Author: admin

1    Plead, Lord, with those that plead; and fight

          with those that fight with me.

2    Of shield and buckler take thou hold,

          stand up mine help to be.

3    Draw also out the spear, and do

          against them stop the way

     That me pursue: unto my soul,

          I’m thy salvation, say.

4    Let them confounded be and sham’d

          that for my soul have sought:

     Who plot my hurt turn’d back be they,

          and to confusion brought.

5    Let them be like unto the chaff

          that flies before the wind;

     And let the angel of the Lord

          pursue them hard behind.

6    With darkness cover thou their way,

          and let it slipp’ry prove;

     And let the angel of the Lord

          pursue them from above.

7    For without cause have they for me

          their net hid in a pit,

     They also have without a cause

          for my soul digged it.

8    Let ruin seize him unawares;

          his net he hid withal

     Himself let catch; and in the same

          destruction let him fall.

9    My soul in God shall joy; and glad

          in his salvation be:

10   And all my bones shall say, O Lord,

          who is like unto thee,

     Which dost the poor set free from him

          that is for him too strong;

     The poor and needy from the man

          that spoils and does him wrong?

11   False witnesses rose; to my charge

          things I not knew they laid.

12   They, to the spoiling of my soul,

          me ill for good repaid.

13   But as for me, when they were sick,

          in sackcloth sad I mourn’d:

     My humbled soul did fast, my pray’r

          into my bosom turn’d.

14   Myself I did behave as he

          had been my friend or brother;

     I heavily bow’d down, as one

          that mourneth for his mother.

15   But in my trouble they rejoic’d,

          gath’ring themselves together;

     Yea, abjects vile together did

          themselves against me gather:

     I knew it not; they did me tear,

          and quiet would not be.

16   With mocking hypocrites, at feasts

          they gnash’d their teeth at me.

17   How long, Lord, look’st thou on? from those

          destructions they intend

     Rescue my soul, from lions young

          my darling do defend.

18   I will give thanks to thee, O Lord,

          within th’ assembly great;

     And where much people gather’d are

          thy praises forth will set.

19   Let not my wrongful enemies

          proudly rejoice o’er me;

     Nor who me hate without a cause,

          let them wink with the eye.

20   For peace they do not speak at all;

          but crafty plots prepare

     Against all those within the land

          that meek and quiet are.

21   With mouths set wide, they ‘gainst me said,

          Ha, ha! our eye doth see.

22   Lord, thou hast seen, hold not thy peace;

          Lord, be not far from me.

23   Stir up thyself; wake, that thou may’st

          judgment to me afford,

     Ev’n to my cause, O thou that art

          my only God and Lord.

24   O Lord my God, do thou me judge

          after thy righteousness;

     And let them not their joy ‘gainst me

          triumphantly express:

25   Nor let them say within their hearts,

          Ah, we would have it thus;

     Nor suffer them to say, that he

          is swallow’d up by us.

26   Sham’d and confounded be they all

          that at my hurt are glad;

     Let those against me that do boast

          with shame and scorn be clad.

27   Let them that love my righteous cause

          be glad, shout, and not cease

     To say, The Lord be magnify’d,

          who loves his servant’s peace.

28   Thy righteousness shall also be

          declared by my tongue;

     The praises that belong to thee

          speak shall it all day long.

1    The wicked man’s transgression

          within my heart thus says,

     Undoubtedly the fear of God

          is not before his eyes.

2    Because himself he flattereth

          in his own blinded eye,

     Until the hatefulness be found

          of his iniquity.

3    Words from his mouth proceeding are,

          fraud and iniquity:

     He to be wise, and to do good,

          hath left off utterly.

4    He mischief, lying on his bed,

          most cunningly doth plot:

     He sets himself in ways not good,

          ill he abhorreth not.

5    Thy mercy, Lord, is in the heav’ns;

          thy truth doth reach the clouds:

6    Thy justice is like mountains great;

          thy judgments deep as floods:

     Lord, thou preservest man and beast.

7         How precious is thy grace!

     Therefore in shadow of thy wings

          men’s sons their trust shall place.

8    They with the fatness of thy house

          shall be well satisfy’d;

     From rivers of thy pleasures thou

          wilt drink to them provide.

9    Because of life the fountain pure

          remains alone with thee;

     And in that purest light of thine

          we clearly light shall see.

10   Thy loving-kindness unto them

          continue that thee know;

     And still on men upright in heart

          thy righteousness bestow.

11   Let not the foot of cruel pride

          come, and against me stand;

     And let me not removed be,

          Lord, by the wicked’s hand.

12   There fallen are they, and ruined,

          that work iniquities:

     Cast down they are, and never shall

          be able to arise.

TUNE: There Is A Fountain Filled With Blood

1    Ye righteous, in the Lord rejoice;
          it comely is and right,
     That upright men, with thankful voice,
          should praise the Lord of might.

2    Praise God with harp, and unto him
          sing with the psaltery;
     Upon a ten-string’d instrument
          make ye sweet melody.

3    A new song to him sing, and play
          with loud noise skilfully;
4    For right is God’s word, all his works
          are done in verity.

5    To judgment and to righteousness
          a love he beareth still;
     The loving-kindness of the Lord
          the earth throughout doth fill.

6    The heavens by the word of God
          did their beginning take;
     And by the breathing of his mouth
          he all their hosts did make.

7    The waters of the seas he brings
          together as an heap;
     And in storehouses, as it were,
          he layeth up the deep.

8    Let earth, and all that live therein,
          with rev’rence fear the Lord;
     Let all the world’s inhabitants
          dread him with one accord.

9    For he did speak the word, and done
          it was without delay;
     Established it firmly stood,
          whatever he did say.

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10   God doth the counsel bring to nought

          which heathen folk do take;

     And what the people do devise

          of none effect doth make.

11   O but the counsel of the Lord

          doth stand for ever sure;

     And of his heart the purposes

          from age to age endure.

12   That nation blessed is, whose God

          Jehovah is, and those

     A blessed people are, whom for

          his heritage he chose.

13   The Lord from heav’n sees and beholds

          all sons of men full well:

14   He views all from his dwelling-place

          that in the earth do dwell.

15   He forms their hearts alike, and all

          their doings he observes.

16   Great hosts save not a king, much strength

          no mighty man preserves.

17   An horse for preservation

          is a deceitful thing;

     And by the greatness of his strength

          can no deliv’rance bring.

18   Behold on those that do him fear

          the Lord doth set his eye;

     Ev’n those who on his mercy do

          with confidence rely.

19   From death to free their soul, in dearth

          life unto them to yield.

20   Our soul doth wait upon the Lord;

          he is our help and shield.

21   Sith in his holy name we trust,

          our heart shall joyful be.

22   Lord, let thy mercy be on us,

          as we do hope in thee.

1    Lord, I will thee extol, for thou

          hast lifted me on high,

     And over me thou to rejoice

          mad’st not mine enemy.

2    O thou who art the Lord my God,

          I in distress to thee,

     With loud cries lifted up my voice,

          and thou hast healed me.

3    O Lord, my soul thou hast brought up,

          and rescu’d from the grave;

     That I to pit should not go down,

          alive thou didst me save.

4    O ye that are his holy ones,

          sing praise unto the Lord;

     And give unto him thanks, when ye

          his holiness record.

5    For but a moment lasts his wrath;

          life in his favour lies:

     Weeping may for a night endure,

          at morn doth joy arise.

6    In my prosperity I said,

          that nothing shall me move.

7    O Lord, thou hast my mountain made

          to stand strong by thy love:

     But when that thou, O gracious God,

          didst hide thy face from me,

     Then quickly was my prosp’rous state

          turn’d into misery.

8    Wherefore unto the Lord my cry

          I caused to ascend:

     My humble supplication

          I to the Lord did send.

9    What profit is there in my blood,

          when I go down to pit?

     Shall unto thee the dust give praise?

          thy truth declare shall it?

10   Hear, Lord, have mercy; help me, Lord:

11        Thou turned hast my sadness

     To dancing; yea, my sackcloth loos’d,

          and girded me with gladness;

12   That sing thy praise my glory may,

          and never silent be.

     O Lord my God, for evermore

          I will give thanks to thee.

1    O blessed is the man to whom

          is freely pardoned

     All the transgression he hath done,

          whose sin is covered.

2    Bless’d is the man to whom the Lord

          imputeth not his sin,

     And in whose sp’rit there is no guile,

          nor fraud is found therein.

3    When as I did refrain my speech,

          and silent was my tongue,

     My bones then waxed old, because

          I roared all day long.

4    For upon me both day and night

          thine hand did heavy lie,

     So that my moisture turned is

          in summer’s drought thereby.

5    I thereupon have unto thee

          my sin acknowledged,

     And likewise mine iniquity

          I have not covered:

     I will confess unto the Lord

          my trespasses, said I;

     And of my sin thou freely didst

          forgive th’ iniquity.

6    For this shall ev’ry godly one

          his prayer make to thee;

     In such a time he shall thee seek,

          as found thou mayest be.

     Surely, when floods of waters great

          do swell up to the brim,

     They shall not overwhelm his soul,

          nor once come near to him.

7    Thou art my hiding-place, thou shalt

          from trouble keep me free:

     Thou with songs of deliverance

          about shalt compass me.

8    I will instruct thee, and thee teach

          the way that thou shalt go;

     And, with mine eye upon thee set,

          I will direction show.

9    Then be not like the horse or mule,

          which do not understand;

     Whose mouth, lest they come near to thee,

          a bridle must command.

10   Unto the man that wicked is

          his sorrows shall abound;

     But him that trusteth in the Lord

          mercy shall compass round.

11   Ye righteous, in the Lord be glad,

          in him do ye rejoice:

     All ye that upright are in heart,

          for joy lift up your voice.

1    Jehovah hear thee in the day

          when trouble he doth send:

     And let the name of Jacob’s God

          thee from all ill defend.

2    O let him help send from above,

          out of his sanctuary:

     From Sion, his own holy hill,

          let him give strength to thee.

3    Let him remember all thy gifts,

          accept thy sacrifice:

4    Grant thee thine heart’s wish, and fulfil

          thy thoughts and counsel wise.

5    In thy salvation we will joy;

          in our God’s name we will

     Display our banners: and the Lord

          thy prayers all fulfil.

6    Now know I God his king doth save:

          he from his holy heav’n

     Will hear him, with the saving strength

          by his own right hand giv’n.

7    In chariots some put confidence,

          some horses trust upon:

     But we remember will the name

          of our Lord God alone.

8    We rise, and upright stand, when they

          are bowed down, and fall.

9    Deliver, Lord; and let the King

          us hear, when we do call.

1    The king in thy great strength, O Lord,

          shall very joyful be:

     In thy salvation rejoice

          how veh’mently shall he!

2    Thou hast bestowed upon him

          all that his heart would have;

     And thou from him didst not withhold

          whate’er his lips did crave.

3    For thou with blessings him prevent’st

          of goodness manifold;

     And thou hast set upon his head

          a crown of purest gold.

4    When he desired life of thee,

          thou life to him didst give;

     Ev’n such a length of days, that he

          for evermore should live.

5    In that salvation wrought by thee

          his glory is made great;

     Honour and comely majesty

          thou hast upon him set.

6    Because that thou for evermore

          most blessed hast him made;

     And thou hast with thy countenance

          made him exceeding glad.

7    Because the king upon the Lord

          his confidence doth lay;

     And through the grace of the most High

          shall not be mov’d away.

8    Thine hand shall all those men find out

          that en’mies are to thee;

     Ev’n thy right hand shall find out those

          of thee that haters be.

9    Like fiery ov’n thou shalt them make,

          when kindled is thine ire;

     God shall them swallow in his wrath,

          devour them shall the fire.

10   Their fruit from earth thou shalt destroy,

          their seed men from among:

11   For they beyond their might ‘gainst thee

          did plot mischief and wrong.

12   Thou therefore shalt make them turn back,

          when thou thy shafts shalt place

     Upon thy strings, made ready all

          to fly against their face.

13   In thy great pow’r and strength, O Lord,

          be thou exalted high;

     So shall we sing with joyful hearts,

          thy power praise shall we.

First Version (S.M.)

1    To thee I lift my soul:

2          O Lord, I trust in thee:

     My God, let me not be asham’d,

          nor foes triumph o’er me.

3    Let none that wait on thee

          be put to shame at all;

     But those that without cause transgress,

          let shame upon them fall.

4    Shew me thy ways, O Lord;

          thy paths, O teach thou me:

5    And do thou lead me in thy truth,

          therein my teacher be:

     For thou art God that dost

          to me salvation send,

     And I upon thee all the day

          expecting do attend.

6    Thy tender mercies, Lord,

          I pray thee to remember,

     And loving-kindnesses; for they

          have been of old for ever.

7    My sins and faults of youth

          do thou, O Lord, forget:

     After thy mercy think on me,

          and for thy goodness great.

8    God good and upright is:

          the way he’ll sinners show.

9    The meek in judgment he will guide,

          and make his path to know.

10   The whole paths of the Lord

          are truth and mercy sure,

     To those that do his cov’nant keep,

          and testimonies pure.

11   Now, for thine own name’s sake,

          O Lord, I thee entreat

     To pardon mine iniquity;

          for it is very great.

12   What man is he that fears

          the Lord, and doth him serve?

     Him shall he teach the way that he

          shall choose, and still observe.

13   His soul shall dwell at ease;

          and his posterity

     Shall flourish still, and of the earth

          inheritors shall be.

14   With those that fear him is

          the secret of the Lord;

     The knowledge of his covenant

          he will to them afford.

15   Mine eyes upon the Lord

          continually are set:

     For he it is that shall bring forth

          my feet out of the net.

16   Turn unto me thy face,

          and to me mercy show;

     Because that I am desolate,

          and am brought very low.

17   My heart’s griefs are increas’d:

          me from distress relieve.

18   See mine affliction and my pain,

          and all my sins forgive.

19   Consider thou my foes,

          because they many are;

     And it a cruel hatred is

          which they against me bear.

20   O do thou keep my soul,

          do thou deliver me:

     And let me never be asham’d,

          because I trust in thee.

21   Let uprightness and truth

          keep me, who thee attend.

22   Redemption, Lord, to Israel

          from all his troubles send.

Second Version (C.M.)

1    To thee I lift my soul, O Lord:

2          My God, I trust in thee:

     Let me not be asham’d; let not

          my foes triumph o’er me.

3    Yea, let thou none ashamed be

          that do on thee attend:

     Ashamed let them be, O Lord,

          who without cause offend.

4    Thy ways, Lord, shew; teach me thy paths:

5         Lead me in truth, teach me:

     For of my safety thou art God;

          all day I wait on thee.

6    Thy mercies, that most tender are,

          do thou, O Lord, remember,

     And loving-kindnesses; for they

          have been of old for ever.

7    Let not the errors of my youth,

          nor sins, remember’d be:

     In mercy, for thy goodness’ sake,

           O Lord, remember me.

8    The Lord is good and gracious,

          he upright is also:

     He therefore sinners will instruct

          in ways that they should go.

9    The meek and lowly he will guide

          in judgment just alway:

     To meek and poor afflicted ones

          he’ll clearly teach his way.

10   The whole paths of the Lord our God

          are truth and mercy sure,

     To such as keep his covenant,

          and testimonies pure.

11   Now, for thine own name’s sake, O Lord,

          I humbly thee entreat

     To pardon mine iniquity;

          for it is very great.

12   What man fears God? him shall he teach

          the way that he shall chuse.

13   His soul shall dwell at ease; his seed

          the earth, as heirs, shall use.

14   The secret of the Lord is with

          such as do fear his name;

     And he his holy covenant

          will manifest to them.

15   Towards the Lord my waiting eyes

          continually are set;

     For he it is that shall bring forth

          my feet out of the net.

16   O turn thee unto me, O God,

          have mercy me upon;

     Because I solitary am,

          and in affliction.

17   Enlarg’d the griefs are of mine heart;

          me from distress relieve.

18   See mine affliction and my pain,

          and all my sins forgive.

19   Consider thou mine enemies,

          because they many are;

     And it a cruel hatred is

          which they against me bear.

20   O do thou keep my soul; O God,

          do thou deliver me:

     Let me not be asham’d; for I

          do put my trust in thee.

21   O let integrity and truth

          keep me, who thee attend.

22   Redemption, Lord, to Israel

          from all his troubles send.