Dr. Watts's Imitation of the Psalms of David ‎#25

25. Lord, if thou dost not soon appear

1 Lord, if thou dost not soon appear,
Virtue and truth will fly away;
A faithful man amongst us here
Will scarce be found, if thou delay.

2 The whole discourse when neighbors meet,
Is fill'd with trifles loose and vain;
Their lips are flatt'ry and deceit,
And their proud language is profane.

3 But lips that with deceit abound
Shall not maintain their triumph long;
The God of vengeance will confound
The flatt'ring and blaspheming tongue.

4 'Yet shall our words be free,' they cry;
'Our tongues shall be controul'd by none:
'Where is the Lord will ask us why,
'Or say our lips are not our own?'

5 The Lord, who sees the poor opprest,
And hears th' oppressor's haughty strain,
Will rise to give his children rest,
Nor shall they trust his word in vain.

6 Thy word, O Lord, tho' often try'd,
Void of deceit shall still appear:
Not silver, seven times purified
From dross and mixture, shines so clear.

7 Thy grace shall in the darkest hour
Defend the holy soul from harm:
Tho' when the vilest men have pow'r,
On ev'ry side will sinners swarm.

Text Information

• First Line: Lord, if thou dost not soon appear
• Meter: L. M.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1790
• Scripture:
  Psalm 12

Tune Information

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