To celebrate Thy praise, O Lord

Verse 1

To celebrate thy praise, O Lord, I will my heart prepare; To all the list'ning world, thy works, thy wond'rous works declare.

Verse 2

The thought of them shall to my soul exalted pleasures bring; Whilst to thy name, O thou Most High, triumphant praise I sing.

Verse 3

Thou mad'st my aoughty foes to turn their backs in shameful flight: Struck with thy presence, down they fell, they perish'd at thy sight.

Verse 4

Against insulting foes adavnc'd, thou didst my cause maintain; My right asserting from thy throne, where truth and justice reign.

Verse 5

The insolence o heathen pride thou hast reduc'd to shame; Their wicked offspring quite destroy'd, and blotted out their name.

Verse 6

Mistaken foes, your houghty threats are to a period come; Our city stands, which you design'd to make our common tomb.

Verse 7

The Lord forever lives, who has his righteous throne prepar;d, Impartial justice to dispense, to punish or reward.

Verse 8

God is a constant sure defence against oppressing rage: As troubles rise, his needful aids in our behalf engage.

Verse 9

All those who have his goodness prov'd will in his truth confide; Whose mercy ne'er forsook the man that on his help rely'd.

Verse 10

Sing praises therefor to the Lord, from Sion, his abode; Proclaim his deeds, till all the world confess no other God.

Verse 11

When he enquiry makes for blood, he'll call the poor to mind: The injur'd humble man's complaint relief from him shall find.

Verse 12

Take pity on my througles, Lord, which spiteful foes create, Thou that hast rescu'd me so oft from death's devouring gate.

Verse 13

In Sion then I'll sing thy praise, to all that love thy name; And, with loud shouts of grateful joy, thy saving pow'r proclaim.

Verse 14

Deep in the pit they digg'd for me, the heathen pride is laid; Their guilty feet to their own snare are headlessly betray'd.

Verse 15

Thus, by the just returns he makes, the mighty Lord is known; While wicked men by their own plots, are shamefully o'erthrown.

Verse 16

No single sinner shall escape, by privacy obscur'd; Nor nation, from his just revege, by numbers be secur'd.

Verse 17

His suff'ring saints, when most distress'd he ne'er forgets to aid; Their expectations shall be crown'd, though for a time delay'd.

Verse 18

Arise, O Lord, assert thy pow'r, and let not man o'ercome; Descend to judgment, and pronounce the guilty heathen's doom.

Verse 19

Strike terror through the nations round, till, by consenting fear, They to each other, and themselves, but mortal men appear.