In thee, all-clement God, my hopes I place

1 In thee, all-clement God, my hopes I place;
O never let thy servant know disgrace;
2 But hear; thy kind indulgent mercy shew,
And bid thy justice free me from the foe:
3 My rock, my fortress, my salvation, thou;
Hope of my youth, and object of my vow,
To thee I fly, as to a sure defence,
To thee, blest guardian of my innocence;
Cause thou the schemes of cruel men to fail;
Nor let their efforts 'gainst my peace prevail.
6 To me thy mercies have been always great;
Those mercies oft I gratefully repeat;
How from my birth thy goodness thou hast shewn,
How from my infant-years thou'st led me on.
7 Now of derision I an object prove;
Yet still my certain refuge is thy love;
8 Therefore, while glads the radiant sun the day,
Thine honour I, thy goodness will display.
9 Of impious foes protect me from the rage,
And not forsake me in my feeble age:
10 Constant their secret mischiefs they prepare,
And greatly hope, they shall my life ensnare:
11 "His God denies him aid; he's ours (they cry)
"Now seize him, take him, and the wretch destroy."
12 But thou, O God, thy kind assistance lend,
Baffle their hopes, and my poor soul defend;
13 With vile dishonour and with shame meet they,
To certain ruin who'd my steps betray;
Infatuate thou their schemes, their hearts confound,
Who make it all their joy my soul to wound,
14 For in thy mercy I will ever hope,
I'll praise the bounteous God that rais'd me up;
15 Thy love unmerited I'll daily sing,
And to thy glorious name attune the string;
16 Extol the pow'r, that gives me strength in war,
And thy strict justice faithfullv declare.
17 My youth thou'st guided in tne perfect road,
Nor have I prov'd ungrateful to my God.
18 Now then, when age with all it's ills oppress,
Now not desert me in my deep distress;
That I to nations yet unborn may sing
The pow'r, the mercy, of my heav'nly king.
19 Thy justice, Lord, ascends yon heav'ns above;
O dread creator, who like thee can prove?
20 True; thou didst plunge me in the depths of grief,
But soon thy mercy gave my soul relief:
21 Pow'r, wealth and honour, soon didst thou supply,
And gav'st me peace and happiness t' enjoy.
22 Therefore my psalt'ry and my harp display
Thy truth, O Israels God, from day to day;
23 Therefore my soul, by thee redeem'd from woe,
In ardent praise her gratitude shall shew;
24 Therefore thy righteous acts shall fill my tongue;
The justice of my God my constant song;
Who on my foes did dire destruction pour,
My foes, who sought his servant to devour.


Source: New Version of the Psalms of David #LXXI