8 Surpris'd by mifchiefs unforeseen, by their own arts betray'd, Their feet fhall fall into the net,

which they for me had laid;

9 Whilft my glad foul fhall God's great Name for this deliv'rance bless,

And, by his faving health fecur'd,
its grateful joy exprefs.

10 My very bones thall fay, "O Lord,
"who can compare with thee?
"Who fett'ft the poor and helpless man
"from ftrong oppreffors free."
PART II.

11 Falfe witneffes, with forg'd complaints,
against my truth combin'd;

And to my charge fuch things they laid, as I had ne'er defign'd.

12 The good which I to them had done,
with evil they repaid;

And did, by malice undeferv'd,
my harmless life invade.

13 But as for me, when they were fick,
I ftill in fackcloth mourn'd;

I pray'd and fafted, and my pray'r
to my own breaft return'd.

14 Had they my friends or brethren been,
I could have done no more;
Nor with more decent figns of grief
a mother's lofs deplore.

15 How diff'rent did their carriage prove,
in times of my distress!

When they, in crowds together met,
did favage joy exprefs.

The rabble too, in num'rous throngs,
by their example came;

And ceas'd not, with reviling words,
to wound my fpotlefs fame.

16 Scoffers, that noble tables haunt,
and earn their bread with lies,

Did gnafh their teeth, and fland'ring jefts maliciously devife.

17 But, Lord, how long wilt thou look on? on my behalf appear;

And fave my guiltlefs foul, which they,
like rav'ning beafts would tear.
PART III.

18 So I, before the lift'ning world,
fhail grateful thanks exprefs;
And where the great affembly meets,
thy Name with praises bless.
19 Lord, fuffer not my causeless foes,
who me unjustly hate,
With open joy, or fecret figns,
to mock my fad estate.

20 For they, with hearts averfe to peace, induftriously devife,

Against the men of quiet minds
to forge malicious lies.

21 Nor with these private arts content,
aloud they vent their spite;

And fay,

"At laft we found him out,

"he did it in our fight."

22 But thou, who doft both them and me with righteous eyes furvey, Affert my innocence, O Lord, and keep not far away.

23 Stir up thyfelf in my behalf;
to judgment, Lord, awake;

Thy righteous fervant's caufe, O God,
to thy decifion take.

24 Lord, as my heart has upright been,
let me thy justice find;

Nor let my cruel foes obtain

the triumph they defign'd.

25 O! let them not, amongst themselves, in boafting language fay,

"At length our wishes are complete ; "at laft he's made our prey.'

26 Let fuch as in my harm rejoic'd, for fhame their faces hide;

And foul difhonour wait on those, that proudly me defy'd:

27 Whilft they with cheerful voices fhout, who my juft caufe befriend';

And blefs the Lord, who loves to make fuccefs his faints attend.

28 So fhall my tongue thy judgments fing, infpir'd with grateful joy;

I

And cheerful hymns, in praise of thee,
fhall all my days employ.

MY

PSALM XXXVI.

Y crafty foe, with flatt'ring art, his wicked purpose would disguise; But reason whispers to my heart,

he ne'er fets God before his eyes. 2 He foothes himself, retir'd from fight; fecure he thinks his treach'rous game; Till his dark plots, expos'd to light,

their falfe contriver brand with fhame. 3 In deeds he is my foe confefs'd,

whilft with his tongue he speaks me fair; True wifdom's banifh'd from his breaft, and vice has fole dominion there. His wakeful malice fpends the night in forging his accurs'd defigns; His obftinate ungen'rous fpite

no execrable means declines.

5 But, Lord, thy mercy, my fure hope,
above the heav'nly orb afcends;
Thy facred truth's unmeafur'd fcope
beyond the fpreading sky extends.
6 Thy juftice like the hills remains;
unfathom'd depths thy judgments are;
Thy providence the world fuftains;
the whole creation is thy care.

7 Since of thy goodness all partake,
with what affurance fhould the just
Thy fhelt'ring wings their refuge make,
and faints to thy protection trust!
8 Such guests shall to thy courts be led,
to banquet on thy love's repast;
And drink, as from a fountain's head,
of joys that shall forever last.

9 With thee the fprings of life remain;
thy prefence is eternal day:

10 O let thy faints thy favour gain;

to upright hearts thy truth difplay. 11 Whilft pride's infulting foot would fpurn, and wicked hands my life furprife,

art,

ts fing

12 Their mischiefs on themfelves return;

'TH

HOUGH wicked men grow rich or great,
Yet let not their fuccefsful ftate
thy anger or thy envy raise

2 For they, cut down like tender grafs,
Or like young flow'rs, away fhall pafs,
whofe blooming beauty foon decays.
3 Depend on God, and him obey,
So thou within the land fhalt stay,
fecure from danger, and from want:
4 Make his commands thy chief delight;
And he, thy duty to requite,

5

fhall all thy earneft wishes grant. In all thy ways truft thou the Lord, And he will needful help afford,

to perfect ev'ry juft defign;

6 He'll make, like light, ferene and clear,
Thy clouded innocence appear,
and as a mid-day fun to fhine.
7 With quiet mind on God depend,
And patiently for him attend;
nor let thy anger fondly rife,
Though wicked men with wealth abound,
And with fuccefs the plots are crown'd
which they malicioufly devife. He
8 From anger ceafe, and wrath forfake;
Let no ungovern'd paffion make

thy wav'ring heart efpoufe their crime;
9 For God fhall finful men deftroy;
Whilft only they the land enjoy,

who truft on him, and wait his time. 10 How foon fhall wicked men decay !ue Their place fhall vanifh quite away,

nor by the ftricteft fearch be found
11 Whilft humble fouls poffefs the earth,
Rejoicing ftill with godly mirth,

with peace and plenty always crown'd.
PART II.

12 While finful crowds, with falfe defign,
Against the righteous few combine,

and gnafh their teeth and threat'ning ftand;

13 God fhall their empty plots deride, And laugh at their defeated pride : he fees their ruin near at hand. 14 They draw the fword, and bend the bow, The poor and needy to o'erthrow, And men of upright lives to flay; 15 But their strong bows fhall foon be broke, Their fharpen'd weapon's mortal stroke through their own hearts fhall force its way. 16 A little, with God's favour bless'd, That's by one righteous man poffefs'd, the wealth of many bad excels;

17 For God fupports the juft man's caufe;
But as for thofe that break his laws,
Their unsuccessful power he quells.
18 His conftant care the upright guides,
And over all their life prefides;
Their portion fhall for ever laft:
19 They, when diftrefs o'erwhelms the earth,
Shall be unmov'd, and ev'n in dearth
the happy fruits of plenty taste.
20 Not fo the wicked man, and those
Who proudly dare God's will oppose;
deftruction is their hapless fhare:
Like fat of lambs, their hopes, and they,
Shall in an inftant melt away,

and vanish into smoke and air,
PART III.

21 While finners, brought to fad decay,
Still borrow on, and never pay,

the just have will and pow'r to give. 22 For fuch as God vouchsafes to bless, Shall peaceably the earth poffefs;

and those he curfes fhall not live. 23 The good man's way is God's delight; He orders all the steps aright

of him that moves by his command; 24 Though he fometimes may be distress'd, Yet fhall he ne'er be quite opprefs'd; for God upholds him with his hand. my firft youth till age prevail'd,

25

From my

I never faw the righteous fail'd,

or want o'ertake his num'rous race;