When I pour out my soul in prayer, Do thou, O Lord, attend (Tate and Brady)

Verse 1

When I pour out my Soul in Pray'r, do Thou, O Lord, attend; to thy eternal Throne of Grace let my sad Cry ascend.

Verse 2

O hide not Thou thy glorious Face in Times of deep Distress: Incline thine Ear, and when I call, my Sorrows soon redress.

Verse 3

Each cloudy Portion of my Life like scatter'd Smoke expires; My shrivel'd Bones are like a Hearth that's parch'd with constant Fires.

Verse 4

My Heart, like Grass that feels the Blast of some infectious Wind, Does languish so with Grief, that scarce my needful Food I mind.

Verse 5

By reason of my sad Estate I spend my Breath in Groans: My Flesh is worn away, my Skin scarce hides my starting Bones.

Verse 6

I'm like a Pelican become, that does in Desarts mourn: Or like an Owl that sits all Day on barren Trees forlorn.

Verse 7

In Watchings or in restless Dreams the Night be me is spent, As by those solitary Birds that lonesome Roofs frequent.

Verse 8

All Day by railing Foes I'm made The Subject of their Scorn; Who all possess'd with furious Rage, have my Destruction sworn.

Verse 9

When grov'ling on the Ground I lie oppress'd with Grief and Fears, My Bread is strew'd with Ashes o'er, my Drink is mix'd with Tears.

Verse 10

Because on me with double Weight thy heavy Wrath doth lie: For thou, to make my Fall more great, didst lift me up on high.

Verse 11

My Days just hast'ning to their End, are like an Ev'ning Shade: My Beauty does, like wither'd Grass, with waning Lustre fade.

Verse 12

But thy eternal State, O Lord, no Length of Time shall waste: The Mem'ry of thy wond'rous Works from Age to Ages shall last.

Verse 13

Thou shalt arise, and Sion view with an unclouded Face: For now her Time is come, thy own appointed Day of Grace.

Verse 14

Her scatter'd Ruins, by thy Saints with Pity are survey'd: They grieve to see her lofty Spires in Dust and Rubbish laid.

Verse 15

The Name and Glory of the Lord all heathen Kings shall fear; When He shall Sion build again, and in full State appear.

Verse 16

When He regards the Poor's Request, nor slights their earnest Pray'r; Our Sons for this recorded Grace, shall his just Praise declare.

Verse 17

For God from his Abode on high, his gracious Beams display'd: The Lord, from Heav'n, his lofty Throne, hath all the Earth survey'd.

Verse 18

He list'ned to the Captives Moans, He heard their mournful Cry, And freed, by his resistless Pow'r, the Wretches doom'd to die.

Verse 19

That they in Sion, where He dwells, might celebrate his Fame, And through the holy City sing loud Praises to his Name.

Verse 20

When all the Tribes assembling there, their solemn Vows address, And neighb'ring Lands, with glad Consent, the Lord their God confess.

Verse 21

But e'er my Race is run, my Strength through his fierce Wrath decays; He has, when all my Wishes bloom'd, cut short my hopeful Days.

Verse 22

Lord, end not Thou my Life, said I, when half is scarcely past: Thy Years from worldly Changes free, to endless Ages last.

Verse 23

The strong Foundations of the Earth of old by Thee were laid; Thy Hands the beauteous Arch of Heav'n with wond'rous Skill have made:

Verse 24

Whilst Thou for ever shalt endure, they soon shall pass away; And like a Garment often worn, shall tarnish and decay.

Verse 25

Like that, when Thou ordain'st their Change, to thy Command they bend: But thou continu'st still the same, nor have thy Years an End.

Verse 26

Thou to the Children of thy Saints shalt lasting Quiet give; Whose happy Race, securely fix'd, shall in thy Presence live.