Classic Poem

1.

Thou, Lord, my safety, Thou my light,
What danger shall my soul affright?
Strength of my life! What arm shall dare
To hurt whom Thou hast own'd thy care?

2.

When erst, impatient to devour,
Against me rose each hostile pow'r,
Their fierce attempts successless found,
They stumbled, fell, and bit the ground.

3.

Though adverse hosts the standard rear,
Thy servant shall without a fear
The gath'ring War around him see,
And fix, secure, his trust on Thee.

4.

One wish, with holy transport warm,
My heart has form'd and yet shall form;
That in thy Presence I may stand,
And share the blessings of thy hand.

5.

One gift I ask; that to my end
Fair Sion 's Dome I may attend,
There joyful find a sure abode,
And view the beauty of my God.

6.

For He within his hallow'd shrine
My secret refuge shall assign,
And, while the storms around me beat,
Fix on the rock my stedfast feet.

7.

My heart secure to God resign'd
In him its safety boasts to find,
For he, his arm beneath me spread,
High o'er my foes exalts my head.

8.

For this, with grateful joy bestow'd,
My off'ring shall his altar load,
My tongue its note exulting raise,
And dictate to the harp his praise.

9.

O hear me, Lord; on Thee I call,
And prostrate at thy footstool fall:
Propitious in my cause appear,
And bow to my request thine ear.

10.

" Seek Ye my face with duteous care,
" And frequent to my Throne repair, "
Thus to my heart I hear thee speak;
Thy face, my heart replies, I seek:

11.

Look down, my only Hope! look down,
Behold me, but without a frown,
And ne'er to my desiring eye
Thy presence, heav'nly Lord, deny:


12.

O let me, on thy aid reclin'd,
Thee still my great Salvation find,
Nor leave me, helpless and forlorn,
The absence of thy grace to mourn.

13.

When, doom'd the Orphan's lot to bear,
No Father's kind concern I share,
Nor o'er me wakes a Mother's eye,
My wants attentive to supply.

14.

Adopted by thy care, in Thee
The Parent and the Friend I see,
And nourish'd by thy fost'ring hand,
Within thy courts secure I stand.

15.

Instruct me, Lord, thy path to know,
And, while with secret art the foe
My doubting steps would turn aside,
Be Thou my Guardian and my Guide.

16.

O save me from the hand of wrong;
My soul by each malignant tongue
With causeless insult loaded view,
And charg'd with guilt it never knew.

17.

O how had grief consum'd my frame,
But that I hop'd, while yet my name
Amidst the living stands inroll'd,
Thy boundless Mercy to behold.

18.

With patient hope, with mind sedate,
On Israel 's God expectant wait;
Be strong; be stedfast: So thy heart
Shall feel his grace its aid impart.