Mercy, and judgment, claim my song

1. Mercy, and judgment, claim my song,
From thee alone they spring:
Therefore, O Lord, my thankful heart
Thy praise shall ever sing.
2. I'll wisely act, by perfect rules,
When I the crown receive;
The pattern of an honest heart,
To all my court, I'll give.

3. No perverse thing will I intend;
I hate their ill design,
Who turn aside from sacred laws;
Their works shall not be mine.
4. The froward, refractory heart,
Shall from my presence go;
With bad men I'll no friendship make,
Nor favor to them show.

5. The private slanderer, I'll cut off,
Who seeks his neighbor's hurt;
The haughty look, and proud in heart,
I'll banish from my court.
6. I'll search the land for faithful men,
That they may dwell with me;
And he that walks in perfect ways,
My favorite shall be.

7 But artful men of fraud, and guile,
In my house shall not dwell;
Those that addict themselves to lies,
I'll from my sight repel.
8. My early care shall be, to root
The wicked from the land;
That from thy city, Lord, I may
Cut off that impious band.

A New Version of the Psalms of David, 1752