1 No Change of Times shall ever move
My firm Affection, LORD, to thee;
For thou dost my Protection prove,
A Fortress and Defence to me;
My Trust is in thy Might and Pow'r;
Thou art my Safeguard and my Tow'r.
2 To thee I will address my Pray'r,
To whom all Praise we justly owe:
So shall I by thy watchful Care,
Be guarded from my treach'rous Foe;
Nor will I all his Malice fear,
If thou art with Assistance near.
3 By Floods of wicked Men distress'd;
With deadly Sorrows compass'd round;
With dire infernal Pangs oppress'd;
In Death's unweildy Fetters bound;
I made to GOD my humble Moan,
Who heard me from his lofty Throne.
Part II
4 When GOD arose, my Part to take,
The conscious Earth was struck with Fear;
The Hills did at his Presence shake;
Nor could his dreadful Fury bear;
Thick Smoke and Fire before him came,
That Coals were kindled by the Flame.
5 He left the beauteous Realms of Light,
Whilst Heav'n bow'd down its awful Head;
Beneath his Feet substantial Night
Was like a sable Carpet spread:
His Chariot, Troops of Angels drew,
Which on the winged Tempest flew.
6 Black wat'ry Mists and Clouds conspir'd
With thickest Shades, his Face to veil;
But at his Brightness soon retir'd,
And fell in Show'rs of Fire and Hail:
Thro' Heav'n his thund'ring Voice did roar,
And Earth's with Coals was cover'd o'er.
7 His sharpen'd Arrows round he threw,
Which made his scatter'd Foes retreat;
Like Darts his nimble Lightnings flew,
And quickly finish'd their Defeat;
The Deep her secret Stores disclos'd,
The World's Foundations lay expos'd.
8 The LORD did on my Side engage;
From Heav'n, his Throne, my Cause upheld;
And snatch'd me from the furious Rage
Of threat'ning Waves that proudly swell'd;
His Pow'r against my Foes employ'd,
Or else my Soul had been destroy'd.
9 Their subtle Rage had nigh prevail'd,
When I distress'd and friendless lay;
But still, when other Succours fail'd,
GOD was my firm Support and Stay;
And did from Danger set me free,
Because he took Delight in me.
10 Because in me no Guilt remains,
GOD does his gracious Help extend;
My Hands are free from bloody Stains,
The LORD is therefore still my Friend:
In his just Paths I always trod,
Nor loosely wander'd from my GOD.
11 His Judgments I have kept in Sight;
Did ev'n from darling Sins refrain;
I never did his Statutes slight,
And both my Heart and Hands are clean;
His Favours therefore still endure,
Because my Soul's sincere and pure.
Part III
12 Thou suit'st, O LORD, thy righteous Ways,
To various Paths of human kind;
They who, for Mercy, merit Praise,
With thee shall wond'rous Mercy find.
The Just thy Purity shall see;
The Perverse meet Returns from thee.
13 That he the humble Soul will save,
And crush the Haughty's boasted Might;
In me, the LORD, an Instance gave,
Whose Darkness he hath chang'd to Light.
29 On his firm Succour I rely'd,
Thro' him I did o'er Hosts prevail,
Nor fear'd the highest Walls to scale.
14 For GOD's Designs shall still succeed;
His Word will bear the utmost Test:
He's a strong Shield to all that need,
And on his sure Protection rest.
Who then, but GOD, should be ador'd,
Or who is mighty, like the LORD?
15 'Tis GOD that girds my Armour on,
And all my just Designs fulfils;
Thro' him, my Feet can swiftly run,
And nimbly climb the steepest Hllls;
Lessons of War from Him I take,
Mine Arms a Bow of Steel can break,
16 The Buckler of his saving Health
Protects me from assaulting Foes:
His Hand sustains me still; my Wealth
And Greatness from His Bounty flows:
My Steps, no narrow Paths confin'd;
He freed, and all my Ways design'd.
17 Thro' him, I num'rous Hosts defeat,
And flying Squadrons captive take;
Nor from my fierce Pursuit retreat,
'Till I a final Conquest make:
To rear their Heads in vain they try,
For at my Feet they vanquish'd lie.
Part IV
18 GOD, when fresh Armies take the Field,
Recruits my Strength, my Courage warms;
He makes my strong Opposers yield,
Subdu'd by my prevailing Arms;
Thro' him my Feet my Foes shall press,
Who hate and envy my Success.
19 With loud Complaints all Friends they try'd,
But none was able to defend;
At length to GOD, for Help, they cry'd;
But GOD would no Assistance lend;
Like Dust, their Troops I scatter'd round,
And with their Bodies strew'd the Ground.
20 Our factious Tribes, at Strife till now,
By GOD's Appointment, me obey;
The Heathen to my Sceptre bow,
And foreign Nations own my Sway;
Remotest Realms their Homage send,
And Strangers my Commands attend.
21 All to my Summons tamely yield,
Or soon in Battle are dismay'd;
For stronger Holds they quit the Field,
And still in strongest Holds afraid.
Then prais'd be GOD, in whom I rest;
Who me with his Salvation bless'd.
22 'Tis GOD that still supports my Right,
His just Revenge my Foes pursues;
'Tis he that with resistless Might,
Fierce Nations to my Yoke subdues;
From whom my lasting Honours flow;
Who freed me from the bloody Foe.
23 Therefore, to celebrate his Fame,
My grateful Voice to Heav'n I'll raise;
And Nations, Strangers to his Name,
Shall thus be taught to sing his Praise:
"GOD to his King extends his Grace,
"And crowns with Mercy David's Race.
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