1 Lord, hear the right, regard my cry,
My prayer from lips sincere;
Send Thy approval from on high,
My righteousness make clear.
Thou in the night my heart hast tried,
Nor found it turned from Thee aside.
2 With steadfast courage I design
No wrong to speak or do;
Thy path of life I choose for mine
And walk with purpose true.
For help, O God, I cry to Thee,
Assured that Thou wilt answer me.
3 O Thou that ever savest those
Whose trust on Thee is stayed,
Preserving them from all their foes
By Thy almighty aid,
Let me Thy loving-kindness see,
Thy wondrous mercy, full and free.
4 O guard me well as one doth guard
The apple of the eye;
While deadly foes are pressing hard,
To Thee, to Thee I cry.
Do Thou my rest and refuge be,
O let Thy wings o'er shadow me.
5 My enemy, grown strong in pride,
Would take my life away,
A lion lurking by my side,
Most greedy for his prey.
Confront and cast him down, O Lord,
From evil save me by Thy sword.
6 Defend me from the men of pride,
Whose portion is below,
Who, with life's treasures satisfied,
No better portion know;
They, with earth's joys and wealth content,
Must leave them all when life is spent.
7 When I in righteousness at last
Thy glorious face shall see,
When all the weary night is past,
And I awake with Thee
To view the glories that abide,
Then, then I shall be satisfied.
The Psalter: with responsive readings, 1912
