And giue the righteous strength when they are weake; The just man's dayes the LORD doth know and see, That his inheritance shall endlessse bee; The tymes of danger shall not him confound, And in the dayes of dearth, hee shall abound; Thy foes O Lord, shall perish and consume Like fatt of lambes, and vanish into fume; Th' ungodly want and borrow, but repay not The good men frankly giue, [and] yet decay not; Their seat is firme whom God hath best belou'd But such as Hee doth[220] curse shall bee remou'd. The good man's goings soe directeth Hee As it most pleasinge to Himselfe may bee; Oft falls the just, yet is not cast away, For God's owne hand is his support and stay; Though I am ould, the just man or his seed I neuer sawe forsaken or in need; Hee doth giue daily almes, and frankly lend, Which makes his offspringe blessèd in the end; Shun to doe ill, bee euer doinge well, And euermore thou shalt in safety dwell; The LORD who loueth right, forsaketh neuer, Those that are His, but keepeth them for euer; His children Hee correcteth now and then, But roots out quite the race of wicked men. As long as HEAUEN shall moue and Earth shall stand, The righteous men inherit shall the Land; The just man's mouth is wisedome's flowinge well, His tongue, of truth and judgement loues to tell; And in his heart the lawe of God doth bide, Which makes him walke vpright and neuer slide; The wicked sees the just with enuious eye, And lies in waite to wound him mortally; But God will neuer leaue him to his hands, Nor him condemne when hee in judgement stands: Then wait thou on the Lord, and keepe His way, Hee shall thy patience with promotion pay; Thy dwellinge in the Land shall stablisht bee, When thou the fall shalt of the wicked see. The vngodly in great power myselfe haue seene, Soe that he flourisht like a bay-tree greene; But soone's[221] I passèd by, and gon was hee, His place I sought, but noe where could it see; Keepe a cleare conscience, right and truth intend, For that brings peace and comfort in the end; When sinners shall at once together fall, And in the end shall be extèrpèd all; But good mens' safety doth from God proceed, Who is their strength in truble, helpe at need; Against the wicked Hee assists the just, And recues them, because in Him they trust. [Footnote 219: Miswritten 'thou' in the MS. G.] [Footnote 220: 'Shall' written and erased. G.] [Footnote 221: Another example of 'e' before 'es' as _ante_. G.] PSALM XXXVIII.