PSALM XXXI.

George Burgess

Come to my help with speed;
Come with thy shelt'ring pow'r;
My refuge in mine hour of need,
My rock and fortress tow'r.

Lead me, for thine own sake;
And snatch me from the snare,
That, my unwary feet to take,
My foes unseen prepare.

With thee my succour stands,
Thee, my Redeemer tried:
Lord God of truth, to thy kind hands
My spirit I confide.

I hate the falsehood vain;
I trust alone the Lord;
And still my heart, in joyous strain,
Shall all thy love record;

That thou hast seen my woes;
That thou hast known my fear;
Nor shut me to my lurking foes,
But set my footsteps clear.

Have mercy. Lord! mine eye,
My soul, in sorrow pine;
And, spent with many a weary sigh,
My lonely years decline;

My bones are all decay;
My foemen taunting see;
My bosom friends turn cold away,
And they that mark me flee.

Forgotten, as the dead,
Spurn'd, like a broken vase,
I hear the frequent slander spread;
Fear sits on ev'ry face:

They join in dark accord,
My captive life to rend;
But I will trust in thee, O Lord,
And name thee God and Friend.

Thy hands my time assign;
Save me from hate and shame:
Let thy kind smile above me shine;
Save, for thy gracious name!

As I have call'd thee, save:
Let shame the vile surprise,
And silence cover, in the grave,
The lips that joy in lies;

That ope in slander proud
Against the pure of heart,
Mock his fair fame with insult loud,
Or steal with secret art.

How great thy goodness, Lord,
Laid up for thine with thee;
Wrought for the souls that trust thy word;
That all that live may see!

Thy presence holds them safe
From man's assailing pride:
Though warring tongues around them chafe,
Within thy tent they hide.

The gracious Lord be bless'd,
My city's tow'r and wall!
For when, by thronging terrors press'd,
I fled and seem'd to fall;

Then rose my wild complaint,
\"I perish from thine eye!\"
But love the Lord, each suppliant saint!
He heard my doubting cry.

The Lord preserves the true,
And pays the deed of pride:
Stand, and your strength shall he renew,
Ye that his time abide!