Psalm 119

Blest are the Undefil'd, who God obey;
Seeke with their hearts, nor from his Precepts stray.
Not tempting Vice shall those from Vertue draw,
Who with unfainting Zeale observe his Law.
Lord, by thy sacred Rule my steps direct.
Those shall not blush who thy Commands affect.
Thy Justice learnt, my Soule shall sing thy Praise.
Forsake me not, O guide me in thy Waies!

Young man, thy Actions by his Precepts guide:
From these let not thy zealous Servant slide.
Thy Word, writ in my heart, shall curb my Will.
O teach me how I may thy Lawes fulfill!
Those, by thy Tongue pronounc'd, I will unfold.
Thy Testaments by me more pris'd then Gold.
On these I meditate, admire; there set
My Souls delight: these never will forget.

O let me live t'observe thy Lawes: mine Eyes
Illuminate to view those Mysteries.
Me, a poore Pilgrim, with thy Truth inspire:
For whom my Soule even fainteth with desire.
The Proud is curst, who from thy Precepts straies.
Blesse, and preserve my Soule, which these obeies.
No hate of Princes from thy Law deters:
My Study, my Delight, my Counsellers.

My down-cast Soule, as thou hast promis'd, raise.
Thou know'st my Thoughts; direct me in thy Waies.
Informe, and I thy Wonders will professe.
O strengthen me, that labour in Distresse!
Shew thy cleare Paths, false Errours mist remov'd.
I have thy chosen Truth and Judgement lov'd.
To these I cleave: O shield me from Disgrace.
Inlarge my heart to runne that heavenly race.

Teach thou, and I thy Statutes will observe:
Nor from that sacred Knowledge ever swerve.
My Soule to those delightfull Paths confine:
From Avarice purge, and to thy Lawes incline.
Divert from vaine desires, my darknesse cleare:
Confirme the Soule devoted to thy Feare.
Free from fear'd shame: thy Judgements are upright.
O quicken me, who in thy Word delight.

His Soule protect, who on thy Word relies;
And silence my reprochfull Enemies.
O thou my Hope, in me thy Truth preserve:
So I thy Lawes for ever shall observe;
Will freely walke in thy affected way:
Will boldly before Kings thy Truth display.
For in thy Statutes I my comfort place;
Those study, love, and with my Soule imbrace.

Thinke of thy Promise, which my Hopes hath fed,
All stormes appeas'd, and rais'd me from the Dead.
Nor for proud scoffs have I thy Lawes declin'd:
Confirm'd, when I thy Judgements call to mind.
They, who thy Lawes desert, incense my rage:
Sung in the mansion of my Pilgrimage.
Thy Name, great God, I prais'd, when others slept;
This comfort had, since I thy Statutes kept.

Thou art my Portion: I will thee adore,
They Lawes observe, and promis'd Grace implore.
My Actions by thy sacred Rules direct;
Aud thy Commands with forward Zeale effect.
The Wicked rob; but I thy Statutes prise:
At Midnight to applaud thy Justice rise.
Who feare and keepe thy Lawes, such are my Friends.
Instruct; thy Mercie through the World extends.

Thou to thy Servant hast perform'd thy Word:
Discerning knowledge to his Faith afford.
Thu Sea of Goodnesse, that my Soule conformes
Unto thy Statutes, by Afflictions stormes.
The Proud, fat at the Heart, base Slanders raise:
But I will trust in thy affected Waies.
Me blest Affliction to thy Courts hath brought.
Thy Lawes more pris'd then Ships with treasure fraught,

Informe me, my Creator, in thy Lawes;
That thine may see thy Observer with applause,
Thou ever just, in favour dost correct.
With promis'd Mercy comfort thine Elect.
That I may live, who in thy Precepts joy;
Those keepe: the Proud, who causlesse hate, destroy.
Who feare and know thy Lawes, to me unite:
O, lest I perish, guide me by their light!

With Expectation faint, and blind; yet still
My Soule expects. Thy Promise, Lord, fulfill.
I, though a bladder, on thy Word depend.
Confound my Foes: when shall my Sorrows end!
The Proud have pitcht their toils; infring'd thy Laws:
O sacred Justice, snatch me from their jawes.
They had almost devour'd; but I affect
Thy Precepts: quicken, and by those direct.

Thy faithfull Promises are fixt above;
Firme as the Poles, or Earth; which never move:
By thy eternall Ordinance dispos'd.
Thy Lawes my Life; else Griefe my eyes had clos'd.
Nor will I these forget; by these renew'd.
Thy chosen save, who hath thy Truth pursu'd.
The Wicked chase my Soule, which thee obeies.
Thy Word shall last, when Heaven and Earth decaies.

O how I love thy Lawes! those exercise!
By them made wiser then my Enemies.
More then my Teachers know, more then the Old:
With Vertue these inflame, from Vice with-hold.
That they may guide me, I have cleans'd my Heart:
And from thy Precepts never will depart:
Then Hermons Honey to my taste more sweet.
By-waies I hate; by thine become discreet.

Thy Word, my Light; a Lamp to guide my way.
I sware t'observe thy Truth, and will not stray.
My wounded Soule with promis'd mercy heale:
Accept my offerings, and thy Will reveale.
Although inclos'd with Death; though Foes have laid
Snares for my Soule; yet have I thee obei'd.
My comforts, my eternall Heritage.
O may I keepe them, till I die for age.

I love thy Law; my hate to sin is great:
O thou my hope, my Shield, my safe retreat!
My Will shall thine obey. Hence you prophane.
Lord, save my Soule, nor let me hope in vaine.
Uphold; and I thy Justice shall applaud.
Thou hast intrapt thy Foes in their owne fraud;
Cast out like Drosse. My heart affects thy path,
Yet trembles with the horror of thy wrath.

O leave me not to my outragious Foes:
Nor to their scorne my righteous Soule expose.
Mine Eyes even faile, while I thy aide expect.
Be mercifull, and in thy Wayes direct.
Inlarge my mind, thy Wayes to understand:
'Tis time; for they infringe thy just Command,
Which more then Gold; then Gold refin'd I prise;
In all upright. But hate deceitfull lies.

Thy Word, the Gate of Life, even Babes inspires
With Knowledge: this my obsequious Soule admires:
This I with thirsty appetite devoure.
Thy streams of Mercy on thy Servant powre.
Compose my steps: so shall not sinne subject,
Nor man oppresse: for I thy Lawes affect.
Shine on my Soule; thy Statutes teach: mine Eyes
Shed showres of teares, when men thy Lawes despise.

As Thou thy Selfe, so all thy Lawes are just:
Faithfull to those, who in thy Promise trust.
Zeale hath consum'd me, for my Foes neglect
Of thy pure Lawes, which I in heart affect.
Those to observe, though meane and scorn'd, intend,
Truth crownes thy Word; thy Justice without end.
These in my griefe, and trouble comfort give.
Informe with Knowledge, that my Soule may live.

O heare my cries! preserve his life, who will
Thy Laws obey, and just Commands fulfill.
My Eies out-watch the Night; my cries prevent
The early Morne, in due Devotion spent.
Heare, and revive; thy Justice execute
On lawlesse men: preserve from their pursuit.
Thy oft-tri'd Mercy ever is at hand.
Thy Judgements on eternall Bases stand.

Behold my sorrowes; patronize my cause.
Thy Word performe to him, that keepes thy Lawes.
Death shall devoure, who thy Commands neglect.
Thou, great in Mercy, my sought life protect.
In all extreames I have thy Will observ'd:
Griev'd, when Transgressors from thy Statutes swerv'd,
To me, who love thy Lawes, thy Grace extend:
Thy Truth began with Time, and knowes no end.

Tyrants oppresse; thy Word restraines my Minde:
Wherein I joy, like those who Treasure finde.
Fraud I abhorre; inamour'd on thy Waies.
Seven times a Day my Lips thy Justice praise.
Who love thy Lawes, sweet Peace, and Safetie blesse.
In Thee I hope, nor thy just Will transgresse.
Thy Word observe: thy Statutes I affect;
Which through these humane Seas my course direct.

Accept my Prayers: with Knowledge, Lord, indue;
From Death redeeme; since to thy Promise true.
Thy Statutes taught, I will thy Praise resound.
Thy Word extoll, and Lawes with Justice crown'd.
These are my choice: uphold with thy right Hand;
Who feed on Hope, and joy in thy Command.
Prolong my life, that I thy Praise may sing.
Lord, thy straid Sheepe backe to thy Pasture bring.