Category: Songs of Christ

1    I in the Lord do put my trust:

          how is it then that ye

     Say to my soul, Flee, as a bird,

          unto your mountain high?

2    For, lo, the wicked bend their bow,

          their shafts on string they fit,

     That those who upright are in heart

          they privily may hit.

3    If the foundations be destroy’d,

          what hath the righteous done?

4    God in his holy temple is,

          in heaven is his throne:

     His eyes do see, his eye-lids try

5         men’s sons. The just he proves:

     But his soul hates the wicked man,

          and him that vi’lence loves.

6    Snares, fire and brimstone, furious storms,

          on sinners he shall rain:

     This, as the portion of their cup,

          doth unto them pertain.

7    Because the Lord most righteous doth

          in righteousness delight;

     And with a pleasant countenance

          beholdeth the upright.

1    Wherefore is it that thou, O Lord,

          dost stand from us afar?

     And wherefore hidest thou thyself,

          when times so troublous are?

2    The wicked in his loftiness

          doth persecute the poor:

     In these devices they have fram’d

          let them be taken sure.

3    The wicked of his heart’s desire

          doth talk with boasting great;

     He blesseth him that’s covetous,

          whom yet the Lord doth hate.

4    The wicked, through his pride of face,

          on God he doth not call;

     And in the counsels of his heart

          the Lord is not at all.

5    His ways they always grievous are;

          thy judgments from his sight

     Removed are: at all his foes

          he puffeth with despight.

6    Within his heart he thus hath said,

          I shall not moved be;

     And no adversity at all

          shall ever come to me.

7    His mouth with cursing, fraud, deceit,

          is fill’d abundantly;

     And underneath his tongue there is

          mischief and vanity.

8    He closely sits in villages;

          he slays the innocent:

     Against the poor that pass him by

          his cruel eyes are bent.

9    He, lion-like, lurks in his den;

          he waits the poor to take;

     And when he draws him in his net,

          his prey he doth him make.

10   Himself he humbleth very low,

          he croucheth down withal,

     That so a multitude of poor

          may by his strong ones fall.

11   He thus hath said within his heart,

          The Lord hath quite forgot;

     He hides his countenance, and he

          for ever sees it not.

12   O Lord, do thou arise; O God,

          lift up thine hand on high:

     Put not the meek afflicted ones

          out of thy memory.

13   Why is it that the wicked man

          thus doth the Lord despise?

     Because that God will it require

          he in his heart denies.

14   Thou hast it seen; for their mischief

          and spite thou wilt repay:

     The poor commits himself to thee;

          thou art the orphan’s stay.

15   The arm break of the wicked man,

          and of the evil one;

     Do thou seek out his wickedness,

          until thou findest none.

16   The Lord is King through ages all,

          ev’n to eternity;

     The heathen people from his land

          are perish’d utterly.

17   O Lord, of those that humble are

          thou the desire didst hear;

     Thou wilt prepare their heart, and thou

          to hear wilt bend thine ear;

18   To judge the fatherless, and those

          that are oppressed sore;

     That man, that is but sprung of earth,

          may them oppress no more.

1    How excellent in all the earth,

          Lord, our Lord, is thy name!

     Who hast thy glory far advanc’d

          above the starry frame.

2    From infants’ and from sucklings’ mouth

          thou didest strength ordain,

     For thy foes’ cause, that so thou might’st

          th’ avenging foe restrain.

3    When I look up unto the heav’ns,

          which thine own fingers fram’d,

     Unto the moon, and to the stars,

          which were by thee ordain’d;

4    Then say I, What is man, that he

          remember’d is by thee?

     Or what the son of man, that thou

          so kind to him should’st be?

5    For thou a little lower hast

          him than the angels made;

     With glory and with dignity

          thou crowned hast his head.

6    Of thy hands’ works thou mad’st him lord,

          all under’s feet didst lay;

7    All sheep and oxen, yea, and beasts

          that in the field do stray;

8    Fowls of the air, fish of the sea,

          all that pass through the same.

9    How excellent in all the earth,

          Lord, our Lord, is thy name!

Tune by Lizzie Depriest

1    Lord, thee I’ll praise with all my heart,
          thy wonders all proclaim.
2    In thee, most High, I’ll greatly joy,
          and sing unto thy name.

3    When back my foes were turn’d, they fell,
          and perish’d at thy sight:
4    For thou maintain’dst my right and cause;
          on throne sat’st judging right.

5    The heathen thou rebuked hast,
          the wicked overthrown;
     Thou hast put out their names, that they
          may never more be known.

6    O en’my! now destructions have
          an end perpetual:
     Thou cities raz’d; perish’d with them
          is their memorial.

7    God shall endure for aye; he doth
          for judgment set his throne;
8    In righteousness to judge the world,
          justice to give each one.

9    God also will a refuge be
          for those that are oppress’d;
     A refuge will he be in times
          of trouble to distress’d.

10   And they that know thy name, in thee
          their confidence will place:
     For thou hast not forsaken them
          that truly seek thy face.

11   O sing ye praises to the Lord,
          that dwells in Sion hill;
     And all the nations among
          his deeds record ye still.

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12   When he enquireth after blood,

          he then rememb’reth them:

     The humble folk he not forgets

          that call upon his name.

13   Lord, pity me; behold the grief

          which I from foes sustain;

     Ev’n thou, who from the gates of death

          dost raise me up again;

14  That I, in Sion’s daughters’ gates,

          may all thy praise advance;

     And that I may rejoice always

          in thy deliverance.

15  The heathen are sunk in the pit

          which they themselves prepar’d;

     And in the net which they have hid

          their own feet fast are snar’d.

16  The Lord is by the judgment known

          which he himself hath wrought:

     The sinners’ hands do make the snares

          wherewith themselves are caught.

17  They who are wicked into hell

          each one shall turned be;

     And all the nations that forget

          to seek the Lord most high.

18 For they that needy are shall not

          forgotten be alway;

     The expectation of the poor

          shall not be lost for aye.

19 Arise, Lord, let not man prevail;

          judge heathen in thy sight:

20   That they may know themselves but men,

          the nations, Lord, affright.

1    Give ear unto my words, O Lord,

          my meditation weigh.

2    Hear my loud cry, my King, my God;

          for I to thee will pray.

3    Lord, thou shalt early hear my voice:

          I early will direct

     My pray’r to thee; and, looking up,

          an answer will expect.

4    For thou art not a God that doth

          in wickedness delight;

     Neither shall evil dwell with thee,

5         Nor fools stand in thy sight.

     All that ill-doers are thou hat’st;

6         Cutt’st off that liars be:

     The bloody and deceitful man

          abhorred is by thee.

7    But I into thy house will come

          in thine abundant grace;

     And I will worship in thy fear

          toward thy holy place.

8    Because of those mine enemies,

          Lord, in thy righteousness

     Do thou me lead; do thou thy way

          make straight before my face.

9    For in their mouth there is no truth,

          their inward part is ill;

     Their throat’s an open sepulchre,

          their tongue doth flatter still.

10   O God, destroy them; let them be

          by their own counsel quell’d:

     Them for their many sins cast out,

          for they ‘gainst thee rebell’d.

11   But let all joy that trust in thee,

          and still make shouting noise;

     For them thou sav’st; let all that love

          thy name in thee rejoice.

12   For, Lord, unto the righteous man

          thou wilt thy blessing yield:

     With favour thou wilt compass him

          about, as with a shield.

1    O Lord my God, in thee do I

          my confidence repose:

     Save and deliver me from all

          my persecuting foes;

2    Lest that the enemy my soul

          should, like a lion, tear,

     In pieces rending it, while there

          is no deliverer.

3    O Lord my God, if it be so

          that I committed this;

     If it be so that in my hands

          iniquity there is:

4    If I rewarded ill to him

          that was at peace with me;

     (Yea, ev’n the man that without cause

          my foe was I did free;)

5    Then let the foe pursue and take

          my soul, and my life thrust

     Down to the earth, and let him lay

          mine honour in the dust.

6    Rise in thy wrath, Lord, raise thyself,

          for my foes raging be;

     And, to the judgment which thou hast

          commanded, wake for me.

7    So shall th’ assembly of thy folk

          about encompass thee:

     Thou, therefore, for their sakes, return

          unto thy place on high.

8    The Lord he shall the people judge:

          my judge, Jehovah, be,

     After my righteousness, and mine

          integrity in me.

9    O let the wicked’s malice end;

          but stablish stedfastly

     The righteous: for the righteous God

          the hearts and reins doth try.

10   In God, who saves th’ upright in heart,

          is my defence and stay.

11   God just men judgeth, God is wroth

          with ill men ev’ry day.

12   If he do not return again,

          then he his sword will whet;

     His bow he hath already bent,

          and hath it ready set:

13   He also hath for him prepar’d

          the instruments of death;

     Against the persecutors he

          his shafts ordained hath.

14   Behold, he with iniquity

          doth travail, as in birth;

     A mischief he conceived hath,

          and falsehood shall bring forth.

15   He made a pit and digg’d it deep,

          another there to take;

     But he is fall’n into the ditch

          which he himself did make.

16   Upon his own head his mischief

          shall be returned home;

     His vi’lent dealing also down

          on his own pate shall come.

17   According to his righteousness

          the Lord I’ll magnify;

     And will sing praise unto the name

          of God that is most high.

First Version (Long Metre)

1    Lord, in thy wrath rebuke me not;

          Nor in thy hot rage chasten me.

2    Lord, pity me, for I am weak:

          Heal me, for my bones vexed be.

3    My soul is also vexed sore;

          But, Lord, how long stay wilt thou make?

4    Return, O Lord, my soul set free;

          O save me, for thy mercies’ sake.

5    Because those that deceased are

          Of thee shall no remembrance have;

     And who is he that will to thee

          Give praises lying in the grave?

6    I with my groaning weary am,

          I also all the night my bed

     Have caused for to swim; and I

          With tears my couch have watered.

7    Mine eye, consum’d with grief, grows old,

          Because of all mine enemies.

8    Hence from me, wicked workers all;

          For God hath heard my weeping cries.

9    God hath my supplication heard,

          My pray’r received graciously

10   Sham’d and sore vex’d be all my foes,

          Sham’d and back turned suddenly.

Second Version (C.M.)

1    In thy great indignation,

          O Lord, rebuke me not;

     Nor on me lay thy chast ‘ning hand,

          in thy displeasure hot.

2    Lord, I am weak, therefore on me

          have mercy, and me spare:

     Heal me, O Lord, because thou know’st

          my bones much vexed are.

3    My soul is vexed sore: but, Lord,

          how long stay wilt thou make?

4    Return, Lord, free my soul; and save

          me, for thy mercies’ sake.

5    Because of thee in death there shall

          no more remembrance be:

     Of those that in the grave do lie,

          who shall give thanks to thee?

6    I with my groaning weary am,

          and all the night my bed

     I caused for to swim; with tears

          my couch I watered.

7     By reason of my vexing grief,

          mine eye consumed is;

     It waxeth old, because of all

          that be mine enemies.

8    But now, depart from me all ye

          that work iniquity:

     For why? the Lord hath heard my voice,

          when I did mourn and cry.

9    Unto my supplication

          the Lord did hearing give:

     When I to him my prayer make,

          the Lord will it receive.

10   Let all be sham’d and troubled sore,

          That en’mies are to me;

     Let them turn back, and suddenly

          ashamed let them be.

1    Praise waits for thee in Sion, Lord:

          to thee vows paid shall be.

2    O thou that hearer art of pray’r,

          all flesh shall come to thee.

3    Iniquities, I must confess,

          prevail against me do:

     But as for our transgressions,

          them purge away shalt thou.

4    Bless’d is the man whom thou dost chuse,

          and mak’st approach to thee,

     That he within thy courts, O Lord,

          may still a dweller be:

     We surely shall be satisfy’d

          with thy abundant grace,

     And with the goodness of thy house,

          ev’n of thy holy place.

5    O God of our salvation,

          thou, in thy righteousness,

     By fearful works unto our pray’rs

          thine answer dost express:

     Therefore the ends of all the earth,

          and those afar that be

     Upon the sea, their confidence,

          O Lord, will place in thee.

6    Who, being girt with pow’r, sets fast

          by his great strength the hills.

7    Who noise of seas, noise of their waves,

          and people’s tumult, stills.

8    Those in the utmost parts that dwell

          are at thy signs afraid:

     Th’ outgoings of the morn and ev’n

          by thee are joyful made.

9    The earth thou visit’st, wat’ring it;

          thou mak’st it rich to grow

     With God’s full flood; thou corn prepar’st,

          when thou provid’st it so.

10   Her rigs thou wat’rest plenteously,

          her furrows settelest:

     With show’rs thou dost her mollify,

          her spring by thee is blest.

11   So thou the year most lib’rally

          dost with thy goodness crown;

     And all thy paths abundantly

          on us drop fatness down.

12   They drop upon the pastures wide,

          that do in deserts lie;

     The little hills on ev’ry side

          rejoice right pleasantly.

13   With flocks the pastures clothed be,

          the vales with corn are clad;

     And now they shout and sing to thee,

          for thou hast made them glad.

First Version (S.M.)

1    Lord, haste me to deliver;
          with speed, Lord, succour me.
2    Let them that for my soul do seek
          sham’d and confounded be:

     Turn’d back be they, and sham’d,
          that in my hurt delight.
3    Turn’d back be they, Ha, ha! that say,
          their shaming to requite.

4    In thee let all be glad,
          and joy that seek for thee:
     Let them who thy salvation love
          say still, God praised be.

5    I poor and needy am;
          come, Lord, and make no stay:
     My help thou and deliv’rer art;
          O Lord, make no delay.

Second Version (C.M.)

1    Make haste, O God, me to preserve;
          with speed, Lord, succour me.
2    Let them that for my soul do seek
          sham’d and confounded be:

     Let them be turned back, and sham’d,
          that in my hurt delight.
3    Turn’d back be they, Ha, ha! that say,
          their shaming to requite.

4    O Lord, in thee let all be glad,
          and joy that seek for thee:
     Let them who thy salvation love
          say still, God praised be.

5    But I both poor and needy am;
          come, Lord, and make no stay:
     My help thou and deliv’rer art;
          O Lord, make no delay.

1     O Lord, how are my foes increas’d?

          against me many rise.

2     Many say of my soul, For him

          in God no succour lies.

3     Yet thou my shield and glory art,

          th’ uplifter of mine head.

4     I cry’d, and, from his holy hill,

          the Lord me answer made.

5     I laid me down and slept; I wak’d;

          for God sustained me.

6     I will not fear though thousands ten

          set round against me be.

7     Arise, O Lord; save me, my God;

          for thou my foes hast stroke

      All on the cheek-bone, and the teeth

          of wicked men hast broke.

8     Salvation doth appertain

          unto the Lord alone:

      Thy blessing, Lord, for evermore

          thy people is upon.