared to others, Lord, extend to me;. Thy loving-kindness my reward, thy truth my safe protection be. 12 For I with troubles am distress'd, too numberless for me to bear; Nor less with loads of guilt oppress'd, that plunge and sink me to despair. As soon, alas! may I recount

the hairs of this afflicted head; My vanquish'd courage they surmount, and fill my drooping soul with dread.

PART III.

13 But, Lord, to my relief draw near, for never was more pressing need; In my deliverance, Lord, appear,

and add to that deliverance speed. 14 Confusion on their heads return, who to destroy my soul combine; Let them, defeated, blush and mourn, ensnared in their own vile design. 15 Their doom let desolation be,

with shame their malice be repaid, Who mock'd my confidence in thee, and sport of my affliction made.

16 While those who humbly seek thy face, to joyful triumphs shall be raised; And all who prize thy saving grace, with me resound, The Lord be praised. 17 Thus, wretched though I am and poor, of me th' Almighty Lord takes care: Thou God, who only canst restore, to my relief with speed repair. PSALM 41.

HAPPY the man whose tender care

relieves the poor distress'd!

When troubles compass him around, the Lord shall give him rest.

2 The Lord his life, with blessings crown'd, in safety shall prolong;

And disappoint the will of those
that seek to do him wrong.
3 If he in languishing estate,
oppress'd with sickness lie;
The Lord will easy make his bed,
and inward strength supply.

4 Secure of this, to thee, my God,
I thus my prayer address'd;
Lord, for thy mercy, heal my soul,
"though I have much transgress'd."
5 My cruel foes, with slanderous words
attempt to wound my fame;

"When shall he die," say they," and men "forget his very name?"

6 Suppose they formal visits make, 'tis all but empty show;

They gather mischief in their hearts, and vent it where they go.

7,8 With private whispers, such as these,
to hurt me they devise:
"A sore disease afflicts him now;
"he's fall'n, no more to rise.”
9 My own familiar bosom-friend,
on whom I most rely'd,
Has me, whose daily guest he was,
with open scorn defy'd.

10 But thou my sad and wretched state,
in mercy, Lord, regard;
And raise me up, that all their crimes
may meet their just reward.

11 By this I know thy gracious ear
is open, when I call;
Because thou sufferest not my foes
to triumph in my fall.

12 Thy tender care secures my life
from danger and disgrace;
And thou vouchsaf'st to set me still
before thy glorious face.

13 Let therefore Israel's Lord and God. from age to age be bless'd;

And all the people's glad applause with loud Amens express'd.

So longs my soul, O God, for thee, and thy refreshing grace.

2 For thee, my God, the living God, my thirsty soul doth pine;

O! when shall I behold thy face, thou Majesty Divine ?

3 Tears are my constant food, while thus insulting foes upbraid;

"Deluded wretch! where's now thy God? "And where his promised aid?"

4 I sigh, whene'er my musing thoughts those happy days present,

When I, with troops of pious friends, thy temple did frequent.

When I advanced with songs of praise,

my solemn vows to pay,

And led the joyful sacred throng,

that kept the festal day.

5 Why restless, why cast down, my soul? trust God; who will employ

His aid for thee, and change these sighs to thankful hymns of joy.

6 My soul's cast down, O God! but thinks on thee and Sion still;

From Jordan's bank, from Hermon's heights, and Mizar's humbler hill.