Category: Songs of Christ

Tune: All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name

1    O praise the Lord, for he is good;
          his mercy lasteth ever.
2    Let those of Israel now say,
          His mercy faileth never.

3    Now let the house of Aaron say,
          His mercy lasteth ever.
4    Let those that fear the Lord now say,
          His mercy faileth never.

5    I in distress call’d on the Lord;
          the Lord did answer me:
     He in a large place did me set,
          from trouble made me free.

6    The mighty Lord is on my side,
          I will not be afraid;
     For any thing that man can do
          I shall not be dismay’d.

____________________________________

7    The Lord doth take my part with them

          that help to succour me:

     Therefore on those that do me hate

          I my desire shall see.

8    Better it is to trust in God

          than trust in man’s defence;

9    Better to trust in God than make

          princes our confidence.

10   The nations, joining all in one,

          did compass me about:

     But in the Lord’s most holy name

          I shall them all root out.

11   They compass’d me about; I say,

          they compass’d me about:

     But in the Lord’s most holy name

          I shall them all root out.

12   Like bees they compass’d me about;

          like unto thorns that flame

     They quenched are: for them shall I

          destroy in God’s own name.

13   Thou sore hast thrust, that I might fall,

          but my Lord helped me.

14   God my salvation is become,

          my strength and song is he.

15   In dwellings of the righteous

          is heard the melody

     Of joy and health: the Lord’s right hand

          doth ever valiantly.

16   The right hand of the mighty Lord

          exalted is on high;

     The right hand of the mighty Lord

          doth ever valiantly.

17   I shall not die, but live, and shall

          the works of God discover.

18   The Lord hath me chastised sore,

          but not to death giv’n over.

19   O set ye open unto me

          the gates of righteousness;

     Then will I enter into them,

          and I the Lord will bless.

20   This is the gate of God, by it

          the just shall enter in.

21   Thee will I praise, for thou me heard’st

          and hast my safety been.

22   That stone is made head corner-stone,

          which builders did despise:

23   This is the doing of the Lord,

          and wondrous in our eyes.

24   This is the day God made, in it

          we’ll joy triumphantly.

25   Save now, I pray thee, Lord; I pray,

          send now prosperity.

26   Blessed is he in God’s great name

          that cometh us to save:

     We, from the house which to the Lord

          pertains, you blessed have.

27   God is the Lord, who unto us

          hath made light to arise:

     Bind ye unto the altar’s horns

          with cords the sacrifice.

28    Thou art my God, I’ll thee exalt;

          my God, I will thee praise.

29    Give thanks to God, for he is good:

          his mercy lasts always.

1    O thou the God of all my praise,

          do thou not hold thy peace;

2    For mouths of wicked men to speak

          against me do not cease:

     The mouths of vile deceitful men

          against me open’d be;

     And with a false and lying tongue

          they have accused me.

3    They did beset me round about

          with words of hateful spight:

     And though to them no cause I gave,

          against me they did fight.

4    They for my love became my foes,

          but I me set to pray.

5    Evil for good, hatred for love,

          to me they did repay.

6    Set thou the wicked over him;

          and upon his right hand

     Give thou his greatest enemy,

          ev’n Satan, leave to stand.

7    And when by thee he shall be judg’d,

          let him condemned be;

     And let his pray’r be turn’d to sin,

          when he shall call on thee.

8    Few be his days, and in his room

          his charge another take.

9    His children let be fatherless,

          his wife a widow make.

10   His children let be vagabonds,

          and beg continually;

     And from their places desolate

          seek bread for their supply.

11   Let covetous extortioners

          catch all he hath away:

     Of all for which he labour’d hath

          let strangers make a prey.

12   Let there be none to pity him,

          let there be none at all

     That on his children fatherless

          will let his mercy fall.

13   Let his posterity from earth

          cut off for ever be,

     And in the foll’wing age their name

          be blotted out by thee.

14   Let God his father’s wickedness

          still to remembrance call;

     And never let his mother’s sin

          be blotted out at all.

15   But let them all before the Lord

          appear continually,

     That he may wholly from the earth

          cut off their memory.

16   Because he mercy minded not,

          but persecuted still

     The poor and needy, that he might

          the broken-hearted kill.

17   As he in cursing pleasure took,

          so let it to him fall;

     As he delighted not to bless,

          so bless him not at all.

18   As cursing he like clothes put on,

          into his bowels so,

     Like water, and into his bones,

          like oil, down let it go.

19   Like to the garment let it be

          which doth himself array,

     And for a girdle, wherewith he

          is girt about alway.

20   From God let this be their reward

          that en’mies are to me,

     And their reward that speak against

          my soul maliciously.

21   But do thou, for thine own name’s sake,

          O God the Lord, for me:

     Sith good and sweet thy mercy is,

          from trouble set me free.

22   For I am poor and indigent,

          afflicted sore am I,

     My heart within me also is

          wounded exceedingly.

23   I pass like a declining shade,

          am like the locust tost:

24   My knees through fasting weaken’d are,

          my flesh hath fatness lost.

25   I also am a vile reproach

          unto them made to be;

     And they that did upon me look

          did shake their heads at me.

26   O do thou help and succour me,

          who art my God and Lord:

     And, for thy tender mercy’s sake,

          safety to me afford:

27   That thereby they may know that this

          is thy almighty hand;

     And that thou, Lord, hast done the same,

          they may well understand.

28   Although they curse with spite, yet, Lord,

          bless thou with loving voice:

     Let them asham’d be when they rise;

          thy servant let rejoice.

29   Let thou mine adversaries all

          with shame be clothed over;

     And let their own confusion

          them, as a mantle, cover.

30   But as for me, I with my mouth

          will greatly praise the Lord;

     And I among the multitude

          his praises will record.

31   For he shall stand at his right hand

          who is in poverty,

     To save him from all those that would

          condemn his soul to die.

1    Bless God, my soul. O Lord my God,

          thou art exceeding great;

     With honour and with majesty

          thou clothed art in state.

2    With light, as with a robe, thyself

          thou coverest about;

     And, like unto a curtain, thou

          the heavens stretchest out.

3    Who of his chambers doth the beams

          within the waters lay;

     Who doth the clouds his chariot make,

          on wings of wind make way.

4    Who flaming fire his ministers,

          his angels sp’rits, doth make:

5    Who earth’s foundations did lay,

          that it should never shake.

6    Thou didst it cover with the deep,

          as with a garment spread:

     The waters stood above the hills,

          when thou the word but said.

7    But at the voice of thy rebuke

          they fled, and would not stay;

     They at thy thunder’s dreadful voice

          did haste them fast away.

8    They by the mountains do ascend,

          and by the valley-ground

     Descend, unto that very place

          which thou for them didst found.

9    Thou hast a bound unto them set,

          that they may not pass over,

     That they do not return again

          the face of earth to cover.

10   He to the valleys sends the springs,

          which run among the hills:

11   They to all beasts of field give drink,

          wild asses drink their fills.

12   By them the fowls of heav’n shall have

          their habitation,

     Which do among the branches sing

          with delectation.

13   He from his chambers watereth

          the hills, when they are dry’d:

     With fruit and increase of thy works

          the earth is satisfy’d.

14   For cattle he makes grass to grow,

          he makes the herb to spring

     For th’ use of man, that food to him

          he from the earth may bring;

15   And wine, that to the heart of man

          doth cheerfulness impart,

     Oil that his face makes shine, and bread

          that strengtheneth his heart.

16   The trees of God are full of sap;

          the cedars that do stand

     In Lebanon, which planted were

          by his almighty hand.

17   Birds of the air upon their boughs

          do chuse their nests to make;

     As for the stork, the fir-tree she

          doth for her dwelling take.

18   The lofty mountains for wild goats

          a place of refuge be;

     The conies also to the rocks

          do for their safety flee.

19   He sets the moon in heav’n, thereby

          the seasons to discern:

     From him the sun his certain time

          of going down doth learn.

20   Thou darkness mak’st, ’tis night, then beasts

          of forests creep abroad.

21   The lions young roar for their prey,

          and seek their meat from God.

22   The sun doth rise, and home they flock,

          down in their dens they lie.

23   Man goes to work, his labour he

          doth to the ev’ning ply.

24   How manifold, Lord, are thy works!

          in wisdom wonderful

     Thou ev’ry one of them hast made;

          earth’s of thy riches full:

25   So is this great and spacious sea,

          wherein things creeping are,

     Which number’d cannot be; and beasts

          both great and small are there.

26   There ships go; there thou mak’st to play

          that leviathan great.

27   These all wait on thee, that thou may’st

          in due time give them meat.

28   That which thou givest unto them

          they gather for their food;

     Thine hand thou open’st lib’rally,

          they filled are with good.

29   Thou hid’st thy face; they troubled are,

          their breath thou tak’st away;

     Then do they die, and to their dust

          return again do they.

30   Thy quick’ning spirit thou send’st forth,

          then they created be;

     And then the earth’s decayed face

          renewed is by thee.

31   The glory of the mighty Lord

          continue shall for ever:

     The Lord Jehovah shall rejoice

          in all his works together.

32   Earth, as affrighted, trembleth all,

          if he on it but look;

     And if the mountains he but touch,

          they presently do smoke.

33   I will sing to the Lord most high,

          so long as I shall live;

     And while I being have I shall

          to my God praises give.

34   Of him my meditation shall

          sweet thoughts to me afford;

     And as for me, I will rejoice

          in God, my only Lord.

35   From earth let sinners be consum’d,

          let ill men no more be.

     O thou my soul, bless thou the Lord.

          Praise to the Lord give ye.

1    Praise ye the Lord. The man is bless’d

          that fears the Lord aright,

     He who in his commandements

          doth greatly take delight.

2    His seed and offspring powerful

          shall be the earth upon:

     Of upright men blessed shall be

          the generation.

3    Riches and wealth shall ever be

          within his house in store;

     And his unspotted righteousness

          endures for evermore.

4    Unto the upright light doth rise,

          though he in darkness be:

     Compassionate, and merciful,

          and righteous, is he.

5    A good man doth his favour shew,

          and doth to others lend:

     He with discretion his affairs

          will guide unto the end.

6    Surely there is not any thing

          that ever shall him move:

     The righteous man’s memorial

          shall everlasting prove.

7    When he shall evil tidings hear,

          he shall not be afraid:

     His heart is fix’d, his confidence

          upon the Lord is stay’d.

8    His heart is firmly stablished,

          afraid he shall not be,

     Until upon his enemies

          he his desire shall see.

9    He hath dispers’d, giv’n to the poor;

          his righteousness shall be

     To ages all; with honour shall

          his horn be raised high.

10   The wicked shall it see, and fret,

          his teeth gnash, melt away:

     What wicked men do most desire

          shall utterly decay.

1    I love the Lord, because my voice

          and prayers he did hear.

2    I, while I live, will call on him,

          who bow’d to me his ear.

3    Of death the cords and sorrows did

          about me compass round;

     The pains of hell took hold on me,

          I grief and trouble found.

4    Upon the name of God the Lord

          then did I call, and say,

     Deliver thou my soul, O Lord,

          I do thee humbly pray.

5    God merciful and righteous is,

          yea, gracious is our Lord.

6    God saves the meek: I was brought low,

          he did me help afford.

7    O thou my soul, do thou return

          unto thy quiet rest;

     For largely, lo, the Lord to thee

          his bounty hath exprest.

8    For my distressed soul from death

          deliver’d was by thee:

     Thou didst my mourning eyes from tears,

          my feet from falling, free.

9    I in the land of those that live

          will walk the Lord before.

10   I did believe, therefore I spake:

          I was afflicted sore.

11   I said, when I was in my haste,

          that all men liars be.

12   What shall I render to the Lord

          for all his gifts to me?

13   I’ll of salvation take the cup,

          on God’s name will I call:

14   I’ll pay my vows now to the Lord

          before his people all.

15   Dear in God’s sight is his saints’ death.

16         Thy servant, Lord, am I;

     Thy servant sure, thine handmaid’s son:

          my bands thou didst untie.

17   Thank-off ‘rings I to thee will give,

          and on God’s name will call.

18   I’ll pay my vows now to the Lord

          before his people all;

19   Within the courts of God’s own house,

          within the midst of thee,

     O city of Jerusalem.

          Praise to the Lord give ye.

Second Version (L.M.)

1    Lord, hear my pray’r, and let my cry

          Have speedy access unto thee;

2    In day of my calamity

          O hide not thou thy face from me.

     Hear when I call to thee; that day

          An answer speedily return:

3    My days, like smoke, consume away,

          And, as an hearth, my bones do burn.

4    My heart is wounded very sore,

          And withered, like grass doth fade:

     I am forgetful grown therefore

          To take and eat my daily bread.

5    By reason of my smart within,

          And voice of my most grievous groans,

     My flesh consumed is, my skin,

          All parch’d, doth cleave unto my bones.

6    The pelican of wilderness,

          The owl in desert, I do match;

7    And, sparrow-like, companionless,

          Upon the house’s top, I watch.

8    I all day long am made a scorn,

          Reproach’d by my malicious foes:

     The madmen are against me sworn,

          The men against me that arose.

9    For I have ashes eaten up,

          To me as if they had been bread;

     And with my drink I in my cup

          Of bitter tears a mixture made.

10    Because thy wrath was not appeas’d,

          And dreadful indignation:

     Therefore it was that thou me rais’d,

          And thou again didst cast me down.

11   My days are like a shade alway,
          Which doth declining swiftly pass;
     And I am withered away,
          Much like unto the fading grass.

12   But thou, O Lord, shalt still endure,
          From change and all mutation free,
     And to all generations sure
          Shall thy remembrance ever be.

13   Thou shalt arise, and mercy yet
          Thou to mount Sion shalt extend:
     Her time for favour which was set,
          Behold, is now come to an end.

14   Thy saints take pleasure in her stones,
          Her very dust to them is dear.
15   All heathen lands and kingly thrones
          On earth thy glorious name shall fear.

16   God in his glory shall appear,
          When Sion he builds and repairs.
17   He shall regard and lend his ear
          Unto the needy’s humble pray’rs:

     Th’ afflicted’s pray’r he will not scorn.
18        All times this shall be on record:
     And generations yet unborn
          Shall praise and magnify the Lord.

19   He from his holy place look’d down,
          The earth he view’d from heav’n on high;
20   To hear the pris’ner’s mourning groan,
          And free them that are doom’d to die;

21   That Sion, and Jerus’lem too,
          His name and praise may well record,
22   When people and the kingdoms do         
Assemble all to praise the Lord.

23   My strength he weaken’d in the way,

          My days of life he shortened.

24   My God, O take me not away

          In mid-time of my days, I said:

     Thy years throughout all ages last.

25        Of old thou hast established

     The earth’s foundation firm and fast:

          Thy mighty hands the heav’ns have made.

26   They perish shall, as garments do,

          But thou shalt evermore endure;

     As vestures, thou shalt change them so;

          And they shall all be changed sure:

27   But from all changes thou art free;

          Thy endless years do last for aye.

28   Thy servants, and their seed who be,

          Establish’d shall before thee stay.

First Version (C.M.)

1    O Lord, unto my pray’r give ear,

          my cry let come to thee;

2    And in the day of my distress

          hide not thy face from me.

     Give ear to me; what time I call,

          to answer me make haste:

3    For, as an hearth, my bones are burnt,

          my days, like smoke, do waste.

4    My heart within me smitten is,

          and it is withered

     Like very grass; so that I do

          forget to eat my bread.

5    By reason of my groaning voice

          my bones cleave to my skin.

6    Like pelican in wilderness

          forsaken I have been:

     I like an owl in desert am,

          that nightly there doth moan;

7    I watch, and like a sparrow am

          on the house-top alone.

8    My bitter en’mies all the day

          reproaches cast on me;

     And, being mad at me, with rage

          against me sworn they be.

9    For why? I ashes eaten have

          like bread, in sorrows deep;

     My drink I also mingled have

          with tears that I did weep.

10   Thy wrath and indignation

          did cause this grief and pain;

     For thou hast lift me up on high,

          and cast me down again.

11   My days are like unto a shade,
          which doth declining pass;
     And I am dry’d and withered,
          ev’n like unto the grass.

12   But thou, Lord, everlasting art,
          and thy remembrance shall
     Continually endure, and be
          to generations all.

13   Thou shalt arise, and mercy have
          upon thy Sion yet;
     The time to favour her is come,
          the time that thou hast set.

14   For in her rubbish and her stones
          thy servants pleasure take;
     Yea, they the very dust thereof
          do favour for her sake.

15   So shall the heathen people fear
          the Lord’s most holy name;
     And all the kings on earth shall dread
          thy glory and thy fame.

16   When Sion by the mighty Lord
          built up again shall be,
     In glory then and majesty
          to men appear shall he.

17   The prayer of the destitute
          he surely will regard;
     Their prayer will he not despise,
          by him it shall be heard.

18   For generations yet to come
          this shall be on record:
     So shall the people that shall be
          created praise the Lord.

19   He from his sanctuary’s height
          hath downward cast his eye;
     And from his glorious throne in heav’n
          the Lord the earth did spy;

20   That of the mournful prisoner
          the groanings he might hear,
     To set them free that unto death
          by men appointed are:

21   That they in Sion may declare
          the Lord’s most holy name,
     And publish in Jerusalem
          the praises of the same;

22   When as the people gather shall
          in troops with one accord,
     When kingdoms shall assembled be
          to serve the highest Lord.

23   My wonted strength and force he hath

          abated in the way,

     And he my days hath shortened:

24         Thus therefore did I say,

     My God, in mid-time of my days

          take thou me not away:

     From age to age eternally

          thy years endure and stay.

25   The firm foundation of the earth

          of old time thou hast laid;

     The heavens also are the work

          which thine own hands have made.

26   Thou shalt for evermore endure,

          but they shall perish all;

     Yea, ev’ry one of them wax old,

          like to a garment, shall:

     Thou, as a vesture, shalt them change,

          and they shall changed be:

27   But thou the same art, and thy years

          are to eternity.

28   The children of thy servants shall

          continually endure;

     And in thy sight, O Lord, their seed

          shall be establish’d sure.