16 Lo, thus the Lord to execute
True judgment still inclines; This is profane, as if
it were only an
inclination in God to be
just.
X. PSALM OF DAVID:
1 Lord, why in times of deep distress If the woes require aid
Dost Thou from us retire, it is to increase them,
When dismal woes our souls oppress, they cannot require it
And Thy kind aid require! against themselves.
2 The wicked do with lawless pride (1) (1) Proide. Pronounce
The helpless persecute; it like the Scotch.
But let them be themselves destroy'd,
And fall in their pursuit: Ay, let them!
3 For still they triumph, when success I cannot crock this
Does their designs attend, stave.
And then their ways, who thus oppress,
Profanely they commend:
5 And from the barbarous (2) paths they tread,(2) The author should
No acts of Providence first have premised what
Can e'er oblige them to recede, sort of paths were
Or stop (3) their bold offence; properly barbarous. I
suppose they must be
very deep and dirty, or
very rugged and stony;
both which I myself
have heard travellers
call barbarous roads.
(3) Which is the way to
stop an offence?
Would you have it
stopped like a bottle,
or a thief?
For what end? is it
to catch a louse, better
lay wait for the rich by
half.
8 And for the poor in secret they
Do treacherously lay wait:
As a lion observes with
9 As hungry lions do their prey watchful eyes, just so a
Observe with watchful eyes, wicked man surprises
So heedless innocents would they with sudden force—a very
With sudden force surprise; just simile.
And then, like lions merciless, They surprise them like
Their trembling souls devour; lions, but then they devour
And thus the helpless do oppress (4) devour them [like] lions.
When captives to their power;
(4) This line is dry
nonsense or false grammar
and will bear no jest.
13 no more No mour. Pronounce
[rhyming with pow'r.] this like my lady's
woman.
14 deserts Desarts. Pronounce
[rhyming with hearts.] this like my lady's
housemaid.