Psalm 9 (Tate & Brady)

1 To celebrate thy praise, O Lord,

I will my heart prepare;

To all the list'ning world thy works,

thy wondrous works, declare.

2 The thought of them shall to my soul

exalted pleasure bring;

Whilst to thy Name, O thou most High,

triumphant praise I sing.

3 Thou mad'st my haughty foes to turn

their backs in shameful flight;

Struck with thy presence, down they fell,

they perished at thy sight.

4 Against insulting foes advanced,

thou didst my cause maintain;

My right asserting from thy throne,

where truth and justice reign.

5 The insolence of heathen pride

thou hast reduced to shame;

Their wicked offspring quite destroyed,

and blotted out their name.

6 Mistaken foes! your haughty threats

are to a period come;

Our city stands, which you designed

to make our common tomb.

7,8 The Lord for ever lives, who has

his righteous throne prepared,

Impartial justice to dispense;

to punish or reward.

9 God is a constant sure defense

against oppressing rage;

As troubles rise, his needful aids

in our behalf engage.

10 All those who have his goodness proved

will in his truth confide;

Whose mercy ne'er forsook the man

that on his help relied.

11 Sing praises, therefore, to the Lord,

from Zion, his abode;

Proclaim his deeds, till all the world

confess no other God.

The Second Part.

12 When he inquiry makes for blood,

he calls the poor to mind;

The injured humble man's complaint

relief from him shall find,

13 Take pity on my troubles, Lord,

Which spiteful foes create,

Thou, that hast rescued me so oft

from death's devouring gate.

14 In Zion then I'll sing thy praise,

to all that love thy name;

And with loud shouts of grateful joy

thy saving pow'r proclaim,

15 Deep in the pit they digged for me

the heathen pride is laid;

Their guilty feet to their own snare

insensibly betrayed.

16 Thus, by the just returns he makes,

the mighty Lord is known;

While wicked men by their own plots

are shamefully o'erthrown.

17 No single sinner shall escape

by privacy obscured;

Nor nation from his just revenge

by numbers be secured.

18 His suff'ring saints, when most distressed,

he ne'er forgets to aid;

their expectation shall be crowned,

though for a time delayed.

19 Arise, O Lord, assert thy pow'r,

and let not man o'ercome;

Descend to judgment, and pronounce

the guilty heathen's doom.

20 Strike terror through the nations round,

till, by consenting fear

They to each other, and themselves,

but mortal men appear.