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And be at peace within.

Offer the offerings just
Of righteousness, and in Jehovah trust.

Many there be that say
“Who yet will show us good ?”
Talking like this world's brood;
But, Lord, thus let me pray:

On us lift up the light,
Lift up the favour, of Thy count'nance bright.

Into my heart more joy
And gladness Thou hast put
Than when a year of glut
Their stores doth over-cloy,

And from their plenteous grounds
With vast increase their corn and wine abounds.

In peace at once will I
Both lay me down and sleep;
For Thou alone dost keep
Me safe where'er I lie :

As in a rocky cell
Thou, Lord, alone in safety mak'st me dwell.

40

PSALM V.

August 12, 1653
JEHOVAH, to my words give ear,

My meditation weigh;
The voice of my complaining hear,
My King and God, for unto Thee I pray.
Jehovah, Thou my early voice

Shalt in the morning hear;
l' the morning I to Thee with choice
Will rank my prayers, and watch till Thou appear.
For Thou art not a God that takes

In wickedness delight;
Evil with Thee no 'biding makes ;
Fools or mad men stand not within Thy sight.

20

All workers of iniquity

Thou hat'st; and them unblest
Thou wilt destroy that speak a lie ;
The bloody and guileful man God doth detest.
But I will in Thy mercies dear,

Thy numerous mercies, go
Into Thy house; I, in Thy fear,
Will towards Thy holy temple worship low.
Lord, lead me in Thy righteousness

Lead me, because of those
That do observe if I transgress,
Set Thy ways right before where my step goes.
For in his faltering mouth unstable

No word is firm or sooth;
Their inside, troubles miserable ;
An open grave their throat, their tongue they smooth.
God, find them guilty ; let them fall

By their own counsels quelled ;
Push them in their rebellions all
Still on ; for against Thee they have rebelled.
Then all who trust in Thee shall bring

Their joy, while Thou from blame
Defend'st them : they shall ever sing,
And shall triumph in Thee, who love Thy name.
For Thou, Jehovah, wilt be found

To bless the just man still :
As with a shield Thou wilt surround
Him with Thy lasting favour and good-will.

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a

40

PSALM VI.

August 13 1653.

LORD, in Thy anger do not reprehend me,

Nor in Thy hot displeasure me correct;

Pity me, Lord, for I am much deject,
And very weak and faint; heal and amend me::

10

For all my bones, that even with anguish ache,

Are troubled ; yea, my soul is troubled sore ;

And thou, O Lord, how long? Turn, Lord; restore
My soul; oh, save me, for Thy goodness' sake!
For in death no remembrance is of Thee;

Who in the grave can celebrate Thy praise ?

Wearied I am with sighing out my days; Nightly my couch I make a kind of sea ; My bed I water with my tears; mine eye

Through grief consumes, is waxen old and dark

l' the midst of all mine enemies that mark. Depart, all ye that work iniquity, Depart from me; for the voice of my weeping

The Lord hath heard ; the Lord hath heard my prayer ;

My supplication with acceptance fair
The Lord will own, and have me in His keeping.
Mine enemies shall all be blank, and dashed

With much confusion; then, grown red with shame,

They shall return in haste the way they came, And in a moment shall be quite abashed.

20

PSALM VII.

August 14, 1653.
Upon the words of Chush the Benjamite against him

LORD, my God, to Thee I fly;
Save me, and secure me under
Thy protection while I cry;
Lest, as a lion (and no wonder),
He haste to tear my soul asunder,
Tearing and no rescue nigh.

Lord, my God, if I have thought
Or done this; if wickedness
Be in my hands; if I have wrought
Ill to him that meant me peace ;
Or to him have rendered less,
And not freed my foe for naught;

IO

His sword He whets; His bow hath bended
Already, and for him intended
The tools of death that waits him near.

O JEHOVAH our Lord, how wondrous great

And glorious is Thy name through all the earth, So as above the heavens Thy praise to set !

Out of the tender mouths of latest birth,

Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings Thou

Hast founded strength, because of all Thy foes, To stint the enemy, and slack the avenger's brow,

That bends his rage Thy providence to oppose.