64. Fret not thyself, tho' wicked Men

1. Fret not thyself, tho' wicked Men
Grow opulent, and great;
Let not their prosp'rous Vices raise
Thine Envy, at their State.
2. For, like the Grass that's flourishing,
They shall be soon cut down;
They wither, as the verdent Herb,
Before the scorching Sun.

3. But in the Lord repose thy Trust,
And practice all that's good;
So in the Land thou safe shall dwell,
And sure shall be thy Food.
4. Delight thyself in God; and he
Will thy Desires fulfill.
5. To God commit thy Way; trust him,
And he'll perform all well.

6. Thy wronged Innocence he'll clear.
As from the Clouds the Sun;
He'll make thy Justice forth to shine,
Bright as the Day at Noon.
7. Be silent, wait thou on the Lord,
Let no Impatience rise,
At their Success; who bring to pass,
The Mischiefs they devise.

8. Enkindling Anger quench betimes,
Wrath utterly forsake;
Lest, Thee, Partaker in their Crimes,
Ungovern'd Passions, make.
9. For wicked Men shall be cut off,
By a most righteous Hand;
But those that wait upon the Lord,
Inherit shall the Land.

10. The Wicked soon are gone; nor shall.
On strictest Search, be found;
11. Whereas the Meek possess the Earth;
With Peace, and Joy, are crown'd,

Second Part

12. The Wicked plot against the Just;
They gnash, and rage, and foam.
13. But God derides their Schemes; he sees
Their Day is near to come.
14. They've drawn the Sword,and bent the Bow,
To make the Poor their Prey;
To cast the Needy to the Ground,
The upright Man to slay.

15. Their Sword shall pierce thro' their own Hearts;
Their Bow be broke in twain.
16. The just Man's little Stores excells,
What many Wicked gain.
17. The Wicked's Arms shall broken be ;
But God the Just sustains.
18. Th'Upright he guides thro' all their Days,
Their Portion safe remains.
19. When sad distressing Times approach,
They free from Shame abide;
Tho' Days of raging Famine come.
They shall be satisfied.

20. But wicked Men shall be cut off,
Who dare the Lord provoke;
Like Fat of Lambs, they melt away,
And vanish into Smoak.

Third Part

21, The Wicked borrows, where he can,
And takes no Care to pay;
But righteous Men will Mercy show,
And freely give away.
22. For those the Lord vouchsafes to bless,
The promised Land enjoy;
While such as fall beneath his Curse,
He'll from the Earth destroy.

23. The Lord directs the good Man's Steps,
Who loves his just Command:
54. Tho' he should fall, yet shall he rise,
Supported by thine Hand.
25. Thro' Youth, and Age, I never saw,
But righteous Men were fed;
Nor have their Seed forsaken been,
When asking for their Bread.

26. He's ever merciful, and lends:
And blessed is his Race.
27. Depart from Evil, and do Good;
And so prolong thy Days.
28. For God loves Judgment, he his Saints
Preserves, and ne'er forsakes;
But the vile Seed of wicked Men,
Destruction overtakes.

29. The Righteous shall possess the Land;
There dwell as setled Heirs.
30. His Mouth of sacred Wisdom speaks;
Right Things his Tongue declares.
31. The Law of God is in his Heart;
None of his Steps shall stray.
32. The Wicked watch, and seek by Crafts,
The righteous Man to slay.

33. But God ne'er leaves, in wicked Hands,
His Saints, without Defence;
Nor their rash Judgment e'er approves,
But clears their Innocence.

Fourth Part

34. Wait on the Lord, and keep his Way,
And thine shall be the Right
To heir the Land; when wicked Men
Shall perish in thy Sight.
35. I've seen the Wicked rise, and spread,
As Trees in native Ground.
36. But lo! he vanish'd, Root, and Branch;
When sought, could not be found.

37. Mark well the truly perfect Man,
And carefully attend
The upright Liver; and you'l find
A blessed Peace his End.
39. But bold Transgressors surely shall
One common Ruin share:
Vengeance, at last, will cut them off,
Nor any Wicked spare.

39. Whereas, the Safety of the just,
Is wholly from the Lord;
Who, when the Times most dang'rous prove,
Will Strength to them afford.
40. The Lord will help, and rescue them.
He'll free them from th' Unjust;
Them from their Rage, and Pow'r, he'll save,
Because in him they trust.

Text Information
First Line: Fret not thyself, tho' wicked Men
Language: English
Publication Date: 1752
Scripture:
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