1 My GOD! my GOD! why leavst thou me,
When I with Anguish call on thee?
Why dost thou me neglect,
And my loud Pray'r reject?
All Day, but all the day in vain,
To thee, O LORD, do I complain:
All Night have I implor'd
Thy Help to me restor'd.
3 Yet thou, O LORD, art ever just,
Relieving those, who in thee trust;
Therefore shalt Israel raise
To thee, continual Praise:
On Thee our Ancestors rely'd,
And in thy Strength their Foes devy'd;
To thee their Pray'rs address'd,
And with Success were bless'd.
of Innocence oppress'd;
3 Thy sure Deliv'rance, LORD, they found,
When Dangers gather'd thickest round;
Thine Ears their Cries receiv;d,
And they were soon reliev'd;
But I, like none of human Birth,
Am made the scoffing Rabble's Mirth;
Ev'n like a Reptile base,
They hold me in Disgrace.
Part II
4 My Agonies, the gazing Crowd,
Survey with Scorn and Laughter loud,
They mock whilst I complain,
And thus my Woes disdain:
"He boasted, he was Heav'n's Delight,
"Let GOD relieve his Favourite;
"Let him Assistance send,
"His Servant to defend.
5 But thou didst from my Mother's Womb,
Make me a living Offspring come;
Thy Care thou didst extend,
Me helpless to defend:
My Youth thou didst from Danger shield,
And Guardian-like Protection yield;
In thee I will confide,
For thou wert still my Guide.
6 Withdraw not then, O GOD, Most high!
Thy Aid, when Trouble is so nigh:
Do thou that Help extend,
On which I still depend.
High-pamper'd Bulls, a frowning Throng,
From Basan's Forest, fierce and strong,
Prepare with growing Rage,
Against me to engage.
7 They gape on me, and to my Fears,
Each Mouth, a yawning Grave appears;
Wide open to devour
My Soul, when in their Pow'r:
The desart Lion's savage Roar,
Could not increase my Horrors more.
In Compact close combin'd,
They have my Fall design'd.
Part III
8 My Joints are rack'd, and out of Frame;
My Heart like Wax before the Flame.
Within my Bosom glows;
My Blood like Water flows:
My Strength is parch'd' like Potter's Clay,
My fault'ring Tongue forgets to play;
My Soul all Hope resigns,
And to the Grave declines.
16 Like Blood-hounds, they assembled round,
My harmless Hands and Feet they wound;
And through my constant Pain,
I languish and complain;
That all my Bones may well be told;
Yet this as Pastime they behold.
And still their Pleasure shew,
At each Increase of Woe.
10 As Spoil, my Garments they divide:
By Lots their Portions they decide;
Therefore thy Arm extend,
And kind Protection send.
From their sharp Sword defend thou me,
And let my Life from Danger free;
Nor leave my Soul o'erpower'd,
By Dogs to be devour'd.
11 To me, O GOD! Assistance send,
My Life from Lions fierce defend;
As once thy Strength prevail'd,
When Unicorns assail'd,
Then to my Brethren I'll proclaim
The Triumphs of thy holy Name;
And to the Saints repair,
Thy Glory to declare.
12 "Praise ye the LORD in Songs divine,
"Ye num'rous Race of Israel's Line;
"To him with Fervour pray,
"And low Obeisance pay:
"His People he hath ne'er disdain'd,
"Or turn'd his Face when they complain'd;
"But to their humble Pray'r,
"Doth lend a gracious Ear.
13 Thus in thy Courts, thy Name I'll bless,
And in loud Songs my Thanks express;
And to thy Saints declare,
Thy providential Care.
The meek Companions of my Grief,
Shall at my Table find Relief;
And all who seek thy Face,
Shall find refreshing Grace.
14 Then shall the World their Homage pay,
To GOD, and his Commands obey;
His Pow'r they shall confess,
And Pray'rs to him address.
From Kings Submission to receive,
In his supreme Prerogative,
Who doth the Worlds sustain;
And over all Things reign.
15 The Rich his Bounty must confess,
The Poor their gen'rous Patron bless;
To him they all resort,
For Succour and Support:
Then shall a Race exalt his Name,
And to their Heirs his Truth proclaim,
"Till Heav'n and Earth combin'd,
Are all to GOD resign'd.
My Starred Hymns
My FlexScores
My Hymnals
My Purchased Files
Francis Hopkinson; grad. College of Philadelphia with master’s degree; studied law and passed Pa. bar; opened conveyancer’s office in Philadelphia; musical and literary talent; prolific writer who frequently used pen name, A. B.
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