Hold not thy peace O God my praise

Verse 1

Hold not thy peace, O GOD my praise; For op'ned wide at me Are wicked and deceitful mouths, with tongues of falsity. With words of spiteful hatred they encompass me around; And fight against me, tho' no cause in me they ever found.

Verse 2

They for my love became my foes; yet I for them did pray ; Ill they reward me for my good, and hate tor love repay.

Verse 3

But Thou wilt set a wicked one o'er him to have command; And at his right hand always shall the troubler Satan stand. When he to judgment comes, he shall be wicked found therein; His pray'rs shall aggravations be of his presumptuous sin,

Verse 4

His days shall be but few; his charge another man shall take; Thou wilt his children fatherless his wife a widow make. His children shall be vagabonds and beg continually; And from their places desolate shall seek for a supply.

Verse 5

Extortioners shall seize on all that to him appertains; And strangers spoil the fruits of all his labours, care and pains. None to him favour shall extend, nor to his orphans show; His race shall fail, nor shall their names the age succeeding know.

Verse 6

Their fathers wickedness shall be remembred by the LORD; And how their mother did transgress shall still be on record. They shall before JEHOVAH's face appear continually, Until he wholly from the earth cuts off their memory.

Verse 7

Because he did no mercy mind, but persecute the poor; That he might slay afflicted ones Whose hearts were broke before. As he did bitter cursing love, curses shall on him lie: As he delighted not to bless, blessing shall from him fly. As he with curses cloath'd himself; like water they shall flow into his bowels, and like oyl into his bones shall go.

Verse 8

Like an enclosing garment, they shall compass him around; And as a girdle constantly they shall on him be bound. Thus will JEHOVAH deal with those my spiteful enemies; Who evil speak against my soul, against my life devise.

Verse 9

But Lord JEHOVAH, deal Thou well for thy name sake with me: Because thy mercies tender are, O set me quickly free. For I afflicted am and weak, and helpless and oppress'd; My heart most deeply wounded is, and pained in my breast.

Verse 10

Like to the shadow far declin'd, so far away I'm gone; And as the locust with the wind, am tossed up and down. By fasting long and frequently my knees are feeble grown; And so much wasted is my flesh, that all its fat is gone.

Verse 11

I'm a reproach among my foes, who mock me as forlorn; And always when they look on me, they shake their heads with scorn. Help me JEHOVAH, O my God, in mercy save Thou me. That all may know this is thy hand, that, LORD, 'tis done by Thee.

Verse 12

When me they curse, do Thou me bless: let them asham'd be made, When they rise up; but O then let thy servant's heart be glad. So shall my spiteful enemies be cloathed all with shame; And their confusion shall like as a mantle cover them.

Verse 13

But I will greatly thank the LORD, and with my mouth aloud, Will joyful praises to Him sing among the multitude. For at the right hand of the poor He stands to rescue them From those who judge unrighteously, and would their souls condemn.