In thee, O God, my constant trust I place

Verse 1

In thee, O God, my constant trust I place; Let not thy faithful servant meet disgrace;

Verse 2

Exert thy justice, and benignly hear; Guide me in safety, and dispel my fear; Thou art my tow'r of strength; my rock art thou; Be still my rock; my tow'r of strength be now.

Verse 3

On thee relying, shall I be dismay'd? O save me from the secret net they've laid.

Verse 4

My great redeemer thou, secure I'll stand Beneath the shelter of thy mighty hand:

Verse 5

My trust the dread Jehovah; I despise The fools that deal in vanity and lies;

Verse 6

Yes; in thy mercy shall my soul rejoice; Oft in her troubles hast thou heard her voice;

Verse 7

Oft, when her foes assail'd, hast set her free, And giv'n my fetter'd feet full liberty.

Verse 8

But now in bitterness of heart I mourn; And humbly to the God of mercy turn; Mine eyes with constant, scalding tears decay; Pines my sad soul; my body wears away;

Verse 9

My life is spent with griefs, my years in sighs; Wither my bones; my strength within me dies.

Verse 10

My foes insult me, and deride my woe; My neighbours round a mean abhorrence shew; Nay; e'en my friends for fear come not anigh, And, when they see me at a distance, fly.

Verse 11

As one among the dead, I'm quite forgot, Sink beneath notice; and am really nought;

Verse 12

Their slanders, their soul calumnies I hear; On ev'ry side surrounds me ev'rv fear; Their base devices 'gainst my life I know, And what their secret malice dooms me to.

Verse 13

Yet still, O Lord, on thee I've fix'd my trust; My God I'll call thee, for thou still art just:

Verse 14

Thou rul'st my life; it's term depends on thee; free me from the cruel enemy:

Verse 15

Bright on thy servant, let thy goodness shine, And shield me with thy clemency divine:

Verse 16

Thy help implor'd, let me not sink in shame; Be that their destin'd lot, that hate thy name: That love a lie, are cruel, vain and proud, And vent their horrid slanders 'gainst the good: Let them, just God, of shame their portion have; And sleep in dreadful silence in the grave.

Verse 17

How great thy goodness? how thy bounties flow On all that to thy laws obedience shew? 'Fore all the earth, what wonders hast thou wrought For them that rev'rence thee in act, in thought?

Verse 18

In vain the pow'rful wicked vaunt their pride; Them from their malice thou'lt securely hide; In vain the pois'nous tongue assaults their fame; A safe protection in thy house they claim.

Verse 19

Eternal praiie, eternal thanks, O Lord; For wondrous was the aid thou didst afford; Not armed hosts, not strongest tow'rs can prove Such sure defence, as yields thy pow'rful love.

Verse 20

Void of support, quite comfortless and poor, I said, despairing; " All my hopes are o'er;" When thou the voice of my complaint didst hear, And in my worst distress dispell'dst my fear.

Verse 21

Therefore, ye pious souls, ye truly just, Love well the Lord, and in his goodness trust; For he'll the proud ones of the earth destroy, And bless the humble with immortal joy.

Verse 22

Be brave, be dauntless then; pursue the road, The path that leads you to the throne of God; With steady feet go on; on him depend; Crown'd are our labours, when our God's our friend.