Poems (Toke)/Psalm LVII

by Emma Toke

PSALM LVII.

E merciful to me, O Lord,
My hope, my trust is in Thy word;
Beneath Thy wings I'll safely rest,
Till every woe and trial's past.

Hear my voice, O God most high;
For strength and health to Thee I fly:
To Thee, who on my helpless head
Hast every gift and blessing shed.

Thou, Lord, shalt save me with Thine arm,
From all who seek to do me harm;
Yea. Thou shalt send Thy truth and love
To light my path to realms above.

My trembling soul, perplexed, distressed,
By all who hate Thy name oppressed,
Seems sinking fast in sorrow's sea,
And longs to flee away to Thee.

Be Thou, O God, exalted high
O'er all who tread the gem-decked sky:
And far above this world below,
Oh, let Thy dazzling glories flow!

My crafty foes in vain prepare
To catch my steps in folly's snare,
For in the pit they dug for me
Their crafty souls were plunged by Thee.

My heart is fixed, O God, I raise
To Thee the song of joy and praise;
Awake my glory, wake again!
With harp and lute I'll join the strain.

Thy praise shall sound on every shore,
Thy name shall every land adore;
The song of joy from earth shall rise,
And fill the air and pierce the skies.

Thy boundless mercy, Lord, and love,
Reach far beyond the heaven above;
And, changeless as the polestar's gleams,
Thy truth through rolling ages beams.

Be Thou, O God, exalted high
O'er all who tread the gem-decked sky:
And far above this world of woe,
Oh, let Thy dazzling glories glow!

E.