PSALM XXXV.

George Burgess

Let shame and trouble end the strife
That aims to snatch my guiltless life;
In shame and trouble turn them back,
Who spread their snares around my track:
Strew them, like chaff along the blast,
While thy stern angel follows fast;
And dark and slipp'ry be the road,
Where thy stern angel on shall goad.

Let hidden ills their woe prepare.
And fall they by their own false snare;
While I my grateful tribute bring,
And loud the Lord's salvation sing,
Till all my frame exulting cry,
\"Oh, who is like the Lord on high,
That saves the needy from the strong,
And rights the helpless suff'rer's wrong?\"

With oaths of falsehood foul they stood,
And paid me murd'rous ill for good;
For I, above their painful bed,
The tears of cordial grief had shed;
My fasting watch in sackcloth kept,
As if a brother's woe I wept;
And bow'd to pour my inmost pray'r,
As if my mother's bier were there.

But when I pin'd, they gathered by,
With mirth's, and hate's vindictive cry:
They gnash'd their teeth, the flatt'rers base,
That seek at affluent boards a place:
How long, O Lord, shall vengeance sleep?
Oh, save me from their lion leap;
That I may praise thee, oft and loud,
Amongst thy people's gladden'd crowd.

Nor yield them joy, whose causeless hate
Would wink and triumph o'er my fate;
Who secret fraud and malice speak
To stain the pure, to wound the meek;
And cry, with laughter's mocking mien,
\"Aha, aha, our eyes have seen!\"
Thou, too, hast seen, O God most high:
Oh stand, nor stand in silence, nigh!

Awake, arise, my Lord and God;
Lift in my cause thy vengeful rod:
Let thine own truth my doom decide;
Nor yield me to the boast of pride;
Nor let them cry, \"aha, 'tis done!
Our heart's prophetic wish is won!\"
And o'er my ruin fiercely say,
\"We conquer'd and devour'd the prey!\"

Let shame and trouble robe them all,
Who joy to hope my fatal fall;
While they that ask my just success
With shout and song thy name shall bless:
\"Bless'd,\" let them cry, no more to cease,
\"The Lord, who loves his servants' peace!\"
And I will chant thy righteous praise,
From morn till evening's purple rays.