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1    O Lord, thou hast me search’d and known.

2         Thou know’st my sitting down,

     And rising up; yea, all my thoughts

          afar to thee are known.

3    My footsteps, and my lying down,

          thou compassest always;

     Thou also most entirely art

          acquaint with all my ways.

4    For in my tongue, before I speak,

          not any word can be,

     But altogether, lo, O Lord,

          it is well known to thee.

5    Behind, before, thou hast beset,

          and laid on me thine hand.

6    Such knowledge is too strange for me,

          too high to understand.

7    From thy Sp’rit whither shall I go?

          or from thy presence fly?

8    Ascend I heav’n, lo, thou art there;

          there, if in hell I lie.

9    Take I the morning wings, and dwell

          in utmost parts of sea;

10   Ev’n there, Lord, shall thy hand me lead,

          thy right hand hold shall me.

11   If I do say that darkness shall

          me cover from thy sight,

     Then surely shall the very night

          about me be as light.

12   Yea, darkness hideth not from thee,

          but night doth shine as day:

     To thee the darkness and the light

          are both alike alway.

13   For thou possessed hast my reins,

          and thou hast cover’d me,

     When I within my mother’s womb

          inclosed was by thee.

14   Thee will I praise; for fearfully

          and strangely made I am;

     Thy works are marv’llous, and right well

          my soul doth know the same.

15   My substance was not hid from thee,

          when as in secret I

     Was made; and in earth’s lowest parts

          was wrought most curiously.

16   Thine eyes my substance did behold,

          yet being unperfect;

     And in the volume of thy book

          my members all were writ;

     Which after in continuance

          were fashion’d ev’ry one,

     When as they yet all shapeless were,

          and of them there was none.

17   How precious also are thy thoughts,

          O gracious God, to me!

     And in their sum how passing great

          and numberless they be!

18   If I should count them, than the sand

          they more in number be:

     What time soever I awake,

          I ever am with thee.

19   Thou, Lord, wilt sure the wicked slay:

          hence from me bloody men.

20   Thy foes against thee loudly speak,

          and take thy name in vain.

21   Do not I hate all those, O Lord,

          that hatred bear to thee?

     With those that up against thee rise

          can I but grieved be?

22   With perfect hatred them I hate,

          my foes I them do hold.

23   Search me, O God, and know my heart,

          try me, my thoughts unfold:

24   And see if any wicked way

          there be at all in me;

     And in thine everlasting way

          to me a leader be.

1    Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye

          that his attendants are,

     Ev’n you that in God’s temple be,

          and praise him nightly there.

2    Your hands within God’s holy place

          lift up, and praise his name.

3    From Sion’ hill the Lord thee bless,

          that heav’n and earth did frame.

1    Behold, how good a thing it is,

          and how becoming well,

     Together such as brethren are

          in unity to dwell!

2    Like precious ointment on the head,

          that down the beard did flow,

     Ev’n Aaron’s beard, and to the skirts,*

          did of his garments go.

3    As Hermon’s dew, the dew that doth

          on Sion’ hills descend:

     For there the blessing God commands,

          life that shall never end.

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    Lord, from the depths to thee I cry’d.

2         My voice, Lord, do thou hear:

     Unto my supplication’s voice

          give an attentive ear.

3    Lord, who shall stand, if thou, O Lord,

          should’st mark iniquity?

4    But yet with thee forgiveness is,

          that fear’d thou mayest be.

5    I wait for God, my soul doth wait,

          my hope is in his word.

6    More than they that for morning watch,

          my soul waits for the Lord;

 I say, more than they that do watch

          the morning light to see.

7    Let Israel hope in the Lord,

          for with him mercies be;

     And plenteous redemption

          is ever found with him.

8    And from all his iniquities

          he Isr’el shall redeem.

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.

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.

1    Praise ye the Lord, the Lord’s name praise;

          his servants, praise ye God.

2    Who stand in God’s house, in the courts

          of our God make abode.

3    Praise ye the Lord, for he is good;

          unto him praises sing:

     Sing praises to his name, because

          it is a pleasant thing.

4    For Jacob to himself the Lord

          did chuse of his good pleasure,

     And he hath chosen Israel

          for his peculiar treasure.

5    Because I know assuredly

          the Lord is very great,

     And that our Lord above all gods

          in glory hath his seat.

6    What things soever pleas’d the Lord,

          that in the heav’n did he,

     And in the earth, the seas, and all

          the places deep that be.

7    He from the ends of earth doth make

          the vapours to ascend;

     With rain he lightnings makes, and wind

          doth from his treasures send.

8    Egypt’s first-born, from man to beast

9         who smote. Strange tokens he

     On Phar’oh and his servants sent,

          Egypt, in midst of thee.

10   He smote great nations, slew great kings:

11         Sihon of Heshbon king,

     And Og of Bashan, and to nought

          did Canaan’s kingdoms bring:

12   And for a wealthy heritage

          their pleasant land he gave,

     An heritage which Israel,

          his chosen folk, should have.

13   Thy name, O Lord, shall still endure,

          and thy memorial

     With honour shall continu’d be

          to generations all.

14   For why? the righteous God will judge

          his people righteously;

     Concerning those that do him serve,

          himself repent will he.

15   The idols of the nations

          of silver are and gold,

     And by the hands of men is made

          their fashion and mould.

16   Mouths have they, but they do not speak;

          eyes, but they do not see;

17   Ears have they, but hear not; and in

          their mouths no breathing be.

18   Their makers are like them; so are

          all that on them rely.

19   O Isr’el’s house, bless God; bless God,

          O Aaron’s family.

20   O bless the Lord, of Levi’s house

          ye who his servants are;

     And bless the holy name of God,

          all ye the Lord that fear.

21   And blessed be the Lord our God

          from Sion’s holy hill,

     Who dwelleth at Jerusalem.

          The Lord O praise ye still.