My earnest pray'r, O heav'nly father, hear

Verse 1

The earnest pray'r, O heav'nly father, hear, Nor on thy suppliant servant look severe: View with what sorrows swells my anguish'd breast; What fatal griefs deny my soul her rest;

Verse 2

'Cause of the malice of oppressive foes, The bitter hate, with which they've 'gainst me rose; The killing slanders on my fame they cast, Their causeless fury that will ever last.

Verse 3

Pain'd is my heart, and sorely weeps within; My heart the horrors of the grave hath seen.

Verse 4

A sudden tremor on my system falls; A sudden terror my sad soul appalls;

Verse 5

'Twas then I said; " Oh! cou'd I fly away, "Cou'd to some lone retreat myself convey; "O cou'd I wing it like the plaintive dove? "Soon to the desarts, to the woods I'd rove;

Verse 6

"Swifter than winds I'd skim the liquid air, "Reach the wild waste, and seek my solace there."

Verse 7

Destroy them, Lord; confound each villain-tongue, For range the city violence and wrong;

Verse 8

Or night or day their mischiefs never fail; Their monstrous crimes in ev'ry street prevail;

Verse 9

Within her walls each horrid guilt is found; Rage, av'rice, fraud, deceit, and lust, abound.

Verse 10

Had sprung my mis'ries from an open foe, I shou'd expect, and ward against the blow; Or if some mighty tyrant had assail'd, Myself I 'ad 'gainst his violence conceal'd:

Verse 11

But say, cou'd I my guardless soul defend, When thus assaulted by my bosom friend?

Verse 12

One so belov'd, I ne'er cou'd from him part, But shar'd with him the secrets of my heart; With him in social converse spent the day, With him thy temple sought, my vows to pay.

Verse 13

Let them no more their horrid mischiefs breathe; O sink them, sink them, in eternal death; Monsters of iniquity from their birth! Pour, heav'n, thy terrors; overwhelm them, earth!

Verse 14

While I my God invoke, to end my grief; While from his mercy I receive relief;

Verse 15

At morn, at even, while his name I praise, And sing protecting pow'r in grateful lays.

Verse 16

Yes; thou shalt give me safety in the war; In vain their num'rous bands shall they prepare; In vain shall threaten; I'll in thee be bold, The wonderful, th' almighty God of old: No longer shall they boast their cruel pow'r; Their proud relentless hearts shall rage no more.

Verse 17

Peace they'll pretend, yet suddenly invade, Nor heed the solemn treaties they have made;

Verse 18

Smoother than milk, than oil, flows ev'ry word, Yet wounds more deeply than the keenest sword.

Verse 19

But God my hope, my soul will he sustain; On him the righteous ne'er rely in vain;

Verse 20

He'll on the wicked dire destruction pour, Them in their youth shall sudden death devour; Their souls of half their days shall he deprive; While a long round of years the righteous live.