Since godly men are every day decreasing

1 Since Godly Men are ev'ry Day decreasing,
Do thou, O LORD, my righteous Cause defend;
These wretched Times are to my Soul displeasing,
They scarce afford one just and faithful Friend.

2 One Neighbour now can scarce believe another
Or trust in any Thing he doth impart;
With flatt'ring Lips each Man deceives his Brother,
And oft ensnares him with a double Heart.

3 But faithless Lips with treach'rous Words abounding,
The LORD will not permit to prosper long;
His awful Vengeance them with Fear confounding,
Shall sudden strike the proud blaspheming Tongue.

4 In vain are still those foolish Boasters saying,
"We'll freely talk, our Tongues are sure our own?
"With doubtful Words the Innocent betraying,
"We'll still go on and be controul'd by none."

5 For GOD, who always hears the Poor distressed,
And all their Sorrow and Affliction knows,
Shall soon arise, their Wrongs shall be redressed;
He gives them Rest in spite of all their Foes.

6 Their Hopes are sure who have on GOD relied,
His Word shall stand, and void of Falshood be;
Like Silver, sev'n times in the Furnace tried,
Still pure remains from drossy Mixture free.

7 GOD keeps the Righteous from this Generation;
Thou for their Safety ever will provide;
When vilest Man rise to the highest Station,
The Wicked then exult on ev'ry Side.


Source: The Psalms of David: with the Ten Commandments, Creed, Lord's Prayer, &c. in metre...for the use of the Reformed Protestant Dutch church of the city of New York #XII