Psalm 12
Words: Isaac Watts
Note: there is also a Common Metre version on this page
The saint's safety and hope in evil times.
1 Lord, if thou dost not soon appear,
Virtue and truth will fly away;
A faithful man amongst ns here
Will scarce be found, if thou delay.
2 The whole discourse, when neighbors meet,
Is filled with trifles loose and vain;
Their lips are flatt'ry and deceit,
And their proud language is profane.
3 But lips that with deceit abound
Shall not maintain their triumph long;
The God of vengeance will confound
The flatt'ring and blaspheming tongue.
4 "Yet shall our words be free," they cry;
"Our tongues shall be controlled by none:
Where is the Lord will ask us why)
Or say our lips are not our own?"
5 The Lord, who sees the poor oppressed,
And hears th'oppressor's haughty strain,
Will rise to give his children rest,
Nor shall they trust his word in vain.
6 Thy word, O Lord, though often tried,
Void of deceit shall still appear;
Not silver, sev'n times purified
From dross and mixture, shines so clear
7 Thy grace shall in the darkest hour
Defend the holy soul from harm;
Though when the vilest men have power,
On ev'ry side will sinners swarm.
Complaint of a general corruption of manners. 1 Help, Lord, for men of virtue fail,
Religion loses ground,
The sons of violence prevail,
And treacheries abound.
2 Their oaths and promises they break,
Yet act the flatt'rer's part;
With fair, deceitful lips they speak,
And with a double heart.
3 If we reprove some hateful lie,
How is their fury stirred!
"Are not our lips our own?" they cry;
"And who shall be our Lord?"
4 Scoffers appear on ev'ry side,
Where a vile race of men
Is raised to seats of power and pride,
And bears the sword in vain.
PAUSE.
5 Lord, when iniquities abound,
And blasphemy grows bold;
When faith is hardly to be found,
And love is waxing cold;
6 Is not thy chariot hast'ning on ?
Hast thou not giv'n this sign ?
May we not trust and live upon
A promise so divine?
7 "Yes," saith the Lord, "now will I rise,
And make oppressors flee;
I shall appear to their surprise,
And set my servants free."
8 Thy word, like silver sev'n times tried,
Through ages shall endure;
The men that in thy truth confide
Shall find the promise sure.
