God of my praise, hold not thy peace. For opened, to my wrong

1. God of my Praise, hold not thy Peace.
2. For open'd, to my Wrong,
Are wicked, and deceitful, Mouths;
Which speak with lying Tongue.
3. Words full of Hatred they throw round;
Causeless my Life ensnare.
4. They, for my Love, my Foes, become;
But I resort to Pray'r.

5. They have rewarded me with ill,
For all the Good I've done;
And for my undisguised Love,
Have cruel Hatred shown.
6. Some wicked one shall o'er him rule;
And close at his Right-hand,
To undermine his dang'rous Plots,
The Adversary stand.

7. When judg'd, he shall be guilty found,
His very Pray'r displease.
8. His Days be few, and on his Charge,
Shall then another seize.
9. His Children Orphans, and his Wife
A Widow shall be made.
10. His Offspring shall from Ruins creep.
And strole, and beg their Bread.

Second Part

11. Gripers shall seize on all was his;
Strangers his Labours rend.
12. None shall their Pity to him show,
Nor to his Seed extend.
13. His Race shall cease, and the next Age,
Their Names be quite forgot.
14. The Lord shall mind his Father's Crimes'
Nor out his Mother's blot.

15. They shall continually appear
Before Jehovah's Face;
'Till he, from off the burden'd Earth,
Their Memory erace.
16. Because it ne'er came in his Mind,
Compassion to impart;
The Poor, and Needy, he pursu'd.
To slay the broken Heart.

17. As he lov'd Cursing, it shall come,
And fall on his own Head;
The Blessing, he despis'd, shall far
Away from him be fled.
18. Since Cursing, as a Robe, he wore.
It shall, like Water, flow
Thro' all his Bowels; and in his Bones,
Like piercing Oil, shall go.

19. As Garments, it shall cover him;
As Girdles him controul.
20. Thus will the Lord reward my Foes;
Who speak against my Soul.

Third Part

21. But thou, O God, the Lord, deal well,
For thy Name's Sake, with me;
Because thy Mercy's very great,
Appear, and set me free.
22. For I am poor, and destitute;
My Heart, with Grief, doth swoon.
23. I pass, like Ev'ming-Shades; I'm tost,
Like Locusts, up and down.

24. My Knees, with Fasting, weak are grown;
Fat from my Flesh is fled.
25. I'm their Reproach; and when they look
On me, they shake the Head.
26. Help me, O Lord, my God, save me;
And make thy Mercy known.
27. That all may see, this is thy Hand;
Thou, Lord, this Thing hast done.

28. Let them curse on; but, Lord, bless thou;
And when they raise their Voice
With Insult, let them be asham'd;
Thy Servant let rejoice.
29. May all my Foes be cloath'd.with Shame,
To see their Measures broke;
And, in their own Confusion, wrapt
Around, as with a Cloak.

30. So will I greatly praise the Lord,
And with my Mouth aloud;
My grateful Thanks I'll to him sing,
Among the Multitude.
3T. Because the Lord, at their Right-hand,
Will stand, to help the Poor;
To save him from th' unrighteous Judge,
Who would his Soul devour.


Source: A New Version of the Psalms of David: Fitted to the Tunes Used in the Churches, With Several Hymns Out of the Old, and New, Testament #198