Fret not thyself, though wicked men

Fret not thyself, though wicked men

Author: John Barnard
Published in 1 hymnal

Representative Text

1. Fret not thyself, though wicked men
Grow opulent, and great;
Let not their prosperous 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 verdant 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 good.
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,
Ungoverned 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 crowned,

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 through their own hearts;
Their bow be broke in twain.
16. The just man's little stores excels,
What many wicked gain.
17. The wicked's arms shall broken be;
But God the just sustains;
18. The upright he guides through all their days,
Their portion safe remains.
19. When sad distressing times approach,
They free from shame abide;
Though 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 smoke.

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. Though he should fall, yet shall he rise,
Supported by thine hand.
25. Through 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 settled 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 Mmn to slay.

33. But God ne'er leaves in wicked hands,
His saints without defense;
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 vanished, root, and branch;
When sought, could not be found.

37. Mark well the truly perfect man,
And carefully attend
The upright liver; and you'll 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 dangerous prove,
Will strength to them afford.
40. The Lord will help and rescue them;
He'll free them from the unjust;
Them from their rage and power he'll save,
Because in him they trust.

A New Version of the Psalms of David, 1752

Author: John Barnard

John Barnard, born in Boston, Nov. 6, 1681; in 1752 made a version of psalms with the music; settled at Marblehead; introduced new music ther; died Jan 14, 1770, aged 89. A Dictionary of Musical Information by John W. Moore, Boston: Oliver, Ditson & Company, 1876  Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Fret not thyself, though wicked men
Author: John Barnard
Place of Origin: Marblehead, Massachusetts
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

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A New Version of the Psalms of David #64

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