Tag: Songs of Christ

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    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    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    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    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.

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    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    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     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    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.