Give ear, thou Judge of all the earth, And listen when I pray

Verse 1

Give Ear, Thou Judge of all the Earth, and listen when I pray; Nor from thy humble Suppliant turn thy glorious Face away.

Verse 2

Attend to this my sad Complaint, and hear my grievous Moans; Whilst I my mournful Case declare with artless Sighs and Groans.

Verse 3

Hark how the Foe insults aloud! how fierce Oppressors rage! Whose sland'rous Tongues with wrathful Hate against my Fame engage.

Verse 4

My Heart is rack'd with Pain, my Soul with deadly Frights distress'd; With Fear and Trembling compass'd round, with Horror quite oppress'd.

Verse 5

How often wish'd I then, that I the Dove's swift Wings could get; That I might take my speedy Flight, and seek a safe Retreat!

Verse 6

Then would I wander far from hence; and in wild Desarts stray, Till all this furious Storm were spent, this Tempest past away.

Verse 7

Destroy, O Lord, their ill Designs, their Counsels soon divide; For through the City my griev'd Eyes have Strife and Rapine spy'd.

Verse 8

By Day and Night on ev'ry Wall they walk their constant Round; And, in the midst of all her Strength, are Grief and Mischief found.

Verse 9

Whoe'er thro' ev'ry Part shall roam, will fresh Disorders meet; Deceit and Guile their constant Posts maintain in ev'ry Street.

Verse 10

For 'twas not any open Foe, that false Reflections made; For then I could with Ease have borne the bitter Things he said:

Verse 11

'Twas none who Hatred had profess'd, that did against me rise; For then I had withdrawn myself from his malicious Eyes.

Verse 12

But 'twas ev'n thou, my Guide, my Friend, whom tend'rest Love did join: Whose sweet Advice I valu'd most, whose Pray'rs were mix'd with mine.

Verse 13

Sure, Vengeance equal to their Crimes such Traitors must surprise, And sudden Death requite those Ills they wickedly devise.

Verse 14

But I will call on God, who still shall in my Aid appear: At Morn, and Noon, and Night I'll pray, and He my Voice shall hear.

Verse 15

God has releas'd my Soul from those, that did with me contend; And made a num'rous Host of Friends my righteous Cause defend.

Verse 16

For He, who was my Help of old, shall now His Suppliant hear; And punish those, whose prosp'rous State makes them no God to fear.

Verse 17

Whom can I trust, if faithless Men perfidiously devise To ruin me, their peaceful Friend, and break the strongest Ties?

Verse 18

Tho' soft and melting are their Words, their Hearts with War abound: Their Speeches are more smooth than Oil, and yet like Swords they wound.

Verse 19

Do thou, my Soul, on God depend, and He shall thee sustain: He aids the Just, whom to supplant the Wicked strive in vain.

Verse 20

My Foes, that trad in Lies and Blood, shall all untimely die; Whilst I, for Health, and Length of Days, on Thee my God, rely.