Category: Songs of Christ

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    The heav’ns God’s glory do declare,

          the skies his hand-works preach:

2    Day utters speech to day, and night

          to night doth knowledge teach.

3    There is no speech nor tongue to which

          their voice doth not extend:

4    Their line is gone through all the earth,

          their words to the world’s end.

     In them he set the sun a tent;

5         Who, bridegroom-like, forth goes

     From’s chamber, as a strong man doth

          to run his race rejoice.

6    From heav’n’s end is his going forth,

          circling to th’ end again;

     And there is nothing from his heat

          that hidden doth remain.

7    God’s law is perfect, and converts
         the soul in sin that lies:
     God’s testimony is most sure,
          and makes the simple wise.

8    The statutes of the Lord are right,
          and do rejoice the heart:
     The Lord’s command is pure, and doth
          light to the eyes impart.

9    Unspotted is the fear of God,
          and doth endure for ever:
     The judgments of the Lord are true
          and righteous altogether.

10   They more than gold, yea, much fine gold,
          to be desired are:
     Than honey, honey from the comb
          that droppeth, sweeter far.

11   Moreover, they thy servant warn
          how he his life should frame:
     A great reward provided is
          for them that keep the same.

12   Who can his errors understand?
          O cleanse thou me within
13   From secret faults. Thy servant keep
          from all presumptuous sin:

     And do not suffer them to have
          dominion over me:
     Then, righteous and innocent,
          I from much sin shall be.

14  The words which from my mouth proceed,
          the thoughts sent from my heart,
     Accept, O Lord, for thou my strength
          and my Redeemer art.

1    Thee will I love, O Lord, my strength.

2          My fortress is the Lord,

     My rock, and he that doth to me

          deliverance afford:

     My God, my strength, whom I will trust,

          a buckler unto me,

     The horn of my salvation,

          and my high tow’r, is he.

3    Upon the Lord, who worthy is

          of praises, will I cry;

     And then shall I preserved be

          safe from mine enemy.

4    Floods of ill men affrighted me,

          death’s pangs about me went;

5    Hell’s sorrows me environed;

          death’s snares did me prevent.

6    In my distress I call’d on God,

          cry to my God did I;

     He from his temple heard my voice,

          to his ears came my cry.

7    Th’ earth, as affrighted, then did shake,

          trembling upon it seiz’d:

     The hills’ foundations moved were,

          because he was displeas’d.

8    Up from his nostrils came a smoke,

          and from his mouth there came

     Devouring fire, and coals by it

          were turned into flame.

9   He also bowed down the heav’ns,

          and thence he did descend;

     And thickest clouds of darkness did

          under his feet attend.

10   And he upon a cherub rode,

          and thereon he did fly;

     Yea, on the swift wings of the wind

          his flight was from on high.

11   He darkness made his secret place:

          about him, for his tent,

     Dark waters were, and thickest clouds

          of th’ airy firmament.

12   And at the brightness of that light,

          which was before his eye,

     His thick clouds pass’d away, hailstones

          and coals of fire did fly.

13   The Lord God also in the heav’ns

          did thunder in his ire;

     And there the Highest gave his voice,

          hailstones and coals of fire.

14   Yea, he his arrows sent abroad,

          and them he scattered;

     His lightnings also he shot out,

          and them discomfited.

15   The waters’ channels then were seen,

          the world’s foundations vast

     At thy rebuke discover’d were,

          and at thy nostrils’ blast.

16   And from above the Lord sent down,

          and took me from below;

     From many waters he me drew,

          which would me overflow.

17   He me reliev’d from my strong foes,

          and such as did me hate;

     Because he saw that they for me

          too strong were, and too great.

18   They me prevented in the day

          of my calamity;

     But even then the Lord himself

          a stay was unto me.

19   He to a place where liberty

          and room was hath me brought;

     Because he took delight in me,

          he my deliv’rance wrought.

20   According to my righteousness

          he did me recompense,

     He me repaid according to

          my hands’ pure innocence.

21   For I God’s ways kept, from my God

          did not turn wickedly.

22   His judgments were before me, I

          his laws put not from me.

23   Sincere before him was my heart;

          with him upright was I;

     And watchfully I kept myself

          from mine iniquity.

24   After my righteousness the Lord

          hath recompensed me,

     After the cleanness of my hands

          appearing in his eye.

25   Thou gracious to the gracious art,

          to upright men upright:

26   Pure to the pure, froward thou kyth’st

          unto the froward wight.

27   For thou wilt the afflicted save

          in grief that low do lie:

     But wilt bring down the countenance

          of them whose looks are high.

28   The Lord will light my candle so,

          that it shall shine full bright:

     The Lord my God will also make

          my darkness to be light.

29   By thee through troops of men I break,

          and them discomfit all;

     And, by my God assisting me,

          I overleap a wall.

30   As for God, perfect is his way:

          the Lord his word is try’d;

     He is a buckler to all those

          who do in him confide.

31   Who but the Lord is God? but he

          who is a rock and stay?

32   ‘Tis God that girdeth me with strength,

          and perfect makes my way.

33   He made my feet swift as the hinds,

          set me on my high places.

34   Mine hands to war he taught, mine arms

          brake bows of steel in pieces.

35   The shield of thy salvation

          thou didst on me bestow:

     Thy right hand held me up, and great

          thy kindness made me grow.

36   And in my way my steps thou hast

          enlarged under me,

     That I go safely, and my feet

          are kept from sliding free.

37   Mine en’mies I pursued have,

          and did them overtake;

     Nor did I turn again till I

          an end of them did make.

38   I wounded them, they could not rise;

          they at my feet did fall.

39   Thou girdedst me with strength for war;

          my foes thou brought’st down all:

40   And thou hast giv’n to me the necks

          of all mine enemies;

     That I might them destroy and slay,

          who did against me rise.

41   They cried out, but there was none

          that would or could them save;

     Yea, they did cry unto the Lord,

          but he no answer gave.

42   Then did I beat them small as dust

          before the wind that flies;

     And I did cast them out like dirt

          upon the street that lies.

43   Thou mad’st me free from people’s strife,

          and heathen’s head to be:

     A people whom I have not known

          shall service do to me.

44   At hearing they shall me obey,

          to me they shall submit.

45   Strangers for fear shall fade away,

          who in close places sit.

46   God lives, bless’d be my Rock; the God

          of my health praised be.

47   God doth avenge me, and subdues

          the people under me.

48   He saves me from mine enemies;

          yea, thou hast lifted me

     Above my foes; and from the man

          of vi’lence set me free.

49   Therefore to thee will I give thanks

          the heathen folk among;

     And to thy name, O Lord, I will

          sing praises in a song.

50   He great deliv’rance gives his king:

          he mercy doth extend

     To David, his anointed one,

          and his seed without end.

TUNE = All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name

1    Lord, keep me; for I trust in thee.
2          To God thus was my speech,
     Thou art my Lord; and unto thee
          my goodness doth not reach:

3    To saints on earth, to th’ excellent,
          where my delight’s all plac’d.
4    Their sorrows shall be multiply’d
          to other gods that haste:

     Of their drink-offerings of blood
          I will no off ‘ring make;
     Yea, neither I their very names
          up in my lips will take.

5    God is of mine inheritance
          and cup the portion;
     The lot that fallen is to me
          thou dost maintain alone.

6    Unto me happily the lines
          in pleasant places fell;
     Yea, the inheritance I got
          in beauty doth excel.

7    I bless the Lord, because he doth
          by counsel me conduct;
     And in the seasons of the night
          my reins do me instruct.

8    Before me still the Lord I set:
          sith it is so that he
     Doth ever stand at my right hand,
          I shall not moved be.

9    Because of this my heart is glad,
          and joy shall be exprest
     Ev’n by my glory; and my flesh
          in confidence shall rest.

10   Because my soul in grave to dwell
          shall not be left by thee;
     Nor wilt thou give thine Holy One
          corruption to see.

11   Thou wilt me shew the path of life:
          of joys there is full store
     Before thy face; at thy right hand
          are pleasures evermore.

1    To thee, O God, do we give thanks,

          we do give thanks to thee;

     Because thy wondrous works declare

          thy great name near to be.

2    I purpose, when I shall receive

          the congregation,

     That I shall judgment uprightly

          render to ev’ry one.

3    Dissolved is the land, with all

          that in the same do dwell;

     But I the pillars thereof do

          bear up, and stablish well.

4    I to the foolish people said,

          Do not deal foolishly;

     And unto those that wicked are,

          Lift not your horn on high.

5    Lift not your horn on high, nor speak

6          with stubborn neck. But know,

     That not from east, nor west, nor south,

          promotion doth flow.

7    But God is judge; he puts down one,

          and sets another up.

8    For in the hand of God most high

          of red wine is a cup:

    ‘Tis full of mixture, he pours forth,

          and makes the wicked all

     Wring out the bitter dregs thereof;

          yea, and they drink them shall.

9    But I for ever will declare,

          I Jacob’s God will praise.

10   All horns of lewd men I’ll cut off;

          but just men’s horns will raise.

1    O God, why hast thou cast us off?

          is it for evermore?

     Against thy pasture-sheep why doth

          thine anger smoke so sore?

2    O call to thy rememberance

          thy congregation,

     Which thou hast purchased of old;

          still think the same upon:

     The rod of thine inheritance,

          which thou redeemed hast,

     This Sion hill, wherein thou hadst

          thy dwelling in times past.

3    To these long desolations

          thy feet lift, do not tarry;

     For all the ills thy foes have done

          within thy sanctuary.

4    Amidst thy congregations

          thine enemies do roar:

     Their ensigns they set up for signs

          of triumph thee before.

5    A man was famous, and was had

          in estimation,

     According as he lifted up

          his axe thick trees upon.

6    But all at once with axes now

          and hammers they go to,

     And down the carved work thereof

          they break, and quite undo.

7    They fired have thy sanctuary,

          and have defil’d the same,

     By casting down unto the ground

          the place where dwelt thy name.

8    Thus said they in their hearts, Let us

          destroy them out of hand:

     They burnt up all the synagogues

          of God within the land.

9    Our signs we do not now behold;

          there is not us among

     A prophet more, nor any one

          that knows the time how long.

10   How long, Lord, shall the enemy

          thus in reproach exclaim?

     And shall the adversary thus

          always blaspheme thy name?

11   Thy hand, ev’n thy right hand of might,

          why dost thou thus draw back?

     O from thy bosom pluck it out

          for our deliv’rance sake.

12   For certainly God is my King,

          ev’n from the times of old,

     Working in midst of all the earth

          salvation manifold.

13   The sea, by thy great pow’r, to part

          asunder thou didst make;

     And thou the dragons’ heads, O Lord,

          within the waters brake.

14   The leviathan’s head thou brak’st

          in pieces, and didst give

     Him to be meat unto the folk

          in wilderness that live.

15   Thou clav’st the fountain and the flood,

          which did with streams abound:

     Thou dry’dst the mighty waters up

          unto the very ground.

16   Thine only is the day, O Lord,

          thine also is the night;

     And thou alone prepared hast

          the sun and shining light.

17   By thee the borders of the earth

          were settled ev’ry where:

     The summer and the winter both

          by thee created were.

18   That th’ enemy reproached hath,

          O keep it in record;

     And that the foolish people have

          blasphem’d thy name, O Lord.

19   Unto the multitude do not

          thy turtle’s soul deliver:

     The congregation of thy poor

          do not forget for ever.

20   Unto thy cov’nant have respect;

          for earth’s dark places be

     Full of the habitations

          of horrid cruelty.

21   O let not those that be oppress’d

          return again with shame:

     Let those that poor and needy are

          give praise unto thy name.

22   Do thou, O God, arise and plead

          the cause that is thine own:

     Remember how thou art reproach’d

          still by the foolish one.

23   Do not forget the voice of those

          that are thine enemies:

     Of those the tumult ever grows

          that do against thee rise.

1    O Lord, my hope and confidence         
is plac’d in thee alone;
     Then let thy servant never be
          put to confusion.

2    And let me, in thy righteousness,
          from thee deliv’rance have;
     Cause me escape, incline thine ear
          unto me, and me save.

3    Be thou my dwelling-rock, to which
          I ever may resort:
     Thou gav’st commandment me to save,
          for thou’rt my rock and fort.

4    Free me, my God, from wicked hands,
          hands cruel and unjust:
5    For thou, O Lord God, art my hope,
          and from my youth my trust.

6    Thou from the womb didst hold me up;
          thou art the same that me
     Out of my mother’s bowels took;
          I ever will praise thee.

7    To many I a wonder am;
          but thou’rt my refuge strong.
8    Fill’d let my mouth be with thy praise
          and honour all day long.

9    O do not cast me off, when as
          old age doth overtake me;
     And when my strength decayed is,
          then do not thou forsake me.

10   For those that are mine enemies
          against me speak with hate;
     And they together counsel take
          that for my soul lay wait.

11   They said, God leaves him; him pursue
          and take: none will him save.
12   Be thou not far from me, my God:
          thy speedy help I crave.

13   Confound, consume them, that unto
          my soul are enemies:
     Cloth’d be they with reproach and shame
          that do my hurt devise.

14   But I with expectation
          will hope continually;
     And yet with praises more and more
          I will thee magnify.

15   Thy justice and salvation
          my mouth abroad shall show,
     Ev’n all the day; for I thereof
          the numbers do not know.

16   And I will constantly go on
          in strength of God the Lord;
     And thine own righteousness, ev’n thine
          alone, I will record.

17   For even from my youth, O God,
          by thee I have been taught;
     And hitherto I have declar’d
          the wonders thou hast wrought.

18   And now, Lord, leave me not, when I
          old and gray-headed grow:
     Till to this age thy strength and pow’r
          to all to come I show.

19   And thy most perfect righteousness
          O Lord, is very high,
     Who hast so great things done: O God,
          who is like unto thee?

20   Thou, Lord, who great adversities,
          and sore, to me didst show,
     Shalt quicken, and bring me again
          from depths of earth below.

21   My greatness and my pow’r thou wilt
          increase, and far extend:
     On ev’ry side against all grief
          thou wilt me comfort send.

22   Thee, ev’n thy truth, I’ll also praise,
          my God, with psaltery:
     Thou Holy One of Israel,
          with harp I’ll sing to thee.

23   My lips shall much rejoice in thee,
          when I thy praises sound;
     My soul, which thou redeemed hast,
          in joy shall much abound.

24    My tongue thy justice shall proclaim,
          continuing all day long;
     For they confounded are, and sham’d,
          that seek to do me wrong.