Psalm 73 (Version 1, Part 1)

Now I'm convinc'd the Lord is kind

To men of heart sincere,

Yet once my foolish thoughts repin'd

And border'd on despair.

I griev'd to see the wicked thrive,

And spoke with angry breath,

"How pleasant and profane they live!

"How peaceful is their death!

"With well-fed flesh and haughty eyes

"They lay their fears to sleep;

"Against the heavens their slanders rise,

"While saints in silence weep.

"In vain I lift my hands to pray,

"And cleanse my heart in vain,

"For I am chasten'd all the day,

"The night renews my pain.'

Yet while my tongue indulg'd complaints,

I felt my heart reprove;

"Sure I shall thus offend thy saints,

"And grieve the men I love."

But still I found my doubts too hard,

The conflict too severe,

Till I retir'd to search thy word,

And learn thy secrets there.

There, as in some prophetic glass,

I saw the sinner's feet

High mounted on a slippery place,

Beside a fiery pit.

I heard the wretch profanely boast,

Till at thy frown he fell;

His honours in a dream were lost,

And he awakes in hell.

Lord, what an envious fool I was!

How like a thoughtless beast!

Thus to suspect thy promis'd grace,

And think the wicked blest.

Yet I was kept from full despair,

Upheld by power unknown;

That blessed hand that broke the snare

Shall guide me to thy throne.