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Vile slander is their chief delight; hy tongue, by envy mov'd, and spite, Deceitful tales does hourly spread: Thou dost with hateful scandals ke a les wound

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by brother, and with lies confound
The offspring of thy mother's bed.
These things didst thou, whom still
I strove

To gain with silence, and with love,
Till thou didst wickedly surmise,
hat I was such a one as thou;

it I'H reprove and shame thee now, And set thy sins before thine eyes. Mark this, ye wicked fools, lest I ast all my bolts of vengeance fly, sha Whilst none shall dare your cause to

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own:

Who praises me, due honour gives; d to the man that justly lives, the My strong salvation shall be shown. PSALM LI.

TAVE mercy, Lord, on me,

As thou wert ever kind

dit me, oppress'd with loads of guilt, Thy wonted mercy find.

Wash off my foul offence, And cleanse me from my sin; fr I confess my crime, and see How great my guilt has been. against thee, Lord, alone, aland only in thy sight,

inave I transgress'd; and, though condemn'd,

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Must own thy judgment right. an guilt each part was form'd thof all this sinful frame;

he guilt I was conceiv'd, and born

he heir of sin and shame. ket thou, whose searching eye Does inward truth require,

secret didst with wisdom's laws ly tender soul inspire. with hyssop purge me, Lord, nd so I clean shall be;

all with snow in whiteness vie, When purify'd by thee. Take me to hear with joy hy kind forgiving voice;

chat so the bones which thou hast

broke

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And thy free Spirit's firm support My fainting soul sustain. 13 So I thy righteous ways To sinners will impart; Whilst my advice shall wicked mer To thy just laws convert. 14 My guilt of blood remove, My Saviour, and my God; And my glad tongue shall loudly tell Thy righteous acts abroad. 15 Do thou unlock my lips,

With sorrow clos'd and shame; So shall my mouth thy wondrous praise To all the world proclaim.

16 Could sacrifice atone,

Whole flocks and herds should die; But on such off'rings thou disdain'st To cast a gracious eye.

17 A broken spirit is

By God most highly priz'd; 7
By him a broken contrite heart
Shall never be despis'd.
18 Let Sion favour find,

Of thy good will assur'd;
And thy own city flourish long,
By lofty walls secur'd.
19 The just shall then attend,
And pleasing tribute pay;
And sacrifice of choicest kind
Upon thy altar lay.

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9 So shall my soul, with praise, O God, 3 Hark how the foe insults aloud!
Extol thy wondrous love;
And on thy name with patience wait;
For this thy saints approve.
PSALM LIII.

THE wicked fools must sure suppose
That God is but a name;

This gross mistake their practice shows,
Since virtue all disclaim.

2 The Lord look'd down from heav'n's
high tow'r,

The sons of men to view;
To see if any own'd his pow'r,
Or truth or justice knew.

3 But all, he saw, were backward gone,
Degen'rate grown and base;
None for religion car'd, not one
Of all the sinful race.

4 But are those workers of deceit
So dull and senseless grown,
That they like bread my people eat,
And God's just pow'r disown?
5 Their causeless fear shall strangely

grow;

And they, despis'd of God,
Shall soon be foil'd; his hand shall

throw

Their shatter'd bones abroad.
6 Would he his saving pow'r employ
To break our servile band,
Loud shouts of universal joy
Should echo through the land.
PSALM LIV.

ORD, save me, for thy glorious name,
And in thy strength appear,
To judge my cause; accept my pray'r,
And to my words give ear.

3 Mere strangers, whom I never wrong'd,
To ruin me design'd;

And cruel men, that fear no God,
Against my soul combin'd.

4,5 But God takes part with all my
friends,

And he's the surest guard;
The God of truth shall give my foes
Their falsehood's due reward;

6 While I my grateful off"rings bring,
And sacrifice with joy;

And in his praise my time to come
Delightfully employ.

From dreadful danger and distress
The Lord hath set me free;
Through him shall I of all my foes
The just destruction see.
PSALM LV.

GIVE ear, thou Judge of all the earth,
And listen when I pray;
Nor from thy humble suppliant turn
Thy glorious face away.

2 Attend to this my sad complaint,
And hear my grievous moans;
While I my mournful case declare,
With artless sighs and
groans.

How fierce oppressors rage! Whose sland'rous tongues, with wrath ful hate,

Against my fame engage. 4, 5 My heart is rack'd with pain; soul

With deadly frights distress'd; With fear and trembling compass round,

With horror quite oppress'd.
6 How often wish'd I then, that I
The dove's swift wings could get;
That I might take my speedy flight,
And seek a safe retreat.
7,8 Then would I wander far from
hence,

And in wild deserts stray,
Till all this furious storm were spent,
This tempest past away.

PART II.

9 Destroy, O Lord, their ill designs,
Their counsels soon divide;
For through the city my griev'd eyes
Have strife and rapine spy'd.
10 By day and night, on ev'ry wall
They walk their constant round;
And in the midst of all her strength
Are grief and mischief found.
11 Whoe'er through ev'ry part shall

roam,

Will fresh disorders meet; Deceit and Guile their constant posts Maintain in ev'ry street.

12 For 'twas not any open foe

That false reflections made,
For then I could with ease have borne

The bitter things he said:
Twas none who hatred had profes'd
That did against me rise;
For then I had withdrawn myself
From his malicious eyes.
18, 14 But 'twas e'en thou, my guide
my friend,

Whom tend 'rest love did join;
Whose sweet advice I valu'd most;
Whose pray'rs were mix'd with mine
15 Sure vengeance, equal to their crimes
Such traitors must surprise,
And sudden death requite those ills
They wickedly devise.
16, 17 But I will call on God, who stil
Shall in my aid appear;
At morn, at noon, at night, I'll pray;
And he my voice shall hear.

PART III.
18 God has releas'd my soul from tho
That did with me contend;
And made a num'rous host of friends
My righteous cause defend.
19 For he, who was my help of old,
Shall now his suppliant hear;

ad punish them whose prosp'rous statej 12 To thee, O God, my vows are due; iMakes them no God to fear. To thee I'll render praise.

Whom can I trust, if faithless men idPerfidiously devise

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ruin me, their peaceful friend, And break the strongest ties? Though soft and melting are their words,

er afheir hearts with war abound;

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eir speeches are more smooth than oil,

And yet like swords they wound.

13 Thou hast retriev❜d my soul from
death;

And thou wilt still secure
The life thou hast so oft preserv'd,
And make my footsteps sure:
14 And thus protected by thy pow'r,
I may this life enjoy;
And in the service of my God
My lengthen'd days employ.
PSALM LVII.

THY mercy, Lord, to me extend;

Do thou, my soul, on God depend, my protection I depend;

And he shall thee sustain;

aids the just, whom to supplant The wicked strive in vain.

My foes, that trade in lies and blood,
hall all untimely die;

bilst I for health and length of days,
thee, my God, rely.
PSALM LVI.

O thou, O God, in mercy help;
For man my life pursues;
crush me with repeated wrongs,
He daily strife renews.
Continually my spiteful foes

arno ruin me combine;

he mist

And to thy wing for shelter haste,
Till this outrageous storm is pass'd.
2 To thy tribunal, Lord, I fly,
Thou sov'reign Judge, and God most
high,

Who wonders hast for me begun,
And wilt not leave thy work undone..
3 From heav'n protect me by thine arm,
And shame all those who seek my harm;
To my relief thy mercy send,

And truth, on which my hopes depend.
4 For I with savage men converse,
Like hungry lions wild and fierce;

ou see'st, who sitt'st enthron'd on With men whose teeth are spears, their high,

What mighty numbers join.

words

Envenom'd darts and two-edg'd swords.

But though sometimes surpris'd by 5 Be thou, O God, exalted high;

fear,

n danger's first alarm;

Gt still for succour I depend

On thy Almighty arm.

iod's faithful promise I shall praise, On which I now rely;

God I trust, and, trusting him, the arm of flesh defy.

hey wrest my words, and make them speak

sense they never meant; meir thoughts are all,with restless spite, my destruction bent.

n close assemblies they combine,
And wicked projects lay;
ey watch my steps, and lie in wait
to make my soul their prey.
hall such injustice still escape?
righteous God, arise;

thy just wrath, too long provok'd,
his impious race chastise.
hou numb'rest all my steps, since

first

was compell'd to flee;

O very tears are treasur'd up,
And register'd by thee.

When therefore I invoke thy aid,
My foes shall be o'erthrown;
rI am well assur'd that God
My righteous cause will own.
#11 I'll trust God's word, and so despise
The force that man can raise;

And, as thy glory fills the sky,
So let it be on earth display'd,
Till thou art here, as there, obey'd.
6 To take me they their net prepar'd,
And had almost my soul ensnar'd;
But fell themselves, by just decree,
Into the pit they made for me.
7 O God, my heart is fix'd, 'tis bent,
Its thankful tribute to present;
And, with my heart, my voice I'll raise
To thee, my God, in songs of praise:
8 Awake, my glory; harp and lute,
No longer let your strings be mute;
And I, my tuneful part to take,
Will with the early dawn awake.
9 Thy praises, Lord, I will resound
To all the list'ning nations round;
10 Thy mercy highest heav'n trans-
cends;

Thy truth beyond the clouds extends.
11 Be thou, O God, exalted high;
And, as thy glory fills the sky,
So let it be on earth display'd,
Till thou art here, as there, obey'd.
PSALM LVIII.

SPEAK, O ye judges of the earth,
If just your sentence be;

Or must not innocence appeal
To heav'n from your decree?
2 Your wicked hearts and judgments

are

Alike by malice sway'd;

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While others through the city vangt, And ransack ev'ry street. 7 Their throats envenom'd slande breathe;

Their tongues are sharpen'd swords; Who hears?' say they, 'or, bearing dares

'Reprove our lawless words?' 8.But from thy throne thou shalt,0 Lord,

Their baffled plots deride; And soon to shame and scorn expose Their boasted heathen pride. 9 On thee I wait; 'tis on thy strength For succour I depend;

'Tis thou, O God, art my defence,
Who only can defend.

10 Thy mercy, Lord, which has so oft
From danger set me free,
Shall crown my wishes, and subdue
My haughty foes to me.

11 Destroy them not, O Lord, at once;
Restrain thy vengeful blow;
Lest we, ungratefully, too soon
Forget their overthrow.
Disperse them through the nations
round

By thy avenging pow'r; Do thou bring down their haughty pride,

O Lord, our shield and tow'r. 12 Now, in the height of all their hopes Their arrogance chastise; Whose tongues have sinn'd without re straint,

And curses join'd with lies. 13 Nor shalt thou, whilst their race en dures;

Thine anger, Lord, suppress; That distant lands, by their just doom, May Israel's God confess.

14 At ev'ning let them still persist
Like growling dogs to meet,
Still wander all the city round,
And traverse ev'ry street.
15 Then, as for malice now they do,
For hunger let them stray;
And yell their vain complaints aloud,
Defeated of their prey.

16 Whilst early I thy mercy sing,
Thy wondrous pow'r confess;
For thou hast been my sure defence,
My refuge in distress.

17 To thee, with never-ceasing praise, O God, my strength, I'll sing; Thou art my God, the rock from

Our strength, that firm as earth did ndrasis stand,

rent by thy avenging hand;

br heal the breaches thou hast made: ere shake, we fall, without thy aid! hur folly's sad effects we feel;

8 So shall I ever sing thy praise,
Thy name for ever bless;
Devote my prosp'rous days to pay
The vows of my distress.
PSALM LXII.

ds, drunk with discord's cup we reel: MY soul for help on God relies;

But now, for them who thee rever'd, My bou hast thy truth's bright banner rear'd. Lord. pret thy right hand thy saints protect; rd, hear the pray'rs that we direct: The holy God has spoke; and I, herjoy'd, on his firm word rely:

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thee in portions I'll divide

or Sichem's soil, Samaria's pride;

Sichem, Succoth, next I'll join, mermeasure out her vale by line." Manasseh, Gilead, both subscribe my commands, with Ephraim's tribe; hraim by arms supports my cause, d Judah by religious laws.

TOWE DO?

aughh

Ioab my slave and drudge shall be,
r Edom from my yoke get free;

hud Palestine's imperious state
all humbly on our triumph wait.
ut who shall quell these mighty
pow'rs,

clear my way to Edom's tow'rs? through her guarded frontiers tread de path that doth to conquest lead? Ev'n thou, O God, who hath dispers'd troops; (for we forsook thee first;) se whom thou didst in wrath forsake,

the b

n'd, thou wilt victoricus make. Do thou our fainting cause sustain; the human succours are but vain. Fresh strength and courage God be

stows:

he treads down our proudest foes. PSALM LXI.

ORD, hear my cry, regard my pray'r, Which I, oppress'd with grief, rom earth's remotest parts address eo thee for kind relief."

edge me safe beyond the reach
f persecuting pow'r;
Fahou, who so oft from spiteful foes
ast been my shelt'ring tow'r.
o shall I in thy sacred courts
secure from danger lie;

eath the covert of thy wings,
Il future storms defy.

sign my vows are heard, once

more

o'er thy chosen reign;

! bless with long and prosp'rous life
he king thou didst ordain.
onfirm his throne, and make his reign
ccepted in thy sight;

let thy truth and mercy both
his defence unite.

From him alone my safety flows; Rock, my Health, that strength supplies,

To bear the shock of all my foes.
3 How long will ye contrive my fall,
Which will but hasten on your own
You'll totter like a bending wall,

Or fence of uncemented stone.
4 To make my envy'd honours less,
They strive with lies, their chief de-
light;

For they, though with their mouths. they bless,

In private curse with inward spite.
5, 6 But thou, my soul, on God rely;
On him alone thy trust repose:
My Rock and Health will strength sup-
ply

To bear the shock of all my foes.
7 God does his saving health dispense,
And flowing blessings daily send:
He is my fortress and defence;

On him my soul shall still depend.
8 In him, ye people, always trust;
Before his throne pour out your
hearts;

For God, the merciful and just,

His timely aid to us imparts.
9 The vulgar fickle are and frail;

The great dissemble and betray;
And, laid in Truth's impartial scale,
The lightest things will both out-
weigh.

10 Then trust not in oppressive ways;
By spoil and rapine grow not vain;
Nor let your hearts, if wealth in-

crease,

Be set too much upon your gain.
11 For God has oft his will express'd,
And I this truth have fully known;
To be of boundless pow'r possess'd

Belongs, of right, to God alone.
12 Though mercy is his darling grace,
In which he chiefly takes delight;
Yet will be all the human race
According to their works requite.
PSALM LXIII.

GOD, my gracious God, to thee
My morning pray'rs shall offer'd

be;

For thee my thirsty soul does pant: My fainting flesh implores thy grace. Within this dry and barren place,

Where I refreshing waters want. 2 0! to my longing eyes, once more That view of glorious pow'r restore,

Which thy majestic house displays:

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