Category: Songs of Christ

TUNE: Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed

V 1    Why rage the heathen? and vain things 
        why do the people mind?
2    Kings of the earth do set themselves,
          and princes are combin’d,

V     To plot against the Lord, and his
          Anointed, saying thus,
3    Let us asunder break their bands,
          and cast their cords from us.

C 4    He that in heaven sits shall laugh;
          the Lord shall scorn them all.
5    Then shall he speak to them in wrath,
          in rage he vex them shall.

V 6    Yet, notwithstanding, I have him
          to be my King appointed;
     And over Sion, my holy hill,
          I have him King anointed.

V 7    The sure decree I will declare:
          The Lord hath said to me,
     Thou art mine only Son; this day
          I have begotten thee.

C 8    Ask of me, and for heritage
          the heathen I’ll make thine;
     And, for possession, I to thee
          will give earth’s utmost line.

V 9    Thou shalt, as with a weighty rod
          of iron, break them all;
     And, as a potter’s sherd, thou shalt
          them dash in pieces small.

V 10   Now therefore, kings, be wise; be taught,
          ye judges of the earth:
11   Serve God in fear, and see that ye
          join trembling with your mirth.

C 12   Kiss ye the Son, lest in his ire
          ye perish from the way,
     If once his wrath begin to burn:
          bless’d all that on him stay.

1    Yet God is good to Israel,

          to each pure-hearted one.

2    But as for me, my steps near slipp’d,

          my feet were almost gone.

3    For I envious was, and grudg’d

          the foolish folk to see,

     When I perceiv’d the wicked sort

          enjoy prosperity.

4    For still their strength continueth firm;

          their death of bands is free.

5    They are not toil’d like other men,

          nor plagu’d, as others be.

6    Therefore their pride, like to a chain,

          them compasseth about;

     And, as a garment, violence

          doth cover them throughout.

7    Their eyes stand out with fat; they have

          more than their hearts could wish.

8    They are corrupt; their talk of wrong

          both lewd and lofty is.

9    They set their mouth against the heav’ns

          in their blasphemous talk;

     And their reproaching tongue throughout

          the earth at large doth walk.

10   His people oftentimes for this

          look back, and turn about;

     Sith waters of so full a cup

          to these are poured out.

11   And thus they say, How can it be

          that God these things doth know?

     Or, Can there in the Highest be

          knowledge of things below?

12   Behold, these are the wicked ones,

          yet prosper at their will

     In worldly things; they do increase

          in wealth and riches still.

13   I verily have done in vain

          my heart to purify;

     To no effect in innocence

          washed my hands have I.

14   For daily, and all day throughout,

          great plagues I suffer’d have;

     Yea, ev’ry morning I of new

          did chastisement receive.

15   If in this manner foolishly

          to speak I would intend,

     Thy children’s generation,

          behold, I should offend.

16   When I this thought to know, it was

          too hard a thing for me;

17   Till to God’s sanctuary I went,

          then I their end did see.

18   Assuredly thou didst them set

          a slipp’ry place upon;

     Them suddenly thou castedst down

          into destruction.

19   How in a moment suddenly

          to ruin brought are they!

     With fearful terrors utterly

          they are consum’d away.

20   Ev’n like unto a dream, when one

          from sleeping doth arise;

     So thou, O Lord, when thou awak’st,

          their image shalt despise.

21   Thus grieved was my heart in me,

          and me my reins opprest:

22   So rude was I, and ignorant,

          and in thy sight a beast.

23   Nevertheless continually,

          O Lord, I am with thee:

     Thou dost me hold by my right hand,

          and still upholdest me.

24   Thou, with thy counsel, while I live,

          wilt me conduct and guide;

     And to thy glory afterward

          receive me to abide.

25   Whom have I in the heavens high

          but thee, O Lord, alone?

     And in the earth whom I desire

          besides thee there is none.

26   My flesh and heart doth faint and fail,

          but God doth fail me never:

     For of my heart God is the strength

          and portion for ever.

27   For, lo, they that are far from thee

          for ever perish shall;

     Them that a whoring from thee go

          thou hast destroyed all.

28   But surely it is good for me

          that I draw near to God:

     In God I trust, that all thy works

          I may declare abroad.

1    Let God arise, and scattered

          let all his en’mies be;

     And let all those that do him hate

          before his presence flee.

2    As smoke is driv’n, so drive thou them;

          as fire melts wax away,

     Before God’s face let wicked men

          so perish and decay.

3    But let the righteous be glad:

          let them before God’s sight

     Be very joyful; yea, let them

          rejoice with all their might.

4    To God sing, to his name sing praise;

          extol him with your voice,

     That rides on heav’n, by his name Jah,

          before his face rejoice.

5    Because the Lord a father is

          unto the fatherless;

     God is the widow’s judge, within

          his place of holiness.

6    God doth the solitary set

          in fam’lies: and from bands

     The chain’d doth free; but rebels do

          inhabit parched lands.

7    O God, what time thou didst go forth

          before thy people’s face;

     And when through the great wilderness

          thy glorious marching was;

8    Then at God’s presence shook the earth,

          then drops from heaven fell;

     This Sinai shook before the Lord,

          the God of Israel.

9    O God, thou to thine heritage

          didst send a plenteous rain,

     Whereby thou, when it weary was,

          didst it refresh again.

10   Thy congregation then did make

          their habitation there:

     Of thine own goodness for the poor,

          O God, thou didst prepare.

11   The Lord himself did give the word,

          the word abroad did spread;

     Great was the company of them

          the same who published.

12   Kings of great armies foiled were,

          and forc’d to flee away;

     And women, who remain’d at home,

          did distribute the prey.

13   Though ye have lien among the pots,

          like doves ye shall appear,

     Whose wings with silver, and with gold

          whose feathers cover’d are.

14   When there th’ Almighty scatter’d kings,

          like Salmon’s snow ’twas white.

15   God’s hill is like to Bashan hill,

          like Bashan hill for height.

16   Why do ye leap, ye mountains high?

          this is the hill where God

     Desires to dwell; yea, God in it

          for aye will make abode.

17   God’s chariots twenty thousand are,

          thousands of angels strong;

     In’s holy place God is, as in

          mount Sinai, them among.

18   Thou hast, O Lord, most glorious,

          ascended up on high;

     And in triumph victorious led

          captive captivity:

     Thou hast received gifts for men,

          for such as did rebel;

     Yea, ev’n for them, that God the Lord

          in midst of them might dwell.

19   Bless’d be the Lord, who is to us

          of our salvation God;

     Who daily with his benefits

          us plenteously doth load.

20   He of salvation is the God,

          who is our God most strong;

     And unto God the Lord from death

          the issues do belong.

21   But surely God shall wound the head

          of those that are his foes;

     The hairy scalp of him that still

          on in his trespass goes.

22   God said, My people I will bring

          again from Bashan hill;

     Yea, from the sea’s devouring depths

          them bring again I will;

23   That in the blood of enemies

          thy foot imbru’d may be,

     And of thy dogs dipp’d in the same

          the tongues thou mayest see.

24   Thy goings they have seen, O God;

          the steps of majesty

     Of my God, and my mighty King,

          within the sanctuary.

25   Before went singers, players next

          on instruments took way;

     And them among the damsels were

          that did on timbrels play.

26   Within the congregations

          bless God with one accord:

     From Isr’el’s fountain do ye bless

          and praise the mighty Lord.

27   With their prince, little Benjamin,

          princes and council there

     Of Judah were, there Zabulon’s

          and Napht’li’s princes were.

28   Thy God commands thy strength; make strong

          what thou wrought’st for us, Lord.

29   For thy house at Jerusalem

          kings shall thee gifts afford.

30   The spearmen’s host, the multitude

          of bulls, which fiercely look,

     Those calves which people have forth sent,

          O Lord our God, rebuke,

     Till ev’ry one submit himself,

          and silver pieces bring:

     The people that delight in war

          disperse, O God and King.

31   Those that be princes great shall then

          come out of Egypt lands;

     And Ethiopia to God

          shall soon stretch out her hands.

32   O all ye kingdoms of the earth,

          sing praises to this King;

     For he is Lord that ruleth all,

          unto him praises sing.

33   To him that rides on heav’ns of heav’ns,

          which he of old did found;

     Lo, he sends out his voice, a voice

          in might that doth abound.

34   Strength unto God do ye ascribe;

          for his excellency

     Is over Israel, his strength

          is in the clouds most high.

35   Thou’rt from thy temple dreadful, Lord;

          Isr’el’s own God is he,

     Who gives his people strength and pow’r:

          O let God blessed be.

Verses 1-11. TUNE: Auld Lang Syne

1    O Lord, thy judgments give the king,
          his son thy righteousness.
2    With right he shall thy people judge,
          thy poor with uprightness.

3    The lofty mountains shall bring forth
          unto the people peace;
     Likewise the little hills the same
          shall do by righteousness.

4    The people’s poor ones he shall judge,
          the needy’s children save;
     And those shall he in pieces break
          who them oppressed have.

5    They shall thee fear, while sun and moon
          do last, through ages all.
6    Like rain on mown grass he shall drop,
          or show’rs on earth that fall.

7    The just shall flourish in his days,
          and prosper in his reign:
     He shall, while doth the moon endure,
          abundant peace maintain.

8    His large and great dominion shall
          from sea to sea extend:
     It from the river shall reach forth
          unto earth’s utmost end.

9    They in the wilderness that dwell
          bow down before him must;
     And they that are his enemies
          shall lick the very dust.

10   The kings of Tarshish, and the isles,
          to him shall presents bring;
     And unto him shall offer gifts
          Sheba’s and Seba’s king.

11   Yea, all the mighty kings on earth
          before him down shall fall;
     And all the nations of the world
          do service to him shall.

Verses 12-19. TUNE: Auld Lang Syne

12   For he the needy shall preserve,
          when he to him doth call;
     The poor also, and him that hath
          no help of man at all.

13   The poor man and the indigent
          in mercy he shall spare;
     He shall preserve alive the souls 
        of those that needy are.

14   Both from deceit and violence
          their soul he shall set free;
     And in his sight right precious
          and dear their blood shall be.

15   Yea, he shall live, and giv’n to him         
shall be of Sheba’s gold: 
    For him still shall they pray, and he
          shall daily be extoll’d.

16   Of corn an handful in the earth
          on tops of mountains high,
     With prosp’rous fruit shall shake, like trees
          on Lebanon that be.

     The city shall be flourishing,
          her citizens abound
     In number shall, like to the grass
          that grows upon the ground.

17   His name for ever shall endure;
          last like the sun it shall:
     Men shall be bless’d in him, and bless’d
          all nations shall him call.

18   Now blessed be the Lord our God,
          the God of Israel,
     For he alone doth wondrous works,
          in glory that excel.

19   And blessed be his glorious name
          to all eternity:
     The whole earth let his glory fill.
          Amen, so let it be.

1    Give ear unto me when I call,

          God of my righteousness:

     Have mercy, hear my pray’r; thou hast

          enlarg’d me in distress.

2    O ye the sons of men! how long

          will ye love vanities?

     How long my glory turn to shame,

          and will ye follow lies?

3    But know, that for himself the Lord

          the godly man doth chuse:

     The Lord, when I on him do call,

          to hear will not refuse.

4    Fear, and sin not; talk with your heart

          on bed, and silent be.

5    Off ‘rings present of righteousness,

          and in the Lord trust ye.

6    O who will shew us any good?

          is that which many say:

     But of thy countenance the light,

          Lord, lift on us alway.

7    Upon my heart, bestow’d by thee,

          more gladness I have found

     Than they, ev’n then, when corn and wine

          did most with them abound.

8    I will both lay me down in peace,

          and quiet sleep will take;

     Because thou only me to dwell

          in safety, Lord, dost make.

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.

1    Save me, O God, because the floods

          do so environ me,

     That ev’n unto my very soul

          come in the waters be.

2    I downward in deep mire do sink,

          where standing there is none:

     I am into deep waters come,

          where floods have o’er me gone.

3    I weary with my crying am,

          my throat is also dry’d;

     Mine eyes do fail, while for my God

          I waiting do abide.

4    Those men that do without a cause

          bear hatred unto me,

     Than are the hairs upon my head

          in number more they be:

     They that would me destroy, and are

          mine en’mies wrongfully,

     Are mighty: so what I took not,

          to render forc’d was I.

     They that would me destroy, and are

          mine en’mies wrongfully,

     Are mighty: so what I took not,

          to render forc’d was I.

5    Lord, thou my folly know’st, my sins

          not cover’d are from thee.

6    Let none that wait on thee be sham’d,

          Lord God of hosts, for me.

     O Lord, the God of Israel,

          let none, who search do make,

     And seek thee, be at any time

          confounded for my sake.

7    For I have borne reproach for thee,

          my face is hid with shame.

8    To brethren strange, to mother’s sons

          an alien I became.

9    Because the zeal did eat me up,

          which to thine house I bear;

     And the reproaches cast at thee,

          upon me fallen are.

10   My tears and fasts, t’ afflict my soul,

          were turned to my shame.

11   When sackcloth I did wear, to them

          a proverb I became.

12   The men that in the gate do sit

          against me evil spake;

     They also that vile drunkards were

          of me their song did make.

13   But, in an acceptable time,

          my pray’r, Lord, is to thee:

     In truth of thy salvation, Lord,

          and mercy great, hear me.

14   Deliver me out of the mire,

          from sinking do me keep;

     Free me from those that do me hate,

          and from the waters deep.

15   Let not the flood on me prevail,

          whose water overflows;

     Nor deep me swallow, nor the pit

          her mouth upon me close.

16   Hear me, O Lord, because thy love

          and kindness is most good;

     Turn unto me, according to

          thy mercies’ multitude.

17   Nor from thy servant hide thy face:

          I’m troubled, soon attend.

18   Draw near my soul, and it redeem;

          me from my foes defend.

19   To thee is my reproach well known,

          my shame, and my disgrace:

     Those that mine adversaries be

          are all before thy face.

20   Reproach hath broke my heart; I’m full

          of grief: I look’d for one

     To pity me, but none I found;

          comforters found I none.

21   They also bitter gall did give

          unto me for my meat:

     They gave me vinegar to drink,

          when as my thirst was great.

22   Before them let their table prove

          a snare; and do thou make

     Their welfare and prosperity

          a trap themselves to take.

23   Let thou their eyes so darken’d be,

          that sight may them forsake;

     And let their loins be made by thee

          continually to shake.

24   Thy fury pour thou out on them,

          and indignation;

     And let thy wrathful anger, Lord,

          fast hold take them upon.

25   All waste and desolate let be

          their habitation;

     And in their tabernacles all

          inhabitants be none.

26   Because him they do persecute,

          whom thou didst smite before;

     They talk unto the grief of those

          whom thou hast wounded sore.

27   Add thou iniquity unto

          their former wickedness;

     And do not let them come at all

          into thy righteousness.

28   Out of the book of life let them

          be raz’d and blotted quite;

     Among the just and righteous

          let not their names be writ.

29   But now become exceeding poor

          and sorrowful am I:

     By thy salvation, O my God,

          let me be set on high.

30   The name of God I with a song

          most cheerfully will praise;

     And I, in giving thanks to him,

          his name shall highly raise.

31   This to the Lord a sacrifice

          more gracious shall prove

     Than bullock, ox, or any beast

          that hath both horn and hoof.

32   When this the humble men shall see,

          it joy to them shall give:

     O all ye that do seek the Lord,

          your hearts shall ever live.

33   For God the poor hears, and will not

          his prisoners contemn.

34   Let heav’n, and earth, and seas, him praise,

          and all that move in them.

35   For God will Judah’s cities build,

          and he will Sion save,

     That they may dwell therein, and it

          in sure possession have.

36   And they that are his servants’ seed

          inherit shall the same;

     So shall they have their dwelling there

          that love his blessed name.

1    That man hath perfect blessedness,
          who walketh not astray
     In counsel of ungodly men,
          nor stands in sinners’ way,

     Nor sitteth in the scorner’s chair:
2          But placeth his delight
     Upon God’s law, and meditates
          on his law day and night.

3    He shall be like a tree that grows
          near planted by a river,
     Which in his season yields his fruit,
          and his leaf fadeth never:

     And all he doth shall prosper well
4        The wicked are not so;
     But like they are unto the chaff,
          which wind drives to and fro.

5    In judgment therefore shall not stand
          such as ungodly are;
     Nor in th’ assembly of the just
          shall wicked men appear.

6    For why? the way of godly men
          unto the Lord is known:
     Whereas the way of wicked men
          shall quite be overthrown.