THE 55TH PSALM. Mary Alcock (née Cumberland) Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Broad Street Oxford OX1 3BG UK
Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
Taylor Institution Library St Giles' Oxford OX1 3NA UK info@eighteenthcenturypoetry.org https://www.eighteenthcenturypoetry.org/
Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T86344 Alcock [née Cumberland], Mary, 1741?–1798. Poems, &c. &c. by the Late Mrs. Mary Alcock [poems only]. London Printed for C. Dilly, Poultry 1799 pp. 71-74. vii,[25],183,[1]p.

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THE 55TH PSALM . Hear , oh my God ! thy grace extend , Hide not thyself , O Lord , from me ! Hear my petition , and befriend The mournful cause I plead to thee ! The enemy with ceaseless strife , Their minds on mischief ever set , Maliciously pursue my life , And impious men their cause abet . My heart's disquieted with dread , The fears of death are on me come , With ghastly horrors overspread And tremblings , I expect my doom . Then did I wish with silver wings Dovelike to fly and seek my rest , Far from the source whence sorrow springs , In some lone wild to make my nest . With haste I would escape and fly , Or ere the storm takes hold of me : Destroy their tongues , for I espy How wickedly they strive with thee . The city walls both night and day With mischief they encompass round ; Deceit and guile are in their way , Sorrows within their streets abound . Were it an enemy declar'd , That wrought this shame , an open foe , From such disgrace I had been spar'd , And 'scap'd the meditated blow . 'Twas thou , my counsellor and guide , Companion and familiar friend , With whom I commun'd side by side , As to God's house we did ascend . Them death shall hastily o'ertake , And whelm them quick into the grave ; But as for me my pray'r I'll make To God , whose power alone can save . At evening and at early dawn , At noon-day also will I pray , So shall He hear my voice , nor scorn To lead my soul in his right way . The God , who all things doth behold , Th' eternal King and Lord of all , Will hear my pray'r , and me uphold , So that I shall not greatly fall . 'Tis He , that from the battle's rage My soul to safety hath restor'd , He can their furious wrath assuage , He is the only God and Lord .