PSALM XVIII.

Tate and Brady

2 Thou my deliv'rer art, my God,
My trust is in thy mighty pow'r:
Thou art my shield from foes abroad,
At home my safeguard and my tow'r.

3 To thee I will address my pray'r,
To whom all praise we justly owe;
So shall I, by thy watchful care,
Be guarded from my treach'rous foe.

4, 5 By floods of wicked men distress'd,
With seas of sorrow compass'd round;
With dire infernal pangs oppress'd,
In death's unwieldy fetters bound.

6 To heav'n I made my mournful pray'r,
To God address'd my humble moan;
Who graciously inclin'd his ear,
And heard me from his lofty throne.

7 When God arose my part to take,
The conscious earth was struck with fear;
The hills did at his presence shake,
Nor could his dreadful fury bear.

8 Thick clouds of smoke dispers'd abroad,
Ensigns of wrath before him came;
Devouring fire around him glow'd,
That coals were kindled at its flame.

9 He left the beauteous realms of light,
Whilst heav'n bow'd down its awful head,
Beneath his feet substantial night
Was like a sable carpet spread.

10 The chariot of the King of kings,
Which active troops of angels drew,
On a strong tempest's rapid wings,
With most amazing swiftness flew.

11, 12 Black wat'ry mists and clouds conspir'd
With thickest shades his face to veil;
But at his brightness soon retir'd,
And fell in show'rs of fire and hail.

13 Thro' heav'n's wide arch a thund'ring peal
God's angry voice did loudly roar;
While earth's sad face with heaps of hail,
And flakes of fire, was cover'd o'er.

14 His sharpen'd arrows round he threw,
Which made his scatter'd foes retreat;
Like darts his nimble lightnings flew,
And quickly finish'd their defeat.

15 The deep its secret stores disclos'd,
The world's foundations naked lay;
By his avenging wrath expos'd,
Which fiercely rag'd that dreadful day.

16 The Lord did on my side engage,
From heav'n, his throne, my cause upheld;
And snatch'd me from the furious rage
Of threat'ning waves that proudly swell'd.

17 God his resistless pow'r employ'd,
My strongest foes' attempts to break;
Who else with ease had soon destroy'd
The weak defence that I could make.

18 Their subtil rage had near prevail'd
When I distrest and friendless lay;
But still, when other succours fail'd,
God was my firm support and stay.

19 From dangers that inclos'd me round,
He brought me forth and set me free;
For some just cause his goodness found,
That mov'd him to delight in me.

20 Because in me no guilt remains,
God does his gracious help extend;
My hands are free from bloody stains,
Therefore the Lord is still my friend.

21, 22 For I his judgments kept in sight,
In his just paths I always trod;
I never did his statutes slight,
Nor loosely wander'd from my God.

23, 24. But still my soul, sincere and pure,
Did e'en from darling sins refrain;
His favours, therefore, yet endure,
Because my heart and hands are clean.

25, 26 Thou suit'st, O Lord, thy righteous ways
To various paths of human kind;
They, who for mercy merit praise,
With thee shall wondrous mercy find.

Thou to the just shalt justice show,
The pure thy purity shall see;
Such as perversely choose to go,
Shall meet with due returns from thee.

27, 28 That he the humble soul will save,
And crush the haughty's boasted might,
In me the Lord an instance gave,
Whose darkness he has turn'd to light.

29 On his firm succour I relied,
And did o'er num'rous foes prevail;
Nor fear'd, whilst he was on my side,
The best defended walls to scale.

30 For God's designs shall still succeed;
His word will bear the utmost test:
He's a strong shield to all that need,
And on his sure protection rest.

31 Who then deserves to be ador'd,
But God, on whom my hopes depend?
Or who, except the mighty Lord,
Can with resistless pow'r defend?

32, 33 'Tis God that girds my armour on,
And all my just designs fulfils;
Through him my feet can swiftly run,
And nimbly climb the steepest hills.

34 Lessons of war from him I take,
And manly weapons learn to wield;
Strong bows of steel with ease I break,
Forc'd by my stronger arms to yield.

35 The buckler of his saving health
Protects me from assaulting foes;
His hand sustains me still, my wealth
And greatness from his bounty flows.

36 My goings he enlarg'd abroad,
Till then to narrow paths confin'd;
And, when in slipp'ry ways I trod,
The method of my steps design'd.

37 Through him I num'rous hosts defeat,
And flying squadrons captive take;
Nor from my fierce pursuit retreat,
Till I a final conquest make.

38 Cover'd with wounds, in vain they try
Their vanquish'd heads again to rear;
Spite of their boasted strength they lie
Beneath my feet, and grovel there.

39 God, when fresh armies take the field,
Recruits my strength, my courage warms;
He makes my strong opposers yield,
Subdu'd by my prevailing arms.

40 Through him the necks of prostrate foes
My conquering feet in triumph press;
Aided by him, I root out those
Who hate and envy my success.

41 With loud complaints all friends they tried,
But none was able to defend;
At length to God for help they cried,
But God would no assistance lend.

42 Like flying dust which winds pursue,
Their broken troops I scatter'd round,
Their slaughter'd bodies forth I threw,
Like loathsome dirt that clogs the ground.

43 Our factious tribes, at strife till now,
By God's appointment me obey;
The heathen to my sceptre bow,
And foreign nations own my sway.

44 Remotest realms their homage send,
When my successful name they hear;
Strangers for my commands attend,
Charm'd with respect, or aw'd by fear.

45 All to my summons tamely yield,
Or soon in battle are dismay'd;
For stronger holds they quit the field,
And still in strongest holds afraid.

46 Let the eternal Lord be prais'd,
The rock on whose defence I rest;
O'er highest heav'ns his Name be rais'd,
Who me with his salvation blest.

47 'Tis God that still supports my right,
His just revenge my foes pursues;
'Tis he that with resistless might
Fierce nations to my yoke subdues.

48 My universal safeguard he,
From whom my lasting honours flow;
He made me great, and set me free
From my remorseless bloody foe.

49 Therefore to celebrate his fame
My grateful voice to heav'n I'll raise;
And nations, strangers to his Name,
Shall thus be taught to sing his praise:

50 God to his king deliv'rance sends,
Shews his anointed signal grace;
His mercy evermore extends
To David and his promis'd race.