1 To heav'n who trusts his fortunes and his life,
Tho' rage around contention, broil and strife;
Tho' wild uproar and dire confusion sway,
His God will be his firm support and stay.
2 Thou then bad fate and her assaults defy;
Thou to thy God for safe protection fly;
Call him thy refuge, on his pow'r depend,
And he will ever, ever be thy friend.
3 From dark designs of crafty men he'll free,
From all their toils will give thee liberty;
In fatal times, when rage diseases round,
Thy great preserver he will still be found.
4 O'er thee his shelt'ring wings shall he expand;
Firm, firm beneath almighty care thou'lt stand;
Nor ever to thy adverse fortunes yield,
The God of battles, thy defence and shield.
5 Secure he'll guide thee in the gloomy night,
From dangers safe, as in the mid-day-light;
Secure he'll lead thee in the open day,
Nor foes, nor wars, nor terrors, shall dismay.
7 In battle tho' ten thousand round thee fall,
Thy guarded heart no perils shall appall.
8 Mean while with joy the wicked thou shalt view
Sink in the mis'ries that their crimes pursue.
9 For heav'n's high God thy refuge thou hast made,
And on his mercy hast relied for aid;
10 Therefore thy dwelling hears no big alarm;
No sad mischance thy peaceful soul shall harm:
11 And to his angels he has giv'n command,
To watch thy steps, to guide thee by the hand;
O'er wilds, o'er cliffs, o'er desarts, thee to lead,
That, free from bruises, thou secure may'st tread:
13 That thou not fear, whene'er thou pass the brake,
The crested basilisk or scaly snake;
That thou undaunted may'st the tiger meet,
And crush the lordly lion with thy feet.
14 For says th' almighty Lord, "'Cause me he loves,
"My name adores, and my dread law approves,
"His soul I'll guard, and soon exalt him high;
15 "To me, his God, he in distress shall cry;
"Him strait I'll hear, from all his terrors free,
"And raise him to imperial dignity;
16 "A length of days upon him shall attend,
"And joys immortal, joys that ne'er shall end."