PSALM LXXIII.

George Burgess

Weak I paus'd, and wav'ring stood;
For I mark'd th' ungodly's good;
And my heart, in envious gloom,
Watch'd the sinner's prosperous doom.

On in fearless strength they tread,
Till they slumber with the dead:
Naught they know of mortal cares,
Mortal burden ne'er was theirs.

Therefore pride their necks hath bound;
Strife, as raiment, wraps them round:
Swell their eyes, with lux'ry blind;
Fortune leaved their wish behind.

High and cruel words they pour;
High their tyrant boastings soar:
Heaven their mouth's defiance hears,
And their tongue o'er earth careers.

So return their people still,
Joy's wild cup to drain and fill:
\"How shall God discern?\" they cry;
\"Is there knowledge hid on high?\"

Lo, th' ungodly prosper so;
So their peaceful riches grow:
From my hands and heart in vain
I have wash'd the guilty stain.

Still till eve my spirit pines,
On my woe the morning shines:
Yet, if thus my lips shall say,
From thy children I shall stray.

So my dazzled eyes and thought
Long in vain repose had sought,
Till to God's high courts I drew;
There the sinner's end I knew.

On a slipp'ry path they go,
To a sudden, swift o'erthrow:
In a moment they decay,
And in terrors pass away.

As the morning dreamer wakes.
So the Lord their slumber breaks;
As a dream when sleep is past,
Flits their image on the blast.

Vainly was my bosom torn;
Foolish rose my doubt forlorn;
Senseless as the beasts that die,
I arraign'd the will most High.

Still by thee, with thee, I stand;
Thou hast held me by thy hand:
With thy counsel guide me now;
Then to glory welcome thou!

Whom have I in heav'n but thee?
Whom so dear on earth to me?
Heart and flesh may fail and pine;
God my strength shall then be mine;

Then, my fainting bosom's health,
Then, my soul's eternal wealth;
When the wanderers from thy path
Perish in thy wasting wrath.

Lord my God, my soul is bless'd,
At thy feet to bow and rest:
All my trust to God shall cling,
While his wondrous works I sing.