30

Offer the offerings just

Of righteousness, and in Jehovah trust.
Many there be that say

“Who yet will show us good?”

Talking like this world's brood;
But, Lord! thus let me pray,

On us lift the light,

Lift up the favour of thy countenance bright.
Into my heart more joy

And gladness thou hast put,

Than when a year of glut
Their stores doth overcloy,

And from their plenteous grounds

With vast increase their corn and wine abounds.
In peace at once will I

Both lay me down and sleep;

For thou alone dost keep
Me safe where'er I lie;

As in a rocky cell
Thou, Lord! alone in safety makest me dwell.

40

JEHOVAH! to my words give ear,

My meditation weigh;
The voice of my complaining hear
My God and King! for unto thee I pray.
Jehovah! thou my early voice

Shalt in the morning hear;
In the morning I to thee with choice
Will rank my prayers, and watch till thou appear.
For thou art not a God that takes

In wickedness delight:
Evil with thee no biding makes;
Fools or bad men stand not within thy sight.
All workers of iniquity

Thou hatest; and them unblest

10

20

Thou wilt destroy that speak a lie ;
The bloody and guileful man God doth detest.
But I will, in thy mercies dear-

Thy numerous mercies-go
Into thy house ; I, in thy fear,
Will towards thy holy temple worship low.
Lord ! lead me in thy righteousness;

Lead me because of those
That do observe if I transgress,
Set thy ways right before, where my step goes.
For in his faltering mouth unstable

No word is firm or sooth;
Their inside, troubles miserable ;
An open grave their throat; their tongue they smooth.
God! find them guilty; let them fall

By their own counsels quelled;
Push them in their rebellions all
Still on; for against thee they have rebelled.
Then all who trust in thee shall bring

Their joy; while thou from blame
Defend'st them, they shall ever sing
And shall triúmph in thee, who love thy name.
For thou, Jehovah! wilt be found

To bless the just man still;
As with a shield thou wilt surround
Him with thy lasting favour and good will.

30

PSALM VI.

Aug. 13, 1653.

LORD! in thine anger do not reprehend me,

Nor in thy hot displeasure me correct ;

Pity me, Lord! for I am much deject,
And very weak and faint; heal and amend me:
For all my bones that even with anguish ache,

Are troubled; yea, my soul is troubled sore;

And thou, O Lord ! how long? Turn, Lord! restore My soul; 0, save me for thy goodness' sake :

10

For in death no remembrance is of thee;

Who in the grave can celebrate thy praise ?

Wearied I am with sighing out my days, Nightly my couch I make a kind of sea; My bed I water with my tears; mine eye

Through grief consumes; waxen old and dark

In the midst of all mine en that mark.
Depart, all ye that work iniquity;
Depart from me, for the voice of my weeping

The Lord hath heard, the Lord hath heard my prayer,

My supplication with acceptance fair
The Lord will own, and have me in his keeping.
Mine enemies shall be all blank and dashed

With much confusion; then, grown red with shame,

They shall return in haste the way they came, And in a moment shall be quite abashed.

20

PSALM VII.

Aug. 14, 1653

UPON THE WORDS OF CUSH THE BENJAMITE AGAINST HIM.

LORD, my God! to thee I fly;

Save me and secure me under
Thy protection while I cry;

Lest as a lion (and no wonder)

He haste to ear my soul asunder,
Tearing, and no rescue nigh.

Lord, my God ! if I have thought

Or done this; if wickedness
Be in my hands; if I have wrought

Ill to him that meant me peace ;

Or to him have rendered less,
And not freed my foe for nought;

10

Let the enemy pursue my soul

And overtake it; let him tread
My life down to the earth, and roll

In the dust my glory dead,

In the dust; and there out-spread
Lodge it with dishonour foul.
Rise, Jehovah ! in thine ire,

Rouse thyself, amidst the rage
Of my foes that urge like fire ;

And wake for me; their fury assuage;

Judgment here thou didst engage And command, which I desire.

20

30

So the assemblies of each nation

Will surround thee, seeking right; Thence to thy glorious habitation

Return on high, and in their sight.

Jehovah judgeth most upright
All people from the world's foundation.
Judge me, Lord ! be judge in this

According to my righteousness,
And the innocence which is

Upon me: cause at length to cease

Of evil men the wickedness, And their power that do amiss. But the just establish fast,

Since thou art the just God that tries Hearts and reins. On God is cast

My defence, and in him lies-

In him, who, both just and wise Saves the upright of heart at last. God is a just judge and severe,

And God is every day offended; If the unjust will not forbear,

His sword he whets, his bow, hath bended

Already, and for him intended
The tools of death, that waits him near.

40

(His arrows purposely made he

For them that persecute.) Behold! He travels big with vanity ;

50

Trouble he hath conceived of old

As in a womb, and from that mould
Hath at length brought forth a lie.

He digged a pit, and delved it deep,

And fell into the pit he made ;
His mischief, that due course doth keep,

Turns on his head, and his ill trade

Of violence will, undelayed,
Fall on his crown with ruin steep.

60

O JEHOVAH, our Lord ! how wondrous great

And glorious is thy name through all the earth! So as above the heavens thy praise to set

Out of the tender mouths of latest birth.

Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou

Hast founded strength because of all thy foes; To stint the enemy, and slack the avenger's brow,

That bends his rage thy providence to oppose.

10

When I behold thy heavens, thy fingers' art,

The moon and stars which thou so bright hast set In the pure firmament; then saith my heart,

O, what is man ! that thou rememberest yet,

And think'st upon him ; or of man begot,

That him thou visit’st, and of him art found ! Scarce to be less than gods, thou madest his lot,

With honour and with state thou hast him crowned.