Psalm 37
Words: Isaac Watts
v. 1--15. PART 1. The cure of envy, fretfulness, and unbelief.
1 Why should I vex my soul, and fret
To see the wicked rise?
Or envy sinners waxing great
By violence and lies?
2 As flowery grass, cut down at noon,
Before tile ev'ning fades,
So shall their glories vanish soon
in everlasting shades.
3 Then let me make the Lord my trust,
And practice all that's good;
So shall I dwell among the just,
And he'll provide me food.
4 I to my God my ways commit,
And cheerful wait his will;
Thy hand, which guides my doubtful feet.
Shall my desires fulfill.
5 Mine innocence shalt thou display,
And make thy judgments known,
Fair as the light of dawning day,
And glorious as the noon.
6 The meek at last the earth possess,
And are the heirs of heav'n;
True riches, with abundant peace,
To humble souls are giv'n.
Pause
7 Rest in the Lord, and keep his way,
Nor let your anger rise,
Though Providence should long delay
To punish haughty vice.
8 Let sinners join to break your peace,
And plot, and rage, and foam;
The Lord derides them, for he sees
Their day of vengeance come.
9 They have drawn out the threat'ning sword,
Have bent the murd'rous bow,
To slay the men that fear the Lord,
And bring the righteous low.
10 My God shall break their bows, and burn
Their persecuting darts,
Shall their own swords against them turn,
And pain surprise their hearts.
v. 16, 21, 26--31. Part 2
Charity to the Poor.
1 Why do the wealthy wicked boast,
And grow profanely bold ?
The meanest portion of the just
Excels the sinner's gold.
2 The wicked borrows of his friends,
But ne'er designs to pay;
The saint is merciful and lends,
Nor turns the poor away.
3 His alms with lib'ral heart he gives
Amongst the sons of need;
His mem'ry to long ages lives,
And blessed is his seed.
4 His lips abhor to talk profane,
To slander or defraud;
His ready tongue declares to men
What he has learn'd of God.
5 The law and gospel of the Lord
Deep in his heart abide;
Led by the Spirit and the word,
His feet shall never slide.
6 When sinners fall, the righteous stand,
Preserv'd from ev'ry snare;
They shall possess the promis'd land,
And dwell for ever there.
v. 25--37. Part 3.
The way and end of the righteous and the wicked
1 My God the steps of pious men
Are order'd by thy will;
Though they should fall, they rise again,
Thy hand supports them still.
2 The Lord delights to sec their ways,
Their virtue he approves;
He'll ne'er deprive them of his grace,
Nor leave the men he loves.
3 The heav'nly heritage is theirs,
Their portion and their home;
He feeds them now, and makes them heirs
Of blessings long to come.
4 Wait on the Lord, ye sons of men,
Nor fear when tyrants frown;
Ye shall confess their pride was vain,
When justice casts them down.
Pause
5 The haughty sinner have I seen,
Nor fearing man nor God,
Like a tall bay-tree, fair and green,
Spreading his arms abroad.
6 And lo! he vanish'd from the ground,
Destroy'd by hands unseen;
Nor root, nor branch, nor leaf was found
Where all that pride had been.
7 But mark the man of righteousness,
His several steps attend;
True pleasure runs through all his ways,
And peaceful is his end.
