9 God is a conftant fure defence
against oppreffing rage;

As troubles rife, his needful aids
in our behalf engage.

10 All those who have his goodness prov'd
will in his truth confide;
Whofe mercy ne'er forfook the man.
that on his help rely'd.

11 Sing praises therefore to the Lord,
from Sion, his abode;

Proclaim his deeds, till all the world
confefs no other God.

PART II.

12 When he enquiry makes for blood,
he'll call the poor to mind :
The injur'd humble man's complaint
relief from him fhall find.

13 Take pity on my troubles, Lord,
which fpiteful foes create,
Thou that has refcu'd me so oft
from death's devouring gate.
14 In Sion then I'll fing thy praise,
to all that love thy name;
And, with loud fhouts of grateful joy,
thy faving pow'r proclaim.

15 Deep in the pit they digg'd for me,
the heathen pride is laid;

Their guilty feet to their own fnare
are heedlessly betray'd.

16 Thus, by the just returns he makes,
the mighty Lord is known;
While wicked men by their own plots,
are fhamefully o'erthrown.

17 No fingle finner fhall escape,
by privacy obfcur'd;

Nor nation, from his juft revenge,

by numbers be fecur'd.

18 His fuff'ring faints, when most distress'd he ne'er forgets to aid; Their expectations fhall be crown'd, though for a time delay'd.

19 Arife, O Lord, affert thy pow'r, and let not man o'ercome;

Defcend to judgment, and pronounce
the guilty heathen's doom.

20 Strike terror through the nations round, till, by confenting fear,

They to each other, and themselves,
but mortal men appear.

1TH

PSALM X.

HY prefence why withdraw'ft thou, Lord? why hid'st thou now thy face,

When difmal times of deep diftrefs,
call for thy wonted grace?

2 The wicked, fwell'd with lawless pride,
have made the poor their prey;
O let them fall by those designs
which they for others lay.

3 For ftraight they triumph, if fuccefs
their thriving crimes attend;

And fordid wretches, whom God hates, perverfely they commend.

4 To own a pow'r above themselves, their haughty pride disdains;

And therefore in their ftubborn mind no thought of God remains. 5 Oppreffive methods they purfue, and all their foes they flight; Because thy judgments unobferv'd, are far above their fight.

6 They fondly think their profp'rous state fhall unmolefted be;

They think their vain defigns fhall thrive,

from all misfortunes free.

7 Vain and deceitful is their fpeech, with curfes fill'd, and lies;

By which the mifchief of their heart they ftudy to disguife.

8 Near public roads they lie conceal'd, and all their art employ,

The innocent and poor at once to rifle and deftroy.

9 Not lions, couching in their dens, furprise their heedlefs prey

With greater cunning, or exprefs more favage rage than they.

I

10 Sometimes they act the harmless man,
and modest looks they wear;
That so deceiv'd, the poor may less
their fudden onset fear.

PART II.

11 For God, they think, no notice takes
of their unrighteous deeds;
He never minds the fuff'ring poor,
nor their oppreffion heeds.

12 But thou, O Lord, at length arife,
ftretch forth thy mighty arm;
And, by the greatnefs of thy pow'r,
defend the poor from harm.
13 No longer let the wicked vaunt,
and, proudly boafting, fay,

"Tufh, God regards not what we do;
"he never will repay."

14 But fure thou feeft, and all their deeds.
impartially doft try;

The orphan, therefore, and the poor,

on thee for aid rely.

15 Defenceless let the wicked fall,
of all their strength bereft ;

Confound, O God, their dark defigns,
till no remains are left.

16 Affert thy just dominion, Lord,
which fhall forever ftand;

Thou who the heathen didft expel
from this thy chofen land.

17 Thou hear'ft the humble fupplicants,
that to thy throne repair;

Thou firft prepar'ft their hearts to pray, and then accept'ft their pray'r. 18 Thou, in thy righteous judgment, weigh'st the fatherless and poor;

That fo the tyrants of the earth may perfecute no more.

SINC

PSALM XI.

INCE I have plac'd my trust in God,
a refuge always nigh,

Why fhould I, like a tim'rous bird,
to diftant mountains fly?

2 Behold, the wicked bend their bow,
and ready fix their dart,
Lurking in ambush to destroy

3

the men of upright heart.
When once the firm affurance fails,
which public faith imparts,

'Tis time for innocence to fly

from fuch deceitful arts.

4 The Lord hath both a temple here,
and righteous throne above;
Where he furveys the fons of men,
and how their councils move.

5 If God the righteous, whom he loves,
for trial does correct,

What must the fons of violence,
whom he abhors, expect?

6 Snares, fire, and brimftone, on their heads shall in one tempest show'r;

This dreadful mixture his revenge
into their cup fhall pour.

7 The righteous Lord will righteous deeds,
with fignal favour grace,

I

And to the upright man difclofe
the brightness of his face.

SINC

PSALM XII.

INCE godly men decay, O Lord,
do thou my cause defend;

For scarce these wretched times afford
one juft and faithful friend.

2 One neighbour now can scarce believe
what t'other does impart ;

With flatt'ring lips they all deceive,
and with a double heart.

3 But lips that with deceit abound
can never profper long;

God's righteous vengeance will confound
the proud blafpheming tongue.

4 In vain those foolish boasters say,

"our tongues are sure our own; "With doubtful words we'll still betray "and be controul'd by none."

5 For God, who hears the fuff'ring poor, and their oppreffion knows,

Will foon arife and give them reft, in fpite of all their foes.

6 The word of God fhall ftill abide, and void of falfhood be,

As is the filver, fev'n times try'd, from droffy mixture free.

7 The promise of his aiding grace fhall reach its purpos'd end;

His fervants from this faithlefs race he ever fhall defend.

8 Then shall the wicked be perplex'd, nor know which way to fly;

I

When those whom they despis'd and vex'd,
fhall be advanc'd on high.

PSALM XIII.

OW long wilt thou forget me, Lord?
muft I for ever mourn?

How

How long wilt thou withdraw from me,

oh, never to return?

2 How long fhall anxious thoughts my foul, and grief my heart opprefs?

3

How long my enemies infult,

and I have no redrefs?

Oh! hear, and to my longing eyes
restore thy wonted light,

And fuddenly, or I shall sleep

in everlasting night.

4 Restore me, left they proudly boast
'twas their own ftrength o'ercame ;
Permit not them that vex my foul
shame.
to triumph in my

5 Since I have always plac'd my trust
beneath thy mercy's wing,

Thy faving health will come; and then
my heart with joy fhall fpring.

6 Then shall my fong, with praise infpir'd,
to thee my God afcend;

I

Who to thy fervant in distress
fuch bounty didft extend.

PSALM XIV.

URE wicked fools muft needs fuppofe, that God is nothing but a name;

SUR