Whilst life, great God, thou giv'st me to enjoy

Verse 1

Whilst life, great God, thou giv'st me to enjoy, Thy praises shall my grateful tongue employ;

Verse 2

Thy pow'r my boast; thy pow'r I'll long display; With me, ye meek, indulge the pleasing lay, With me to him your voice alternate raise; Gladly you'll join my servent heart in praise.

Verse 3

Oft when I've pray'd, he lent a gracious ear, And freed my troubled soul from ev'ry fear;

Verse 4

Whoe'er invok'd his name, but he reliev'd? Who met repulse, when to their God they griev'd?

Verse 5

Did e'er the poor a fruitless aid implore? No; when they call'd on him, they griev'd no more.

Verse 6

Who fear his word, who reverence his laws, He sends his angel to support their cause.

Verse 7

O taste and see--you'll find, our God is just; Thrice happy they, that in his mercy trust!

Verse 8

Ye pious souls, put up a faithful pray'r, And you his kind beneficence shall share:

Verse 9

While, roar the lion's savage young for food, Our God is to the righteous ever good.

Verse 10

Come then, ye thoughtless, listen to my lore, And you to virtue's high rewards shall soar;

Verse 11

Say, wou'dst thou live a happy length of days, Void of all ill, in opulence and ease?

Verse 12

Thy tongue from lies, from perjuries, restrain, And ev'ry vile insidious fraud disdain;

Verse 13

From ev'ry sin of ev'ry sort depart; With ev'ry virtue sanctify thy heart.

Verse 14

For on the righteous casts our God his eye; His pitying ears he opens to their cry;

Verse 15

But from obdurate sinners turns his face, Their name and their memorial to erase.

Verse 16

When prays the just, the good, he always hears; Is always ready to dispel their fears;

Verse 17

Their hearts, just broken with their griefs, to aid, Their souls to free, when cruel foes invade.

Verse 18

Many the mis'ries that affault their peace, Yet still their guardian God will give them ease;

Verse 19

Amid the various perils that surround, Vig'rous and brave and resolute they're found:

Verse 20

By their own crimes while wicked men shall fall, And, foes to innocence, shall perish all;

Verse 21

Our God will them, that worship him, defend, And ne'er desert them, till their lives shall end.