Tag: Songs of Christ

1    Plead, Lord, with those that plead; and fight

          with those that fight with me.

2    Of shield and buckler take thou hold,

          stand up mine help to be.

3    Draw also out the spear, and do

          against them stop the way

     That me pursue: unto my soul,

          I’m thy salvation, say.

4    Let them confounded be and sham’d

          that for my soul have sought:

     Who plot my hurt turn’d back be they,

          and to confusion brought.

5    Let them be like unto the chaff

          that flies before the wind;

     And let the angel of the Lord

          pursue them hard behind.

6    With darkness cover thou their way,

          and let it slipp’ry prove;

     And let the angel of the Lord

          pursue them from above.

7    For without cause have they for me

          their net hid in a pit,

     They also have without a cause

          for my soul digged it.

8    Let ruin seize him unawares;

          his net he hid withal

     Himself let catch; and in the same

          destruction let him fall.

9    My soul in God shall joy; and glad

          in his salvation be:

10   And all my bones shall say, O Lord,

          who is like unto thee,

     Which dost the poor set free from him

          that is for him too strong;

     The poor and needy from the man

          that spoils and does him wrong?

11   False witnesses rose; to my charge

          things I not knew they laid.

12   They, to the spoiling of my soul,

          me ill for good repaid.

13   But as for me, when they were sick,

          in sackcloth sad I mourn’d:

     My humbled soul did fast, my pray’r

          into my bosom turn’d.

14   Myself I did behave as he

          had been my friend or brother;

     I heavily bow’d down, as one

          that mourneth for his mother.

15   But in my trouble they rejoic’d,

          gath’ring themselves together;

     Yea, abjects vile together did

          themselves against me gather:

     I knew it not; they did me tear,

          and quiet would not be.

16   With mocking hypocrites, at feasts

          they gnash’d their teeth at me.

17   How long, Lord, look’st thou on? from those

          destructions they intend

     Rescue my soul, from lions young

          my darling do defend.

18   I will give thanks to thee, O Lord,

          within th’ assembly great;

     And where much people gather’d are

          thy praises forth will set.

19   Let not my wrongful enemies

          proudly rejoice o’er me;

     Nor who me hate without a cause,

          let them wink with the eye.

20   For peace they do not speak at all;

          but crafty plots prepare

     Against all those within the land

          that meek and quiet are.

21   With mouths set wide, they ‘gainst me said,

          Ha, ha! our eye doth see.

22   Lord, thou hast seen, hold not thy peace;

          Lord, be not far from me.

23   Stir up thyself; wake, that thou may’st

          judgment to me afford,

     Ev’n to my cause, O thou that art

          my only God and Lord.

24   O Lord my God, do thou me judge

          after thy righteousness;

     And let them not their joy ‘gainst me

          triumphantly express:

25   Nor let them say within their hearts,

          Ah, we would have it thus;

     Nor suffer them to say, that he

          is swallow’d up by us.

26   Sham’d and confounded be they all

          that at my hurt are glad;

     Let those against me that do boast

          with shame and scorn be clad.

27   Let them that love my righteous cause

          be glad, shout, and not cease

     To say, The Lord be magnify’d,

          who loves his servant’s peace.

28   Thy righteousness shall also be

          declared by my tongue;

     The praises that belong to thee

          speak shall it all day long.

1    The wicked man’s transgression

          within my heart thus says,

     Undoubtedly the fear of God

          is not before his eyes.

2    Because himself he flattereth

          in his own blinded eye,

     Until the hatefulness be found

          of his iniquity.

3    Words from his mouth proceeding are,

          fraud and iniquity:

     He to be wise, and to do good,

          hath left off utterly.

4    He mischief, lying on his bed,

          most cunningly doth plot:

     He sets himself in ways not good,

          ill he abhorreth not.

5    Thy mercy, Lord, is in the heav’ns;

          thy truth doth reach the clouds:

6    Thy justice is like mountains great;

          thy judgments deep as floods:

     Lord, thou preservest man and beast.

7         How precious is thy grace!

     Therefore in shadow of thy wings

          men’s sons their trust shall place.

8    They with the fatness of thy house

          shall be well satisfy’d;

     From rivers of thy pleasures thou

          wilt drink to them provide.

9    Because of life the fountain pure

          remains alone with thee;

     And in that purest light of thine

          we clearly light shall see.

10   Thy loving-kindness unto them

          continue that thee know;

     And still on men upright in heart

          thy righteousness bestow.

11   Let not the foot of cruel pride

          come, and against me stand;

     And let me not removed be,

          Lord, by the wicked’s hand.

12   There fallen are they, and ruined,

          that work iniquities:

     Cast down they are, and never shall

          be able to arise.

1    O blessed is the man to whom

          is freely pardoned

     All the transgression he hath done,

          whose sin is covered.

2    Bless’d is the man to whom the Lord

          imputeth not his sin,

     And in whose sp’rit there is no guile,

          nor fraud is found therein.

3    When as I did refrain my speech,

          and silent was my tongue,

     My bones then waxed old, because

          I roared all day long.

4    For upon me both day and night

          thine hand did heavy lie,

     So that my moisture turned is

          in summer’s drought thereby.

5    I thereupon have unto thee

          my sin acknowledged,

     And likewise mine iniquity

          I have not covered:

     I will confess unto the Lord

          my trespasses, said I;

     And of my sin thou freely didst

          forgive th’ iniquity.

6    For this shall ev’ry godly one

          his prayer make to thee;

     In such a time he shall thee seek,

          as found thou mayest be.

     Surely, when floods of waters great

          do swell up to the brim,

     They shall not overwhelm his soul,

          nor once come near to him.

7    Thou art my hiding-place, thou shalt

          from trouble keep me free:

     Thou with songs of deliverance

          about shalt compass me.

8    I will instruct thee, and thee teach

          the way that thou shalt go;

     And, with mine eye upon thee set,

          I will direction show.

9    Then be not like the horse or mule,

          which do not understand;

     Whose mouth, lest they come near to thee,

          a bridle must command.

10   Unto the man that wicked is

          his sorrows shall abound;

     But him that trusteth in the Lord

          mercy shall compass round.

11   Ye righteous, in the Lord be glad,

          in him do ye rejoice:

     All ye that upright are in heart,

          for joy lift up your voice.

1    God will I bless all times; his praise
          my mouth shall still express.
2    My soul shall boast in God: the meek
          shall hear with joyfulness.

3    Extol the Lord with me, let us
          exalt his name together.
4    I sought the Lord, he heard, and did
          me from all fears deliver.

5    They look’d to him, and lighten’d were:
          not shamed were their faces.
6    This poor man cry’d, God heard, and sav’d
          him from all his distresses.

7    The angel of the Lord encamps,
          and round encompasseth
     All those about that do him fear,
          and them delivereth.

8    O taste and see that God is good:
          who trusts in him is bless’d.
9    Fear God his saints: none that him fear
          shall be with want oppress’d.

10   The lions young may hungry be,
          and they may lack their food:
     But they that truly seek the Lord
          shall not lack any good.

11   O children, hither do ye come,
          and unto me give ear;
     I shall you teach to understand
          how ye the Lord should fear.

12   What man is he that life desires,
          to see good would live long?
13   Thy lips refrain from speaking guile,
          and from ill words thy tongue.

14   Depart from ill, do good, seek peace,
          pursue it earnestly.
15   God’s eyes are on the just; his ears
          are open to their cry.

16   The face of God is set against
          those that do wickedly,
     That he may quite out from the earth
          cut off their memory.

17   The righteous cry unto the Lord,
          he unto them gives ear;
     And they out of their troubles all
          by him deliver’d are.

18   The Lord is ever nigh to them
          that be of broken sp’rit;
     To them he safety doth afford
          that are in heart contrite.

19   The troubles that afflict the just
          in number many be;
     But yet at length out of them all
          the Lord doth set him free.

20   He carefully his bones doth keep,
          whatever can befall;
     That not so much as one of them
          can broken be at all.

21     Ill shall the wicked slay; laid waste
          shall be who hate the just.
22     The Lord redeems his servants’ souls;
          none perish that him trust.

1    In thee, O Lord, I put my trust,

          sham’d let me never be;

     According to thy righteousness

          do thou deliver me.

2    Bow down thine ear to me, with speed

          send me deliverance:

     To save me, my strong rock be thou,

          and my house of defence.

3    Because thou art my rock, and thee

          I for my fortress take;

     Therefore do thou me lead and guide,

          ev’n for thine own name’s sake.

4    And sith thou art my strength, therefore

          pull me out of the net,

     Which they in subtilty for me

          so privily have set.

5    Into thine hands I do commit

          my sp’rit: for thou art he,

     O thou, Jehovah, God of truth,

          that hast redeemed me.

6    Those that do lying vanities

          regard, I have abhorr’d:

     But as for me, my confidence

          is fixed on the Lord.

7    I’ll in thy mercy gladly joy:

          for thou my miseries

     Consider’d hast; thou hast my soul

          known in adversities:

8    And thou hast not inclosed me

          within the en’my’s hand;

     And by thee have my feet been made

          in a large room to stand.

9    O Lord, upon me mercy have,

          for trouble is on me:

     Mine eye, my belly, and my soul,

          with grief consumed be.

10   Because my life with grief is spent,

          my years with sighs and groans:

     My strength doth fail; and for my sin

          consumed are my bones.

11   I was a scorn to all my foes,

          and to my friends a fear;

     And specially reproach’d of those

          that were my neighbours near:

     When they me saw they from me fled.

12        Ev’n so I am forgot,

     As men are out of mind when dead:

          I’m like a broken pot.

13   For slanders I of many heard;

          fear compass’d me, while they

     Against me did consult, and plot

          to take my life away.

14   But as for me, O Lord, my trust

          upon thee I did lay;

     And I to thee, Thou art my God,

          did confidently say.

15   My times are wholly in thine hand:

          do thou deliver me

     From their hands that mine enemies

          and persecutors be.

16   Thy countenance to shine do thou

          upon thy servant make:

     Unto me give salvation,

          for thy great mercies’ sake.

17   Let me not be asham’d, O Lord,

          for on thee call’d I have:

     Let wicked men be sham’d, let them

          be silent in the grave.

18   To silence put the lying lips,

          that grievous things do say,

     And hard reports, in pride and scorn,

          on righteous men do lay.

19   How great’s the goodness thou for them

          that fear thee keep’st in store,

     And wrought’st for them that trust in thee

          the sons of men before!

20   In secret of thy presence thou

          shalt hide them from man’s pride:

     From strife of tongues thou closely shalt,

          as in a tent, them hide.

21   All praise and thanks be to the Lord;

          for he hath magnify’d

     His wondrous love to me within

          a city fortify’d.

22   For from thine eyes cut off I am,

          I in my haste had said;

     My voice yet heard’st thou, when to thee

          with cries my moan I made.

23   O love the Lord, all ye his saints;

          because the Lord doth guard

     The faithful, and he plenteously

          proud doers doth reward.

24   Be of good courage, and he strength

          unto your heart shall send,

     All ye whose hope and confidence

          doth on the Lord depend.

1    Give ye unto the Lord, ye sons

          that of the mighty be,

     All strength and glory to the Lord

          with cheerfulness give ye.

2    Unto the Lord the glory give

          that to his name is due;

     And in the beauty of holiness

          unto Jehovah bow.

3    The Lord’s voice on the waters is;

          the God of majesty

     Doth thunder, and on multitudes

          of waters sitteth he.

4    A pow’rful voice it is that comes

          out from the Lord most high;

     The voice of that great Lord is full

          of glorious majesty.

5    The voice of the Eternal doth

          asunder cedars tear;

     Yea, God the Lord doth cedars break

          that Lebanon doth bear.

6    He makes them like a calf to skip,

          ev’n that great Lebanon,

     And, like to a young unicorn,

          the mountain Sirion.

7    God’s voice divides the flames of fire;

8        The desert it doth shake:

     The Lord doth make the wilderness

          of Kadesh all to quake.

9    God’s voice doth make the hinds to calve,

          it makes the forest bare:

     And in his temple ev’ry one

          his glory doth declare.

10   The Lord sits on the floods; the Lord

          sits King, and ever shall.

11   The Lord will give his people strength,

          and with peace bless them all.

1    To thee I’ll cry, O Lord, my rock;

          hold not thy peace to me;

     Lest like those that to pit descend

          I by thy silence be.

2    The voice hear of my humble pray’rs,

          when unto thee I cry;

     When to thine holy oracle

          I lift mine hands on high.

3    With ill men draw me not away

          that work iniquity;

     That speak peace to their friends, while in

          their hearts doth mischief lie.

4    Give them according to their deeds

          and ills endeavoured:

     And as their handy-works deserve,

          to them be rendered.

5    God shall not build, but them destroy,

          who would not understand

     The Lord’s own works, nor did regard

          the doing of his hand.

6    For ever blessed be the Lord,

          for graciously he heard

     The voice of my petitions,

          and prayers did regard.

7    The Lord’s my strength and shield; my heart

          upon him did rely;

     And I am helped: hence my heart

          doth joy exceedingly,

     And with my song I will him praise.

8         Their strength is God alone:

     He also is the saving strength

          of his anointed one.

9    O thine own people do thou save,

          bless thine inheritance;

     Them also do thou feed, and them

          for evermore advance.

1    Judge me, O Lord, for I have walk’d

          in mine integrity:

     I trusted also in the Lord;

          slide therefore shall not I.

2    Examine me, and do me prove;

          try heart and reins, O God:

3    For thy love is before mine eyes,

          thy truth’s paths I have trode.

4    With persons vain I have not sat,

          nor with dissemblers gone:

5    Th’ assembly of ill men I hate;

          to sit with such I shun.

6    Mine hands in innocence, O Lord,

          I’ll wash and purify;

     So to thine holy altar go,

          and compass it will I:

7    That I, with voice of thanksgiving,

          may publish and declare,

     And tell of all thy mighty works,

          that great and wondrous are.

8    The habitation of thy house,

          Lord, I have loved well;

     Yea, in that place I do delight

          where doth thine honour dwell.

9    With sinners gather not my soul,

          and such as blood would spill:

10   Whose hands mischievous plots, right hand

          corrupting bribes do fill.

11   But as for me, I will walk on

          in mine integrity:

     Do thou redeem me, and, O Lord,

          be merciful to me.

12   My foot upon an even place

          doth stand with stedfastness:

     Within the congregations

          th’ Eternal I will bless.

First Version (S.M.)

1    To thee I lift my soul:

2          O Lord, I trust in thee:

     My God, let me not be asham’d,

          nor foes triumph o’er me.

3    Let none that wait on thee

          be put to shame at all;

     But those that without cause transgress,

          let shame upon them fall.

4    Shew me thy ways, O Lord;

          thy paths, O teach thou me:

5    And do thou lead me in thy truth,

          therein my teacher be:

     For thou art God that dost

          to me salvation send,

     And I upon thee all the day

          expecting do attend.

6    Thy tender mercies, Lord,

          I pray thee to remember,

     And loving-kindnesses; for they

          have been of old for ever.

7    My sins and faults of youth

          do thou, O Lord, forget:

     After thy mercy think on me,

          and for thy goodness great.

8    God good and upright is:

          the way he’ll sinners show.

9    The meek in judgment he will guide,

          and make his path to know.

10   The whole paths of the Lord

          are truth and mercy sure,

     To those that do his cov’nant keep,

          and testimonies pure.

11   Now, for thine own name’s sake,

          O Lord, I thee entreat

     To pardon mine iniquity;

          for it is very great.

12   What man is he that fears

          the Lord, and doth him serve?

     Him shall he teach the way that he

          shall choose, and still observe.

13   His soul shall dwell at ease;

          and his posterity

     Shall flourish still, and of the earth

          inheritors shall be.

14   With those that fear him is

          the secret of the Lord;

     The knowledge of his covenant

          he will to them afford.

15   Mine eyes upon the Lord

          continually are set:

     For he it is that shall bring forth

          my feet out of the net.

16   Turn unto me thy face,

          and to me mercy show;

     Because that I am desolate,

          and am brought very low.

17   My heart’s griefs are increas’d:

          me from distress relieve.

18   See mine affliction and my pain,

          and all my sins forgive.

19   Consider thou my foes,

          because they many are;

     And it a cruel hatred is

          which they against me bear.

20   O do thou keep my soul,

          do thou deliver me:

     And let me never be asham’d,

          because I trust in thee.

21   Let uprightness and truth

          keep me, who thee attend.

22   Redemption, Lord, to Israel

          from all his troubles send.

Second Version (C.M.)

1    To thee I lift my soul, O Lord:

2          My God, I trust in thee:

     Let me not be asham’d; let not

          my foes triumph o’er me.

3    Yea, let thou none ashamed be

          that do on thee attend:

     Ashamed let them be, O Lord,

          who without cause offend.

4    Thy ways, Lord, shew; teach me thy paths:

5         Lead me in truth, teach me:

     For of my safety thou art God;

          all day I wait on thee.

6    Thy mercies, that most tender are,

          do thou, O Lord, remember,

     And loving-kindnesses; for they

          have been of old for ever.

7    Let not the errors of my youth,

          nor sins, remember’d be:

     In mercy, for thy goodness’ sake,

           O Lord, remember me.

8    The Lord is good and gracious,

          he upright is also:

     He therefore sinners will instruct

          in ways that they should go.

9    The meek and lowly he will guide

          in judgment just alway:

     To meek and poor afflicted ones

          he’ll clearly teach his way.

10   The whole paths of the Lord our God

          are truth and mercy sure,

     To such as keep his covenant,

          and testimonies pure.

11   Now, for thine own name’s sake, O Lord,

          I humbly thee entreat

     To pardon mine iniquity;

          for it is very great.

12   What man fears God? him shall he teach

          the way that he shall chuse.

13   His soul shall dwell at ease; his seed

          the earth, as heirs, shall use.

14   The secret of the Lord is with

          such as do fear his name;

     And he his holy covenant

          will manifest to them.

15   Towards the Lord my waiting eyes

          continually are set;

     For he it is that shall bring forth

          my feet out of the net.

16   O turn thee unto me, O God,

          have mercy me upon;

     Because I solitary am,

          and in affliction.

17   Enlarg’d the griefs are of mine heart;

          me from distress relieve.

18   See mine affliction and my pain,

          and all my sins forgive.

19   Consider thou mine enemies,

          because they many are;

     And it a cruel hatred is

          which they against me bear.

20   O do thou keep my soul; O God,

          do thou deliver me:

     Let me not be asham’d; for I

          do put my trust in thee.

21   O let integrity and truth

          keep me, who thee attend.

22   Redemption, Lord, to Israel

          from all his troubles send.

1    The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want.
2          He makes me down to lie
     In pastures green: he leadeth me
          the quiet waters by.

3    My soul he doth restore again;
          and me to walk doth make
     Within the paths of righteousness,
          ev’n for his own name’s sake.

4    Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale,
          yet will I fear none ill:
     For thou art with me; and thy rod
          and staff me comfort still.

5    My table thou hast furnished
          in presence of my foes;
     My head thou dost with oil anoint,
          and my cup overflows.

6    Goodness and mercy all my life
          shall surely follow me:
     And in God’s house for evermore
          my dwelling-place shall be.