Category: Songs of Christ

  • Psalm 141

    1    O Lord, I unto thee do cry,

              do thou make haste to me,

         And give an ear unto my voice,

              when I cry unto thee.

    2    As incense let my prayer be

              directed in thine eyes;

         And the uplifting of my hands

              as th’ ev ‘ning sacrifice.

    3    Set, Lord, a watch before my mouth,

              keep of my lips the door.

    4    My heart incline thou not unto

              the ills I should abhor,

         To practise wicked works with men

              that work iniquity;

         And with their delicates my taste

              let me not satisfy.

    5    Let him that righteous is me smite,

              it shall a kindness be;

         Let him reprove, I shall it count

              a precious oil to me:

         Such smiting shall not break my head;

              for yet the time shall fall,

         When I in their calamities

              to God pray for them shall.

    6    When as their judges down shall be

              in stony places cast,

         Then shall they hear my words; for they

              shall sweet be to their taste.

    7    About the grave’s devouring mouth

              our bones are scatter’d round,

         As wood which men do cut and cleave

              lies scatter’d on the ground.

    8    But unto thee, O God the Lord,

              mine eyes uplifted be:

         My soul do not leave destitute;

              my trust is set on thee.

    9    Lord, keep me safely from the snares

              which they for me prepare;

         And from the subtile gins of them

              that wicked workers are.

    10   Let workers of iniquity

              into their own nets fall,

         Whilst I do, by thine help, escape

              the danger of them all.

  • Psalm 140

    1    Lord, from the ill and froward man

              give me deliverance,

         And do thou safe preserve me from

              the man of violence:

    2    Who in their heart mischievous things

              are meditating ever;

         And they for war assembled are

              continually together.

    3    Much like unto a serpent’s tongue

              their tongues they sharp do make;

         And underneath their lips there lies

              the poison of a snake.

    4    Lord, keep me from the wicked’s hands,

              from vi’lent men me save;

         Who utterly to overthrow

              my goings purpos’d have.

    5    The proud for me a snare have hid,

              and cords; yea, they a net

         Have by the way-side for me spread;

              they gins for me have set.

    6    I said unto the Lord, Thou art

              my God: unto the cry

         Of all my supplications,

              Lord, do thine ear apply.

    7    O God the Lord, who art the strength

              of my salvation:

         A cov’ring in the day of war

              my head thou hast put on.

    8    Unto the wicked man, O Lord,

              his wishes do not grant;

         Nor further thou his ill device,

              lest they themselves should vaunt.

    9    As for the head and chief of those

              about that compass me,

         Ev’n by the mischief of their lips

              let thou them cover’d be.

    10   Let burning coals upon them fall,

              them throw in fiery flame,

         And in deep pits, that they no more

              may rise out of the same.

    11   Let not an evil speaker be

              on earth established:

         Mischief shall hunt the vi’lent man,

              till he be ruined.

    12   I know God will th’ afflicted’s cause

              maintain, and poor men’s right.

    13   Surely the just shall praise thy name;

              th’ upright dwell in thy sight.

  • Psalm 120

    1    In my distress to God I cry’d,

              and he gave ear to me.

    2    From lying lips, and guileful tongue,

              O Lord, my soul set free.

    3    What shall be giv’n thee? or what shall

              be done to thee, false tongue?

    4    Ev’n burning coals of juniper,

              sharp arrows of the strong.

    5    Woe’s me that I in Mesech am

              a sojourner so long;

         That I in tabernacles dwell

              to Kedar that belong.

    6    My soul with him that hateth peace

              hath long a dweller been.

    7    I am for peace; but when I speak,

              for battle they are keen.

  • Psalm 117

    1    O give ye praise unto the Lord,

              all nations that be;

         Likewise, ye people all, accord

              his name to magnify.

    2    For great to us-ward ever are

              his loving-kindnesses:

         His truth endures for evermore.

              The Lord O do ye bless.

  • Psalm 105

    1    Give thanks to God, call on his name;

              to men his deeds make known.

    2    Sing ye to him, sing psalms; proclaim

              his wondrous works each one.

    3    See that ye in his holy name

              to glory do accord;

         And let the heart of ev’ry one

              rejoice that seeks the Lord.

    4    The Lord Almighty, and his strength,

              with stedfast hearts seek ye:

         His blessed and his gracious face

              seek ye continually.

    5    Think on the works that he hath done,

              which admiration breed;

         His wonders, and the judgments all

              which from his mouth proceed;

    6    O ye that are of Abr’ham’s race,

              his servant well approv’n;

         And ye that Jacob’s children are,

              whom he chose for his own.

    7    Because he, and he only, is

              the mighty Lord our God;

         And his most righteous judgments are

              in all the earth abroad.

    8    His cov’nant he remember’d hath,

              that it may ever stand:

         To thousand generations

              the word he did command.

    9    Which covenant he firmly made

              with faithful Abraham,

         And unto Isaac, by his oath,

              he did renew the same:

    10   And unto Jacob, for a law,

              he made it firm and sure,

         A covenant to Israel,

              which ever should endure.

    11   He said, I’ll give Canaan’s land

              for heritage to you;

    12   While they were strangers there, and few,

              in number very few:

    13   While yet they went from land to land

              without a sure abode;

         And while through sundry kingdoms they

              did wander far abroad;

    14   Yet, notwithstanding suffer’d he

              no man to do them wrong:

         Yea, for their sakes, he did reprove

              kings, who were great and strong.

    15   Thus did he say, Touch ye not those

              that mine anointed be,

         Nor do the prophets any harm

              that do pertain to me.

    16   He call’d for famine on the land,

              he brake the staff of bread:

    17   But yet he sent a man before,

              by whom they should be fed;

         Ev’n Joseph, whom unnat’rally

              sell for a slave did they;

    18   Whose feet with fetters they did hurt,

              and he in irons lay;

    19   Until the time that his word came

              to give him liberty;

         The word and purpose of the Lord

              did him in prison try.

    20   Then sent the king, and did command

              that he enlarg’d should be:

         He that the people’s ruler was

              did send to set him free.

    21   A lord to rule his family

              he rais’d him, as most fit;

         To him of all that he possess’d

              he did the charge commit:

    22   That he might at his pleasure bind

              the princes of the land;

         And he might teach his senators

              wisdom to understand.

    23   The people then of Israel

              down into Egypt came;

         And Jacob also sojourned

              within the land of Ham.

    24   And he did greatly by his pow’r

              increase his people there;

         And stronger than their enemies

              they by his blessing were.

    25   Their heart he turned to envy

              his folk maliciously,

         With those that his own servants were

              to deal in subtilty.

    26   His servant Moses he did send,

              Aaron his chosen one.

    27   By these his signs and wonders great

              in Ham’s land were made known.

    28   Darkness he sent, and made it dark;

              his word they did obey.

    29    He turn’d their waters into blood,

              and he their fish did slay.

    30   The land in plenty brought forth frogs

              in chambers of their kings.

    31   His word all sorts of flies and lice

              in all their borders brings.

    32   He hail for rain, and flaming fire

              into their land he sent:

    33   And he their vines and fig-trees smote:

              trees of their coasts he rent.

    34   He spake, and caterpillars came,

              locusts did much abound;

    35   Which in their land all herbs consum’d,

              and all fruits of their ground.


    36   He smote all first-born in their land,

              chief of their strength each one.

    37   With gold and silver brought them forth,

              weak in their tribes were none.

    38   Egypt was glad when forth they went,

              their fear on them did light.

    39   He spread a cloud for covering,

              and fire to shine by night.

    40   They ask’d, and he brought quails: with bread

              of heav’n he filled them.

    41   He open’d rocks, floods gush’d, and ran

              in deserts like a stream.

    42   For on his holy promise he,

              and servant Abr’ham, thought.

    43   With joy his people, his elect

              with gladness, forth he brought.

    44   And unto them the pleasant lands

              he of the heathen gave;

         That of the people’s labour they

              inheritance might have.

    45   That they his statutes might observe

              according to his word;

         And that they might his laws obey.

              Give praise unto the Lord.

  • Psalm 131

    1    My heart not haughty is, O Lord,

              mine eyes not lofty be;

         Nor do I deal in matters great,

              or things too high for me.

    2    I surely have myself behav’d

              with quiet sp’rit and mild,

         As child of mother wean’d: my soul

              is like a weaned child.

    3    Upon the Lord let all the hope

              of Israel rely,

         Ev’n from the time that present is

              unto eternity.

  • Psalm 137

    1    By Babel’s streams we sat and wept,

              when Sion we thought on.

    2    In midst thereof we hang’d our harps

              the willow-trees upon.

    3    For there a song required they,

              who did us captive bring:

         Our spoilers call’d for mirth, and said,

              A song of Sion sing.

    4    O how the Lord’s song shall we sing

              within a foreign land?

    5    If thee, Jerus’lem, I forget,

              skill part from my right hand.

    6    My tongue to my mouth’s roof let cleave,

              if I do thee forget,

         Jerusalem, and thee above

              my chief joy do not set.

    7    Remember Edom’s children, Lord,

              who in Jerus’lems day,

         Ev’n unto its foundation,

              Raze, raze it quite, did say.

    8    O daughter thou of Babylon,

              near to destruction;

         Bless’d shall he be that thee rewards,

              as thou to us hast done.

    9    Yea, happy surely shall he be

              thy tender little ones

         Who shall lay hold upon, and them

              shall dash against the stones.

  • Psalm 138

    1    Thee will I praise with all my heart,

              I will sing praise to thee

    2    Before the gods: And worship will

              toward thy sanctuary.

         I’ll praise thy name, ev’n for thy truth,

              and kindness of thy love;

         For thou thy word hast magnify’d

              all thy great name above.

    3    Thou didst me answer in the day

              when I to thee did cry;

         And thou my fainting soul with strength

              didst strengthen inwardly.

    4    All kings upon the earth that are

              shall give thee praise, O Lord,

         When as they from thy mouth shall hear

              thy true and faithful word.

    5    Yea, in the righteous ways of God

              with gladness they shall sing:

         For great’s the glory of the Lord;

              who doth for ever reign.

    6    Though God be high, yet he respects

              all those that lowly be;

         Whereas the proud and lofty ones

              afar off knoweth he.

    7    Though I in midst of trouble walk,

              I life from thee shall have:

        ‘Gainst my foes’ wrath thou’lt stretch thine hand;

              thy right hand shall me save.

    8    Surely that which concerneth me

              the Lord will perfect make:

         Lord, still thy mercy lasts; do not

              thine own hands’ works forsake.

  • Psalm 148

    First version (C.M.)

    1    Praise God. From heavens praise the Lord,

              in heights praise to him be.

    2    All ye his angels, praise ye him;

              his hosts all, praise him ye.

    3    O praise ye him, both sun and moon,

              praise him, all stars of light.

    4    Ye heav’ns of heav’ns him praise, and floods

              above the heavens’ height.

    5    Let all the creatures praise the name

              of our almighty Lord:

         For he commanded, and they were

              created by his word.

    6    He also, for all times to come,

              hath them establish’d sure;

         He hath appointed them a law,

              which ever shall endure.

    7    Praise ye Jehovah from the earth,

              dragons, and ev’ry deep:

    8    Fire, hail, snow, vapour, stormy wind,

              his word that fully keep.

    9    All hills and mountains, fruitful trees,

              and all ye cedars high:

    10   Beasts, and all cattle, creeping things,

              and all ye birds that fly.

    11   Kings of the earth, all nations,

              princes, earth’s judges all:

    12   Both young men, yea, and maidens too,

              old men, and children small.

    13   Let them God’s name praise; for his name

              alone is excellent:

         His glory reacheth far above

              the earth and firmament.

    14   His people’s horn, the praise of all

              his saints, exalteth he;

         Ev’n Isr’el’s seed, a people near

              to him. The Lord praise ye.

    Second Version (6.6.6.6.8.8.)

    1    The Lord of heav’n confess,

         On high his glory raise.

    2    Him let all angels bless,

         Him all his armies praise.

    3         Him glorify

              Sun, moon, and stars;

    4         Ye higher spheres,

              And cloudy sky.

    5    From God your beings are,

         Him therefore famous make;

         You all created were,

         When he the word but spake.

    6         And from that place,

              Where fix’d you be

              By his decree,

              You cannot pass.

    7    Praise God from earth below,

         Ye dragons, and ye deeps:

    8    Fire, hail, clouds, wind, and snow.

         Whom in command he keeps.

    9         Praise ye his name,

              Hills great and small,

              Trees low and tall;

    10        Beasts wild and tame;

         All things that creep or fly.

    11   Ye kings, ye vulgar throng,

         All princes mean or high;

    12   Both men and virgins young,

              Ev’n young and old,

    13         Exalt his name;

              For much his fame

              Should be extoll’d.

         O let God’s name be prais’d

         Above both earth and sky;

    14   For he his saints hath rais’d,

         And set their horn on high;

              Ev’n those that be

              Of Isr’el’s race,

              Near to his grace.

              The Lord praise ye.

  • Psalm 133

    1    Behold, how good a thing it is,

              and how becoming well,

         Together such as brethren are

              in unity to dwell!

    2    Like precious ointment on the head,

              that down the beard did flow,

         Ev’n Aaron’s beard, and to the skirts,*

              did of his garments go.

    3    As Hermon’s dew, the dew that doth

              on Sion’ hills descend:

         For there the blessing God commands,

              life that shall never end.