13 Take pity on my troubles, Lord,
Which spiteful foes create,
Thou that hast rescued me so oft
From death's devouring gate.

14 In Sion, then, I'll sing thy praise
To all that love thy name;

And, with loud shouts of grateful joy,
Thy saving power proclaim.

15 Deep in the pit they digged for me,
The heathen pride is laid;

Their guilty feet to their own snare
Are heedlessly betrayed.

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

17 No single sinner shall escape,
By privacy obscured;

Nor nation, from his just revenge,
By numbers be secured.

18 His suffering saints, when most distressed,
He ne'er forgets to aid;

Their expectations shall be crowned,
Though for a time delayed.

19 Arise, O Lord, assert thy power,
And let not man o'ercome;

Descend to judgment, and pronounce
The guilty heathen's doom.

20 Strike terror through the nations round,
Till, by consenting fear,
They to each other, and themselves,
But mortal men appear.

PSALM 10.

HY presence why withdraw'st thou, Lord?

TH

Why hid'st thou now thy face,

When dismal times of deep distress

Call for thy wonted grace?

2 The wicked, swelled with lawless pride,
Have made the poor their prey;

O let them fall by those designs
Which they for others lay.

3 For straight they triumph, if success
Their thriving crimes attend;
And sordid wretches, whom God hates,
Perversely they commend.

4 To own a power above themselves,
Their haughty pride disdains;
And, therefore, in their stubborn mind,
No thought of God remains.

5 Oppressive methods they pursue,
And all their foes they slight,
Because thy judgments, unobserved,
Are far above their sight.

6 They fondly think their prosperous state Shall unmolested be;

They think their vain designs shall thrive,
From all misfortunes free.

7 Vain and deceitful is their speech,
With curses filled, and lies,

By which the mischief of their heart
They study to disguise.

8 Near public roads they lie concealed,
And all their art employ,

The innocent and poor at once
To rifle and destroy.

9 Not lions, couching in their dens,
Surprise their heedless prey
With greater cunning, or express
More savage rage than they.

10 Sometimes they act the harmless man,
And modest looks they wear,
That, so deceived, the poor may less
Their sudden onset fear.

PART II.

11 For God, they think, no notice takes
Of their unrighteous deeds;
He never minds the suffering poor,
Nor their oppression heeds.

12 But thou, O Lord, at length arise,
Stretch forth thy mighty arm,
And, by the greatness of thy power,
Defend the poor from harm.

13 No longer let the wicked vaunt,
And, proudly boasting, say,

"Tush; God regards not what we do;
"He never will repay."

14 But sure thou seest, and all their deeds
Impartially dost 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 designs,
Till no remains are left.

16 Assert thy just dominion, Lord,
Which shall for ever stand,
Thou, who the heathen didst expel
From this thy chosen land.

17 Thou hear'st the humble supplicants
That to thy throne repair;

Thou first prepar'st their hearts to pray,
And then accept'st their prayer.

18 Thou, in thy righteous judgment, weigh'st The fatherless and poor,

1

That so the tyrants of the earth
May persecute no more.

PSALM 11.

S INCE I have placed my trust in God,

A Refuge always nigh,
Why should I, like a timorous bird,
To distant mountains fly?

2 Behold, the wicked bend their bow,
And ready fix their dart,

Lurking in ambush to destroy

The men of upright heart.

3 When once the firm assurance fails,
Which public faith imparts,

'Tis time for innocence to fly
From such deceitful arts.

4 The Lord hath both a temple here,
And righteous throne above;
Where he surveys the sons of men,
And how their councils move.

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

What must the sons of violence,
Whom he abhors, expect?

6 Snares, fire, and brimstone, on their heads Shall in one tempest shower;

This dreadful mixture his revenge

7 The righteous Lord will righteous deeds With signal favour grace,

1

And to the upright man disclose
The brightness of his face.

S

PSALM 12.

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

For scarce these wretched times afford
One just and faithful friend.

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

With flattering lips they all deceive,
And with a double heart.

3 But lips that with deceit abound
Can never prosper long;
God's righteous vengeance will confound
The proud, blaspheming tongue.

4 In vain those foolish boasters say,

"Our tongues are sure our own; "With doubtful words we'll still betray, "And be controlled by none.'

5 For God, who hears the suffering poor.
And their oppression knows,
Will soon arise, and give them rest,
In spite of all their foes.

6 The word of God shall still abide,
And void of falsehood be,

As is the silver, seven times tried,
From drossy mixture free.

7 The promise of his aiding grace
Shall reach its purposed end;
His servants from this faithless race
He ever shall defend.

8 Then shall the wicked be perplexed, Nor know which way to fly;

1

When those, whom they despised and vexed,
Shall be advanced on high.

PSALM 13.

HOW long wilt thou forget me, Lord?

Must I for ever mourn?

How long wilt thou withdraw from me,
O! never to return?

2 How long shall anxious thoughts my soul,
And grief my heart oppress?

How long my enemies insult,
And I have no redress?

3 O! hear, and to my longing eyes
Restore thy wonted light;

And suddenly, or I shall sleep
In everlasting night.

4 Restore me, lest they proudly boast
'Twas their own strength o'ercame ;
Permit not them that vex my soul
To triumph in my shame.

5 Since I have always placed my trust
Beneath thy mercy's wing,

Thy saving health will come; and then
My heart with joy shall spring.

6 Then shall my song, with praise inspired,
To thee, my God, ascend,

1

Who, to thy servant in distress,
Such bounty didst extend.

PSALM 14.

URE wicked fools must needs suppose,
Rick is nothing but a name;

Corrupt and lewd their practice grows;

No breast is warmed with holy flame.

2 The Lord looked down from heaven's high tower, And all the sons of men did view,

To see if any owned his power;
If any truth or justice knew.

3 But all, he saw, were gone aside;
All were degenerate grown and base;