1 Now I'm convinc'd the Lord is kind To men of heart sincere, Yet once my foolish thoughts repin'd And border'd on despair.
2 I griev'd to see the wicked thrive, And spoke with angry breath, "How pleasant and profane they live! "How peaceful is their death!
3 "With well-fed flesh and haughty eyes "They lay their fears to sleep; "Against the heavens their slanders rise, "While saints in silence weep.
4 "In vain I lift my hands to pray, "And cleanse my heart in vain, "For I am chasten'd all the day, "The night renews my pain.'
5 Yet while my tongue indulg'd complaints, I felt my heart reprove; "Sure I shall thus offend thy saints, "And grieve the men I love."
6 But still I found my doubts too hard, The conflict too severe, Till I retir'd to search thy word, And learn thy secrets there.
7 There, as in some prophetic glass, I saw the sinner's feet High mounted on a slippery place, Beside a fiery pit.
8 I heard the wretch profanely boast, Till at thy frown he fell; His honours in a dream were lost, And he awakes in hell.
9 Lord, what an envious fool I was! How like a thoughtless beast! Thus to suspect thy promis'd grace, And think the wicked blest.
10 Yet I was kept from full despair, Upheld by power unknown; That blessed hand that broke the snare Shall guide me to thy throne.