Category: Songs of Christ

1     O Lord, how are my foes increas’d?

          against me many rise.

2     Many say of my soul, For him

          in God no succour lies.

3     Yet thou my shield and glory art,

          th’ uplifter of mine head.

4     I cry’d, and, from his holy hill,

          the Lord me answer made.

5     I laid me down and slept; I wak’d;

          for God sustained me.

6     I will not fear though thousands ten

          set round against me be.

7     Arise, O Lord; save me, my God;

          for thou my foes hast stroke

      All on the cheek-bone, and the teeth

          of wicked men hast broke.

8     Salvation doth appertain

          unto the Lord alone:

      Thy blessing, Lord, for evermore

          thy people is upon.

1    Save me, O God, because the floods

          do so environ me,

     That ev’n unto my very soul

          come in the waters be.

2    I downward in deep mire do sink,

          where standing there is none:

     I am into deep waters come,

          where floods have o’er me gone.

3    I weary with my crying am,

          my throat is also dry’d;

     Mine eyes do fail, while for my God

          I waiting do abide.

4    Those men that do without a cause

          bear hatred unto me,

     Than are the hairs upon my head

          in number more they be:

     They that would me destroy, and are

          mine en’mies wrongfully,

     Are mighty: so what I took not,

          to render forc’d was I.

     They that would me destroy, and are

          mine en’mies wrongfully,

     Are mighty: so what I took not,

          to render forc’d was I.

5    Lord, thou my folly know’st, my sins

          not cover’d are from thee.

6    Let none that wait on thee be sham’d,

          Lord God of hosts, for me.

     O Lord, the God of Israel,

          let none, who search do make,

     And seek thee, be at any time

          confounded for my sake.

7    For I have borne reproach for thee,

          my face is hid with shame.

8    To brethren strange, to mother’s sons

          an alien I became.

9    Because the zeal did eat me up,

          which to thine house I bear;

     And the reproaches cast at thee,

          upon me fallen are.

10   My tears and fasts, t’ afflict my soul,

          were turned to my shame.

11   When sackcloth I did wear, to them

          a proverb I became.

12   The men that in the gate do sit

          against me evil spake;

     They also that vile drunkards were

          of me their song did make.

13   But, in an acceptable time,

          my pray’r, Lord, is to thee:

     In truth of thy salvation, Lord,

          and mercy great, hear me.

14   Deliver me out of the mire,

          from sinking do me keep;

     Free me from those that do me hate,

          and from the waters deep.

15   Let not the flood on me prevail,

          whose water overflows;

     Nor deep me swallow, nor the pit

          her mouth upon me close.

16   Hear me, O Lord, because thy love

          and kindness is most good;

     Turn unto me, according to

          thy mercies’ multitude.

17   Nor from thy servant hide thy face:

          I’m troubled, soon attend.

18   Draw near my soul, and it redeem;

          me from my foes defend.

19   To thee is my reproach well known,

          my shame, and my disgrace:

     Those that mine adversaries be

          are all before thy face.

20   Reproach hath broke my heart; I’m full

          of grief: I look’d for one

     To pity me, but none I found;

          comforters found I none.

21   They also bitter gall did give

          unto me for my meat:

     They gave me vinegar to drink,

          when as my thirst was great.

22   Before them let their table prove

          a snare; and do thou make

     Their welfare and prosperity

          a trap themselves to take.

23   Let thou their eyes so darken’d be,

          that sight may them forsake;

     And let their loins be made by thee

          continually to shake.

24   Thy fury pour thou out on them,

          and indignation;

     And let thy wrathful anger, Lord,

          fast hold take them upon.

25   All waste and desolate let be

          their habitation;

     And in their tabernacles all

          inhabitants be none.

26   Because him they do persecute,

          whom thou didst smite before;

     They talk unto the grief of those

          whom thou hast wounded sore.

27   Add thou iniquity unto

          their former wickedness;

     And do not let them come at all

          into thy righteousness.

28   Out of the book of life let them

          be raz’d and blotted quite;

     Among the just and righteous

          let not their names be writ.

29   But now become exceeding poor

          and sorrowful am I:

     By thy salvation, O my God,

          let me be set on high.

30   The name of God I with a song

          most cheerfully will praise;

     And I, in giving thanks to him,

          his name shall highly raise.

31   This to the Lord a sacrifice

          more gracious shall prove

     Than bullock, ox, or any beast

          that hath both horn and hoof.

32   When this the humble men shall see,

          it joy to them shall give:

     O all ye that do seek the Lord,

          your hearts shall ever live.

33   For God the poor hears, and will not

          his prisoners contemn.

34   Let heav’n, and earth, and seas, him praise,

          and all that move in them.

35   For God will Judah’s cities build,

          and he will Sion save,

     That they may dwell therein, and it

          in sure possession have.

36   And they that are his servants’ seed

          inherit shall the same;

     So shall they have their dwelling there

          that love his blessed name.

1    That man hath perfect blessedness,
          who walketh not astray
     In counsel of ungodly men,
          nor stands in sinners’ way,

     Nor sitteth in the scorner’s chair:
2          But placeth his delight
     Upon God’s law, and meditates
          on his law day and night.

3    He shall be like a tree that grows
          near planted by a river,
     Which in his season yields his fruit,
          and his leaf fadeth never:

     And all he doth shall prosper well
4        The wicked are not so;
     But like they are unto the chaff,
          which wind drives to and fro.

5    In judgment therefore shall not stand
          such as ungodly are;
     Nor in th’ assembly of the just
          shall wicked men appear.

6    For why? the way of godly men
          unto the Lord is known:
     Whereas the way of wicked men
          shall quite be overthrown.

1    In thy great indignation,

          O Lord, rebuke me not;

     Nor on me lay thy chast’ning hand,

          in thy displeasure hot.

2    For in me fast thine arrows stick,

          thine hand doth press me sore:

3    And in my flesh there is no health,

          nor soundness any more.

     This grief I have, because thy wrath

          is forth against me gone;

     And in my bones there is no rest,

          for sin that I have done.

4    Because gone up above mine head

          my great transgressions be;

     And, as a weighty burden, they

          too heavy are for me.

5    My wounds do stink, and are corrupt;

          my folly makes it so.

6    I troubled am, and much bow’d down;

          all day I mourning go.

7    For a disease that loathsome is

          so fills my loins with pain,

     That in my weak and weary flesh

          no soundness doth remain.

8    So feeble and infirm am I,

          and broken am so sore,

     That, through disquiet of my heart,

          I have been made to roar.

9    O Lord, all that I do desire

          is still before thine eye;

     And of my heart the secret groans

          not hidden are from thee.

10   My heart doth pant incessantly,

          my strength doth quite decay;

     As for mine eyes, their wonted light

          is from me gone away.

11   My lovers and my friends do stand

          at distance from my sore;

     And those do stand aloof that were

          kinsmen and kind before.

12   Yea, they that seek my life lay snares:

          who seek to do me wrong

     Speak things mischievous, and deceits

          imagine all day long.

13   But, as one deaf, that heareth not,

          I suffer’d all to pass;

     I as a dumb man did become,

          whose mouth not open’d was:

14   As one that hears not, in whose mouth

          are no reproofs at all.

15   For, Lord, I hope in thee; my God,

          thou’lt hear me when I call.

16   For I said, Hear me, lest they should

          rejoice o’er me with pride;

     And o’er me magnify themselves,

          when as my foot doth slide.

17   For I am near to halt, my grief

          is still before mine eye:

18   For I’ll declare my sin, and grieve

          for mine iniquity.

19   But yet mine en’mies lively are,

          and strong are they beside;

     And they that hate me wrongfully

          are greatly multiply’d.

20   And they for good that render ill,

          as en’mies me withstood;

     Yea, ev’n for this, because that I

          do follow what is good.

21   Forsake me not, O Lord; my God,

          far from me never be.

22   O Lord, thou my salvation art,

          haste to give help to me.

1    For evil-doers fret thou not

          thyself unquietly;

     Nor do thou envy bear to those

          that work iniquity.

2    For, even like unto the grass,

          soon be cut down shall they;

     And, like the green and tender herb,

          they wither shall away.

3    Set thou thy trust upon the Lord,

          and be thou doing good;

     And so thou in the land shalt dwell,

          and verily have food.

4    Delight thyself in God; he’ll give

          thine heart’s desire to thee.

5    Thy way to God commit, him trust,

          it bring to pass shall he.

6    And, like unto the light, he shall

          thy righteousness display;

     And he thy judgment shall bring forth

          like noon-tide of the day.

7    Rest in the Lord, and patiently

          wait for him: do not fret

     For him who, prosp’ring in his way,

          success in sin doth get.

8    Do thou from anger cease, and wrath

          see thou forsake also:

     Fret not thyself in any wise,

          that evil thou should’st do.

9    For those that evil doers are

          shall be cut off and fall:

     But those that wait upon the Lord

          the earth inherit shall.

10   For yet a little while, and then

          the wicked shall not be;

     His place thou shalt consider well,

          but it thou shalt not see.

11   But by inheritance the earth

          the meek ones shall possess:

     They also shall delight themselves

          in an abundant peace.

12   The wicked plots against the just,

          and at him whets his teeth:

13   The Lord shall laugh at him, because

          his day he coming seeth.

14   The wicked have drawn out the sword,

          and bent their bow, to slay

     The poor and needy, and to kill

          men of an upright way.

15   But their own sword, which they have drawn,

          shall enter their own heart:

     Their bows which they have bent shall break,

          and into pieces part.

16   A little that a just man hath

          is more and better far

     Than is the wealth of many such

          as lewd and wicked are.

17   For sinners’ arms shall broken be;

          but God the just sustains.

18   God knows the just man’s days, and still

          their heritage remains.

19   They shall not be asham’d when they

          the evil time do see;

     And when the days of famine are,

          they satisfy’d shall be.

20   But wicked men, and foes of God,

          as fat of lambs, decay;

     They shall consume, yea, into smoke

          they shall consume away.

21   The wicked borrows, but the same

          again he doth not pay;

     Whereas the righteous mercy shews,

          and gives his own away.

22   For such as blessed be of him

          the earth inherit shall;

     And they that cursed are of him

          shall be destroyed all.

23   A good man’s footsteps by the Lord

          are ordered aright;

     And in the way wherein he walks

          he greatly doth delight.

24   Although he fall, yet shall he not

          be cast down utterly;

     Because the Lord with his own hand

          upholds him mightily.

25   I have been young, and now am old,

          yet have I never seen

     The just man left, nor that his seed

          for bread have beggars been.

26   He’s ever merciful, and lends:

          his seed is bless’d therefore.

27   Depart from evil, and do good,

          and dwell for evermore.

28   For God loves judgment, and his saints

          leaves not in any case;

     They are kept ever: but cut off

          shall be the sinner’s race.

29   The just inherit shall the land,

          and ever in it dwell:

30   The just man’s mouth doth wisdom speak;

          his tongue doth judgment tell.

31   In’s heart the law is of his God,

          his steps slide not away.

32   The wicked man doth watch the just,

          and seeketh him to slay.

33   Yet him the Lord will not forsake,

          nor leave him in his hands:

     The righteous will he not condemn,

          when he in judgment stands.

34   Wait on the Lord, and keep his way,

          and thee exalt shall he

     Th’ earth to inherit; when cut off

          the wicked thou shalt see.

35   I saw the wicked great in pow’r,

          spread like a green bay-tree:

36   He pass’d, yea, was not; him I sought,

          but found he could not be.

37   Mark thou the perfect, and behold

          the man of uprightness;

     Because that surely of this man

          the latter end is peace.

38   But those men that transgressors are

          shall be destroy’d together;

     The latter end of wicked men

          shall be cut off for ever.

39   But the salvation of the just

          is from the Lord above;

     He in the time of their distress

          their stay and strength doth prove.

40   The Lord shall help, and them deliver:

          he shall them free and save

     From wicked men; because in him

          their confidence they have.

1    Keep not, O God, we thee entreat,

          O keep not silence now:

     Do thou not hold thy peace, O God,

          and still no more be thou.

2    For, lo, thine enemies a noise

          tumultuously have made;

     And they that haters are of thee

          have lifted up the head.

3    Against thy chosen people they

          do crafty counsel take;

     And they against thy hidden ones

          do consultations make.

4    Come, let us cut them off, said they,

          from being a nation,

     That of the name of Isr’el may

          no more be mention.

5    For with joint heart they plot, in league

          against thee they combine.

6    The tents of Edom, Ishm’elites,

          Moab’s and Hagar’s line;

7    Gebal, and Ammon, Amalek,

          Philistines, those of Tyre;

8    And Assur join’d with them, to help

          Lot’s children they conspire.

9    Do to them as to Midian,

          Jabin at Kison strand;

10   And Sis’ra, which at En-dor fell,

          as dung to fat the land.

11   Like Oreb and like Zeeb make

          their noble men to fall;

     Like Zeba and Zalmunna like,

          make thou their princes all;

12   Who said, For our possession

          let us God’s houses take.

13   My God, them like a wheel, as chaff

          before the wind, them make.

14   As fire consumes the wood, as flame

          doth mountains set on fire,

15   Chase and affright them with the storm

          and tempest of thine ire.

16   Their faces fill with shame, O Lord,

          that they may seek thy name.

17   Let them confounded be, and vex’d,

          and perish in their shame:

18   That men may know that thou, to whom

          alone doth appertain

     The name Jehovah, dost most high

          o’er all the earth remain.

1    My God, deliver me from those

          that are mine enemies;

     And do thou me defend from those

          that up against me rise.

2    Do thou deliver me from them

          that work iniquity;

     And give me safety from the men

          of bloody cruelty.

3    For, lo, they for my soul lay wait:

          the mighty do combine

     Against me, Lord; not for my fault,

          nor any sin of mine.

4    They run, and, without fault in me,

          themselves do ready make:

     Awake to meet me with thy help;

          and do thou notice take.

5    Awake therefore, Lord God of hosts,

          thou God of Israel,

     To visit heathen all: spare none

          that wickedly rebel.

6    At ev’ning they go to and fro;

          they make great noise and sound,

     Like to a dog, and often walk

          about the city round.

7    Behold, they belch out with their mouth,

          and in their lips are swords:

     For they do say thus, Who is he

          that now doth hear our words?

8    But thou, O Lord, shalt laugh at them,

          and all the heathen mock.

9    While he’s in pow’r I’ll wait on thee;

          for God is my high rock.

10   He of my mercy that is God

          betimes shall me prevent;

     Upon mine en’mies God shall let

          me see mine heart’s content.

11   Them slay not, lest my folk forget;

          but scatter them abroad

     By thy strong pow’r; and bring them down,

          O thou our shield and God.

12   For their mouth’s sin, and for the words

          that from their lips do fly,

     Let them be taken in their pride;

          because they curse and lie.

13   In wrath consume them, them consume,

          that so they may not be:

     And that in Jacob God doth rule

          to th’ earth’s ends let them see.

14   At ev’ning let thou them return,

          making great noise and sound,

     Like to a dog, and often walk

          about the city round.

15   And let them wander up and down,

          in seeking food to eat;

     And let them grudge when they shall not

          be satisfy’d with meat.

16   But of thy pow’r I’ll sing aloud;

          at morn thy mercy praise:

     For thou to me my refuge wast,

          and tow’r, in troublous days.

17   O God, thou art my strength, I will

          sing praises unto thee;

     For God is my defence, a God

          of mercy unto me.

Psalm 76

1    In Judah’s land God is well known,

          his name’s in Isr’el great:

2    In Salem is his tabernacle,

          in Sion is his seat.

3    There arrows of the bow he brake,

          the shield, the sword, the war.

4    More glorious thou than hills of prey,

          more excellent art far.

5    Those that were stout of heart are spoil’d,

          they slept their sleep outright;

     And none of those their hands did find,

          that were the men of might.

6    When thy rebuke, O Jacob’s God,

          had forth against them past,

     Their horses and their chariots both

          were in a dead sleep cast.

7    Thou, Lord, ev’n thou art he that should

          be fear’d; and who is he

     That may stand up before thy sight,

          if once thou angry be?

8    From heav’n thou judgment caus’d be heard;

          the earth was still with fear,

9    When God to judgment rose, to save

          all meek on earth that were.

10   Surely the very wrath of man

          unto thy praise redounds:

     Thou to the remnant of his wrath

          wilt set restraining bounds.

11   Vow to the Lord your God, and pay:

          all ye that near him be,

     Bring gifts and presents unto him;

          for to be fear’d is he.

12   By him the sp’rits shall be cut off

          of those that princes are:

     Unto the kings that are on earth

          he fearful doth appear.

1    Hear, Isr’el’s Shepherd! like a flock

          thou that dost Joseph guide;

     Shine forth, O thou that dost between

          the cherubims abide.

2    In Ephraim’s, and Benjamin’s

          and in Manasseh’s sight,

     O come for our salvation;

          stir up thy strength and might.

3    Turn us again, O Lord our God,

          and upon us vouchsafe

     To make thy countenance to shine,

          and so we shall be safe.

4    O Lord of hosts, almighty God,

          how long shall kindled be

     Thy wrath against the prayer made

          by thine own folk to thee?

5    Thou tears of sorrow giv’st to them

          instead of bread to eat;

     Yea, tears instead of drink thou giv’st

          to them in measure great.

6    Thou makest us a strife unto

          our neighbours round about;

     Our enemies among themselves

          at us do laugh and flout.

7    Turn us again, O God of hosts,

          and upon us vouchsafe

     To make thy countenance to shine,

          and so we shall be safe.

8    A vine from Egypt brought thou hast,

          by thine outstretched hand;

     And thou the heathen out didst cast,

          to plant it in their land.

9    Before it thou a room didst make,

          where it might grow and stand;

     Thou causedst it deep root to take,

          and it did fill the land.

10   The mountains vail’d were with its shade,

          as with a covering;

     Like goodly cedars were the boughs

          which out from it did spring.

11   Upon the one hand to the sea

          her boughs she did out send;

     On th’ other side unto the flood

          her branches did extend.

12   Why hast thou then thus broken down,

          and ta’en her hedge away?

     So that all passengers do pluck,

          and make of her a prey.

13   The boar who from the forest comes

          doth waste it at his pleasure;

     The wild beast of the field also

          devours it out of measure.

14   O God of hosts, we thee beseech,

          return now unto thine;

     Look down from heav’n in love, behold,

          and visit this thy vine:

15   This vineyard, which thine own right hand

          hath planted us among;

     And that same branch, which for thyself

          thou hast made to be strong.

16   Burnt up it is with flaming fire,

          it also is cut down:

     They utterly are perished,

          when as thy face doth frown.

17   O let thy hand be still upon

          the Man of thy right hand,

     The Son of man, whom for thyself

          thou madest strong to stand.

18   So henceforth we will not go back,

          nor turn from thee at all:

     O do thou quicken us, and we

          upon thy name will call.

19   Turn us again, Lord God of hosts,

          and upon us vouchsafe

     To make thy countenance to shine,

          and so we shall be safe.

1    Lord, thee my God, I’ll early seek:

          my soul doth thirst for thee;

     My flesh longs in a dry parch’d land,

          wherein no waters be:

2    That I thy power may behold,

          and brightness of thy face,

     As I have seen thee heretofore

          within thy holy place.

3    Since better is thy love than life,

          my lips thee praise shall give.

4    I in thy name will lift my hands,

          and bless thee while I live.

5    Ev’n as with marrow and with fat

          my soul shall filled be;

     Then shall my mouth with joyful lips

          sing praises unto thee:

6    When I do thee upon my bed

          remember with delight,

     And when on thee I meditate

          in watches of the night.

7    In shadow of thy wings I’ll joy;

          for thou mine help hast been.

8    My soul thee follows hard; and me

          thy right hand doth sustain.

9    Who seek my soul to spill shall sink

          down to earth’s lowest room.

10   They by the sword shall be cut off,

          and foxes’ prey become.

11   Yet shall the king in God rejoice,

          and each one glory shall

     That swear by him: but stopp’d shall be

          the mouth of liars all.