Psalm 31, Part 1

In Thee, O Lord, I trust,
And in Thy saving name
Faithful, and to Thy promise just,
O rid me of my shame!
O never, never leave
A sinner to his sin.
Who would Thy gracious word receive,
And longs to be made clean!

In condescending love
Incline Thine ear to me;
Send down the answer from above,
And haste to set me free;
Be Thou my rock, my tower,
To which I still may fly;
Redeem me. Saviour, by Thy power,
Redeem me, or I die!

Thee, Lord, I humbly claim,
My rock, my fortress Thou!
Act for the honour of Thy name,
And save, O save me now!
Jesus, my spirit stay,
And bring me to Thy breast.
And guide me in Thyself the way
To mine eternal rest.

Draw me out of the snare
My foes have laid for me;
Thou art my strength; I cast my care.
My burden, all on Thee!
Into Thy hands, O God,
My spirit I commend;
And Thou, who bought'st me with Thy blood,
Shalt love me to the end.

Who vainly trust in lies,
Their ways I have abhorr'd;
My faith for sure relief applies
To my redeeming Lord.
On Him alone I trust,
The Rock that cannot move;
My joy, my glory, and my boast
Are in Thy pardoning love.

For Thou my soul hast known
When plunged in griefs and fears;
Thy pity mark'd my every groan.
And noted all my tears;
Thou hast not shut me up
With my old enemy.
But brought me forth, enlarged my hope,
And bid me walk in Thee.

Have mercy then once more.
And save me in distress!
I groan beneath the fatal power
Of inbred wickedness!
Despised and hated I,
And shunn'd by friends and foes.
With trembling haste my neighbours fly
From my infectious woes!

Mine eye with sorrow fails.
My flesh and strength decay.
My soul, while sin again prevails.
Dissolves and dies away.
By all despised, forgot,
As long deceased I am;
A vessel marr'd, — a thing of nought, —
A worm without a name!

The many-headed beast, —
I heard exclaim aloud, —
With furious rage which could not rest,
They all my ruin vow'd.
By force my soul they tried.
By cunning, to devour; —
I saw their snares on every side,
And trembled at their power.