Thy dreadful anger, Lord, restrain, Nor let thy Wrath on me remain

Verse 1

Thy dreadful Anger, Lord, restrain, Nor let thy Wrath on me remain, For 'tis not to be borne: Oh, spare a Wretch forlorn. Instead of Justice, which I fear, Let me the Voice of Mercy hear. Who can the Stroke withstand, Of thine afflicting Hand?

Verse 2

Have Mercy LORD! for I grow faint, Oh listen to my sad Complaint! And as thou know'st my Grief, Vouchsafe a kind Relief. The Anguish of my aking Bones, Extort from me continual Groans; And thou alone can'st cure, The Torments I endure.

Verse 3

My anxious Soul is troubled Sore, Do thou oh LORD, my Peace restore; My Heart within my Breast, Can find no solid Rest: But LORD how long must I sustain These heavy woes? how long complain? To me in Mercy turn, Nor let thine Anger burn.

Verse 4

Thy wonted Goodness, LORD, extend; To me thy kind Assistance lend, For my unequall'd Grief, Oh send some quick Relief. And for thy wond'rous Mercy's sake, On my Distress some Pity take; Vouchsafe to make me whole, And ease my trouble Soul.

Verse 5

For after Death I can no more, Thy loving Kindness, LORD, implore, No more in Anthems raise, My Voice to sing thy Praise; None in the dreary Tomb confin'd, Who hath his fleeting Breath resign'd, Can thy great Deeds proclaim, And magnify thy name.

Verse 6

With Groaning faint, and tir'd with Pain, I cease not loudly to complain; My Nights in Grief I spend, In Grief that knows no End. My Tears that never cease to flow, Are Marks of undissembled Woe; From Anguish never free, No Hope of Ease I see.

Verse 7

My Sight grows dim, my Beauty fades, Old Age my tott'ring Fram invades, My feeble Eyelids close; My soul no comfort knows, Whilst I with ever anxious Care, My angry Foes insulting hear, Who daily me annoy, And my distress enjoy. on my insulting Foes.

Verse 8

Depart, ye Wicked, far from me, Ye shall no more my Sorrows see, Nor with exulting Voice, In all my Wrongs rejoice. For GOD, I find accepts my Tears, The LORD will soon dispel my Fears, He hears when I implore And will my Strength restore.

Verse 9

The LORD at length vouchsafes to hear, My mournful Cry, and humble Pray'r; My Life he will retrieve, My Soul from Death relieve; And those who wish'd my Fall to see, Shall soon with Shame confounded be, And know, with humbled Pride, That GOD is on my Side.