PSALM LXXIV.

George Burgess

Think on the people thou hast bought,
The tribes thine arm from bondage brought;
Think on Mount Sion's chosen halls,
And turn thee tow'rds their wasted walls.

The foe's bold feet profane thy soil;
Thy foes rush in with crime and spoil:
They shout within thy place of pray'r,
And lift their conqu'ring standards there.

Once, he whose arm was strong to fell,
In the thick forest prov'd it well:
But now the axe and hammer ring,
Where down the chisell'd work they fling.

They give thy temple to the blaze,
Thy name's abode they stain and raze:
\"Destroy we all,\" their hearts exclaim,
And all the land sends up the flame.

No house of God its portal rears;
No sign in heav'n or earth appears;
No prophet pours a soothing song;
And no man's heart can tell how long.

How long, O God, shall hate revile?
How long thy foes blaspheming smile?
Why lies thy arm'd right hand in rest?
Oh, pluck it from thy sheathing breast!

God is our King from days of old;
The earth thy saving strength has told:
Thy might the roaring waters clave,
And crush'd the dragons of the wave.

It trampled down the monster's head;
The desert dwellers saw and fed:
It op'd the fount, the torrent's tide,
And mighty streams it checked and dried.

The day is thine, the night is thine;
By thee the sunbeams rise and shine;
Earth's utmost borders thou hast spann'd,
And all the seasons praise thy hand.

Remember, Lord, th' opposers' crowd,
The fool's blasphemings, bold and loud:
Forsake not thou thy mourning dove,
But shield the people of thy love.

Think on the cov'nant: ev'ry clime
Sees the dark holds of cruel crime:
Oh, turn not back th' oppress'd with shame;
Let want and woe extol thy name.

Arise, O God, thy cause maintain;
Think on the fools' blaspheming train;
Forget thou not their guilty cry;
Each day, each hour, it swells on high!