Dr. Watts's Imitation of the Psalms of David ‎#157

157. Now I'm convinc'd the Lord is kind

1 Now I'm convinc'd the Lord is kind
To men of heart sincere;
Yet once my foolish thoughts repin'd,
And border'd on despair.

2 I griev'd to see the wicked thrive,
And spoke with angry breath,
'How pleasant and profane they live!
'How peaceful is their death!

3 'With well fed flesh and haughty eyes,
'They lay their fears to sleep;
'Against the heav'ns their slanders rise,
'While saints in silence weep.

4 'In vain I lift my hands to pray,
'And cleanse my heart in vain;
'For I am chasten'd all the day,
'The night renews my pain.'

5 Yet while my tongue indulg'd complaints,
I felt my heart reprove,
'Sure I shall thus offend thy saints,
'And grieve the men I love.'

6 But still I found my doubts too hard,
The conflict too severe,
Till I retir'd to search thy word,
And learn thy secrets there.

7 There, as in some prophetic glass,
I saw the sinner's feet
High mounted on a slipp'ry place,
Beside a fiery pit.

8 I heard the wretch profanely boast,
Till at thy frowns he fell;
His honors in a dream were lost,
And he awakes in hell.

9 Lord, what an envious fool I was!
How like a thoughtless beast!
Thus to suspect thy promis'd grace,
And think the wicked blest.

10 Yet was I kept from full despair,
Upheld by pow'r unknown:
That blessed hand that broke the snare,
Shall guide me to thy throne.

Text Information

• First Line: Now I'm convinc'd the Lord is kind
• Meter: C. M.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1790
• Notes: Part 1

Tune Information

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