The Psalms of David ‎#P12a

P12a. 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 purify'd
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 Power,
On ev'ry Side will Sinners swarm.

Text Information

• First Line: Lord, if thou dost not soon appear
• Meter: Long Metre
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1766
• Scripture:
  Psalm 12
• Topic: Atheism: practical; Christ: his coming, the signs of it; Complaint: of quarellsome Neighbors; Complaint: Pride, Atheisim, Oppression, etc.; Corruption of Manners general; Enemies: destroyed; Evil times; Falsehood: and oppression, deliverance from them; Falsehood: Blasphemy, etc.; Flattery and Deceit complained of; Hypocrites and hypocrisy; Saints: safety in evil times; Sin of Tongue

Tune Information

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