All workers of iniquity

Thou hat'st; and them unblest

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

Still on; for against thee they have rebell'd.
Then all who trust in thee shall bring

15

That do observe if I transgress,

Set thy ways right before, where my step goes. For in his falt'ring mouth unstable

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

By their own counsels quell'd;
Push them in their rebellions all

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

20

25

30

35

To bless the just man still,

As with a shield thou wilt surround

Him with thy lasting favour and good will. 40

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 e'en with anguish ache, 5
Are troubled, yea, my soul is troubled sore,

And thou, O Lord, how long? Turn, Lord, restore
My soul, O save me for thy goodness sake:
For in death no remembrance is of thee;

Who in the grave can celebrate thy praise? 10 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, is waxen old and dark I' th' midst of all mine enemies that mark. 15 Depart all ye that work iniquity, Depart from me, for the voice of my weeping

The Lord hath heard, the Lord hath heard my My supplication with acceptance fair [prayer, The Lord will own, and have me in his keeping.

Mine enemies shall all be blank and dash'd

With much confusion; then grown red with shame,

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

21 blank] Comus, 452.

that dash'd brute violence

With sudden adoration and blank awe. Warton.

PSALM VII. AUG. 14, 1653.

UPON THE WORDS OF CHUSH 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 tear 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 render'd less,
And not freed my foe for nought;

Let th' 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 outspread
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.

10

15

20

So th' 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 th' 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.

(His arrows purposely made he
For them that persecute.) Behold

25

30

35

40

45

50

He travels big with vanity,

Trouble he hath conceiv'd of old
As in a womb, and from that mould
Hath at length brought forth a lie.

He digg❜d a pit, and delv'd 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 undelay'd

Fall on his crown with ruin steep.

Then will I Jehovah's praise
According to his justice raise,
And sing the Name and Deity
Of Jehovah the most high.

55

60

PSALM VIII. AUG. 14, 1653.

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 5 Hast founded strength because of all thy foes, To stint th' enemy, and slack th' avenger's brow, That bends his rage thy providence t' oppose.

7 stint th' enemy] A violent cæsure in the last syllable of

<

I enemy.' See above, Ps. v. 16. Ps. vii. 22. Warton. But perhaps it should be pronounced en'my.

VOL. III.