Poems (Toke)/Psalm XLII

by Emma Toke

PSALM XLII

S pants the trembling hart to taste
 Those streams she ne'er shall see,
So pants my soul for Thee, O God;
 Yea, thirsts and longs for Thee.

When shall I come before Thy face?
 For tears have been my food;
And while I sadly weep they say,
 Oh, where is now thy God?

When I remember all the past,
 I pour my soul to Thee;
For oft they've gone, with songs of praise,
 To Thy loved courts with me.

Why art thou so cast down, my soul?
 Why feel such sad dismay?
Hope still, thou yet shalt praise His Name
 Who is my strength and stay.

Oh, God! my heart is sinking fast,
 But I will trust in Thee,
Though all Thy 'whelming billows pour
 Their fiercest wrath on me.

For oh! the Lord will love me still,
 And bless and cheer my way;
His love shall cheer me in the night,
 With joys that ne'er decay.

My God, Thou art my rock, my life;
 Why hast Thou left me now?
How long must I in sadness mourn,
 Oppressed by many a foe?

Yea, day by day they vex my soul,
 And while beneath Thy rod
I humbly bow, they taunting ask,
 Where, where is now thy God?

But why art thou cast down, my soul?
 Oh! hope thou still for good;
I yet shall joyful praise the Lord,
 My life, my light, my God.

E.

September 26, 1832.