Be thou my judge: my heart, my reins,
With strictest eye survey;
Thy love, great God, my hope sustains,
Thy truth directs my way.
The house of guile, the seat of lies,
With studious care I shun :
From crouds that impious deeds devise
My steps abhorrent run.
In innocence I wash my hands,
Thine altar compass round,
And grateful lead the sacred bands,
Whose hymns thine acts resound.
How oft, instinct with warmth divine,
Thy threshold have I trod!
How lov'd the courts, whose walls inshrine
The glory of my God!
Then pour, O pour, while thus I tread
The path by Thee prepar'd,
Thy beams of mercy on my head,
And round me plant a guard.
Reverence of God and his Son.
Earth's scepter'd lords rebellious rise
Against the ruler of the skies,
And Him, on whose distinguish'd head
His hand the sacred oil has shed.
God from on high their threats shall hear,
Laugh, as the tumult meets his ear,
And, arm'd with vengeance, thus aloud
Superior quell the frantic croud:
"Yet mortals, yet your Monarch see,
"And bow to him the humble knee;
"His throne on Sion's hill my hand
"Has built, and what I build shall stand,”
Ye kings, from error's sleep arise,
Ye judges of the earth, be wise;
While ye in duteous zeal conspire,
And serve with joy th' eternal Sire.
With awful love with holy fear
His Son, the world's great hope, revere;
Thrice happy, who on him depend,
And thankful own th' Almighty friend.
The divine Compassion to human sorrows.
How well our great Préserver knows
To weigh and to relieve our woes!
Behold his wrath's avenging blast,
How slow to rise, how soon o'erpast!
How prompt his favor to dispense
Its life-imparting influence!
How speedy his paternal love
Our deep afflictions to remove :
Grief for a night, obtrusive guest!
Beneath our roof, perchance, may rest;
But joy, with the returning day,
Shall wipe each transient tear away.
Since thou'rt indulgent to my pray'r
Again the face of joy I wear:
Thy strength my fainting spirit cheers,
And checks my griefs, and calms my fears.
With what delight, great God, I trace
The acts of thy stupendous grace!
To count them were to count the sand
That lies upon the sea-beat strand.
The devout Supplicant.
The words that from my lips proceed,
My thoughts, (for thou those thoughts canst read) My God, my King, attentive weigh,
And hear, O hear me, when I pray.
With earliest zeal, with wakeful care,
To thee my soul shall pour its pray'r,
And, e'er the dawn has streak'd the sky,
To thee direct its longing eye:
At eve, thy praise, O God, the lyre
Shall wake, thy love its song inspire,
Whose mercies, to my heart reveal'd,
A theme of endless transport yield.
Do thou then, God, my path prepare,
And guard me from each hostile snare ;
O lend me thy conducting ray,
And level to my steps thy way.
Let me, whose trust on Thee is plac'd,
Peace and delight perpetual taste,
And share the gifts on those bestow'd,
Who love the name of Jacob's God.
Come ye, who in the dang'rous hour
Wish for your guard the strong-built tow'r;
Each terror to the winds resign'd,
In God a surer refuge find.
The souls that erst oppress'd with woe,
Have learn'd thy name, great God, to know,
Their hope on thee shall still sustain,
Whom none has sought, and sought in vain.
Thy servant's woes attentive view,
While impious men my steps pursue,
O thou, whose care prolongs my breath,
And lifts me from the gates of death.
So shall thy praise employ my tongue,
And Sion's portals hear my song;
While with experienc'd heart I shew
What joys from thy salvation flow.
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