Category: Songs of Christ

First Version (S.M.)

1    Lord, bless and pity us,

          shine on us with thy face:

2    That th’ earth thy way, and nations all

          may know thy saving grace.

3    Let people praise thee, Lord;

          let people all thee praise.

4    O let the nations be glad,

          in songs their voices raise:

     Thou’lt justly people judge,

          on earth rule nations all.

5    Let people praise thee, Lord; let them

          praise thee, both great and small.

6    The earth her fruit shall yield,

          our God shall blessing send.

7    God shall us bless; men shall him fear

          unto earth’s utmost end.

Second Version (C.M.)

1    Lord, unto us be merciful,

          do thou us also bless;

     And graciously cause shine on us

          the brightness of thy face:

2    That so thy way upon the earth

          to all men may be known;

     Also among the nations all

          thy saving health be shown.

3    O let the people praise thee, Lord;

          let people all thee praise.

4    O let the nations be glad,

          and sing for joy always:

     For rightly thou shalt people judge,

          and nations rule on earth.

5    Let people praise thee, Lord; let all

          the folk praise thee with mirth.

6    Then shall the earth yield her increase;

          God, our God, bless us shall.

7    God shall us bless; and of the earth

          the ends shall fear him all.

1    All lands to God in joyful sounds,

          aloft your voices raise.

2    Sing forth the honour of his name,

          and glorious make his praise.

3    Say unto God, How terrible

          in all thy works art thou!

     Through thy great pow’r thy foes to thee

          shall be constrain’d to bow.

4    All on the earth shall worship thee,

          they shall thy praise proclaim

     In songs: they shall sing cheerfully

          unto thy holy name.

5    Come, and the works that God hath wrought

          with admiration see:

     In’s working to the sons of men

          most terrible is he.

6    Into dry land the sea he turn’d,

          and they a passage had;

     Ev’n marching through the flood on foot,

          there we in him were glad.

7    He ruleth ever by his pow’r;

          his eyes the nations see:

     O let not the rebellious ones

          lift up themselves on high.

8    Ye people, bless our God; aloud

          the voice speak of his praise:

9    Our soul in life who safe preserves,

          our foot from sliding stays.

10   For thou didst prove and try us, Lord,

          as men do silver try;

11   Brought’st us into the net, and mad’st

          bands on our loins to lie.

12   Thou hast caus’d men ride o’er our heads;

          and though that we did pass

     Through fire and water, yet thou brought’st

          us to a wealthy place.

13   I’ll bring burnt off ‘rings to thy house;

          to thee my vows I’ll pay,

14   Which my lips utter’d, my mouth spake,

          when trouble on me lay.

15   Burnt-sacrifices of fat rams

          with incense I will bring;

     Of bullocks and of goats I will

          present an offering.

16   All that fear God, come, hear, I’ll tell

          what he did for my soul.

17   I with my mouth unto him cry’d,

          my tongue did him extol.

18   If in my heart I sin regard,

          the Lord me will not hear:

19   But surely God me heard, and to

          my prayer’s voice gave ear.

20   O let the Lord, our gracious God,

          for ever blessed be,

     Who turned not my pray’r from him,

          nor yet his grace from me.

1    When I to thee my prayer make,

          Lord, to my voice give ear;

     My life save from the enemy,

          of whom I stand in fear.

2    Me from their secret counsel hide

          who do live wickedly;

     From insurrection of those men

          that work iniquity:

3    Who do their tongues with malice whet,

          and make them cut like swords;

     In whose bent bows are arrows set,

          ev’n sharp and bitter words:

4    That they may at the perfect man

          in secret aim their shot;

     Yea, suddenly they dare at him

          to shoot, and fear it not.

5    In ill encourage they themselves,

          and their snares close do lay:

     Together conference they have;

          Who shall them see? they say.

6    They have search’d out iniquities,

          a perfect search they keep:

     Of each of them the inward thought,

          and very heart, is deep.

7    God shall an arrow shoot at them,

          and wound them suddenly:

8    So their own tongue shall them confound;

          all who them see shall fly.

9    And on all men a fear shall fall,

          God’s works they shall declare;

     For they shall wisely notice take

          what these his doings are.

10   In God the righteous shall rejoice,

          and trust upon his might;

     Yea, they shall greatly glory all

          in heart that are upright.

1    In thy great indignation,

          O Lord, rebuke me not;

     Nor on me lay thy chast’ning hand,

          in thy displeasure hot.

2    For in me fast thine arrows stick,

          thine hand doth press me sore:

3    And in my flesh there is no health,

          nor soundness any more.

     This grief I have, because thy wrath

          is forth against me gone;

     And in my bones there is no rest,

          for sin that I have done.

4    Because gone up above mine head

          my great transgressions be;

     And, as a weighty burden, they

          too heavy are for me.

5    My wounds do stink, and are corrupt;

          my folly makes it so.

6    I troubled am, and much bow’d down;

          all day I mourning go.

7    For a disease that loathsome is

          so fills my loins with pain,

     That in my weak and weary flesh

          no soundness doth remain.

8    So feeble and infirm am I,

          and broken am so sore,

     That, through disquiet of my heart,

          I have been made to roar.

9    O Lord, all that I do desire

          is still before thine eye;

     And of my heart the secret groans

          not hidden are from thee.

10   My heart doth pant incessantly,

          my strength doth quite decay;

     As for mine eyes, their wonted light

          is from me gone away.

11   My lovers and my friends do stand

          at distance from my sore;

     And those do stand aloof that were

          kinsmen and kind before.

12   Yea, they that seek my life lay snares:

          who seek to do me wrong

     Speak things mischievous, and deceits

          imagine all day long.

13   But, as one deaf, that heareth not,

          I suffer’d all to pass;

     I as a dumb man did become,

          whose mouth not open’d was:

14   As one that hears not, in whose mouth

          are no reproofs at all.

15   For, Lord, I hope in thee; my God,

          thou’lt hear me when I call.

16   For I said, Hear me, lest they should

          rejoice o’er me with pride;

     And o’er me magnify themselves,

          when as my foot doth slide.

17   For I am near to halt, my grief

          is still before mine eye:

18   For I’ll declare my sin, and grieve

          for mine iniquity.

19   But yet mine en’mies lively are,

          and strong are they beside;

     And they that hate me wrongfully

          are greatly multiply’d.

20   And they for good that render ill,

          as en’mies me withstood;

     Yea, ev’n for this, because that I

          do follow what is good.

21   Forsake me not, O Lord; my God,

          far from me never be.

22   O Lord, thou my salvation art,

          haste to give help to me.

1    For evil-doers fret thou not

          thyself unquietly;

     Nor do thou envy bear to those

          that work iniquity.

2    For, even like unto the grass,

          soon be cut down shall they;

     And, like the green and tender herb,

          they wither shall away.

3    Set thou thy trust upon the Lord,

          and be thou doing good;

     And so thou in the land shalt dwell,

          and verily have food.

4    Delight thyself in God; he’ll give

          thine heart’s desire to thee.

5    Thy way to God commit, him trust,

          it bring to pass shall he.

6    And, like unto the light, he shall

          thy righteousness display;

     And he thy judgment shall bring forth

          like noon-tide of the day.

7    Rest in the Lord, and patiently

          wait for him: do not fret

     For him who, prosp’ring in his way,

          success in sin doth get.

8    Do thou from anger cease, and wrath

          see thou forsake also:

     Fret not thyself in any wise,

          that evil thou should’st do.

9    For those that evil doers are

          shall be cut off and fall:

     But those that wait upon the Lord

          the earth inherit shall.

10   For yet a little while, and then

          the wicked shall not be;

     His place thou shalt consider well,

          but it thou shalt not see.

11   But by inheritance the earth

          the meek ones shall possess:

     They also shall delight themselves

          in an abundant peace.

12   The wicked plots against the just,

          and at him whets his teeth:

13   The Lord shall laugh at him, because

          his day he coming seeth.

14   The wicked have drawn out the sword,

          and bent their bow, to slay

     The poor and needy, and to kill

          men of an upright way.

15   But their own sword, which they have drawn,

          shall enter their own heart:

     Their bows which they have bent shall break,

          and into pieces part.

16   A little that a just man hath

          is more and better far

     Than is the wealth of many such

          as lewd and wicked are.

17   For sinners’ arms shall broken be;

          but God the just sustains.

18   God knows the just man’s days, and still

          their heritage remains.

19   They shall not be asham’d when they

          the evil time do see;

     And when the days of famine are,

          they satisfy’d shall be.

20   But wicked men, and foes of God,

          as fat of lambs, decay;

     They shall consume, yea, into smoke

          they shall consume away.

21   The wicked borrows, but the same

          again he doth not pay;

     Whereas the righteous mercy shews,

          and gives his own away.

22   For such as blessed be of him

          the earth inherit shall;

     And they that cursed are of him

          shall be destroyed all.

23   A good man’s footsteps by the Lord

          are ordered aright;

     And in the way wherein he walks

          he greatly doth delight.

24   Although he fall, yet shall he not

          be cast down utterly;

     Because the Lord with his own hand

          upholds him mightily.

25   I have been young, and now am old,

          yet have I never seen

     The just man left, nor that his seed

          for bread have beggars been.

26   He’s ever merciful, and lends:

          his seed is bless’d therefore.

27   Depart from evil, and do good,

          and dwell for evermore.

28   For God loves judgment, and his saints

          leaves not in any case;

     They are kept ever: but cut off

          shall be the sinner’s race.

29   The just inherit shall the land,

          and ever in it dwell:

30   The just man’s mouth doth wisdom speak;

          his tongue doth judgment tell.

31   In’s heart the law is of his God,

          his steps slide not away.

32   The wicked man doth watch the just,

          and seeketh him to slay.

33   Yet him the Lord will not forsake,

          nor leave him in his hands:

     The righteous will he not condemn,

          when he in judgment stands.

34   Wait on the Lord, and keep his way,

          and thee exalt shall he

     Th’ earth to inherit; when cut off

          the wicked thou shalt see.

35   I saw the wicked great in pow’r,

          spread like a green bay-tree:

36   He pass’d, yea, was not; him I sought,

          but found he could not be.

37   Mark thou the perfect, and behold

          the man of uprightness;

     Because that surely of this man

          the latter end is peace.

38   But those men that transgressors are

          shall be destroy’d together;

     The latter end of wicked men

          shall be cut off for ever.

39   But the salvation of the just

          is from the Lord above;

     He in the time of their distress

          their stay and strength doth prove.

40   The Lord shall help, and them deliver:

          he shall them free and save

     From wicked men; because in him

          their confidence they have.

1    O Lord, thou hast rejected us,

          and scatter’d us abroad;

     Thou justly hast displeased been;

          return to us, O God.

2    The earth to tremble thou hast made;

          therein didst breaches make:

     Do thou thereof the breaches heal,

          because the land doth shake.

3    Unto thy people thou hard things

          hast shew’d, and on them sent;

     And thou hast caused us to drink

          wine of astonishment.

4    And yet a banner thou hast giv’n

          to them who thee do fear;

     That it by them, because of truth,

          displayed may appear.

5    That thy beloved people may

          deliver’d be from thrall,

     Save with the pow’r of thy right hand,

          and hear me when I call.

6    God in his holiness hath spoke;

          herein I will take pleasure:

     Shechem I will divide, and forth

          will Succoth’s valley measure.

7    Gilead I claim as mine by right;

          Manasseh mine shall be;

     Ephraim is of mine head the strength;

          Judah gives laws for me;

8    Moab’s my washing-pot; my shoe

          I’ll over Edom throw;

     And over Palestina’s land

          I will in triumph go.

9    O who is he will bring me to

          the city fortify’d?

     O who is he that to the land

          of Edom will me guide?

10   O God, which hadest us cast off,

          this thing wilt thou not do?

     Ev’n thou, O God, which didest not

          forth with our armies go?

11   Help us from trouble; for the help

          is vain which man supplies.

12   Through God we’ll do great acts; he shall

          tread down our enemies.

1    O Lord, thou hast been favourable

          to thy beloved land:

     Jacob’s captivity thou hast

          recall’d with mighty hand.

2    Thou pardoned thy people hast

          all their iniquities;

     Thou all their trespasses and sins

          hast cover’d from thine eyes.

3    Thou took’st off all thine ire, and turn’dst

          from thy wrath’s furiousness.

4    Turn us, God of our health, and cause

          thy wrath ‘gainst us to cease.

5    Shall thy displeasure thus endure

          against us without end?

     Wilt thou to generations all

          thine anger forth extend?

6    That in thee may thy people joy,

          wilt thou not us revive?

7    Shew us thy mercy, Lord, to us

          do thy salvation give.

8    I’ll hear what God the Lord will speak:

          to his folk he’ll speak peace,

     And to his saints; but let them not

          return to foolishness.

9    To them that fear him surely near

          is his salvation;

     That glory in our land may have

          her habitation.

10   Truth met with mercy, righteousness

          and peace kiss’d mutually:

11   Truth springs from earth, and righteousness

          looks down from heaven high.

12   Yea, what is good the Lord shall give;

          our land shall yield increase:

13   Justice, to set us in his steps,

          shall go before his face.

1    How lovely is thy dwelling-place,

          O Lord of hosts, to me!

     The tabernacles of thy grace

          how pleasant, Lord, they be!

2    My thirsty soul longs veh’mently,

          yea faints, thy courts to see:

     My very heart and flesh cry out,

          O living God, for thee.

3    Behold, the sparrow findeth out

          an house wherein to rest;

     The swallow also for herself

          hath purchased a nest;

     Ev’n thine own altars,* where she safe

          her young ones forth may bring,

     O thou almighty Lord of hosts,

          who art my God and King.

4    Bless’d are they in thy house that dwell,

          they ever give thee praise.

5    Bless’d is the man whose strength thou art,

          in whose heart are thy ways:

6    Who passing thorough Baca’s vale,

          therein do dig up wells;

     Also the rain that falleth down

          the pools with water fills.

7    So they from strength unwearied go

          still forward unto strength,

     Until in Sion they appear

          before the Lord at length.

8    Lord God of hosts, my prayer hear;

          O Jacob’s God, give ear.

9    See God our shield, look on the face

          of thine anointed dear.

10   For in thy courts one day excels

          a thousand; rather in

     My God’s house will I keep a door,

          than dwell in tents of sin.

11   For God the Lord’s a sun and shield:

          he’ll grace and glory give;

     And will withhold no good from them

          that uprightly do live.

12   O thou that art the Lord of hosts,

          that man is truly blest,

     Who by assured confidence

          on thee alone doth rest.

1     In gods’ assembly God doth stand;
          he judgeth gods among.
2     How long, accepting persons vile,
          will ye give judgment wrong?

3     Defend the poor and fatherless;
          to poor oppress’d do right.
4     The poor and needy ones set free;
          rid them from ill men’s might.

5     They know not, nor will understand;
          in darkness they walk on:
     All the foundations of the earth
          out of their course are gone.

6     I said that ye are gods, and are
          sons of the Highest all:
7     But ye shall die like men, and as
          one of the princes fall.

8     O God, do thou raise up thyself,
          the earth to judgment call:
     For thou, as thine inheritance,
          shalt take the nations all.

1    Sing loud to God our strength; with joy

          to Jacob’s God do sing.

2    Take up a psalm, the pleasant harp,

          timbrel and psalt’ry bring.

3    Blow trumpets at new-moon, what day

          our feast appointed is:

4    For charge to Isr’el, and a law

          of Jacob’s God was this.

5    To Joseph this a testimony

          he made, when Egypt land

     He travell’d through, where speech I heard

          I did not understand.

6    His shoulder I from burdens took,

          his hands from pots did free.

7    Thou didst in trouble on me call,

          and I deliver’d thee:

     In secret place of thundering

          I did thee answer make;

     And at the streams of Meribah

          of thee a proof did take.

8    O thou, my people, give an ear,

          I’ll testify to thee;

     To thee, O Isr’el, if thou wilt

          but hearken unto me.

9    In midst of thee there shall not be

          any strange god at all;

     Nor unto any god unknown

          thou bowing down shalt fall.

10   I am the Lord thy God, which did

          from Egypt land thee guide;

     I’ll fill thy mouth abundantly,

          do thou it open wide.

11   But yet my people to my voice

          would not attentive be;

     And ev’n my chosen Israel

          he would have none of me.

12   So to the lust of their own hearts

          I them delivered;

     And then in counsels of their own

          they vainly wandered.

13   O that my people had me heard,

          Isr’el my ways had chose!

14   I had their en’mies soon subdu’d,

          my hand turn’d on their foes.

15   The haters of the Lord to him

          submission should have feign’d;

     But as for them, their time should have

          for evermore remain’d.

16   He should have also fed them with

          the finest of the wheat;

     Of honey from the rock thy fill

          I should have made thee eat.