Psalm CII

Verse 1

Lord, hear thy servant's humble pray'r, And let my mournful cry Ascend, and reach thy gracious ear, And move thy pitying eye.

Verse 2

O do not hide thy blissful face, When fears and sorrows rise; But hear, and let thy sov'reign grace Return with quick supplies.

Verse 3

My days like smoke consume away, And this poor dying frame Sinks down to ruin and decay, Scorch'd with affliction's shame.

Verse 4

My spirit fails, my hopes decline, Like with'ring grass they fade; And while beneath thy stroke I pine, How tasteless is my bread!

Verse 5

My strength, with oft-repeated groans, Is wasting fast away, And leaves this skin, these feeble bones, To wrinkles and decay.

Verse 6

Like a poor solitary fowl Which in the desert roves, Or like the melancholy owl That nightly haunts the groves;

Verse 7

I spend the watchful night alone, Slow moves the tiresome shade, While like the plaintive bird, I moan, All desolate and sad.

Verse 8

While all the day my cruel foes In sharp reproaches join, And more to aggravate my woes, Against my life combine.

Verse 9

My taste no food with comfort chears, 'Tis ashes mix'd with woe; And mingling with my drink, my tears In briny torrents flow.

Verse 10

What comfort e'er can chear my taste, Beneath thy angry frown? Rais'd by thy smile, I once was blest, But thou hast cast me down.

Verse 11

I sink with hope's departing ray, And life expiring fails; So the faint shadow dies away, When gloomy night prevails.

Verse 12

But thou, O Lord, shalt still endure, Thy truth shall ne'er decay; Thy love unalterably sure, While ages roll away.

Verse 13

In Sion's cause thou wilt arise, Thy mercy dawns around; The time is come, her sorrow flies, And all her hopes are crown'd.

Verse 14

That Sion, which thy servants love, Each heart her mem'ry wears; Their passions o'er her ruins move, In sadly pleasing tears.

Verse 15

So shall the heathen nations fear The Lord's exalted name; Earth's haughty monarchs low revere Thy majesty supreme.

Verse 16

When Sion's God, with pow'r array'd, Shall build her frame anew, Then shall his glory be display'd To our admiring view.

Verse 17

O let the humble destitute Ne'er sink in sad despair; The Lord will hear their mournful suit, And answer all their pray'r.

Verse 18

His truth, his mercy, and his pow'r Shall fill the blest record; And future ages shall adore, And love and praise the Lord.

Verse 19

From heav'n, his high eternal throne, (O condescending grace!) Th'almighty looks with pity down On earth's low worthless race.

Verse 20

He sees the groaning prisoner's pain, And brings a kind reprieve; His hand shall loose the fatal chain, And bid the victim live:

Verse 21

Live to declare his glorious name, And spread his praise abroad, And in his sacred courts proclaim The mercy of his God.

Verse 22

Assembled there his saints attend, And songs of praise repeat; And there united nations bend, And worship at his feet.

Verse 23

In life's mid-way my strength declin'd, But 'twas my father's hand; My short'ning days flew as wind, At his supreme command.

Verse 24

I said, to thee my God I pray. whose years for ever last; O take me not so soon away, E'er half my days are past.

Verse 25

Earth's old foundations thou hast laid; The heav'ns, (a glorious frame!) By thy almighty hand were spread, And speak their Maker's name.

Verse 26

Their shining wonders all shall fade; By thy controuling pow'r, Chang'd like a vesture quite decay'd; But thou shalt still endure.

Verse 27

Thy bright perfections, all divine, Eternal as thy days, Thro' everlasting ages shine, With undiminish'd rays.

Verse 28

Thy servant's children, still thy care, Shall own their fathers God; To latest times thy favour share, And spread thy praise abroad.