My soul with long expectance faints

81 My soul with long expectance faints
To see thy saving grace;
Yet still on thy unerring word
My confidence I place.

82 My very eyes consume and fail
With waiting for thy word;
O! when wilt thou thy kind relief
And promis'd aid afford!

83 My skin like shrivel'd parchment shows
That long in smoke is set;
Yet no affliction me can force
thy statutes to forget.

84 How many days must I endure
Of sorrow and distress?
When wilt thou judgment execute
On them who me oppress?

85 The proud have digg'd a pit for me,
That have no other foes,
But such as are averse to thee,
And thy just laws oppose.

86 With sacred truth's eternal laws
All thy commands agree;
Men persecute me without cause;
Thou, Lord, my helper be.

87 With close designs against my life
They had almost prevail'd;
But in obedience to thy will,
My duty never fail'd.

88 Thy wonted kindness, Lord, restore,
My drooping heart to cheer;
That by thy righteous statutes I
My life's whole course may steer.


Source: Church Hymn Book: consisting of newly composed hymns with the addition of hymns and psalms, from other authors, carefully adapted for the use of public worship, and many other occasions (1st ed.) #P.CXIX.Caph