James Merrick Psalm 41

James Merrick Psalm 41

Blest who with gen'rous pity glows,
 * Who learns to feel another's woes,

Bows to the poor man's want his ear,
 * And wipes the helpless orphan's tear:

Who to th'afflicted gives relief,
 * And kindly soothes each anxious grief;

In ev'ry want, in ev'ry woe,
 * Himself thy pity, Lord, shall know;

Thy love his life shall guard, thy hand
 * Give to his lot the chosen land,

Nor leave him in the dreadful day
 * To unrelenting foes a prey.

When languid with disease and pain,
 * Thou, Lord, his spirit wilt sustain,

Prop with thine arm his sinking head,
 * And turn with tend'rest care his bed.

O let me, Lord, thy mercy share,
 * (Thus to my God I form'd the pray'r,)

Health to my fainting soul dispense,
 * That humbled owns its dire offence.

"When shall he perish?" Thus my foes
 * With ruthless tongue their wish disclose;

"Why lingers Death's appointed hour
 * Oblivion on his name to pour?"

The hostile visitants appear
 * Beside my couch, and drop the tear,

Though, feigning, o'er my griefs they mourn,
 * Their hearts with secret malice burn.

See them, scarce parted from my gate,
 * Aloud proclaim their settled hate;

Now pleas'd they form some dark design,
 * Now whisp'ring thus in curses join:

"Still may the guilt unpurg'd remain,
 * That binds him on the bed of pain;

Nor let him from that bed arise,
 * But close in endless sleep his eyes."

Yea thou, the friend to whom my heart
 * Its inmost counsels wont t'impart,

Ev'n thou, in subtlety disguis'd,
 * The man whom chief of friends I priz'd;

For whom the social board I spread,
 * And broke with lib'ral hand my bread,

With lifted heel, (severe return!)
 * The partner of thy breast couldst spurn.

Maker of all! be thou my guard:
 * Give me, (my strength by thee repair'd,)

Give me to teach the faithless band
 * To own the justice of thy hand.

So, while my pray'rs indulg'd approve
 * My soul the object of thy love,

My foes, with inward anguish torn,
 * Shall each his blasted triumphs mourn;

And I (for thou thy aid shalt yield,)
 * In innocence of heart upheld

Thy courts shall ever tread, and there
 * The fulness of thy presence share.

O thankful bless th'Almighty Lord,
 * The God by Jacob's sons ador'd;

With joyful hearts his love proclaim,
 * And praise, O praise, his holy name.

His fame, e'er time its course began,
 * O'er Heav'n's wide region echoing ran;

To him through endless ages raise
 * One song of oft-repeated praise.