O thou supreme, that rulest over all

1 O thou supreme, that rulest over all;
My rock of safety, hear me, when I call;
Lest I be number'd with the silent dead,
"Who wake no more, the vital spirit fled"
2 Hear, when with earnest voice to thee I plain;
Be not my faithful pray'r addrest in vain;
With hands uplifted I my suit prefer;
Out of thy high etherial temple hear;
3 Join not thy servant with that wicked croud,
In sin who wallow, and who hate the good;
Whose soothing tongues lost sounds of concord yield,
But whole vile hearts with villain-thoughts are fill'd.
4 Reward them, Lord, just as their deeds require;
Give them, t' enjoy of wickedness the hire;
Give them, to reap the miseries they sow,
And, since for woe they labour, give them woe.
5 Thy counsels they, thy wond'rous works neglect,
And me, the building of thy hands, reject;
Therefore their impious race shalt thou destroy,
Nor bless them ever with a father's joy.
6 Praise to thy name; thy name by all be fear'd!
My earnest pray'r hast thou in mercy heard.
7 My strength, my shield art thou; my faithful heart
On thee relied, and thou didst aid impart:
Therefore with ardent gratitude she glows,
And my enraptur'd tongue with praises flows.
8 For, as the swain his fleecy flock does tend,
Dost thou the people, thou hast chose, defend;
And thy anointed king in his distress
Benign assist, and with deliv'rance bless,
9 O still preserve them; be they still thy care;
And let their progeny thy goodness share;
Feed them in peace; protect them with thy pow'r,
Be thou their God, till time shall be no more.

Source: New Version of the Psalms of David #XXVIII