Category: Songs of Christ

1    Hear this, all people, and give ear,

          all in the world that dwell;

2    Both low and high, both rich and poor.

3         My mouth shall wisdom tell:

     My heart shall knowledge meditate.

4         I will incline mine ear

     To parables, and on the harp

          my sayings dark declare.

5    Amidst those days that evil be,

          why should I, fearing, doubt?

     When of my heels th’ iniquity

          shall compass me about.

6    Whoe’er they be that in their wealth

          their confidence do pitch,

     And boast themselves, because they are

          become exceeding rich:

7    Yet none of these his brother can

          redeem by any way;

     Nor can he unto God for him

          sufficient ransom pay,

8    (Their soul’s redemption precious is,

          and it can never be,)

9    That still he should for ever live,

          and not corruption see.

10   For why? he seeth that wise men die,

          and brutish fools also

     Do perish; and their wealth, when dead,

          to others they let go.

11   Their inward thought is, that their house

          and dwelling-places shall

     Stand through all ages; they their lands

          by their own names do call.

12   But yet in honour shall not man

          abide continually;

     But passing hence, may be compar’d

          unto the beasts that die.

13   Thus brutish folly plainly is

          their wisdom and their way;

     Yet their posterity approve

          what they do fondly say.

14   Like sheep they in the grave are laid,

          and death shall them devour;

     And in the morning upright men

          shall over them have pow’r:

     Their beauty from their dwelling shall

          consume within the grave.

15   But from hell’s hand God will me free,

          for he shall me receive.

16   Be thou not then afraid when one

          enriched thou dost see,

     Nor when the glory of his house

          advanced is on high:

17   For he shall carry nothing hence

          when death his days doth end;

     Nor shall his glory after him

          into the grave descend.

18   Although he his own soul did bless

          whilst he on earth did live;

     (And when thou to thyself dost well,

          men will thee praises give;)

19   He to his fathers’ race shall go,

          they never shall see light.

20   Man honour’d wanting knowledge is

          like beasts that perish quite.

Tune = God Moves In A Mysterious Way

(V) 1    Like as the hart for water-brooks
          in thirst doth pant and bray;
     So pants my longing soul, O God,
          that come to thee I may.

(V) 2    My soul for God, the living God,
          doth thirst: when shall I near
     Unto thy countenance approach,
          and in God’s sight appear?

(C) 3    My tears have unto me been meat,
          both in the night and day,
     While unto me continually,
          Where is thy God? they say.

(V) 4    My soul is poured out in me,
          when this I think upon;
     Because that with the multitude
          I heretofore had gone:

(V)     With them into God’s house I went,
          with voice of joy and praise;
     Yea, with the multitude that kept
          the solemn holy days.

(C) 5    O why art thou cast down, my soul?
          why in me so dismay’d?
     Trust God, for I shall praise him yet,
          his count’nance is mine aid.

6    My God, my soul’s cast down in me;
          thee therefore mind I will
     From Jordan’s land, the Hermonites,
          and ev’n from Mizar hill.

7    At the noise of thy water-spouts
          deep unto deep doth call;
     Thy breaking waves pass over me,
          yea, and thy billows all.

8    His loving-kindness yet the Lord
          command will in the day,
     His song’s with me by night; to God,
          by whom I live, I’ll pray:

9    And I will say to God my rock,
          Why me forgett’st thou so?
     Why, for my foes’ oppression,
          thus mourning do I go?

10  ‘Tis as a sword within my bones,
          when my foes me upbraid;
     Ev’n when by them, Where is thy God?
          ’tis daily to me said.

11   O why art thou cast down, my soul?
          why, thus with grief opprest,
     Art thou disquieted in me?
          in God still hope and rest:

     For yet I know I shall him praise,
          who graciously to me
     The health is of my countenance,
          yea, mine own God is he.

1    Great is the Lord, and greatly he

          is to be praised still,

     Within the city of our God,

          upon his holy hill.

2    Mount Sion stands most beautiful,

          the joy of all the land;

     The city of the mighty King

          on her north side doth stand.

3    The Lord within her palaces

          is for a refuge known.

4    For, lo, the kings that gather’d were

          together, by have gone.

5    But when they did behold the same,

          they, wond’ring, would not stay;

     But, being troubled at the sight,

          they thence did haste away.

6    Great terror there took hold on them;

          they were possess’d with fear;

     Their grief came like a woman’s pain,

          when she a child doth bear.

7    Thou Tarshish ships with east wind break’st:

8         As we have heard it told,

     So, in the city of the Lord,

          our eyes did it behold;

     In our God’s city, which his hand

          for ever stablish will.

9    We of thy loving-kindness thought,

          Lord, in thy temple still.

10   O Lord, according to thy name,

          through all the earth’s thy praise;

     And thy right hand, O Lord, is full

          of righteousness always.

11   Because thy judgments are made known,

          let Sion mount rejoice;

     Of Judah let the daughters all

          send forth a cheerful voice.

12   Walk about Sion, and go round;

          the high tow’rs thereof tell:

13   Consider ye her palaces,

          and mark her bulwarks well;

     That ye may tell posterity.

14        For this God doth abide

     Our God for evermore; he will

          ev’n unto death us guide.

1    God is our refuge and our strength,
          in straits a present aid;
2    Therefore, although the earth remove,
          we will not be afraid:

     Though hills amidst the seas be cast;
3         Though waters roaring make,
     And troubled be; yea, though the hills,
          by swelling seas do shake.

4    A river is, whose streams do glad
          the city of our God;
     The holy place, wherein the Lord
          most high hath his abode.

5    God in the midst of her doth dwell;
          nothing shall her remove:
     The Lord to her an helper will,
          and that right early, prove.

Psalm 46:6-11 | Tune: God Moves In A Mysterious Way

v 6    The heathen rag’d tumultuously,
          the kingdoms moved were:
     The Lord God uttered his voice,
          the earth did melt for fear.

v 7    The Lord of hosts upon our side
          doth constantly remain:
     The God of Jacob’s our refuge,
          us safely to maintain.

c 8    Come, and behold what wondrous works
          have by the Lord been wrought;
     Come, see what desolations
          he on the earth hath brought.

v 9    Unto the ends of all the earth
          wars into peace he turns:
     The bow he breaks, the spear he cuts,
          in fire the chariot burns.

v 10   Be still, and know that I am God;
          among the heathen I
     Will be exalted; I on earth
          will be exalted high.

c 11   Our God, who is the Lord of hosts,
          is still upon our side;
     The God of Jacob our refuge
          for ever will abide.

First Version (C.M.)

1    My heart brings forth a goodly thing;

          my words that I indite

     Concern the King: my tongue’s a pen

          of one that swift doth write.

2    Thou fairer art than sons of men:

          into thy lips is store

     Of grace infus’d; God therefore thee

          hath bless’d for evermore.

3    O thou that art the mighty One,

          thy sword gird on thy thigh;

     Ev’n with thy glory excellent,

          and with thy majesty.

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Tune = All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name

4    For meekness, truth, and righteousness,
          in state ride prosp’rously;
     And thy right hand shall thee instruct
          in things that fearful be.

5    Thine arrows sharply pierce the heart
          of th’ en’mies of the King;
     And under thy subjection
          the people down do bring.

6    For ever and for ever is,
          O God, thy throne of might;
     The sceptre of thy kingdom is
          a sceptre that is right.

7    Thou lovest right, and hatest ill;
          for God, thy God, most high,
     Above thy fellows hath with th’ oil
          of joy anointed thee.

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8    Of aloes, myrrh, and cassia,

          a smell thy garments had,

     Out of the iv’ry palaces,

          whereby they made thee glad.

9    Among thy women honourable

          kings’ daughters were at hand:

     Upon thy right hand did the queen

          in gold of Ophir stand.

10   O daughter, hearken and regard,

          and do thine ear incline;

     Likewise forget thy father’s house,

          and people that are thine.

11   Then of the King desir’d shall be

          thy beauty veh’mently:

     Because he is thy Lord, do thou

          him worship rev’rently.

12   The daughter there of Tyre shall be

          with gifts and off ‘rings great:

     Those of the people that are rich

          thy favour shall entreat.

13   Behold, the daughter of the King

          all glorious is within;

     And with embroideries of gold

          her garments wrought have been.

14   She shall be brought unto the King

          in robes with needle wrought;

     Her fellow-virgins following

          shall unto thee be brought.

15   They shall be brought with gladness great,

          and mirth on ev’ry side,

     Into the palace of the King,

          and there they shall abide.

16   Instead of those thy fathers dear,

          thy children thou may’st take,

     And in all places of the earth

          them noble princes make.

17   Thy name remember’d I will make

          through ages all to be:

     The people therefore evermore

          shall praises give to thee.

Second Version (S.M.)

1    My heart inditing is

          good matter in a song:

     I speak the things that I have made,

          which to the King belong:

     My tongue shall be as quick,

          his honour to indite,

     As is the pen of any scribe

          that useth fast to write.

2    Thou’rt fairest of all men;

          grace in thy lips doth flow:

     And therefore blessings evermore

          on thee doth God bestow.

3    Thy sword gird on thy thigh,

          thou that art most of might:

     Appear in dreadful majesty,

          and in thy glory bright.

4    For meekness, truth, and right,

          ride prosp’rously in state;

     And thy right hand shall teach to thee

          things terrible and great.

5    Thy shafts shall pierce their hearts

          that foes are to the King;

     Whereby into subjection

          the people thou shalt bring.

6    Thy royal seat, O Lord,

          for ever shall remain:

     The sceptre of thy kingdom doth

          all righteousness maintain.

7    Thou lov’st right, and hat’st ill;

          for God, thy God, most high,

     Above thy fellows hath with th’ oil

          of joy anointed thee.

8    Of myrrh and spices sweet

          a smell thy garments had,

     Out of the iv’ry palaces,

          whereby they made thee glad.

9    And in thy glorious train

          kings’ daughters waiting stand;

     And thy fair queen, in Ophir gold,

          doth stand at thy right hand.

10   O daughter, take good heed,

          incline, and give good ear;

     Thou must forget thy kindred all,

          and father’s house most dear.

11   Thy beauty to the King

          shall then delightful be:

     And do thou humbly worship him,

          because thy Lord is he.

12   The daughter then of Tyre

          there with a gift shall be,

     And all the wealthy of the land

          shall make their suit to thee.

13   The daughter of the King

          all glorious is within;

     And with embroideries of gold

          her garments wrought have been.

14   She cometh to the King

          in robes with needle wrought;

     The virgins that do follow her

          shall unto thee be brought.

15   They shall be brought with joy,

          and mirth on ev’ry side,

     Into the palace of the King,

          and there they shall abide.

16   And in thy fathers’ stead,

          thy children thou may’st take,

     And in all places of the earth

          them noble princes make.

17   I will shew forth thy name

          to generations all:

     Therefore the people evermore

          to thee give praises shall.

Tune = God Moves in A Mysterious Way

v 1    Shew mercy, Lord, to me, for man
          would swallow me outright;
     He me oppresseth, while he doth
          against me daily fight.

v 2    They daily would me swallow up
          that hate me spitefully;
     For they be many that do fight
          against me, O most High.

c 3    When I’m afraid I’ll trust in thee:
4         In God I’ll praise his word;
     I will not fear what flesh can do,
          my trust is in the Lord.

v 5    Each day they wrest my words; their thoughts
          ‘gainst me are all for ill.
6    They meet, they lurk, they mark my steps,
          waiting my soul to kill.

v 7    But shall they by iniquity
          escape thy judgments so?
     O God, with indignation down
          do thou the people throw.

c 8    My wand’rings all what they have been
          thou know’st, their number took;
     Into thy bottle put my tears:
          are they not in thy book?

v 9    My foes shall, when I cry, turn back;
          I know’t, God is for me.
10   In God his word I’ll praise; his word
        in God shall praised be.

v 11   In God I trust; I will not fear
          what man can do to me.
12   Thy vows upon me are, O God:
          I’ll render praise to thee.

c 13   Wilt thou not, who from death me sav’d,
          my feet from falls keep free,
     To walk before God in the light
          of those that living be?

1    Judge me, O God, and plead my cause

          against th’ ungodly nation;

     From the unjust and crafty man,

          O be thou my salvation.

2    For thou the God art of my strength;

          why thrusts thou me thee fro’?

     For th’ enemy’s oppression

          why do I mourning go?

3    O send thy light forth and thy truth;

          let them be guides to me,

     And bring me to thine holy hill,

          ev’n where thy dwellings be.

4    Then will I to God’s altar go,

          to God my chiefest joy:

     Yea, God, my God, thy name to praise

          my harp I will employ.

5    Why art thou then cast down, my soul?

          what should discourage thee?

     And why with vexing thoughts art thou

          disquieted in me?

     Still trust in God; for him to praise

          good cause I yet shall have:

     He of my count’nance is the health,

          my God that doth me save.

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.

First Version (L.M.)

1    All people that on earth do dwell,         
Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.
2    Him serve with mirth, his praise forth tell,
          Come ye before him and rejoice.

3    Know that the Lord is God indeed;
          Without our aid he did us make:
     We are his flock, he doth us feed,
          And for his sheep he doth us take.

4    O enter then his gates with praise,
          Approach with joy his courts unto:
     Praise, laud, and bless his name always,
          For it is seemly so to do.

5    For why? the Lord our God is good,
          His mercy is for ever sure;
     His truth at all times firmly stood,
          And shall from age to age endure.

Second Version (C.M.)

1    O all ye lands, unto the Lord
          make ye a joyful noise.
2    Serve God with gladness, him before
          come with a singing voice.

3    Know ye the Lord that he is God;
          not we, but he us made:
     We are his people, and the sheep
          within his pasture fed.

4    Enter his gates and courts with praise,
          to thank him go ye thither:
     To him express your thankfulness,
          and bless his name together.

5    Because the Lord our God is good,
          his mercy faileth never;
     And to all generations
          his truth endureth ever.

¹ To render thanks unto the Lord
it is a comely thing,
And to thy name, O thou most High,
due praise aloud to sing.

² Thy loving-kindness to show forth
when shines the morning light;
And to declare thy faithfulness
with pleasure ev’ry night.

³ On a ten-stringed instrument,
upon the psaltery,
And on the harp with solemn sound,
and grave sweet melody.

⁴ For thou, Lord, by thy mighty works
hast made my heart right glad;
And I will triumph in the works
which by thine hands were made.

⁵ How great, Lord, are thy works! each thought
of thine a deep it is:
⁶ A brutish man it knoweth not;
fools understand not this.

⁷ When those that lewd and wicked are
spring quickly up like grass,
And workers of iniquity
do flourish all apace;

It is that they for ever may
destroyed be and slain;
⁸ But thou, O Lord, art the most High,
for ever to remain.

⁹ For, lo, thine enemies, O Lord,
thine en’mies perish shall;
The workers of iniquity
shall be dispersed all.

¹⁰ But thou shalt, like unto the horn
of th’ unicorn, exalt
My horn on high: thou with fresh oil
anoint me also shalt.

¹¹ Mine eyes shall also my desire
see on mine enemies;
Mine ears shall of the wicked hear
that do against me rise.

¹² But like the palm-tree flourishing
shall be the righteous one;
He shall like to the cedar grow
that is in Lebanon.

¹³ Those that within the house of God
are planted by his grace,
They shall grow up, and flourish all
in our God’s holy place.

¹⁴ And in old age, when others fade,
they fruit still forth shall bring;
They shall be fat, and full of sap,
and aye be flourishing;

¹⁵ To show that upright is the Lord:
he is a rock to me;
And he from all unrighteousness
is altogether free.