Psalm CXLIII

Representative Text

1. Hear, O my God, with pity hear
My humble supplicating moan;
In mercy answer all my pray'rs,
And make thy truth and goodness known.
And oh, let mercy still be nigh,
Should awful justice frown severe,
Before the terrors of your eye,
What trembling mortal can appear?

2. My persecuting foes prevail;
Almost I yield my struggling breath;
The cheerful rays of comfort fail
And sink me to the shades of death.
While thus oppressive sorrows flow,
Unintermitting o'er my head,
My inmost pow'rs are whelm'd in woe,
And all my hopes and joys have fled.

3. I call to mind the former days;
Your ancient works declare your name,
Your truth, your goodness, and your grace;
And these, O Lord, are still the same.
To you, I stretch my suppliant hands,
To you my longing soul aspires;
As cheering showers to thirsty lands,
Come, Lord, and fill these strong desires.

4. Come, Lord, on wings of mercy, fly;
My spirit sails at your delay;
Hide not your face; I faint, I die,
Without your blissful, healing ray.
Speak to my heart; the gloomy night
Shall vanish, and sweet morning break;
In you I trust, my guide, my light;
Teach me the way my feet should take.

5. My soul’s desires ascend in haste;
O save me from my numerous foes;
To your kind, guardian wing I chase
For safe defense and sweet repose.
Teach me to do your sacred will;
You are my God, my hope, my stay;
Let your good spirit lead me still
And point the safe, the upright way.

6. Your name, your righteousness I plead;
O Lord, revive my drooping heart;
Let these distressing fears recede
And bid my troubles all depart.
Those unrelenting foes destroy,
Which thus against my peace unite;
Then shall your service be my joy,
And all my active powers take flight.

Source: Hymns and Devotions for Daily Worship #127b

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Author: Anne Steele

Anne Steele was the daughter of Particular Baptist preacher and timber merchant William Steele. She spent her entire life in Broughton, Hampshire, near the southern coast of England, and devoted much of her time to writing. Some accounts of her life portray her as a lonely, melancholy invalid, but a revival of research in the last decade indicates that she had been more active and social than what was previously thought. She was theologically conversant with Dissenting ministers and "found herself at the centre of a literary circle that included family members from various generations, as well as local literati." She chose a life of singleness to focus on her craft. Before Christmas in 1742, she declined a marriage proposal from contemporar… Go to person page >

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