In thee, O God, my constant trust I place

1 In thee, O God, my constant trust I place;
Let not thy faithful servant meet disgrace;
2 Exert thy justice, and benignly hear;
Guide me in safety, and dispel my fear;
Thou art my tow'r of strength; my rock art thou;
Be still my rock; my tow'r of strength be now.
4 On thee relying, shall I be dismay'd?
O save me from the secret net they've laid.
5 My great redeemer thou, secure I'll stand
Beneath the shelter of thy mighty hand:
6 My trust the dread Jehovah; I despise
The fools that deal in vanity and lies;
7 Yes; in thy mercy shall my soul rejoice;
Oft in her troubles hast thou heard her voice;
8 Oft, when her foes assail'd, hast set her free,
And giv'n my fetter'd feet full liberty.
9 But now in bitterness of heart I mourn;
And humbly to the God of mercy turn;
Mine eyes with constant, scalding tears decay;
Pines my sad soul; my body wears away;
10 My life is spent with griefs, my years in sighs;
Wither my bones; my strength within me dies.
11 My foes insult me, and deride my woe;
My neighbours round a mean abhorrence shew;
Nay; e'en my friends for fear come not anigh,
And, when they see me at a distance, fly.
12 As one among the dead, I'm quite forgot,
Sink beneath notice; and am really nought;
13 Their slanders, their soul calumnies I hear;
On ev'ry side surrounds me ev'rv fear;
Their base devices 'gainst my life I know,
And what their secret malice dooms me to.
14 Yet still, O Lord, on thee I've fix'd my trust;
My God I'll call thee, for thou still art just:
15 Thou rul'st my life; it's term depends on thee;
free me from the cruel enemy:
16 Bright on thy servant, let thy goodness shine,
And shield me with thy clemency divine:
17 Thy help implor'd, let me not sink in shame;
Be that their destin'd lot, that hate thy name:
That love a lie, are cruel, vain and proud,
And vent their horrid slanders 'gainst the good:
Let them, just God, of shame their portion have;
And sleep in dreadful silence in the grave.
19 How great thy goodness? how thy bounties flow
On all that to thy laws obedience shew?
'Fore all the earth, what wonders hast thou wrought
For them that rev'rence thee in act, in thought?
20 In vain the pow'rful wicked vaunt their pride;
Them from their malice thou'lt securely hide;
In vain the pois'nous tongue assaults their fame;
A safe protection in thy house they claim.
21 Eternal praiie, eternal thanks, O Lord;
For wondrous was the aid thou didst afford;
Not armed hosts, not strongest tow'rs can prove
Such sure defence, as yields thy pow'rful love.
22 Void of support, quite comfortless and poor,
I said, despairing; " All my hopes are o'er;"
When thou the voice of my complaint didst hear,
And in my worst distress dispell'dst my fear.
24 Therefore, ye pious souls, ye truly just,
Love well the Lord, and in his goodness trust;
For he'll the proud ones of the earth destroy,
And bless the humble with immortal joy.
25 Be brave, be dauntless then; pursue the road,
The path that leads you to the throne of God;
With steady feet go on; on him depend;
Crown'd are our labours, when our God's our friend.

Source: New Version of the Psalms of David #XXXI