1 Why dost thou now withdraw thy Presence, LORD!
Why hidest thou thy Face in my Distress?
Why wilt thou not thy wonted Aid afford,
When Sorrows deep my trouble Soul oppress?
Behold the Heathen, swell'd with Haughtiness,
Have with deceitful Wiles the Poor annoyed;
But in their Treach'ry let them be destroyed.
2 Triumphant they rejoice, with Pride elate,
To see Success their ill Designs attend:
And still the sordid Wretch, whom thou dost hate,
With Insolence perversly they commend,
And for supreme Authority contend:
Their stubborn Minds all higher Pow'r disdaining,
And in their Hearts no Thoughts of GOD retaining.
3 Oppressive Ways they eagerly pursue,
And with contemptuous Scorn their Foes they slight;
Because thy Judgments, tho' for ever true
Are unobserv'd, and far above their Sight:
Deluded, still they think their Actions right;
And as thy Vengeance hath not yet distress'd them,
They think no Troubles ever shall molest them.
4 Their Words are nought but Treach'ry and Deceit;
Their Mouths with Curses fill'd and sland'rous Lies;
The wicked Purposes they would compleat,
Are always cover'd with a fair Disguise;
Near publick Roads they lurk, that by Surprize
The Poor and Innocent may be destroyed;
Thus is their Art and Malice still employed.
5 Not watchful Lions, lurking in their Den,
With greater Fierceness catch their heedless Prey
Than these Deceivers take unwary Men;
Or threat them, taken, with more Rage than they:
Sometimes a deeming Homage they will pay,
A humble Look and harmless Aspect wearing;
Thus are the Poor deceiv'd, no Danger fearing.
6 They in their Hearts have said, "God hath forgot;
"The LORD will not our wicked Actions see:
"He doth not heed our deep designed Plot;
"So shall the Innocent ensnared be."
Arise, O LORD, the Poor from Danger free!
Thy mighty Arm against thy Foes extending,
Thy humble People from all Harm defending.
7 But why is GOD contemn'd by wicked Men?
Because in Pride presumtuously they say,
"The LORD regards us no; he never can
"Call to account, and our Misdeeds repay:"
But thou wilt try all those who go astray:
And when the Poor and Orphans are distressed,
They look to thee alone to be redressed.
8 Defenceless let the Evil-minded fall,
While all their boasted Strength proves but in vain;
Ev'n in their dark Designs destroy them all,
Till none of all their num'rous Race remain:
Thy just Dominion, LORD, assert again;
That from thy chosen Land may be expelled,
All those who have against thy Pow'r rebelled.
9 Thou always dost thos humble Suppliants hear,
That prostrate fall before thy sacred Throne:
Thou dost at first incline their Hearts to Pray'r,
Then grantest what thy ask; for thou alone
Canst help the Fatherless and Poor undone:
So shall the earthly Tyrants be destroyed.
Who have their Craft against thy Saints employed.
Source: The Psalms of David: with the Ten Commandments, Creed, Lord's Prayer, &c. in metre...for the use of the Reformed Protestant Dutch church of the city of New York #X
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