Author: admin

1    Give ear unto my words, O Lord,

          my meditation weigh.

2    Hear my loud cry, my King, my God;

          for I to thee will pray.

3    Lord, thou shalt early hear my voice:

          I early will direct

     My pray’r to thee; and, looking up,

          an answer will expect.

4    For thou art not a God that doth

          in wickedness delight;

     Neither shall evil dwell with thee,

5         Nor fools stand in thy sight.

     All that ill-doers are thou hat’st;

6         Cutt’st off that liars be:

     The bloody and deceitful man

          abhorred is by thee.

7    But I into thy house will come

          in thine abundant grace;

     And I will worship in thy fear

          toward thy holy place.

8    Because of those mine enemies,

          Lord, in thy righteousness

     Do thou me lead; do thou thy way

          make straight before my face.

9    For in their mouth there is no truth,

          their inward part is ill;

     Their throat’s an open sepulchre,

          their tongue doth flatter still.

10   O God, destroy them; let them be

          by their own counsel quell’d:

     Them for their many sins cast out,

          for they ‘gainst thee rebell’d.

11   But let all joy that trust in thee,

          and still make shouting noise;

     For them thou sav’st; let all that love

          thy name in thee rejoice.

12   For, Lord, unto the righteous man

          thou wilt thy blessing yield:

     With favour thou wilt compass him

          about, as with a shield.

First Version (Long Metre)

1    Lord, in thy wrath rebuke me not;

          Nor in thy hot rage chasten me.

2    Lord, pity me, for I am weak:

          Heal me, for my bones vexed be.

3    My soul is also vexed sore;

          But, Lord, how long stay wilt thou make?

4    Return, O Lord, my soul set free;

          O save me, for thy mercies’ sake.

5    Because those that deceased are

          Of thee shall no remembrance have;

     And who is he that will to thee

          Give praises lying in the grave?

6    I with my groaning weary am,

          I also all the night my bed

     Have caused for to swim; and I

          With tears my couch have watered.

7    Mine eye, consum’d with grief, grows old,

          Because of all mine enemies.

8    Hence from me, wicked workers all;

          For God hath heard my weeping cries.

9    God hath my supplication heard,

          My pray’r received graciously

10   Sham’d and sore vex’d be all my foes,

          Sham’d and back turned suddenly.

Second Version (C.M.)

1    In thy great indignation,

          O Lord, rebuke me not;

     Nor on me lay thy chast ‘ning hand,

          in thy displeasure hot.

2    Lord, I am weak, therefore on me

          have mercy, and me spare:

     Heal me, O Lord, because thou know’st

          my bones much vexed are.

3    My soul is vexed sore: but, Lord,

          how long stay wilt thou make?

4    Return, Lord, free my soul; and save

          me, for thy mercies’ sake.

5    Because of thee in death there shall

          no more remembrance be:

     Of those that in the grave do lie,

          who shall give thanks to thee?

6    I with my groaning weary am,

          and all the night my bed

     I caused for to swim; with tears

          my couch I watered.

7     By reason of my vexing grief,

          mine eye consumed is;

     It waxeth old, because of all

          that be mine enemies.

8    But now, depart from me all ye

          that work iniquity:

     For why? the Lord hath heard my voice,

          when I did mourn and cry.

9    Unto my supplication

          the Lord did hearing give:

     When I to him my prayer make,

          the Lord will it receive.

10   Let all be sham’d and troubled sore,

          That en’mies are to me;

     Let them turn back, and suddenly

          ashamed let them be.

1    O Lord my God, in thee do I

          my confidence repose:

     Save and deliver me from all

          my persecuting foes;

2    Lest that the enemy my soul

          should, like a lion, tear,

     In pieces rending it, while there

          is no deliverer.

3    O Lord my God, if it be so

          that I committed this;

     If it be so that in my hands

          iniquity there is:

4    If I rewarded ill to him

          that was at peace with me;

     (Yea, ev’n the man that without cause

          my foe was I did free;)

5    Then let the foe pursue and take

          my soul, and my life thrust

     Down to the earth, and let him lay

          mine honour in the dust.

6    Rise in thy wrath, Lord, raise thyself,

          for my foes raging be;

     And, to the judgment which thou hast

          commanded, wake for me.

7    So shall th’ assembly of thy folk

          about encompass thee:

     Thou, therefore, for their sakes, return

          unto thy place on high.

8    The Lord he shall the people judge:

          my judge, Jehovah, be,

     After my righteousness, and mine

          integrity in me.

9    O let the wicked’s malice end;

          but stablish stedfastly

     The righteous: for the righteous God

          the hearts and reins doth try.

10   In God, who saves th’ upright in heart,

          is my defence and stay.

11   God just men judgeth, God is wroth

          with ill men ev’ry day.

12   If he do not return again,

          then he his sword will whet;

     His bow he hath already bent,

          and hath it ready set:

13   He also hath for him prepar’d

          the instruments of death;

     Against the persecutors he

          his shafts ordained hath.

14   Behold, he with iniquity

          doth travail, as in birth;

     A mischief he conceived hath,

          and falsehood shall bring forth.

15   He made a pit and digg’d it deep,

          another there to take;

     But he is fall’n into the ditch

          which he himself did make.

16   Upon his own head his mischief

          shall be returned home;

     His vi’lent dealing also down

          on his own pate shall come.

17   According to his righteousness

          the Lord I’ll magnify;

     And will sing praise unto the name

          of God that is most high.

1    That there is not a God, the fool

          doth in his heart conclude:

     They are corrupt, their works are vile;

          not one of them doth good.

2    Upon men’s sons the Lord from heav’n

          did cast his eyes abroad,

     To see if any understood,

          and did seek after God.

3    They altogether filthy are,

          they all aside are gone;

     And there is none that doeth good,

          yea, sure there is not one.

4    These workers of iniquity

          do they not know at all,

     That they my people eat as bread,

          and on God do not call?

5    There fear’d they much; for God is with

          the whole race of the just.

6    You shame the counsel of the poor,

          because God is his trust.

7    Let Isr’el’s help from Sion come:

          when back the Lord shall bring

     His captives, Jacob shall rejoice,

          and Israel shall sing.

1    Within thy tabernacle, Lord,

          who shall abide with thee?

     And in thy high and holy hill

          who shall a dweller be?

2    The man that walketh uprightly,

          and worketh righteousness,

     And as he thinketh in his heart,

          so doth he truth express.

3    Who doth not slander with his tongue,

          nor to his friend doth hurt;

     Nor yet against his neighbour doth

          take up an ill report.

4    In whose eyes vile men are despis’d;

          but those that God do fear

     He honoureth; and changeth not,

          though to his hurt he swear.

5    His coin puts not to usury,

          nor take reward will he

     Against the guiltless. Who doth thus

          shall never moved be.

1    The heav’ns God’s glory do declare,

          the skies his hand-works preach:

2    Day utters speech to day, and night

          to night doth knowledge teach.

3    There is no speech nor tongue to which

          their voice doth not extend:

4    Their line is gone through all the earth,

          their words to the world’s end.

     In them he set the sun a tent;

5         Who, bridegroom-like, forth goes

     From’s chamber, as a strong man doth

          to run his race rejoice.

6    From heav’n’s end is his going forth,

          circling to th’ end again;

     And there is nothing from his heat

          that hidden doth remain.

7    God’s law is perfect, and converts
         the soul in sin that lies:
     God’s testimony is most sure,
          and makes the simple wise.

8    The statutes of the Lord are right,
          and do rejoice the heart:
     The Lord’s command is pure, and doth
          light to the eyes impart.

9    Unspotted is the fear of God,
          and doth endure for ever:
     The judgments of the Lord are true
          and righteous altogether.

10   They more than gold, yea, much fine gold,
          to be desired are:
     Than honey, honey from the comb
          that droppeth, sweeter far.

11   Moreover, they thy servant warn
          how he his life should frame:
     A great reward provided is
          for them that keep the same.

12   Who can his errors understand?
          O cleanse thou me within
13   From secret faults. Thy servant keep
          from all presumptuous sin:

     And do not suffer them to have
          dominion over me:
     Then, righteous and innocent,
          I from much sin shall be.

14  The words which from my mouth proceed,
          the thoughts sent from my heart,
     Accept, O Lord, for thou my strength
          and my Redeemer art.

1    Thee will I love, O Lord, my strength.

2          My fortress is the Lord,

     My rock, and he that doth to me

          deliverance afford:

     My God, my strength, whom I will trust,

          a buckler unto me,

     The horn of my salvation,

          and my high tow’r, is he.

3    Upon the Lord, who worthy is

          of praises, will I cry;

     And then shall I preserved be

          safe from mine enemy.

4    Floods of ill men affrighted me,

          death’s pangs about me went;

5    Hell’s sorrows me environed;

          death’s snares did me prevent.

6    In my distress I call’d on God,

          cry to my God did I;

     He from his temple heard my voice,

          to his ears came my cry.

7    Th’ earth, as affrighted, then did shake,

          trembling upon it seiz’d:

     The hills’ foundations moved were,

          because he was displeas’d.

8    Up from his nostrils came a smoke,

          and from his mouth there came

     Devouring fire, and coals by it

          were turned into flame.

9   He also bowed down the heav’ns,

          and thence he did descend;

     And thickest clouds of darkness did

          under his feet attend.

10   And he upon a cherub rode,

          and thereon he did fly;

     Yea, on the swift wings of the wind

          his flight was from on high.

11   He darkness made his secret place:

          about him, for his tent,

     Dark waters were, and thickest clouds

          of th’ airy firmament.

12   And at the brightness of that light,

          which was before his eye,

     His thick clouds pass’d away, hailstones

          and coals of fire did fly.

13   The Lord God also in the heav’ns

          did thunder in his ire;

     And there the Highest gave his voice,

          hailstones and coals of fire.

14   Yea, he his arrows sent abroad,

          and them he scattered;

     His lightnings also he shot out,

          and them discomfited.

15   The waters’ channels then were seen,

          the world’s foundations vast

     At thy rebuke discover’d were,

          and at thy nostrils’ blast.

16   And from above the Lord sent down,

          and took me from below;

     From many waters he me drew,

          which would me overflow.

17   He me reliev’d from my strong foes,

          and such as did me hate;

     Because he saw that they for me

          too strong were, and too great.

18   They me prevented in the day

          of my calamity;

     But even then the Lord himself

          a stay was unto me.

19   He to a place where liberty

          and room was hath me brought;

     Because he took delight in me,

          he my deliv’rance wrought.

20   According to my righteousness

          he did me recompense,

     He me repaid according to

          my hands’ pure innocence.

21   For I God’s ways kept, from my God

          did not turn wickedly.

22   His judgments were before me, I

          his laws put not from me.

23   Sincere before him was my heart;

          with him upright was I;

     And watchfully I kept myself

          from mine iniquity.

24   After my righteousness the Lord

          hath recompensed me,

     After the cleanness of my hands

          appearing in his eye.

25   Thou gracious to the gracious art,

          to upright men upright:

26   Pure to the pure, froward thou kyth’st

          unto the froward wight.

27   For thou wilt the afflicted save

          in grief that low do lie:

     But wilt bring down the countenance

          of them whose looks are high.

28   The Lord will light my candle so,

          that it shall shine full bright:

     The Lord my God will also make

          my darkness to be light.

29   By thee through troops of men I break,

          and them discomfit all;

     And, by my God assisting me,

          I overleap a wall.

30   As for God, perfect is his way:

          the Lord his word is try’d;

     He is a buckler to all those

          who do in him confide.

31   Who but the Lord is God? but he

          who is a rock and stay?

32   ‘Tis God that girdeth me with strength,

          and perfect makes my way.

33   He made my feet swift as the hinds,

          set me on my high places.

34   Mine hands to war he taught, mine arms

          brake bows of steel in pieces.

35   The shield of thy salvation

          thou didst on me bestow:

     Thy right hand held me up, and great

          thy kindness made me grow.

36   And in my way my steps thou hast

          enlarged under me,

     That I go safely, and my feet

          are kept from sliding free.

37   Mine en’mies I pursued have,

          and did them overtake;

     Nor did I turn again till I

          an end of them did make.

38   I wounded them, they could not rise;

          they at my feet did fall.

39   Thou girdedst me with strength for war;

          my foes thou brought’st down all:

40   And thou hast giv’n to me the necks

          of all mine enemies;

     That I might them destroy and slay,

          who did against me rise.

41   They cried out, but there was none

          that would or could them save;

     Yea, they did cry unto the Lord,

          but he no answer gave.

42   Then did I beat them small as dust

          before the wind that flies;

     And I did cast them out like dirt

          upon the street that lies.

43   Thou mad’st me free from people’s strife,

          and heathen’s head to be:

     A people whom I have not known

          shall service do to me.

44   At hearing they shall me obey,

          to me they shall submit.

45   Strangers for fear shall fade away,

          who in close places sit.

46   God lives, bless’d be my Rock; the God

          of my health praised be.

47   God doth avenge me, and subdues

          the people under me.

48   He saves me from mine enemies;

          yea, thou hast lifted me

     Above my foes; and from the man

          of vi’lence set me free.

49   Therefore to thee will I give thanks

          the heathen folk among;

     And to thy name, O Lord, I will

          sing praises in a song.

50   He great deliv’rance gives his king:

          he mercy doth extend

     To David, his anointed one,

          and his seed without end.

1    I in the Lord do put my trust:

          how is it then that ye

     Say to my soul, Flee, as a bird,

          unto your mountain high?

2    For, lo, the wicked bend their bow,

          their shafts on string they fit,

     That those who upright are in heart

          they privily may hit.

3    If the foundations be destroy’d,

          what hath the righteous done?

4    God in his holy temple is,

          in heaven is his throne:

     His eyes do see, his eye-lids try

5         men’s sons. The just he proves:

     But his soul hates the wicked man,

          and him that vi’lence loves.

6    Snares, fire and brimstone, furious storms,

          on sinners he shall rain:

     This, as the portion of their cup,

          doth unto them pertain.

7    Because the Lord most righteous doth

          in righteousness delight;

     And with a pleasant countenance

          beholdeth the upright.

1    Help, Lord, because the godly man

          doth daily fade away;

     And from among the sons of men

          the faithful do decay.

2    Unto his neighbour ev’ry one

          doth utter vanity:

     They with a double heart do speak,

          and lips of flattery.

3    God shall cut off all flatt’ring lips,

          tongues that speak proudly thus,

4    We’ll with our tongue prevail, our lips

          are ours: who’s lord o’er us?

5    For poor oppress’d, and for the sighs

          of needy, rise will I,

     Saith God, and him in safety set

          from such as him defy.

6    The words of God are words most pure;

          they be like silver try’d

     In earthen furnace, seven times

          that hath been purify’d.

7    Lord, thou shalt them preserve and keep

          for ever from this race.

8    On each side walk the wicked, when

          vile men are high in place.

1    Lord, hear the right, attend my cry,

          unto my pray’r give heed,

     That doth not in hypocrisy

          from feigned lips proceed.

2    And from before thy presence forth

          my sentence do thou send:

     Toward these things that equal are

          do thou thine eyes intend.

3    Thou prov’dst mine heart, thou visit’dst me

          by night, thou didst me try,

     Yet nothing found’st; for that my mouth

          shall not sin, purpos’d I.

4    As for men’s works, I, by the word

          that from thy lips doth flow,

     Did me preserve out of the paths

          wherein destroyers go.

5    Hold up my goings, Lord, me guide

          in those thy paths divine,

     So that my footsteps may not slide

          out of those ways of thine.

6    I called have on thee, O God,

          because thou wilt me hear:

     That thou may’st hearken to my speech,

          to me incline thine ear.

7    Thy wondrous loving-kindness show,

          thou that, by thy right hand,

     Sav’st them that trust in thee from those

          that up against them stand.

8    As th’ apple of the eye me keep;

          in thy wings shade me close

9    From lewd oppressors, compassing

          me round, as deadly foes.

10   In their own fat they are inclos’d;

          their mouth speaks loftily.

11   Our steps they compass’d; and to ground

          down bowing set their eye.

12   He like unto a lion is

          that’s greedy of his prey,

     Or lion young, which lurking doth

          in secret places stay.

13   Arise, and disappoint my foe,

          and cast him down, O Lord:

     My soul save from the wicked man,

          the man which is thy sword.

14  From men, which are thy hand, O Lord,

          from worldly men me save,

     Which only in this present life

          their part and portion have.

     Whose belly with thy treasure hid

          thou fill’st: they children have

     In plenty; of their goods the rest

          they to their children leave.

15  But as for me, I thine own face

          in righteousness will see;

     And with thy likeness, when I wake,

          I satisfy’d shall be.