Answer me when I call, God of my righteousness; In straits and in distress Thou didst me disenthrall And set at large; now spare, Now pity me, and hear my earnest prayer. Great ones how long will ye My glory have in scorn, How long be thus forborne Still to love vanity, To love, to seek, to prize Things false and vain and nothing else but lies? Yet know the Lord hath chose, Chose to himself apart The good and meek of heart (For whom he chose he knows); Jehovah from on high Will hear my voice what time to him I cry. Be awed, and do not sin, Speak to your hearts alone, Upon your beds, each one, And be at peace within. Offer the offerings just Of righteousness and in Jehovah trust. Many there be that say Who yet will show us good? Talking like this world's brood; But Lord, thus let me pray, On us lift up the light, Lift up the favour of thy count'nance bright. Into my heart more joy And gladness thou hast put Than when a year of glut Their stores doth over-cloy And from their plenteous grounds With vast increase their corn and wine abounds. In peace at once will I Both lay me down and sleep, For thou alone dost keep Me safe where'er I lie; As in a rocky cell Thou Lord alone in safety mak'st me dwell. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...NIGHTFALL IN DORDRECHT by EUGENE FIELD LIFE [AND THE FLOWERS] by GEORGE HERBERT WITH A GUITAR, TO JANE by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY FOR THOSE AT SEA; HYMN by WILLIAM WHITING THE BATTLE AUTUMN OF 1862 by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER FIDELITY by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH APRIL by MARY RUSSELL BARTLETT |