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 the 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, sev'n 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 pow'r,
On ev'ry side will sinners swarm.
Text Information | |
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First Line: | LORD, if thou dost not soon appear |
Title: | The Saint's Safety and hope in evil Times; or, Sins of the Tongue complained of, namely, Blasphemy, Falshood, etc. |
Meter: | Long Metre |
Language: | English |
Publication Date: | 1780 |
Scripture: | |
Notes: | Public Domain. |