Psalm 13

How long wilt Thou forget me, Lord?
Wilt Thou for ever hide Thy face?
Leave me unchanged, and unrestored,
An alien from the life of grace?

How long shall I inquire within.
And seek Thee in my heart, in vain,
Vex'd with the dire remains of sin,
Gall'd with the tyrant's iron chain?

How long shall Satan's rage prevail?
(I ask Thee with a faltering tongue;)
See at Thy feet my spirit fail,
And hear me feebly groan, " How long?"

Hear me,' O Lord my God! and weigh
My sorrows in the scale of love;
Lighten my eyes, restore the day,
The darkness from my soul remove.

Open my faith's enlighten'd eyes,
O snatch me from the gulf beneath!
Save, or my gasping spirit dies.
Dies with an everlasting death.

Ah! suffer not my foe to boast
His victory o'er a child of Thine;
Nor let the proud Philistines' host
In Satan's hellish triumph join.

Will they not charge my fall on Thee?
Will they not dare my God to blame?
My God, forbid the blasphemy,
Be jealous for Thy glorious name!

Thou wilt! Thou wilt! My hope returns:
A sudden spirit of faith I feel;
My heart in fervent wishes burns.
And God shall there for ever dwell.

My trust is in Thy gracious power,
I glory in salvation near;
Rejoice in hope of that glad hour
When perfect love shall cast out fear,

I sing the goodness of the Lord,
The goodness I experience now;
And still I hang upon Thy word,
My Saviour to the utmost Thou!

Thy love I ever shall proclaim,
A monument of Thy mercy I;
And praise the mighty Jesu's name,
Jesus the Lord, the Lord most high!