Text:With them that strive, and fight with me

59. With them that strive, and fight with me

1. With them that strive, and fight with me,
Fight Lord; my Cause defend.
2. Seise Shield, and Buckler, and arise,
Me, with thine Aid, befriend.
5. Advance thy pointed Spear, and stop
My Persecutor's Way;
In Mercy, to my trembling Soul,
I'm thy Salvation, say.

4. Confounded, and asham'd, be they
Who would my Soul surprise;
Turn back, and to Confusion bring,
All that my Hurt devise.
5. Drive them, as Chaff before the Wind
Let them thine Angel chase.
6. Both dark, and slip'ry, make their Way;
And with swift Vengeance trace.
7. For, unprovok'd, they, for my Soul,
Have dig'd, and spread their Net.
8. With sudden Ruin, plunge him down
Into the Toyls he set,
9. Then, to the Lord, my grateful Soul
Shall shout her Thankfulness;
In his Salvation I'll rejoice.
And my Deliv'rer bless.

10. My Bones, preserv'd, shall say, O Lord,
Who may with Thee compare
Who frees the helpless from the strong,
And Poor from Spoiler's Snare.

Second Part

11. False Witness rose, and charged me,
With Crimes I never knew.
12. They me reward with Ill, for Good;
My very Life pursue.

13. But I, when they were sick, myself
With Sack-cloth did invest;
With Fasts I mourned, and my Pray'r
Return'd into my Breast.

14. Had he, my Friend, or Brother, been,
So were my Actions turn'd;
I bow'd down heavily, as one
That for his Mother mourn'd.
15. But my least slip was their Delight,
When they assembled were;
Abjects, unknown, together get,
My Fame incessant tear.

16. Vile Parasites, who cringe for Bread,
Admitted to their Feasts,
At me have snarl'd, and gnash'd their Teeth,
And flung their impious Jests.
17. How long, O Lord, wilt thou look on?
Me rescue from their Pow'r;
My Darling from the Lyon keep,
That threatens to devour.

18. So, in the Congregation great,
With Thanks I'll Thee confess;
And, in the Face of all the World,
To Thee my Praise address.

Third Part

19. Let not, with Joy, insult o'er me,
My treach'rous Enemies;
Nor them that hate me, without Cause,
Deride, with winking Eyes.
20. Their Words are not the Words of Peace;
But foul malicious Lies,
Against the quiet in the Land,
They craftily devise.

21. Yea, with Insult, they laugh'd, and said,
"Ha, ha, our Eye it saw.
22. Thou, Lord, hast seen, nor Silence keep.
Nor far from me withdraw.
23. Rouse, Lord, and to my Judgment wake;
My God, my Cause decree.
24. Judge me, O Lord, as thou art just,
Lest they triumph o'er me.

25. O let them never, in their Heart,
Have Cause to boast, and say,
"Ah! ah! 'tis as our Heart could wish,
"He's now become our Prey.
26. To Shame, and to Confusion, bring
Who at my Hurt, are glad;
Let them, who magnify themselves,
Be with Dishonour clad.

27. Let those be glad, and shout for Joy,
Who my just Cause confess;
"And say, The Lord be magnify'd,
"Who loves his Servant's Peace.
28. So shall my Tongue aloud proclaim
The Justice of thy Ways;
I'll spend my Days in sacred Hymns,
To celebrate thy Praise.

Text Information
First Line: With them that strive, and fight with me
Language: English
Publication Date: 1752
Scripture:
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