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1    Help, Lord, because the godly man

          doth daily fade away;

     And from among the sons of men

          the faithful do decay.

2    Unto his neighbour ev’ry one

          doth utter vanity:

     They with a double heart do speak,

          and lips of flattery.

3    God shall cut off all flatt’ring lips,

          tongues that speak proudly thus,

4    We’ll with our tongue prevail, our lips

          are ours: who’s lord o’er us?

5    For poor oppress’d, and for the sighs

          of needy, rise will I,

     Saith God, and him in safety set

          from such as him defy.

6    The words of God are words most pure;

          they be like silver try’d

     In earthen furnace, seven times

          that hath been purify’d.

7    Lord, thou shalt them preserve and keep

          for ever from this race.

8    On each side walk the wicked, when

          vile men are high in place.

Tune by Lizzie Depriest

1    Lord, thee I’ll praise with all my heart,
          thy wonders all proclaim.
2    In thee, most High, I’ll greatly joy,
          and sing unto thy name.

3    When back my foes were turn’d, they fell,
          and perish’d at thy sight:
4    For thou maintain’dst my right and cause;
          on throne sat’st judging right.

5    The heathen thou rebuked hast,
          the wicked overthrown;
     Thou hast put out their names, that they
          may never more be known.

6    O en’my! now destructions have
          an end perpetual:
     Thou cities raz’d; perish’d with them
          is their memorial.

7    God shall endure for aye; he doth
          for judgment set his throne;
8    In righteousness to judge the world,
          justice to give each one.

9    God also will a refuge be
          for those that are oppress’d;
     A refuge will he be in times
          of trouble to distress’d.

10   And they that know thy name, in thee
          their confidence will place:
     For thou hast not forsaken them
          that truly seek thy face.

11   O sing ye praises to the Lord,
          that dwells in Sion hill;
     And all the nations among
          his deeds record ye still.

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12   When he enquireth after blood,

          he then rememb’reth them:

     The humble folk he not forgets

          that call upon his name.

13   Lord, pity me; behold the grief

          which I from foes sustain;

     Ev’n thou, who from the gates of death

          dost raise me up again;

14  That I, in Sion’s daughters’ gates,

          may all thy praise advance;

     And that I may rejoice always

          in thy deliverance.

15  The heathen are sunk in the pit

          which they themselves prepar’d;

     And in the net which they have hid

          their own feet fast are snar’d.

16  The Lord is by the judgment known

          which he himself hath wrought:

     The sinners’ hands do make the snares

          wherewith themselves are caught.

17  They who are wicked into hell

          each one shall turned be;

     And all the nations that forget

          to seek the Lord most high.

18 For they that needy are shall not

          forgotten be alway;

     The expectation of the poor

          shall not be lost for aye.

19 Arise, Lord, let not man prevail;

          judge heathen in thy sight:

20   That they may know themselves but men,

          the nations, Lord, affright.

1    The heav’ns God’s glory do declare,

          the skies his hand-works preach:

2    Day utters speech to day, and night

          to night doth knowledge teach.

3    There is no speech nor tongue to which

          their voice doth not extend:

4    Their line is gone through all the earth,

          their words to the world’s end.

     In them he set the sun a tent;

5         Who, bridegroom-like, forth goes

     From’s chamber, as a strong man doth

          to run his race rejoice.

6    From heav’n’s end is his going forth,

          circling to th’ end again;

     And there is nothing from his heat

          that hidden doth remain.

7    God’s law is perfect, and converts
         the soul in sin that lies:
     God’s testimony is most sure,
          and makes the simple wise.

8    The statutes of the Lord are right,
          and do rejoice the heart:
     The Lord’s command is pure, and doth
          light to the eyes impart.

9    Unspotted is the fear of God,
          and doth endure for ever:
     The judgments of the Lord are true
          and righteous altogether.

10   They more than gold, yea, much fine gold,
          to be desired are:
     Than honey, honey from the comb
          that droppeth, sweeter far.

11   Moreover, they thy servant warn
          how he his life should frame:
     A great reward provided is
          for them that keep the same.

12   Who can his errors understand?
          O cleanse thou me within
13   From secret faults. Thy servant keep
          from all presumptuous sin:

     And do not suffer them to have
          dominion over me:
     Then, righteous and innocent,
          I from much sin shall be.

14  The words which from my mouth proceed,
          the thoughts sent from my heart,
     Accept, O Lord, for thou my strength
          and my Redeemer art.

First Version (Long Metre)

1    Lord, in thy wrath rebuke me not;

          Nor in thy hot rage chasten me.

2    Lord, pity me, for I am weak:

          Heal me, for my bones vexed be.

3    My soul is also vexed sore;

          But, Lord, how long stay wilt thou make?

4    Return, O Lord, my soul set free;

          O save me, for thy mercies’ sake.

5    Because those that deceased are

          Of thee shall no remembrance have;

     And who is he that will to thee

          Give praises lying in the grave?

6    I with my groaning weary am,

          I also all the night my bed

     Have caused for to swim; and I

          With tears my couch have watered.

7    Mine eye, consum’d with grief, grows old,

          Because of all mine enemies.

8    Hence from me, wicked workers all;

          For God hath heard my weeping cries.

9    God hath my supplication heard,

          My pray’r received graciously

10   Sham’d and sore vex’d be all my foes,

          Sham’d and back turned suddenly.

Second Version (C.M.)

1    In thy great indignation,

          O Lord, rebuke me not;

     Nor on me lay thy chast ‘ning hand,

          in thy displeasure hot.

2    Lord, I am weak, therefore on me

          have mercy, and me spare:

     Heal me, O Lord, because thou know’st

          my bones much vexed are.

3    My soul is vexed sore: but, Lord,

          how long stay wilt thou make?

4    Return, Lord, free my soul; and save

          me, for thy mercies’ sake.

5    Because of thee in death there shall

          no more remembrance be:

     Of those that in the grave do lie,

          who shall give thanks to thee?

6    I with my groaning weary am,

          and all the night my bed

     I caused for to swim; with tears

          my couch I watered.

7     By reason of my vexing grief,

          mine eye consumed is;

     It waxeth old, because of all

          that be mine enemies.

8    But now, depart from me all ye

          that work iniquity:

     For why? the Lord hath heard my voice,

          when I did mourn and cry.

9    Unto my supplication

          the Lord did hearing give:

     When I to him my prayer make,

          the Lord will it receive.

10   Let all be sham’d and troubled sore,

          That en’mies are to me;

     Let them turn back, and suddenly

          ashamed let them be.

1    I in the Lord do put my trust:

          how is it then that ye

     Say to my soul, Flee, as a bird,

          unto your mountain high?

2    For, lo, the wicked bend their bow,

          their shafts on string they fit,

     That those who upright are in heart

          they privily may hit.

3    If the foundations be destroy’d,

          what hath the righteous done?

4    God in his holy temple is,

          in heaven is his throne:

     His eyes do see, his eye-lids try

5         men’s sons. The just he proves:

     But his soul hates the wicked man,

          and him that vi’lence loves.

6    Snares, fire and brimstone, furious storms,

          on sinners he shall rain:

     This, as the portion of their cup,

          doth unto them pertain.

7    Because the Lord most righteous doth

          in righteousness delight;

     And with a pleasant countenance

          beholdeth the upright.

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.

TUNE: Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed

V 1    Why rage the heathen? and vain things 
        why do the people mind?
2    Kings of the earth do set themselves,
          and princes are combin’d,

V     To plot against the Lord, and his
          Anointed, saying thus,
3    Let us asunder break their bands,
          and cast their cords from us.

C 4    He that in heaven sits shall laugh;
          the Lord shall scorn them all.
5    Then shall he speak to them in wrath,
          in rage he vex them shall.

V 6    Yet, notwithstanding, I have him
          to be my King appointed;
     And over Sion, my holy hill,
          I have him King anointed.

V 7    The sure decree I will declare:
          The Lord hath said to me,
     Thou art mine only Son; this day
          I have begotten thee.

C 8    Ask of me, and for heritage
          the heathen I’ll make thine;
     And, for possession, I to thee
          will give earth’s utmost line.

V 9    Thou shalt, as with a weighty rod
          of iron, break them all;
     And, as a potter’s sherd, thou shalt
          them dash in pieces small.

V 10   Now therefore, kings, be wise; be taught,
          ye judges of the earth:
11   Serve God in fear, and see that ye
          join trembling with your mirth.

C 12   Kiss ye the Son, lest in his ire
          ye perish from the way,
     If once his wrath begin to burn:
          bless’d all that on him stay.

1    Give ear unto me when I call,

          God of my righteousness:

     Have mercy, hear my pray’r; thou hast

          enlarg’d me in distress.

2    O ye the sons of men! how long

          will ye love vanities?

     How long my glory turn to shame,

          and will ye follow lies?

3    But know, that for himself the Lord

          the godly man doth chuse:

     The Lord, when I on him do call,

          to hear will not refuse.

4    Fear, and sin not; talk with your heart

          on bed, and silent be.

5    Off ‘rings present of righteousness,

          and in the Lord trust ye.

6    O who will shew us any good?

          is that which many say:

     But of thy countenance the light,

          Lord, lift on us alway.

7    Upon my heart, bestow’d by thee,

          more gladness I have found

     Than they, ev’n then, when corn and wine

          did most with them abound.

8    I will both lay me down in peace,

          and quiet sleep will take;

     Because thou only me to dwell

          in safety, Lord, dost make.

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    O Lord, my hope and confidence         
is plac’d in thee alone;
     Then let thy servant never be
          put to confusion.

2    And let me, in thy righteousness,
          from thee deliv’rance have;
     Cause me escape, incline thine ear
          unto me, and me save.

3    Be thou my dwelling-rock, to which
          I ever may resort:
     Thou gav’st commandment me to save,
          for thou’rt my rock and fort.

4    Free me, my God, from wicked hands,
          hands cruel and unjust:
5    For thou, O Lord God, art my hope,
          and from my youth my trust.

6    Thou from the womb didst hold me up;
          thou art the same that me
     Out of my mother’s bowels took;
          I ever will praise thee.

7    To many I a wonder am;
          but thou’rt my refuge strong.
8    Fill’d let my mouth be with thy praise
          and honour all day long.

9    O do not cast me off, when as
          old age doth overtake me;
     And when my strength decayed is,
          then do not thou forsake me.

10   For those that are mine enemies
          against me speak with hate;
     And they together counsel take
          that for my soul lay wait.

11   They said, God leaves him; him pursue
          and take: none will him save.
12   Be thou not far from me, my God:
          thy speedy help I crave.

13   Confound, consume them, that unto
          my soul are enemies:
     Cloth’d be they with reproach and shame
          that do my hurt devise.

14   But I with expectation
          will hope continually;
     And yet with praises more and more
          I will thee magnify.

15   Thy justice and salvation
          my mouth abroad shall show,
     Ev’n all the day; for I thereof
          the numbers do not know.

16   And I will constantly go on
          in strength of God the Lord;
     And thine own righteousness, ev’n thine
          alone, I will record.

17   For even from my youth, O God,
          by thee I have been taught;
     And hitherto I have declar’d
          the wonders thou hast wrought.

18   And now, Lord, leave me not, when I
          old and gray-headed grow:
     Till to this age thy strength and pow’r
          to all to come I show.

19   And thy most perfect righteousness
          O Lord, is very high,
     Who hast so great things done: O God,
          who is like unto thee?

20   Thou, Lord, who great adversities,
          and sore, to me didst show,
     Shalt quicken, and bring me again
          from depths of earth below.

21   My greatness and my pow’r thou wilt
          increase, and far extend:
     On ev’ry side against all grief
          thou wilt me comfort send.

22   Thee, ev’n thy truth, I’ll also praise,
          my God, with psaltery:
     Thou Holy One of Israel,
          with harp I’ll sing to thee.

23   My lips shall much rejoice in thee,
          when I thy praises sound;
     My soul, which thou redeemed hast,
          in joy shall much abound.

24    My tongue thy justice shall proclaim,
          continuing all day long;
     For they confounded are, and sham’d,
          that seek to do me wrong.