Category: Songs of Christ

1    David, and his afflictions all,

          Lord, do thou think upon;

2    How unto God he sware, and vow’d

          to Jacob’s mighty One.

3    I will not come within my house,

          nor rest in bed at all;

4    Nor shall mine eyes take any sleep,

          nor eyelids slumber shall;

5    Till for the Lord a place I find,

          where he may make abode;

     A place of habitation

          for Jacob’s mighty God.

6    Lo, at the place of Ephratah

          of it we understood;

     And we did find it in the fields,

          and city of the wood.

7    We’ll go into his tabernacles,

          and at his footstool bow.

8    Arise, O Lord, into thy rest,

          th’ ark of thy strength, and thou.

9    O let thy priests be clothed, Lord,

          with truth and righteousness;

     And let all those that are thy saints

          shout loud for joyfulness.

10   For thine own servant David’s sake,

          do not deny thy grace;

     Nor of thine own anointed one

          turn thou away the face.

11   The Lord in truth to David sware,

          he will not turn from it,

     I of thy body’s fruit will make

          upon thy throne to sit.

12   My cov’nant if thy sons will keep,

          and laws to them made known,

     Their children then shall also sit

          for ever on thy throne.

13   For God of Sion hath made choice;

          there he desires to dwell.

14   This is my rest, here still I’ll stay;

          for I do like it well.

15   Her food I’ll greatly bless; her poor

          with bread will satisfy.

16   Her priests I’ll clothe with health; her saints

          shall shout forth joyfully.

17   And there will I make David’s horn

          to bud forth pleasantly:

     For him that mine anointed is

          a lamp ordain’d have I.

18   As with a garment I will clothe

          with shame his en’mies all:

     But yet the crown that he doth wear

          upon him flourish shall.

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.

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.

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.

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.