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6 With trouble I am warp'd and bow'd, and all day long I mourn.

7 A loath'd disease afflicts my loins, infecting every part;

8 With sickness worn, I groan and roar through anguish of my heart.

PART II.

9 But, Lord, before thy searching eyes
all my desires appear;

And sure my groans have been too loud,
not to have reach'd thine ear.

10 My heart's oppress'd, my strength decay'd, my eyes depriv'd 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;

Assur'd that thou, the righteous God,

my injur'd cause wilt hear.

16" Hear me," said I, "lest my proud foes

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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 oblig'd, 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.

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PSALM XXXIX.

RESOLV'D to watch o'er all my ways,

I kept my tongue in awe;

I curb'd my hasty words, when I
the wicked prosp❜rous saw.

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

From good discourse; but that restraint
increas'd 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 num'rous 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 chast'nest 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 O! spare me yet a little time;
my wasted strength restore,
Before I vanish quite from hence,
and shall be seen no more.

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2 He took me from the dismal pit,

when founder'd deep in miry clay; On solid ground he plac'd 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 deliv'rance raise. 4 For blessings shall that man reward, who on th' 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 desir'd off'rings and sacrifice alone;

Nor blood of guiltless beasts requir'd 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 confin'd

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 declar'd 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 deliv'rance, Lord, appear, and add to that deliv'rance speed.

14 Confusion on their heads return,

who to destroy my soul combine; Let them, defeated, blush and mourn, ensnar'd 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 rais'd; And all who prize thy saving grace, with me resound, The Lord be prais'd. 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 XLI.

1 TAPPY the man whose tender care

H 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,

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though I have much transgress'd." 5 My cruel foes, with sland'rous words

attempt to wound my fame;

"When shall he die," say they," and men

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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;

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Because thou suffer'st 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;

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

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PSALM XLII.

S pants the hart for cooling streams,
when heated in the chase;

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 promis'd 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 advanc'd 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.

7 One trouble calls another on,

and, gath'ring o'er my head,

Fall spouting down, till round my soul a roaring sea is spread.

8 But when thy presence, Lord of life, has once dispell'd this storm,

To thee I'll midnight anthems sing, and all my vows perform.

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