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 the enemy pursue my soul
And overtake it, let him tread
My life down to the earth, and roll
In the dust my glory dead,
In the dust, and there outspread
Lodge it with dishonour foul.
Rise, Jehovah, in thine ire,
Rouse thyself amidst the rage
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
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 power 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.
God is a just judge and severe,
And God is every day offended;
If the unjust will not forbear,
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
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.
He digg❜d a pit, and delved it deep,
And fell into the pit he made:
His mischief that due course doth keep,
Turns on his head, and his ill trade,
Of violence will undelay'd
Fall on his crown with ruin steep.
Then will I Jehovah's praise
According to his justice raise,
And sing the Name and Deity
Of Jehovah the Most High.
PSALM VIII. AUG. 14, 1653.
O JEHOVAH Our Lord, how wondrous great
And glorious is thy name through all the earth!
So as above the Heavens 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 the enemy, and slack th' avenger's brow,
That bends his rage thy providence t' oppose.
When I behold thy Heav'ns, thy fingers' art.
The moon and stars which thou so bright hust set
In the pure firmament, then saith my heart,
O what is man that thou remember'st yet,
And think'st upon him; or of man begot,
That him thou visit'st, and of him art found?
Scarce to be less than gods, thou mad'st his lot,
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 Heavens, and fish that through the wet
Sea paths in shoals do slide, and know no dearth.
O Jehovah our Lord, how wondrous great
And gloricus is thy name through all the earth!
Nine of the Psalms done into metre, wherein all, but what is in a different character, are the very words of the text, translated from the original,
THOU Shepherd that dost Israel keep
Give ear in time of need,
Who leadest like a flock of sheep
Thy loved Joseph's seed,
That sitt'st between the Cherubs bright,
Between their wings out-spread,
Shine forth, and from thy cloud give light,
And on our foes thy dread.
In Ephraim's view and Benjamin's,
And in Manasse's sight,
Awake thy strength, come, and be seen
To save us by thy might.
Turn us again, thy grace divine
To us, O God, vouchsafe;
Cause thou thy face on us to shine,
And then we shall be safe.
Lord God of Hosts, how long wilt thou,
How long wilt thou declare
Thy smoking wrath, and angry brow
Against thy people's prayer!
Thou feed'st them with the bread of tears,
Their bread with tears they eat,
And mak'st them largely drink the tears
Wherewith their cheeks are wet.
A strife thou mak'st us and a prey
To every neighbour foe,
Among themselves they laugh, they play,
And flouts at us they throw.
Return us, and thy grace divine,
O God of Hosts, vouchsafe,
Cause thou thy face on us to shine,
And then we shall be safe.
A Vine from Egypt thou hast brought
Thy free love made it thine,
And drov'st out nations, proud and haut,
To plant this lovely vine.
Thou did'st prepare for it a place,
And root it deep and fast,
That it began to grow apace,
And fill'd the land at last.
With her green shade that cover'd all,
The hills were over-spread,
Her boughs as high as cedars tall
Advanced their lofty head.
Her branches on the western side
Down to the sea she sent,
And upward to that river wide
Her other branches went.
Why hast thou laid her hedges low,
And broken down her fence,
That all may pluck her, as they go,
With rudest violence?
The tuskèd boar out of the wood
Up turns it by the roots,
Wild beasts there browse, and make their food Her grapes and tender shoots.
Return now, God of Hosts, look down
From Heav'n, thy seat divine,
Behold us, but without a frown,
And visit this thy vine.
Visit this vine, which thy right hand
Hath set, and planted long,
And the young branch, that for thyself
Thou hast made firm and strong.
But now it is consumed with fire,
And cut with axes down,
They perish at thy dreadful ire,
At thy rebuke and frown.
Upon the man of thy right hand
Let thy good hand be laid,
Upon the son of man, whom thou
Strong for thyself hast made.
So shall we not go back from thee
To ways ofsin and shame,
Quicken us thou, then gladly we
Shall call upon thy Name.
Return us, and thy grace divine,
Lord God of Hosts, vouchsafe,
Cause thou thy face on us to shine,
And then we shall be safe.
To God our strength sing loud, and clear,
Sing loud to God our King,
To Jacob's God, that all may hear,
Loud acclamations ring.
Prepare a hymn, prepare a song,
The timbrel hither bring,
The cheerful psaltry bring along,
And harp with pleasant string.
|