For thou art not a God that takes

In wickedness delight;

Evil with thee no biding makes;

Fools or mad men stand not within thy sight.

All workers of iniquity

Thou hat'st; and them unblest

10

Thou wilt destroy that speak a lie;

15

The bloody' and guileful man God doth detest.

But I will, in thy mercies dear,

Thy numerous mercies, go

Into thy house; I, in thy fear,

Will tow'rds thy holy temple worship low.

20

Lord, lead me in thy righteousness,

Lead me, because of those

That do observe if I transgress;

Set thy ways right before, where my step goes.

For, in his falt'ring mouth unstable,

No word is firm or sooth;

Their inside, troubles miserable;

25

An open grave their throat, their tongue they smooth.

God, find them guilty, let them fall

By their own counsels quell'd

Push them in their rebellions all

Still on; for against thee they have rebell'd.

Then all who trust in thee shall bring

Their joy while thou from blame

Defend'st them, they shall ever sing

30

35

And shall triumph in thee, who love thy name.
For thou, Jehovah, wilt be found

To bless the just man still;

As with a shield, thou wilt surround

Him with thy lasting favour and good will.

10

PSALM VI.

August 13, 1653.

LORD, in thine anger do not reprehend me,
Nor in thy hot displeasure me correct;
Pity me, Lord, for I am much deject,
And very weak and faint; heal and amend me:
For all my bones, that ev❜n with anguish ake,
Are troubled, yea my soul is troubled sore;
And thou, O Lord, how long? turn, Lord; restore
My soul; O save me for thy goodness sake:
For in death no remembrance is of thee;

Who in the grave can celebrate thy praise?
Wearied I am with sighing out my days;
Nightly my couch I make a kind of sea;
My bed I water with my tears; mine eye

Through grief consumes, is waxen old and dark
I' th' midst of all mine enemies that mark.

Depart, all ye that work iniquity,

Depart from me; for the voice of my weeping

5

10

15

The Lord hath heard; the Lord hath heard my pray'r;

My supplication with acceptance fair

The Lord will own, and have me in his keeping. 20 Mine enemies shall all be blank, and dash'd

With much confusion; then, grown red with shame, They shall return in haste the way they came, And in a moment shall be quite abash'd.

PSALM VIL

August 14, 1653.

Upon the words of Cush the Benjamite against him.

LORD, my God, to thee I fly;
Save me and secure me under
Thy protection, while I cry;
Lest, as a lion, (and no wonder,)
He haste to tear my soul asunder,
Tearing, and no rescue nigh.

Lord, my God, if I have thought
Or done this; if wickedness

Be in my hands; if I have wrought
Ill to him that meant me peace;
Or to him have render'd less,
And not freed my foe for nought;

Let th' enemy pursue my soul,
And overtake it; let him tread

5

10

My life down to the earth, and roll

15

In the dust my glory dead,

In the dust; and. there, out-spread,
Lodge it with dishonour foul.

Rise, Jehovah, in thine ire,

Rouse thyself amidst the rage

20

Of my foes that urge like fire;

And wake for me. their fury' assuage;

Judgment here thou didst engage

And command, which I desire.

So th' assemblies of each nation
Will surround thee, seeking right;
Thence to thy glorious habitation
Return on high, and in their sight.
Jehovah judgeth most upright

All people from the world's foundation.

**25

'30

Judge me, Lord; be judge in this
According to my righteousness,
And the innocence which is
Upon me: cause at length to cease
Of evil men the wickedness,
And their pow'r that do amiss.

But the just establish fast,

Since thou art the just God that tries
Hearts and reins. On God is cast
My defence, and in him lies,

In him who, both just and wise,
Saves th' upright of heart at last.

35

40

God is a just judge and severe,
And God is every day offended;

If the unjust will not forbear,

45

His sword he whets, his bow hath bended

Already, and for him intended

The tools of death, that waits him near.

(His arrows purposely made he

For them that persecute.) Behold

50

He travels big with vanity;
Trouble he hath conceiv'd of old,

As in a womb; and from that mould
Hath at length brought forth a lie.

PSALM VIII.

August 14, 1663.

O JEHOVAH our Lord, how wond'rous great
And glorious is thy name through all the earth!
So as above the Heav'ns thy praise to set
Out of the tender mouths of latest birth.

Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou

Hast founded strength, because of all thy foes, To stint th' enemy, and slack th' avenger's brow, That bends his rage thy providence to' oppose.

When I behold thy Heav'ns, thy fingers' art,

The moon and stars which thou so bright hast set In the pure firmament; then saith my heart,

O what is man that thou rememb❜rest yet,

And think'st upon him; or of man begot,
That him thou visit'st, and of him art found!
Searce to be less than Gods, thou mad'st his lot,

5

9

15

With honour and with state thou hast him crown'd.

O'er the works of thy hand thou mad'st him Lord,
Thou hast put all under his lordly feet;
All flocks, and herds, by thy commanding word,
All beasts that in the field or forest meet,

Fowl of the Heav'ns, and fish that through the wet
Sea paths in shoals do slide, and know no dearth.
O Jehovah our Lord, how wond'rous great
And glorious is thy name through all the earth!

20