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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.

TUNE: Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery

First Version (8.7.8.7.)

1    Give thanks to God, for good is he:  
        for mercy hath he ever.
2    Thanks to the God of gods give ye:
          for his grace faileth never.

3    Thanks give the Lord of lords unto:
          for mercy hath he ever.
4    Who only wonders great can do:
          for his grace faileth never.

5    Who by his wisdom made heav’ns high:
          for mercy hath he ever.
6    Who stretch’d the earth above the sea:
          for his grace faileth never.

7    To him that made the great lights shine:
          for mercy hath he ever.
8    The sun to rule till day decline:
          for his grace faileth never.

9    The moon and stars to rule by night:
          for mercy hath he ever.
10   Who Egypt’s first-born kill’d outright:
          for his grace faileth never.

11   And Isr’el brought from Egypt land:
          for mercy hath he ever.
12   With stretch’d-out arm, and with strong hand:
          for his grace faileth never.

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13   By whom the Red sea parted was:

          for mercy hath he ever.

14   And through its midst made Isr’el pass:

          for his grace faileth never.

15   But Phar’oh and his host did drown:

          for mercy hath he ever.

16   Who through the desert led his own:

          for his grace faileth never.

17   To him great kings who overthrew:

          for he hath mercy ever.

18   Yea, famous kings in battle slew:

          for his grace faileth never.

19   Ev’n Sihon king of Amorites:

          for he hath mercy ever.

20   And Og the king of Bashanites:

          for his grace faileth never.

21   Their land in heritage to have:

          (for mercy hath he ever.)

22   His servant Isr’el right he gave:

          for his grace faileth never.

23   In our low state who on us thought:

          for he hath mercy ever.

24   And from our foes our freedom wrought:

          for his grace faileth never.

25   Who doth all flesh with food relieve:

          for he hath mercy ever.

26   Thanks to the God of heaven give:

          for his grace faileth never.

Second Version (6.6.6.6.8.8.)

1    Praise God, for he is kind:

     His mercy lasts for aye.

2    Give thanks with heart and mind

     To God of gods alway:

          For certainly

          His mercies dure

          Most firm and sure

          Eternally.

3    The Lord of lords praise ye,

     Whose mercies still endure.

4    Great wonders only he

     Doth work by his great pow’r

          For certainly

          His mercies dure

          Most firm and sure

          Eternally.

5    Which God omnipotent,

     By might and wisdom high,

     The heav’n and firmament

     Did frame, as we may see:

          For certainly

          His mercies dure

          Most firm and sure

          Eternally.

6    To him who did outstretch

     This earth so great and wide,

     Above the waters’ reach

     Making it to abide:

          For certainly

          His mercies dure

          Most firm and sure

          Eternally.

7    Great lights he made to be;

     For his grace lasteth aye:

8    Such as the sun we see,

     To rule the lightsome day:

          For certainly

          His mercies dure

          Most firm and sure

          Eternally.

9    Also the moon so clear,

     Which shineth in our sight;

     The stars that do appear,

     To guide the darksome night:

          For certainly

          His mercies dure

          Most firm and sure

          Eternally.

10   To him that Egypt smote,

     Who did his message scorn;

     And in his anger hot

     Did kill all their first-born:

          For certainly

          His mercies dure

          Most firm and sure

          Eternally.

11   Thence Isr’el out he brought;

     For his grace lasteth ever.

12   With a strong hand he wrought,

     And stretch’d-out arm deliver:

          For certainly

          His mercies dure

          Most firm and sure

          Eternally.

13   The sea he cut in two;

     For his grace lasteth still.

14   And through its midst to go

     Made his own Israel:

          For certainly

          His mercies dure

          Most firm and sure

          Eternally.

15   But overwhelm’d and lost

     Was proud king Pharaoh,

     With all his mighty host,

     And chariots there also:

          For certainly

          His mercies dure

          Most firm and sure

          Eternally.

16   To him who pow’rfully

     His chosen people led,

     Ev’n through the desert dry,

     And in that place them fed:

          For certainly

          His mercies dure

          Most firm and sure

          Eternally.

17   To him great kings who smote;

     For his grace hath no bound.

18   Who slew, and spared not

     Kings famous and renown’d:

          For certainly

          His mercies dure

          Most firm and sure

          Eternally.

19   Sihon the Am’rites’ king;

For his grace lasteth ever:

20   Og also, who did reign

     The land of Bashan over:

          For certainly

          His mercies dure

          Most firm and sure

          Eternally.

21   Their land by lot he gave;

     For his grace faileth never,

22   That Isr’el might it have

     In heritage for ever:

          For certainly

          His mercies dure

          Most firm and sure

          Eternally.

23   Who hath remembered

     Us in our low estate;

24   And us delivered

     From foes which did us hate:

          For certainly

          His mercies dure

          Most firm and sure

          Eternally.

25   Who to all flesh gives food;

     For his grace faileth never.

26   Give thanks to God most good,

     The God of heav’n, for ever:

          For certainly

          His mercies dure

          Most firm and sure

          Eternally.

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.