Remember, Lord, the toils that David bore

Representative Text

1 Remember Lord, the toils that David bore;
The woes for thee he suffer'd heretofore;
2 Remember too, how solemnly he vow'd,
The sacred oath he took to Jacob's God!
3 "My house (he said) shall not receive it's Lord;
"Rest to my wearied limbs shall not afford
"My downy bed; sweet sleep shall not surprize,
"With all it's flatt'ring lures, my drowsy eyes;
"'Till first I know, a temple where to raise,
"To his tremendous name, and fix the place."
6 This honour had I to my natal plains
Design'd; but he, who o'er our actions reigns,
Did to my duteous soul himself reveal
The happy region, where he chose to dwell.
7 Come then, ye tribes, with me your God attend,
And in his temple 'fore his altar bend;
S And thou, eternal God, propitious, deign
With thy bright presence to illume the fane;
9 Bless there thy priests in their devout employ,
And let the pious soul exult with joy.
10 If e'er thy David with a heart sincere
To thee hath breath'd his unpolluted pray'r,
E'en he, whom thou'st. adorn'd with regal sway;
Receive the vows his off-spring there shall pay.
11 Oft hast thou solemn sworn, almighty Lord,
(And time shall cease ere thou forget thy word)
"Thy progeny I'll on the throne maintain,
"And they for ever o'er my tribes shall reign;
12 "If still thy children will my laws obey,
"Nor from the perfect rule I give them, stray;
"Their children shall possess the regal pow'r,
"Their children's children, e'en till time's no more.
13 "On Sion's hill I've fix'd my own abode;
14 "Sion's the favour'd mansion of her God.
15 "With plenty her inhabitants I'll bless,
"And crown her fertile plains with rich increase:
16 "I to her priests will ev'ry grace impart,
"And fill with solid joy each pious heart.
17 "From David's loins a mighty chief shall spring,
"Whom all the realms around shall own their king;
"Whose noble deeds shall grace the royal line,
"Whose glorious light o'er all the earth shall shine:
18 "His enemies shall view him with regret;
"While shame and infamy their souls await:
"Long shall he reign, and have a deathless name,
"And everlasting time record his fame."