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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    Upon men’s sons the Lord from heav’n

          did cast his eyes abroad,

     To see if any understood,

          and did seek after God.

3    They altogether filthy are,

          they all aside are gone;

     And there is none that doeth good,

          yea, sure there is not 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    There fear’d they much; for God is with

          the whole race of the just.

6    You shame the counsel of the poor,

          because God is his trust.

7    Let Isr’el’s help from Sion come:

          when back the Lord shall bring

     His captives, Jacob shall rejoice,

          and Israel shall sing.

1    How excellent in all the earth,

          Lord, our Lord, is thy name!

     Who hast thy glory far advanc’d

          above the starry frame.

2    From infants’ and from sucklings’ mouth

          thou didest strength ordain,

     For thy foes’ cause, that so thou might’st

          th’ avenging foe restrain.

3    When I look up unto the heav’ns,

          which thine own fingers fram’d,

     Unto the moon, and to the stars,

          which were by thee ordain’d;

4    Then say I, What is man, that he

          remember’d is by thee?

     Or what the son of man, that thou

          so kind to him should’st be?

5    For thou a little lower hast

          him than the angels made;

     With glory and with dignity

          thou crowned hast his head.

6    Of thy hands’ works thou mad’st him lord,

          all under’s feet didst lay;

7    All sheep and oxen, yea, and beasts

          that in the field do stray;

8    Fowls of the air, fish of the sea,

          all that pass through the same.

9    How excellent in all the earth,

          Lord, our Lord, is thy name!

1    How long wilt thou forget me, Lord?

          shall it for ever be?

     O how long shall it be that thou

          wilt hide thy face from me?

2    How long take counsel in my soul,

          still sad in heart, shall I?

     How long exalted over me

          shall be mine enemy?

3    O Lord my God, consider well,

          and answer to me make:

     Mine eyes enlighten, lest the sleep

          of death me overtake:

4    Lest that mine enemy should say,

          Against him I prevail’d;

     And those that trouble me rejoice,

          when I am mov’d and fail’d.

5    But I have all my confidence

          thy mercy set upon;

     My heart within me shall rejoice

          in thy salvation.

6    I will unto the Lord my God

          sing praises cheerfully,

     Because he hath his bounty shown

          to me abundantly.

1    O Lord my God, in thee do I

          my confidence repose:

     Save and deliver me from all

          my persecuting foes;

2    Lest that the enemy my soul

          should, like a lion, tear,

     In pieces rending it, while there

          is no deliverer.

3    O Lord my God, if it be so

          that I committed this;

     If it be so that in my hands

          iniquity there is:

4    If I rewarded ill to him

          that was at peace with me;

     (Yea, ev’n the man that without cause

          my foe was I did free;)

5    Then let the foe pursue and take

          my soul, and my life thrust

     Down to the earth, and let him lay

          mine honour in the dust.

6    Rise in thy wrath, Lord, raise thyself,

          for my foes raging be;

     And, to the judgment which thou hast

          commanded, wake for me.

7    So shall th’ assembly of thy folk

          about encompass thee:

     Thou, therefore, for their sakes, return

          unto thy place on high.

8    The Lord he shall the people judge:

          my judge, Jehovah, be,

     After my righteousness, and mine

          integrity in me.

9    O let the wicked’s malice end;

          but stablish stedfastly

     The righteous: for the righteous God

          the hearts and reins doth try.

10   In God, who saves th’ upright in heart,

          is my defence and stay.

11   God just men judgeth, God is wroth

          with ill men ev’ry day.

12   If he do not return again,

          then he his sword will whet;

     His bow he hath already bent,

          and hath it ready set:

13   He also hath for him prepar’d

          the instruments of death;

     Against the persecutors he

          his shafts ordained hath.

14   Behold, he with iniquity

          doth travail, as in birth;

     A mischief he conceived hath,

          and falsehood shall bring forth.

15   He made a pit and digg’d it deep,

          another there to take;

     But he is fall’n into the ditch

          which he himself did make.

16   Upon his own head his mischief

          shall be returned home;

     His vi’lent dealing also down

          on his own pate shall come.

17   According to his righteousness

          the Lord I’ll magnify;

     And will sing praise unto the name

          of God that is most high.

1    Give ear unto my words, O Lord,

          my meditation weigh.

2    Hear my loud cry, my King, my God;

          for I to thee will pray.

3    Lord, thou shalt early hear my voice:

          I early will direct

     My pray’r to thee; and, looking up,

          an answer will expect.

4    For thou art not a God that doth

          in wickedness delight;

     Neither shall evil dwell with thee,

5         Nor fools stand in thy sight.

     All that ill-doers are thou hat’st;

6         Cutt’st off that liars be:

     The bloody and deceitful man

          abhorred is by thee.

7    But I into thy house will come

          in thine abundant grace;

     And I will worship in thy fear

          toward thy holy place.

8    Because of those mine enemies,

          Lord, in thy righteousness

     Do thou me lead; do thou thy way

          make straight before my face.

9    For in their mouth there is no truth,

          their inward part is ill;

     Their throat’s an open sepulchre,

          their tongue doth flatter still.

10   O God, destroy them; let them be

          by their own counsel quell’d:

     Them for their many sins cast out,

          for they ‘gainst thee rebell’d.

11   But let all joy that trust in thee,

          and still make shouting noise;

     For them thou sav’st; let all that love

          thy name in thee rejoice.

12   For, Lord, unto the righteous man

          thou wilt thy blessing yield:

     With favour thou wilt compass him

          about, as with a shield.

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.

1    Praise waits for thee in Sion, Lord:

          to thee vows paid shall be.

2    O thou that hearer art of pray’r,

          all flesh shall come to thee.

3    Iniquities, I must confess,

          prevail against me do:

     But as for our transgressions,

          them purge away shalt thou.

4    Bless’d is the man whom thou dost chuse,

          and mak’st approach to thee,

     That he within thy courts, O Lord,

          may still a dweller be:

     We surely shall be satisfy’d

          with thy abundant grace,

     And with the goodness of thy house,

          ev’n of thy holy place.

5    O God of our salvation,

          thou, in thy righteousness,

     By fearful works unto our pray’rs

          thine answer dost express:

     Therefore the ends of all the earth,

          and those afar that be

     Upon the sea, their confidence,

          O Lord, will place in thee.

6    Who, being girt with pow’r, sets fast

          by his great strength the hills.

7    Who noise of seas, noise of their waves,

          and people’s tumult, stills.

8    Those in the utmost parts that dwell

          are at thy signs afraid:

     Th’ outgoings of the morn and ev’n

          by thee are joyful made.

9    The earth thou visit’st, wat’ring it;

          thou mak’st it rich to grow

     With God’s full flood; thou corn prepar’st,

          when thou provid’st it so.

10   Her rigs thou wat’rest plenteously,

          her furrows settelest:

     With show’rs thou dost her mollify,

          her spring by thee is blest.

11   So thou the year most lib’rally

          dost with thy goodness crown;

     And all thy paths abundantly

          on us drop fatness down.

12   They drop upon the pastures wide,

          that do in deserts lie;

     The little hills on ev’ry side

          rejoice right pleasantly.

13   With flocks the pastures clothed be,

          the vales with corn are clad;

     And now they shout and sing to thee,

          for thou hast made them glad.

First Version (S.M.)

1    Lord, haste me to deliver;
          with speed, Lord, succour me.
2    Let them that for my soul do seek
          sham’d and confounded be:

     Turn’d back be they, and sham’d,
          that in my hurt delight.
3    Turn’d back be they, Ha, ha! that say,
          their shaming to requite.

4    In thee let all be glad,
          and joy that seek for thee:
     Let them who thy salvation love
          say still, God praised be.

5    I poor and needy am;
          come, Lord, and make no stay:
     My help thou and deliv’rer art;
          O Lord, make no delay.

Second Version (C.M.)

1    Make haste, O God, me to preserve;
          with speed, Lord, succour me.
2    Let them that for my soul do seek
          sham’d and confounded be:

     Let them be turned back, and sham’d,
          that in my hurt delight.
3    Turn’d back be they, Ha, ha! that say,
          their shaming to requite.

4    O Lord, in thee let all be glad,
          and joy that seek for thee:
     Let them who thy salvation love
          say still, God praised be.

5    But I both poor and needy am;
          come, Lord, and make no stay:
     My help thou and deliv’rer art;
          O Lord, make no delay.

1    When I to thee my prayer make,

          Lord, to my voice give ear;

     My life save from the enemy,

          of whom I stand in fear.

2    Me from their secret counsel hide

          who do live wickedly;

     From insurrection of those men

          that work iniquity:

3    Who do their tongues with malice whet,

          and make them cut like swords;

     In whose bent bows are arrows set,

          ev’n sharp and bitter words:

4    That they may at the perfect man

          in secret aim their shot;

     Yea, suddenly they dare at him

          to shoot, and fear it not.

5    In ill encourage they themselves,

          and their snares close do lay:

     Together conference they have;

          Who shall them see? they say.

6    They have search’d out iniquities,

          a perfect search they keep:

     Of each of them the inward thought,

          and very heart, is deep.

7    God shall an arrow shoot at them,

          and wound them suddenly:

8    So their own tongue shall them confound;

          all who them see shall fly.

9    And on all men a fear shall fall,

          God’s works they shall declare;

     For they shall wisely notice take

          what these his doings are.

10   In God the righteous shall rejoice,

          and trust upon his might;

     Yea, they shall greatly glory all

          in heart that are upright.

1    O God, why hast thou cast us off?

          is it for evermore?

     Against thy pasture-sheep why doth

          thine anger smoke so sore?

2    O call to thy rememberance

          thy congregation,

     Which thou hast purchased of old;

          still think the same upon:

     The rod of thine inheritance,

          which thou redeemed hast,

     This Sion hill, wherein thou hadst

          thy dwelling in times past.

3    To these long desolations

          thy feet lift, do not tarry;

     For all the ills thy foes have done

          within thy sanctuary.

4    Amidst thy congregations

          thine enemies do roar:

     Their ensigns they set up for signs

          of triumph thee before.

5    A man was famous, and was had

          in estimation,

     According as he lifted up

          his axe thick trees upon.

6    But all at once with axes now

          and hammers they go to,

     And down the carved work thereof

          they break, and quite undo.

7    They fired have thy sanctuary,

          and have defil’d the same,

     By casting down unto the ground

          the place where dwelt thy name.

8    Thus said they in their hearts, Let us

          destroy them out of hand:

     They burnt up all the synagogues

          of God within the land.

9    Our signs we do not now behold;

          there is not us among

     A prophet more, nor any one

          that knows the time how long.

10   How long, Lord, shall the enemy

          thus in reproach exclaim?

     And shall the adversary thus

          always blaspheme thy name?

11   Thy hand, ev’n thy right hand of might,

          why dost thou thus draw back?

     O from thy bosom pluck it out

          for our deliv’rance sake.

12   For certainly God is my King,

          ev’n from the times of old,

     Working in midst of all the earth

          salvation manifold.

13   The sea, by thy great pow’r, to part

          asunder thou didst make;

     And thou the dragons’ heads, O Lord,

          within the waters brake.

14   The leviathan’s head thou brak’st

          in pieces, and didst give

     Him to be meat unto the folk

          in wilderness that live.

15   Thou clav’st the fountain and the flood,

          which did with streams abound:

     Thou dry’dst the mighty waters up

          unto the very ground.

16   Thine only is the day, O Lord,

          thine also is the night;

     And thou alone prepared hast

          the sun and shining light.

17   By thee the borders of the earth

          were settled ev’ry where:

     The summer and the winter both

          by thee created were.

18   That th’ enemy reproached hath,

          O keep it in record;

     And that the foolish people have

          blasphem’d thy name, O Lord.

19   Unto the multitude do not

          thy turtle’s soul deliver:

     The congregation of thy poor

          do not forget for ever.

20   Unto thy cov’nant have respect;

          for earth’s dark places be

     Full of the habitations

          of horrid cruelty.

21   O let not those that be oppress’d

          return again with shame:

     Let those that poor and needy are

          give praise unto thy name.

22   Do thou, O God, arise and plead

          the cause that is thine own:

     Remember how thou art reproach’d

          still by the foolish one.

23   Do not forget the voice of those

          that are thine enemies:

     Of those the tumult ever grows

          that do against thee rise.