1 O Lord, asisst; for faith, for honour's flown;
Our Earth they've left, and sure to Heav'n are gone:
2 Now each man to delude his neighbour tries;
Their tongues are tipt with flatteries and lies.
3 But the proud tongue, that speaks a haughty lie,
The false, the flattering lip, wilt thou destroy:
4 Who fearless say; " Our lips are sure our own;
"Be by our perjur'd tongues our courage known;
"Our villain-schemes undaunted we'll maintain;
"And who our tongues shall curb, our lips shall rein?"
5 But thou shalt hear th' afflicted's earnest sighs;
Thou in behalf of innocence shalt rise;
Shalt free their souls from each insidious snare,
And heal their sorrows with a father's care.
6 For in thy word, O Lord, we rest secure,
Thy word, than purest silver far more pure;
Than silver sev'n times by the fire refin'd,
It's dross exhal'd, and scatter'd by the wind.
7 Yes; what thy honour speaks, wilt thou maintain;
Their righteous souls in all their griefs sustain;
From this degen'rate race wilt set them free,
And bless them with their native liberty.
8 "But when unjust and impious men bear sway,
"Then vice exults, and walks in open day."