Psalm 9

Abraham Coles

3 For my enemies turned back,
Finding Thee upon their track;
At Thy dreadful presence they,
Stumbling, perished in the way.

4 Thou, O Lord, my right and cause
Hast maintained, upholding laws —
Seated high upon Thy throne.
Judging righteously alone.

5 Thou hast nations swept away.
Blotted out their names for aye:
6 Cities, which Thou hast destroyed,
Lost to memory are and void.

7 God sits King — earth at His feet —
Ever on His judgment seat;
8 He'll the peoples' wrongs redress,
Judge the world in righteousness.

9 Tower of refuge for th'oppressed,
A high tower for the distressed;
10 Who Thee know will in Thee trust.
For Thou ne'er wilt from Thee thrust

Them that seek Thee, nor forsake
Such as Thee their refuge make.
11 Sing His praise, His doings tell,
Who in Zion loves to dwell.

12 When for blood He shall inquire,
Burn His anger will like fire!
For the poor man's cry is not
By th'Omniscient Judge forgot.

13 Pity, Lord, whose quickening breath
Raises from the gates of death.
See what sufferings on me wait,
From the hands of them that hate!

14 Save me, that Thy praise I may
In the gates of Zion pay.
I will then with heart and voice
In Thy saving health rejoice.

15 Sunk are nations in the pit
Themselves made, God ordering it —
16 Justly ill their own foot fared.
In their own net caught and snared.

17 Back the wicked shall be turned.
Reaping the reward they earned:
Perish shall in Sheol yet
Nations all that God forget.

18 For the needy and the meek.
Who from God assistance seek.
Shall not always be unheard.
Nor their hope for aye deferred.

19 Rise, Lord, let not man assail
Right's strong bulwarks and prevail.
Nations that against Thee fight
Let them judged be in Thy sight.

20 Let the terror of Thine arm
Fill their souls with just alarm;
And with trembling let them then
Know themselves to be but men.