Thy presence why withdrawest thou, Lord

Verse 1

Thy presence why withdraw'st thou, Lord? why hid'st thou now thy face, When dismal times of deep distress call for thy wonted grace?

Verse 2

The wicked, swell'd with lawless pride, have made the poor their prey; O let them fall by those designs which they for others lay.

Verse 3

For straight they triumph, if success their thriving crimes attend; And sordid wretches, whom God hates, perversely they commend.

Verse 4

To own a pow'r above themselves their haughty pride disdains; And therefore in their stubborn mind no thought of God remains.

Verse 5

Oppressive methods they pursue, and all their foes they slight; Because thy judgments unobserv'd, are far above their sight.

Verse 6

They fondly think their prosp'rous state shall unmolested be; They think their vain designs shall thrive, from all misfortunes free.

Verse 7

Vain and deceitful is their speech, with curses fill'd, and lies; By which the Mischief of their heart they study to disguise.

Verse 8

Near public roads they lie conceal'd, and all their art employ, The innocent and poor at once to rifle and destroy.

Verse 9

Not Lions, couching in their dens, surprise their heedless prey With greater cunning, or express more savage rage, than they.

Verse 10

Sometimes they act the harmless man, and modest Looks they wear; That so deciev'd, the poor may less their sudden onset fear.

Verse 11

For God, they think, no notice takes of their unrighteous deeds; He never minds the suff'ring poor, nor their oppression heeds.

Verse 12

But thou, O Lord, at length arise stretch forth thy mighty arm; And, by the greatness of thy pow'r, defend the poor from harm.

Verse 13

No longer let the wicked vaunt, and, proudly boasting, say, "Tush, God regards not what we do; "he never will repay."

Verse 14

But sure thou seest, and all their deeds impartially dost try; The orphan, therefore, and the poor, on thee for aid rely.

Verse 15

Defenceless let the wicked fall, of all their strength bereft; Confound, o God, their dark designs, till no remains are left.

Verse 16

Assert thy just dominion, Lord, which shall forever stand; Thou, who the heathen didst expel from this thy chosen land.

Verse 17

Thou hear'st the humble supllicants, that to thy throne repair; Thou first prepar'st their hearts to pray, and then accept'st their pray'r.

Verse 18

Thou, in thy righteous judgment, weight'st the fatherless and poor; That so the tyrants of the earth may persecute no more.