Deliver me, O Lord my God

1 Deliver me, O Lord my God,
from all my spiteful foes:
In my defence oppose thy power
to theirs who me oppose.

2 Preserve me from a wicked race,
who make a trade of ill;
Protect me from remorseless men,
who seek my blood to spill.

3 They lie in wait, and mighty pow'rs
against my life combine,
Implacable; yet, Lord, thou know'st,
for no offence of mine.

4 In haste they run about, and watch
my guiltless life to take;
Look down, O lord, on my distress,
and to my help awake.

5 Thou, Lord of Hosts, and Israel's God,
their heathen rage suppress;
Relentless vengeance take on those
who stubbornly transgress.

6 At ev'ning, to beset my house,
like growling dogs they meet;
While others through the city range,
and ransack ev'ry street.

7 Their throats envenom'd slander breathe;
their tongues are sharpn'd swords:
"Who hears? say they, or, hearing, dares
"reprove our lawless words?"

8 But from thy throne thou shalt, O Lord,
their baffled plots deride;
And soon to scorn and shame expose
their boasted heathen pride.

9 On thee I wait; 'tis on thy strength
for succour I depend;
'Tis thou, O God, art my defence,
who only can defend.

10 Thy mercy, Lord, which has so oft
from danger set me free,
Shall crown my wishes, and subdue
my haughty foes to me.

11 Destroy them not, O Lord, at once;
restrain thy vengeful blow;
Lest we, ungratefully, too soon
forget their overthrow.

Disperse them through the nations round,
by thy avenging pow'r:
Do thou bring down their haughty pride,
O Lord, or shield and tow'r.

12 Now, in the Height of all their hopes,
their arrogance chastise;
Whose tongues have sinn'd without restraint,
and curses join'd with lies.

13 Nor shalt thou, whilst their race endures,
thine anger, Lord, suppress;
That distant lands, by their just doom,
may Israel's God confess.

14 At ev'ning let them still persist
like growling dogs to meet;
Still wander all the city round,
and traverse ev'ry street.

15 Then, as for malice now they do,
for hunger let them stray;
And yell their vain complaints aloud,
defeated of their prey:

16 Whilst early I thy mercy sing,
thy wond'rous power confess;
For thou hast been my sure defence,
my refuge in distress.

17 To thee with never-ceasing praise,
O God, my strength, I'll sing:
Thou art my God, the Rock, from whence
my health and safety spring.

Source: The Whole Book of Psalms: in metre; with hymns suited to the feasts and fasts of the church, and other occasions of public worship #LIX