The saint's safety and hope in evil times. <br /> <br />Lord, if thou dost not soon appear, <br />Virtue and truth will fly away; <br />A faithful man amongst us here <br />Will scarce be found, if thou delay. <br /> <br />The whole discourse, when neighbors meet, <br />Is filled with trifles loose and vain; <br />Their lips are flattery and deceit, <br />And their proud language is profane. <br /> <br />But lips that with deceit abound <br />Shall not maintain their triumph long; <br />The God of vengeance will confound <br />The flattering and blaspheming tongue. <br /> <br />"Yet shall our words be free," they cry; <br />"Our tongues shall be controlled by none: <br />Where is the Lord will ask us why? <br />Or say our lips are not our own?" <br /> <br />The Lord, who sees the poor oppressed, <br />And hears th' oppressor's haughty strain, <br />Will rise to give his children rest, <br />Nor shall they trust his word in vain. <br /> <br />Thy word, O Lord, though often tried, <br />Void of deceit shall still appear; <br />Not silver, sev'n times purified <br />From dross and mixture, shines so clear. <br /> <br />Thy grace shall in the darkest hour <br />Defend the holy soul from harm; <br />Though when the vilest men have power, <br />On every side will sinners swarm.<br /><br />Isaac Watts<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/psalm-12/
