Tag: Songs of Christ

1    That there is not a God, the fool

          doth in his heart conclude:

     They are corrupt, their works are vile,

          not one of them doth good.

2    The Lord upon the sons of men

          from heav’n did cast his eyes,

     To see if any one there was

          that sought God, and was wise.

3    They altogether filthy are,

          they all are backward gone;

     And there is none that doeth good,

          no, not so much as one.

4    These workers of iniquity,

          do they not know at all,

     That they my people eat as bread,

          and on God do not call?

5    Ev’n there they were afraid, and stood

          with trembling, all dismay’d,

     Whereas there was no cause at all

          why they should be afraid:

     For God his bones that thee besieg’d

          hath scatter’d all abroad;

     Thou hast confounded them, for they

          despised are of God.

6    Let Isr’el’s help from Sion come:

          when back the Lord shall bring

     His captives, Jacob shall rejoice,

          and Israel shall sing.

1    Why dost thou boast, O mighty man,

          of mischief and of ill?

     The goodness of Almighty God

          endureth ever still.

2    Thy tongue mischievous calumnies

          deviseth subtilely,

     Like to a razor sharp to cut,

          working deceitfully.

3    Ill more than good, and more than truth

          thou lovest to speak wrong:

4    Thou lovest all-devouring words,

          O thou deceitful tongue.

5    So God shall thee destroy for aye,

          remove thee, pluck thee out

     Quite from thy house, out of the land

          of life he shall thee root.

6    The righteous shall it see, and fear,

          and laugh at him they shall:

7    Lo, this the man is that did not

          make God his strength at all:

     But he in his abundant wealth

          his confidence did place;

     And he took strength unto himself

          from his own wickedness.

8    But I am in the house of God

          like to an olive green:

     My confidence for ever hath

          upon God’s mercy been.

9    And I for ever will thee praise,

          because thou hast done this:

     I on thy name will wait; for good

          before thy saints it is.

First Version (S.M.)
Tune: Crown Him with Many Crowns

1    The mighty God, the Lord,
          hath spoken, and did call
     The earth, from rising of the sun,
          to where he hath his fall.

2    From out of Sion hill,
          which of excellency
     And beauty the perfection is,
          God shined gloriously.

3    Our God shall surely come,
          keep silence shall not he:
     Before him fire shall waste, great storms
          shall round about him be.

4    Unto the heavens clear
          he from above shall call,
     And to the earth likewise, that he
          may judge his people all.

5    Together let my saints
          unto me gather’d be,
     Those that by sacrifice have made
          a covenant with me.

6    And then the heavens shall
          his righteousness declare:
     Because the Lord himself is he
          by whom men judged are.

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7    My people Isr’el hear,

          speak will I from on high,

     Against thee I will testify;

          God, ev’n thy God, am I.

8    I for thy sacrifice

          no blame will on thee lay,

     Nor for burnt-off ‘rings, which to me

          thou offer’dst ev’ry day.

9    I’ll take no calf nor goats

          from house or fold of thine:

10   For beasts of forests, cattle all

          on thousand hills, are mine.

11   The fowls on mountains high

          are all to me well known;

     Wild beasts which in the fields do lie,

          ev’n they are all mine own.

12   Then, if I hungry were,

          I would not tell it thee;

     Because the world, and fulness all

          thereof, belongs to me.

13   Will I eat flesh of bulls?

          or goats’ blood drink will I?

14   Thanks offer thou to God, and pay

          thy vows to the most High.

15   And call upon me when

          in trouble thou shalt be;

     I will deliver thee, and thou

          my name shalt glorify.

16   But to the wicked man

          God saith, My laws and truth

     Should’st thou declare? how dar’st thou take

          my cov’nant in thy mouth?

17   Sith thou instruction hat’st,

          which should thy ways direct;

     And sith my words behind thy back

          thou cast’st, and dost reject.

18   When thou a thief didst see,

          with him thou didst consent;

     And with the vile adulterers

          partaker on thou went.

19   Thou giv’st thy mouth to ill,

          thy tongue deceit doth frame;

20   Thou sitt’st, and ‘gainst thy brother speak’st,

          thy mother’s son dost shame.

21   Because I silence kept,

          while thou these things hast wrought;

     That I was altogether like

          thyself, hath been thy thought;

     Yet I will thee reprove,

          and set before thine eyes,

     In order ranked, thy misdeeds

          and thine iniquities.

22   Now, ye that God forget,

          this carefully consider;

     Lest I in pieces tear you all,

          and none can you deliver.

23   Whoso doth offer praise

          me glorifies; and I

     Will shew him God’s salvation,

          that orders right his way.

Second Version (C.M.)

1    The mighty God, the Lord, hath spoke,

          and call’d the earth upon,

     Ev’n from the rising of the sun

          unto his going down.

2    From out of Sion, his own hill,

          where the perfection high

     Of beauty is, from thence the Lord

          hath shined gloriously.

3    Our God shall come, and shall no more

          be silent, but speak out:

     Before him fire shall waste, great storms

          shall compass him about.

4    He to the heavens from above,

          and to the earth below,

     Shall call, that he his judgments may

          before his people show.

5    Let all my saints together be

          unto me gathered;

     Those that by sacrifice with me

          a covenant have made.

6    And then the heavens shall declare

          his righteousness abroad:

     Because the Lord himself doth come;

          none else is judge but God.

7    Hear, O my people, and I’ll speak;

          O Israel by name,

     Against thee I will testify;

          God, ev’n thy God, I am.

8    I for thy sacrifices few

          reprove thee never will,

     Nor for burnt-off ‘rings to have been

          before me offer’d still.

9    I’ll take no bullock nor he-goats

          from house nor folds of thine:

10   For beasts of forests, cattle all

          on thousand hills, are mine.

11   The fowls are all to me well known

          that mountains high do yield;

     And I do challenge as mine own

          the wild beasts of the field.

12   If I were hungry, I would not

          to thee for need complain;

     For earth, and all its fulness, doth

          to me of right pertain.

13   That I to eat the flesh of bulls

          take pleasure dost thou think?

     Or that I need, to quench my thirst,

          the blood of goats to drink?

14   Nay, rather unto me, thy God,

          thanksgiving offer thou:

     To the most High perform thy word,

          and fully pay thy vow:

15   And in the day of trouble great

          see that thou call on me;

     I will deliver thee, and thou

          my name shalt glorify.

16   But God unto the wicked saith,

          Why should’st thou mention make

     Of my commands? how dar’st thou in

          thy mouth my cov’nant take?

17   Sith it is so that thou dost hate

          all good instruction;

     And sith thou cast’st behind thy back,

          and slight’st my words each one.

18   When thou a thief didst see, then straight

          thou join’dst with him in sin,

     And with the vile adulterers

          thou hast partaker been.

19   Thy mouth to evil thou dost give,

          thy tongue deceit doth frame.

20   Thou sitt’st, and ‘gainst thy brother speak’st,

          thy mother’s son to shame.

21   These things thou wickedly hast done,

          and I have silent been:

     Thou thought’st that I was like thyself,

          and did approve thy sin:

     But I will sharply thee reprove,

          and I will order right

     Thy sins and thy transgressions

          in presence of thy sight.

22   Consider this, and be afraid,

          ye that forget the Lord,

     Lest I in pieces tear you all,

          when none can help afford.

23   Who off’reth praise me glorifies:

          I will shew God’s salvation

     To him that ordereth aright

          his life and conversation.

1    The Lord doth reign, and cloth’d is he

          with majesty most bright;

     His works do shew him cloth’d to be,

          and girt about with might.

     The world is also stablished,

          that it cannot depart.

2    Thy throne is fix’d of old, and thou

          from everlasting art.

3    The floods, O Lord, have lifted up,

          they lifted up their voice;

     The floods have lifted up their waves,

          and made a mighty noise.

4    But yet the Lord, that is on high,

          is more of might by far

     Than noise of many waters is,

          or great sea-billows are.

5    Thy testimonies ev’ry one

          in faithfulness excel;

     And holiness for ever, Lord,

          thine house becometh well.

1    He that doth in the secret place

          of the most High reside,

     Under the shade of him that is

          th’ Almighty shall abide.

2    I of the Lord my God will say,

          He is my refuge still,

     He is my fortress, and my God,

          and in him trust I will.

3    Assuredly he shall thee save,

          and give deliverance

     From subtile fowler’s snare, and from

          the noisome pestilence.

4    His feathers shall thee hide; thy trust

          under his wings shall be:

     His faithfulness shall be a shield

          and buckler unto thee.

5    Thou shalt not need to be afraid

          for terrors of the night;

     Nor for the arrow that doth fly

          by day, while it is light;

6    Nor for the pestilence, that walks

          in darkness secretly;

     Nor for destruction, that doth waste

          at noon-day openly.

7    A thousand at thy side shall fall,

          on thy right hand shall lie

     Ten thousand dead; yet unto thee

          it shall not once come nigh.

8    Only thou with thine eyes shalt look,

          and a beholder be;

     And thou therein the just reward

          of wicked men shalt see.

9    Because the Lord, who constantly

          my refuge is alone,

     Ev’n the most High, is made by thee

          thy habitation;

10   No plague shall near thy dwelling come;

          no ill shall thee befall:

11   For thee to keep in all thy ways

          his angels charge he shall.

12   They in their hands shall bear thee up,

          still waiting thee upon;

     Lest thou at any time should’st dash

          thy foot against a stone.

13   Upon the adder thou shalt tread,

          and on the lion strong;

     Thy feet on dragons trample shall,

          and on the lions young.

14   Because on me he set his love,

          I’ll save and set him free;

     Because my great name he hath known,

          I will him set on high.

15   He’ll call on me, I’ll answer him;

          I will be with him still

     In trouble, to deliver him,

          and honour him I will.

16   With length of days unto his mind

          I will him satisfy;

     I also my salvation

          will cause his eyes to see.

1    God’s mercies I will ever sing;
          and with my mouth I shall
     Thy faithfulness make to be known
          to generations all.

2    For mercy shall be built, said I,
          for ever to endure;
     Thy faithfulness, ev’n in the heav’ns,
          thou wilt establish sure.

3    I with my chosen One have made
          a cov’nant graciously;
     And to my servant, whom I lov’d,
          to David sworn have I;

4    That I thy seed establish shall
          for ever to remain,
     And will to generations all
          thy throne build and maintain.

5    The praises of thy wonders, Lord,
          the heavens shall express;
     And in the congregation
          of saints thy faithfulness.

6    For who in heaven with the Lord
          may once himself compare?
     Who is like God among the sons
          of those that mighty are?

7    Great fear in meeting of the saints
          is due unto the Lord;
     And he of all about him should
          with rev’rence be ador’d.

8    O thou that art the Lord of hosts,
          what Lord in mightiness
     Is like to thee? who compass’d round
          art with thy faithfulness.

9    Ev’n in the raging of the sea
          thou over it dost reign;
     And when the waves thereof do swell,
          thou stillest them again.

10   Rahab in pieces thou didst break,
          like one that slaughter’d is;
     And with thy mighty arm thou hast
          dispers’d thine enemies.

11   The heav’ns are thine, thou for thine own
          the earth dost also take;
     The world, and fulness of the same,
          thy pow’r did found and make.

12   The north and south from thee alone
          their first beginning had;
     Both Tabor mount and Hermon hill
          shall in thy name be glad.

13   Thou hast an arm that’s full of pow’r,
          thy hand is great in might;
     And thy right hand exceedingly
          exalted is in height.

14   Justice and judgment of thy throne
          are made the dwelling-place;
     Mercy, accompany’d with truth,
          shall go before thy face.

15   O greatly bless’d the people are
          the joyful sound that know;
     In brightness of thy face, O Lord,
          they ever on shall go.

16   They in thy name shall all the day
          rejoice exceedingly;
     And in thy righteousness shall they
          exalted be on high.

17   Because the glory of their strength
          doth only stand in thee;
     And in thy favour shall our horn
          and pow’r exalted be.

18   For God is our defence; and he
          to us doth safety bring:
     The Holy One of Israel
          is our almighty King.

vv. 19-25 to the tune of Auld Lang Syne

(V) 19   In vision to thy Holy One
          thou saidst, I help upon
     A strong one laid; out of the folk
          I rais’d a chosen one;

(V) 20   Ev’n David, I have found him out
          a servant unto me;
     And with my holy oil my King
          anointed him to be.

(C) 21   With whom my hand shall stablish’d be;
          mine arm shall make him strong.
22   On him the foe shall not exact,
          nor son of mischief wrong.

(V) 23   I will beat down before his face
          all his malicious foes;
     I will them greatly plague who do
          with hatred him oppose.

(V) 24   My mercy and my faithfulness
          with him yet still shall be;
     And in my name his horn and pow’r
          men shall exalted see.

(C) 25   His hand and pow’r shall reach afar;
          I’ll set it in the sea;
     And his right hand established
          shall in the rivers be.

vv. 26-38 to the tune of Auld Lang Syne

(V) 26   Thou art my Father, he shall cry,
          thou art my God alone;
     And he shall say, Thou art the Rock
          of my salvation.

(V) 27   I’ll make him my first-born, more high
          than kings of any land.
28   My love I’ll ever keep for him,
          my cov’nant fast shall stand.

(C) 29   His seed I by my pow’r will make
          for ever to endure;
     And, as the days of heav’n, his throne
          shall stable be, and sure.

(V) 30   But if his children shall forsake
          my laws, and go astray,
     And in my judgments shall not walk,
          but wander from my way:

(V) 31   If they my laws break, and do not
          keep my commandements;
32   I’ll visit then their faults with rods,
          their sins with chastisements.

(C) 33   Yet I’ll not take my love from him,
          nor false my promise make.
34   My cov’nant I’ll not break, nor change
          what with my mouth I spake.

(V) 35   Once by my holiness I sware,
          to David I’ll not lie;
36   His seed and throne shall, as the sun,
          before me last for aye.

(V) 37   It, like the moon, shall ever be
          establish’d stedfastly;
     And like to that which in the heav’n
          doth witness faithfully.

(C) 38   But thou, displeased, hast cast off,

        thou didst abhor and loathe;

     With him that thine anointed is

          thou hast been very wroth.

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39   Thou hast thy servant’s covenant

          made void, and quite cast by;

     Thou hast profan’d his crown, while it

          cast on the ground doth lie.

40   Thou all his hedges hast broke down,

          his strong holds down hast torn.

41   He to all passers-by a spoil,

          to neighbours is a scorn.

42   Thou hast set up his foes’ right hand;

          mad’st all his en’mies glad:

43   Turn’d his sword’s edge, and him to stand

          in battle hast not made.

44   His glory thou hast made to cease,

          his throne to ground down cast;

45   Shorten’d his days of youth, and him

          with shame thou cover’d hast.

46   How long, Lord, wilt thou hide thyself?

          for ever, in thine ire?

     And shall thine indignation

          burn like unto a fire?

47   Remember, Lord, how short a time

          I shall on earth remain:

     O wherefore is it so that thou

          has made all men in vain?

48   What man is he that liveth here,

          and death shall never see?

     Or from the power of the grave

          what man his soul shall free?

49   Thy former loving-kindnesses,

          O Lord, where be they now?

     Those which in truth and faithfulness

          to David sworn hast thou?

50   Mind, Lord, thy servant’s sad reproach;

          how I in bosom bear

     The scornings of the people all,

          who strong and mighty are.

51   Wherewith thy raging enemies

          reproach’d, O Lord, think on;

     Wherewith they have reproach’d the steps

          of thine anointed one.

52   All blessing to the Lord our God

          let be ascribed then:

     For evermore so let it be.

          Amen, yea, and amen.

1    I waited for the Lord my God,
          and patiently did bear;
     At length to me he did incline
          my voice and cry to hear.

2    He took me from a fearful pit,
          and from the miry clay,
     And on a rock he set my feet,
          establishing my way.

3    He put a new song in my mouth,
          our God to magnify:
     Many shall see it, and shall fear,
          and on the Lord rely.

4    O blessed is the man whose trust
          upon the Lord relies;
     Respecting not the proud, nor such
          as turn aside to lies.

5    O Lord my God, full many are
          the wonders thou hast done;
     Thy gracious thoughts to us-ward far
          above all thoughts are gone:

     In order none can reckon them

          to thee: if them declare,

     And speak of them I would, they more

          than can be number’d are.

6    No sacrifice nor offering

          didst thou at all desire;

     Mine ears thou bor’d: sin-off ‘ring thou

          and burnt didst not require:

7    Then to the Lord these were my words,

          I come, behold and see;

     Within the volume of the book

          it written is of me:

8    To do thy will I take delight,

          O thou my God that art;

     Yea, that most holy law of thine

          I have within my heart.

9    Within the congregation great

          I righteousness did preach:

     Lo, thou dost know, O Lord, that I

          refrained not my speech.

10   I never did within my heart

          conceal thy righteousness;

     I thy salvation have declar’d,

          and shown thy faithfulness:

     Thy kindness, which most loving is,

          concealed have not I,

     Nor from the congregation great

          have hid thy verity.

11   Thy tender mercies, Lord, from me

          O do thou not restrain;

     Thy loving-kindness, and thy truth,

          let them me still maintain.

12   For ills past reck’ning compass me,

          and mine iniquities

     Such hold upon me taken have,

          I cannot lift mine eyes:

     They more than hairs are on mine head,

          thence is my heart dismay’d.

13   Be pleased, Lord, to rescue me;

          Lord, hasten to mine aid.

14   Sham’d and confounded be they all

          that seek my soul to kill;

     Yea, let them backward driven be,

          and sham’d, that wish me ill.

15   For a reward of this their shame

          confounded let them be.

     That in this manner scoffing say,

          Aha, aha! to me.

16   In thee let all be glad, and joy,

          who seeking thee abide;

     Who thy salvation love, say still,

          The Lord be magnify’d.

17   I’m poor and needy, yet the Lord

          of me a care doth take:

     Thou art my help and saviour,

          my God, no tarrying make.

1    I mercy will and judgment sing,

          Lord, I will sing to thee.

2    With wisdom in a perfect way

          shall my behaviour be.

     O when, in kindness unto me,

          wilt thou be pleas’d to come?

     I with a perfect heart will walk

          within my house at home.

3    I will endure no wicked thing

          before mine eyes to be:

     I hate their work that turn aside,

          it shall not cleave to me.

4    A stubborn and a froward heart

          depart quite from me shall;

     A person giv’n to wickedness

          I will not know at all.

5    I’ll cut him off that slandereth

          his neighbour privily:

     The haughty heart I will not bear,

          nor him that looketh high.

6    Upon the faithful of the land

          mine eyes shall be, that they

     May dwell with me: he shall me serve

          that walks in perfect way.

7    Who of deceit a worker is

          in my house shall not dwell;

     And in my presence shall he not

          remain that lies doth tell.

8    Yea, all the wicked of the land

          early destroy will I;

     All from God’s city to cut off

          that work iniquity.