Category: Songs of Christ

1    Judge me, O God, and plead my cause

          against th’ ungodly nation;

     From the unjust and crafty man,

          O be thou my salvation.

2    For thou the God art of my strength;

          why thrusts thou me thee fro’?

     For th’ enemy’s oppression

          why do I mourning go?

3    O send thy light forth and thy truth;

          let them be guides to me,

     And bring me to thine holy hill,

          ev’n where thy dwellings be.

4    Then will I to God’s altar go,

          to God my chiefest joy:

     Yea, God, my God, thy name to praise

          my harp I will employ.

5    Why art thou then cast down, my soul?

          what should discourage thee?

     And why with vexing thoughts art thou

          disquieted in me?

     Still trust in God; for him to praise

          good cause I yet shall have:

     He of my count’nance is the health,

          my God that doth me save.

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    The Lord upon the sons of men

          from heav’n did cast his eyes,

     To see if any one there was

          that sought God, and was wise.

3    They altogether filthy are,

          they all are backward gone;

     And there is none that doeth good,

          no, not so much as 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    Ev’n there they were afraid, and stood

          with trembling, all dismay’d,

     Whereas there was no cause at all

          why they should be afraid:

     For God his bones that thee besieg’d

          hath scatter’d all abroad;

     Thou hast confounded them, for they

          despised are of God.

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

          when back the Lord shall bring

     His captives, Jacob shall rejoice,

          and Israel shall sing.

First Version (S.M.)
Tune: Crown Him with Many Crowns

1    The mighty God, the Lord,
          hath spoken, and did call
     The earth, from rising of the sun,
          to where he hath his fall.

2    From out of Sion hill,
          which of excellency
     And beauty the perfection is,
          God shined gloriously.

3    Our God shall surely come,
          keep silence shall not he:
     Before him fire shall waste, great storms
          shall round about him be.

4    Unto the heavens clear
          he from above shall call,
     And to the earth likewise, that he
          may judge his people all.

5    Together let my saints
          unto me gather’d be,
     Those that by sacrifice have made
          a covenant with me.

6    And then the heavens shall
          his righteousness declare:
     Because the Lord himself is he
          by whom men judged are.

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7    My people Isr’el hear,

          speak will I from on high,

     Against thee I will testify;

          God, ev’n thy God, am I.

8    I for thy sacrifice

          no blame will on thee lay,

     Nor for burnt-off ‘rings, which to me

          thou offer’dst ev’ry day.

9    I’ll take no calf nor goats

          from house or fold of thine:

10   For beasts of forests, cattle all

          on thousand hills, are mine.

11   The fowls on mountains high

          are all to me well known;

     Wild beasts which in the fields do lie,

          ev’n they are all mine own.

12   Then, if I hungry were,

          I would not tell it thee;

     Because the world, and fulness all

          thereof, belongs to me.

13   Will I eat flesh of bulls?

          or goats’ blood drink will I?

14   Thanks offer thou to God, and pay

          thy vows to the most High.

15   And call upon me when

          in trouble thou shalt be;

     I will deliver thee, and thou

          my name shalt glorify.

16   But to the wicked man

          God saith, My laws and truth

     Should’st thou declare? how dar’st thou take

          my cov’nant in thy mouth?

17   Sith thou instruction hat’st,

          which should thy ways direct;

     And sith my words behind thy back

          thou cast’st, and dost reject.

18   When thou a thief didst see,

          with him thou didst consent;

     And with the vile adulterers

          partaker on thou went.

19   Thou giv’st thy mouth to ill,

          thy tongue deceit doth frame;

20   Thou sitt’st, and ‘gainst thy brother speak’st,

          thy mother’s son dost shame.

21   Because I silence kept,

          while thou these things hast wrought;

     That I was altogether like

          thyself, hath been thy thought;

     Yet I will thee reprove,

          and set before thine eyes,

     In order ranked, thy misdeeds

          and thine iniquities.

22   Now, ye that God forget,

          this carefully consider;

     Lest I in pieces tear you all,

          and none can you deliver.

23   Whoso doth offer praise

          me glorifies; and I

     Will shew him God’s salvation,

          that orders right his way.

Second Version (C.M.)

1    The mighty God, the Lord, hath spoke,

          and call’d the earth upon,

     Ev’n from the rising of the sun

          unto his going down.

2    From out of Sion, his own hill,

          where the perfection high

     Of beauty is, from thence the Lord

          hath shined gloriously.

3    Our God shall come, and shall no more

          be silent, but speak out:

     Before him fire shall waste, great storms

          shall compass him about.

4    He to the heavens from above,

          and to the earth below,

     Shall call, that he his judgments may

          before his people show.

5    Let all my saints together be

          unto me gathered;

     Those that by sacrifice with me

          a covenant have made.

6    And then the heavens shall declare

          his righteousness abroad:

     Because the Lord himself doth come;

          none else is judge but God.

7    Hear, O my people, and I’ll speak;

          O Israel by name,

     Against thee I will testify;

          God, ev’n thy God, I am.

8    I for thy sacrifices few

          reprove thee never will,

     Nor for burnt-off ‘rings to have been

          before me offer’d still.

9    I’ll take no bullock nor he-goats

          from house nor folds of thine:

10   For beasts of forests, cattle all

          on thousand hills, are mine.

11   The fowls are all to me well known

          that mountains high do yield;

     And I do challenge as mine own

          the wild beasts of the field.

12   If I were hungry, I would not

          to thee for need complain;

     For earth, and all its fulness, doth

          to me of right pertain.

13   That I to eat the flesh of bulls

          take pleasure dost thou think?

     Or that I need, to quench my thirst,

          the blood of goats to drink?

14   Nay, rather unto me, thy God,

          thanksgiving offer thou:

     To the most High perform thy word,

          and fully pay thy vow:

15   And in the day of trouble great

          see that thou call on me;

     I will deliver thee, and thou

          my name shalt glorify.

16   But God unto the wicked saith,

          Why should’st thou mention make

     Of my commands? how dar’st thou in

          thy mouth my cov’nant take?

17   Sith it is so that thou dost hate

          all good instruction;

     And sith thou cast’st behind thy back,

          and slight’st my words each one.

18   When thou a thief didst see, then straight

          thou join’dst with him in sin,

     And with the vile adulterers

          thou hast partaker been.

19   Thy mouth to evil thou dost give,

          thy tongue deceit doth frame.

20   Thou sitt’st, and ‘gainst thy brother speak’st,

          thy mother’s son to shame.

21   These things thou wickedly hast done,

          and I have silent been:

     Thou thought’st that I was like thyself,

          and did approve thy sin:

     But I will sharply thee reprove,

          and I will order right

     Thy sins and thy transgressions

          in presence of thy sight.

22   Consider this, and be afraid,

          ye that forget the Lord,

     Lest I in pieces tear you all,

          when none can help afford.

23   Who off’reth praise me glorifies:

          I will shew God’s salvation

     To him that ordereth aright

          his life and conversation.

1    Do ye, O congregation,

          indeed speak righteousness?

     O ye that are the sons of men,

          judge ye with uprightness?

2    Yea, ev’n within your very hearts

          ye wickedness have done;

     And ye the vi’lence of your hands

          do weigh the earth upon.

3    The wicked men estranged are,

          ev’n from the very womb;

     They, speaking lies, do stray as soon

          as to the world they come.

4    Unto a serpent’s poison like

          their poison doth appear;

     Yea, they are like the adder deaf,

          that closely stops her ear;

5    That so she may not hear the voice

          of one that charm her would,

     No, not though he most cunning were,

          and charm most wisely could.

6    Their teeth, O God, within their mouth

          break thou in pieces small;

     The great teeth break thou out, O Lord,

          of these young lions all.

7    Let them like waters melt away,

          which downward still do flow:

     In pieces cut his arrows all,

          when he shall bend his bow.

8    Like to a snail that melts away,

          let each of them be gone;

     Like woman’s birth untimely, that

          they never see the sun.

9    He shall them take away before

          your pots the thorns can find,

     Both living, and in fury great,

          as with a stormy wind.

10   The righteous, when he vengeance sees,

          he shall be joyful then;

     The righteous one shall wash his feet

          in blood of wicked men.

11   So men shall say, The righteous man

          reward shall never miss:

     And verily upon the earth

          a God to judge there is.

1    All people, clap your hands; to God

          with voice of triumph shout:

2    For dreadful is the Lord most high,

          great King the earth throughout.

3    The heathen people under us

          he surely shall subdue;

     And he shall make the nations

          under our feet to bow.

4    The lot of our inheritance

          chuse out for us shall he,

     Of Jacob, whom he loved well,

          ev’n the excellency.

5    God is with shouts gone up, the Lord

          with trumpets sounding high.

6    Sing praise to God, sing praise, sing praise,

          praise to our King sing ye.

7    For God is King of all the earth;

          with knowledge praise express.

8    God rules the nations: God sits on

          his throne of holiness.

9    The princes of the people are

          assembled willingly;

     Ev’n of the God of Abraham

          they who the people be.

     For why? the shields that do defend

          the earth are only his:

     They to the Lord belong; yea, he

          exalted greatly is.

1    Be merciful to me, O God;

          thy mercy unto me

     Do thou extend; because my soul

          doth put her trust in thee:

     Yea, in the shadow of thy wings

          my refuge I will place,

     Until these sad calamities

          do wholly overpass.

2    My cry I will cause to ascend

          unto the Lord most high;

     To God, who doth all things for me

          perform most perfectly.

3    From heav’n he shall send down, and me

          from his reproach defend

     That would devour me: God his truth

          and mercy forth shall send.

4    My soul among fierce lions is,

          I firebrands live among,

     Men’s sons, whose teeth are spears and darts,

          a sharp sword is their tongue.

5    Be thou exalted very high

          above the heav’ns, O God;

     Let thou thy glory be advanc’d

          o’er all the earth abroad.

6    My soul’s bow’d down; for they a net

          have laid, my steps to snare:

     Into the pit which they have digg’d

          for me, they fallen are.

7    My heart is fix’d, my heart is fix’d,

          O God; I’ll sing and praise.

8    My glory wake; wake psalt’ry, harp;

          myself I’ll early raise.

9    I’ll praise thee ‘mong the people, Lord;

          ‘mong nations sing will I:

10   For great to heav’n thy mercy is,

          thy truth is to the sky.

11   O Lord, exalted be thy name

          above the heav’ns to stand:

     Do thou thy glory far advance

          above both sea and land.

1    O God, we with our ears have heard,

          our fathers have us told,

     What works thou in their days hadst done,

          ev’n in the days of old.

2    Thy hand did drive the heathen out,

          and plant them in their place;

     Thou didst afflict the nations,

          but them thou didst increase.

3    For neither got their sword the land,

          nor did their arm them save;

     But thy right hand, arm, countenance;

          for thou them favour gave.

4    Thou art my King: for Jacob, Lord,

          deliv’rances command.

5    Through thee we shall push down our foes,

          that do against us stand:

     We, through thy name, shall tread down those

          that ris’n against us have.

6    For in my bow I shall not trust,

          nor shall my sword me save.

7    But from our foes thou hast us sav’d,

          our haters put to shame.

8    In God we all the day do boast,

          and ever praise thy name.

9    But now we are cast off by thee,

          and us thou putt’st to shame;

     And when our armies do go forth,

          thou go’st not with the same.

10   Thou mak’st us from the enemy,

          faint-hearted, to turn back;

     And they who hate us for themselves

          our spoils away do take.

11   Like sheep for meat thou gavest us;

          ‘mong heathen cast we be.

12   Thou didst for nought thy people sell;

          their price enrich’d not thee.

13   Thou mak’st us a reproach to be

          unto our neighbours near;

     Derision and a scorn to them

          that round about us are.

14   A by-word also thou dost us

          among the heathen make;

     The people, in contempt and spite,

          at us their heads do shake.

15   Before me my confusion

          continually abides;

     And of my bashful countenance

          the shame me ever hides:

16   For voice of him that doth reproach,

          and speaketh blasphemy;

     By reason of th’ avenging foe,

          and cruel enemy.

17   All this is come on us, yet we

          have not forgotten thee;

     Nor falsely in thy covenant

          behav’d ourselves have we.

18   Back from thy way our heart not turn’d;

          our steps no straying made;

19   Though us thou brak’st in dragons’ place,

          and cover’dst with death’s shade.

20   If we God’s name forgot, or stretch’d

          to a strange god our hands,

21   Shall not God search this out? for he

          heart’s secrets understands.

22   Yea, for thy sake we’re kill’d all day,

          counted as slaughter-sheep.

23   Rise, Lord, cast us not ever off;

          awake, why dost thou sleep?

24    O wherefore hidest thou thy face?

          forgett’st our cause distress’d,

25    And our oppression? For our soul

          is to the dust down press’d:

     Our belly also on the earth

          fast cleaving, hold doth take.

26    Rise for our help, and us redeem,

          ev’n for thy mercies’ sake.

1    Lord, hear my pray’r, hide not thyself

          from my entreating voice:

2    Attend and hear me; in my plaint

          I mourn and make a noise.

3    Because of th’ en’my’s voice, and for

          lewd men’s oppression great:

     On me they cast iniquity,

          and they in wrath me hate.

4    Sore pain’d within me is my heart:

          death’s terrors on me fall.

5    On me comes trembling, fear and dread

          o’erwhelmed me withal.

6    O that I, like a dove, had wings,

          said I, then would I flee

     Far hence, that I might find a place

          where I in rest might be.

7    Lo, then far off I wander would,

          and in the desert stay;

8    From windy storm and tempest I

          would haste to ‘scape away.

9    O Lord, on them destruction bring,

          and do their tongues divide;

     For in the city violence

          and strife I have espy’d.

10   They day and night upon the walls

          do go about it round:

     There mischief is, and sorrow there

          in midst of it is found.

11   Abundant wickedness there is

          within her inward part;

     And from her streets deceitfulness

          and guile do not depart.

12   He was no foe that me reproach’d,

          then that endure I could;

     Nor hater that did ‘gainst me boast,

          from him me hide I would.

13   But thou, man, who mine equal, guide,

          and mine acquaintance wast:

14   We join’d sweet counsels, to God’s house

          in company we past.

15   Let death upon them seize, and down

          let them go quick to hell;

     For wickedness doth much abound

          among them where they dwell.

16   I’ll call on God: God will me save.

17        I’ll pray, and make a noise

     At ev’ning, morning, and at noon;

          and he shall hear my voice.

18   He hath my soul delivered,

          that it in peace might be

     From battle that against me was;

          for many were with me.

19   The Lord shall hear, and them afflict,

          of old who hath abode:

     Because they never changes have,

          therefore they fear not God.

20  ‘Gainst those that were at peace with him

          he hath put forth his hand:

     The covenant that he had made,

          by breaking he profan’d.

21   More smooth than butter were his words,

          while in his heart was war;

     His speeches were more soft than oil,

          and yet drawn swords they are.

22   Cast thou thy burden on the Lord,

          and he shall thee sustain;

     Yea, he shall cause the righteous man

          unmoved to remain.

23   But thou, O Lord my God, those men

          in justice shalt o’erthrow,

     And in destruction’s dungeon dark

          at last shalt lay them low:

     The bloody and deceitful men

          shall not live half their days:

     But upon thee with confidence

          I will depend always.

1    God’s mercies I will ever sing;
          and with my mouth I shall
     Thy faithfulness make to be known
          to generations all.

2    For mercy shall be built, said I,
          for ever to endure;
     Thy faithfulness, ev’n in the heav’ns,
          thou wilt establish sure.

3    I with my chosen One have made
          a cov’nant graciously;
     And to my servant, whom I lov’d,
          to David sworn have I;

4    That I thy seed establish shall
          for ever to remain,
     And will to generations all
          thy throne build and maintain.

5    The praises of thy wonders, Lord,
          the heavens shall express;
     And in the congregation
          of saints thy faithfulness.

6    For who in heaven with the Lord
          may once himself compare?
     Who is like God among the sons
          of those that mighty are?

7    Great fear in meeting of the saints
          is due unto the Lord;
     And he of all about him should
          with rev’rence be ador’d.

8    O thou that art the Lord of hosts,
          what Lord in mightiness
     Is like to thee? who compass’d round
          art with thy faithfulness.

9    Ev’n in the raging of the sea
          thou over it dost reign;
     And when the waves thereof do swell,
          thou stillest them again.

10   Rahab in pieces thou didst break,
          like one that slaughter’d is;
     And with thy mighty arm thou hast
          dispers’d thine enemies.

11   The heav’ns are thine, thou for thine own
          the earth dost also take;
     The world, and fulness of the same,
          thy pow’r did found and make.

12   The north and south from thee alone
          their first beginning had;
     Both Tabor mount and Hermon hill
          shall in thy name be glad.

13   Thou hast an arm that’s full of pow’r,
          thy hand is great in might;
     And thy right hand exceedingly
          exalted is in height.

14   Justice and judgment of thy throne
          are made the dwelling-place;
     Mercy, accompany’d with truth,
          shall go before thy face.

15   O greatly bless’d the people are
          the joyful sound that know;
     In brightness of thy face, O Lord,
          they ever on shall go.

16   They in thy name shall all the day
          rejoice exceedingly;
     And in thy righteousness shall they
          exalted be on high.

17   Because the glory of their strength
          doth only stand in thee;
     And in thy favour shall our horn
          and pow’r exalted be.

18   For God is our defence; and he
          to us doth safety bring:
     The Holy One of Israel
          is our almighty King.

vv. 19-25 to the tune of Auld Lang Syne

(V) 19   In vision to thy Holy One
          thou saidst, I help upon
     A strong one laid; out of the folk
          I rais’d a chosen one;

(V) 20   Ev’n David, I have found him out
          a servant unto me;
     And with my holy oil my King
          anointed him to be.

(C) 21   With whom my hand shall stablish’d be;
          mine arm shall make him strong.
22   On him the foe shall not exact,
          nor son of mischief wrong.

(V) 23   I will beat down before his face
          all his malicious foes;
     I will them greatly plague who do
          with hatred him oppose.

(V) 24   My mercy and my faithfulness
          with him yet still shall be;
     And in my name his horn and pow’r
          men shall exalted see.

(C) 25   His hand and pow’r shall reach afar;
          I’ll set it in the sea;
     And his right hand established
          shall in the rivers be.

vv. 26-38 to the tune of Auld Lang Syne

(V) 26   Thou art my Father, he shall cry,
          thou art my God alone;
     And he shall say, Thou art the Rock
          of my salvation.

(V) 27   I’ll make him my first-born, more high
          than kings of any land.
28   My love I’ll ever keep for him,
          my cov’nant fast shall stand.

(C) 29   His seed I by my pow’r will make
          for ever to endure;
     And, as the days of heav’n, his throne
          shall stable be, and sure.

(V) 30   But if his children shall forsake
          my laws, and go astray,
     And in my judgments shall not walk,
          but wander from my way:

(V) 31   If they my laws break, and do not
          keep my commandements;
32   I’ll visit then their faults with rods,
          their sins with chastisements.

(C) 33   Yet I’ll not take my love from him,
          nor false my promise make.
34   My cov’nant I’ll not break, nor change
          what with my mouth I spake.

(V) 35   Once by my holiness I sware,
          to David I’ll not lie;
36   His seed and throne shall, as the sun,
          before me last for aye.

(V) 37   It, like the moon, shall ever be
          establish’d stedfastly;
     And like to that which in the heav’n
          doth witness faithfully.

(C) 38   But thou, displeased, hast cast off,

        thou didst abhor and loathe;

     With him that thine anointed is

          thou hast been very wroth.

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39   Thou hast thy servant’s covenant

          made void, and quite cast by;

     Thou hast profan’d his crown, while it

          cast on the ground doth lie.

40   Thou all his hedges hast broke down,

          his strong holds down hast torn.

41   He to all passers-by a spoil,

          to neighbours is a scorn.

42   Thou hast set up his foes’ right hand;

          mad’st all his en’mies glad:

43   Turn’d his sword’s edge, and him to stand

          in battle hast not made.

44   His glory thou hast made to cease,

          his throne to ground down cast;

45   Shorten’d his days of youth, and him

          with shame thou cover’d hast.

46   How long, Lord, wilt thou hide thyself?

          for ever, in thine ire?

     And shall thine indignation

          burn like unto a fire?

47   Remember, Lord, how short a time

          I shall on earth remain:

     O wherefore is it so that thou

          has made all men in vain?

48   What man is he that liveth here,

          and death shall never see?

     Or from the power of the grave

          what man his soul shall free?

49   Thy former loving-kindnesses,

          O Lord, where be they now?

     Those which in truth and faithfulness

          to David sworn hast thou?

50   Mind, Lord, thy servant’s sad reproach;

          how I in bosom bear

     The scornings of the people all,

          who strong and mighty are.

51   Wherewith thy raging enemies

          reproach’d, O Lord, think on;

     Wherewith they have reproach’d the steps

          of thine anointed one.

52   All blessing to the Lord our God

          let be ascribed then:

     For evermore so let it be.

          Amen, yea, and amen.

1    O Lord God, unto whom alone

          all vengeance doth belong;

     O mighty God, who vengeance own’st,

          shine forth, avenging wrong.

2    Lift up thyself, thou of the earth

          the sov’reign Judge that art;

     And unto those that are so proud

          a due reward impart.

3    How long, O mighty God, shall they

          who lewd and wicked be,

     How long shall they who wicked are

          thus triumph haughtily?

4    How long shall things most hard by them

          be uttered and told?

     And all that work iniquity

          to boast themselves be bold?

5    Thy folk they break in pieces, Lord,

          thine heritage oppress:

6    The widow they and stranger slay,

          and kill the fatherless.

7    Yet say they, God it shall not see,

          nor God of Jacob know.

8    Ye brutish people! understand;

          fools! when wise will ye grow?

9    The Lord did plant the ear of man,

          and hear then shall not he?

     He only form’d the eye, and then

          shall he not clearly see?

10   He that the nations doth correct,

          shall he not chastise you?

     He knowledge unto man doth teach,

          and shall himself not know?

11   Man’s thoughts to be but vanity

          the Lord doth well discern.

12   Bless’d is the man thou chast’nest, Lord,

          and mak’st thy law to learn:

13   That thou may’st give him rest from days

          of sad adversity,

     Until the pit be digg’d for those

          that work iniquity.

14   For sure the Lord will not cast off

          those that his people be,

     Neither his own inheritance

          quit and forsake will he:

15   But judgment unto righteousness

          shall yet return again;

     And all shall follow after it

          that are right-hearted men.

16   Who will rise up for me against

          those that do wickedly?

     Who will stand up for me ‘gainst those

          that work iniquity?

17   Unless the Lord had been my help

          when I was sore opprest,

     Almost my soul had in the house

          of silence been at rest.

18   When I had uttered this word,

          (my foot doth slip away,)

     Thy mercy held me up, O Lord,

          thy goodness did me stay.

19   Amidst the multitude of thoughts

          which in my heart do fight,

     My soul, lest it be overcharg’d,

          thy comforts do delight.

20   Shall of iniquity the throne

          have fellowship with thee,

     Which mischief, cunningly contriv’d,

          doth by a law decree?

21   Against the righteous souls they join,

          they guiltless blood condemn.

22   But of my refuge God’s the rock,

          and my defence from them.

23    On them their own iniquity

          the Lord shall bring and lay,

     And cut them off in their own sin;

          our Lord God shall them slay.