Classic and Contemporary Poetry
PSALM: 10, by JOSEPH HALL Poet's Biography First Line: Why stand'st thou lord aloof so long Last Line: On vs may tyrannize no more. Subject(s): Curses; God; Hearts; Poverty; Pride; Self-esteem; Self-respect | ||||||||
1 Why stand'st thou Lord aloof so long & hid'st thee in due times of need 2 Whiles leud men proudly offer wrong Vnto the poore? In their owne deed, And their deuise let them be caught. 3 For lo, the wicked braues and boasts In his vile and outragious thought, And blesseth him that rauins most. 4 On God he dares insult: his pride Scornes to inquire of powers aboue, But his stout thoughts haue stil deni'd 5 Ther is a God; His waies yet proue Aye prosperous: thy iudgements hye Doe farre surmount his dimmer sight. 6 Therfore doth he all foes defie: His heart saith; I shal stand in spight, Nor euer moue; nor danger 'bide. 7 His mouth is fill'd with curses foule, And with close fraud: His tongue doth hide 8 Mischief & il: he seeks the soule Of harmlesse men in secret wait, And in the corners of the street, Doth shed their blood; with scorne and hate His eyes vpon the poore are set. 9 As some fell Lyon in his den, He closely lurkes the poore to spoile, He spoiles the poore and helplesse men, When once he snares them in his toile. 10 He croucheth lowe in cunning wile, And bows his breast; wheron whol throngs Of poor, whom his fair showes beguile, Fall to be subiect to his wrongs. 11 God hath forgot, (in soule he sayes) He hides his face to neuer see. 12 Lord God arise; thine hand vp-raise: Let not the poore forgotten be. 13 Shal these insulting wretches scorne Their God; and say thou wilt not care? 14 Thou see'st, (for all thou hast forborn) Thou see'st what al their mischiefs are; That to thine hand of vengeance iust Thou maist them take: the poor distressed Rely on thee with constant trust, The help of Orphans and oppressed. 15 Oh! break the wickeds arme of might, And search out al their cursed trains, And let them vanish out of sight. 16 The Lord as King for euer raignes. From forth his coasts, the heathen sect 17 Are rooted quite: thou Lord attendest To poore mens suites; thou doo'st direct Their harts: to them thine eare thou bendest; 18 That thou maist rescue, from despight, The wofull fatherlesse, and poore: That, so, the vaine and earthen wight On vs may tyrannize no more. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ROCK AND HAWK by ROBINSON JEFFERS GODOLPHIN HORNE, WHO WAS CURSED WITH THE SIN OF PRIDE, AND BECAME A BOOT-BLACK by HILAIRE BELLOC PRIDE by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON THE THIN EDGE OF YOUR PRIDE: 1 by KENNETH REXROTH PRIMER LESSON by CARL SANDBURG HAEC FABULA DOCET by ROBERT FROST VICTIM OF HIMSELF by MARVIN BELL AN EPIGRAM ON JOHN MARSTON by JOSEPH HALL ANTHEMES FOR THE CATHEDRAL OF EXCETER: 1 by JOSEPH HALL ANTHEMES FOR THE CATHEDRAL OF EXCETER: 2. ANTHEME FOR CHRISTMAS DAY by JOSEPH HALL |
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