Ekklesia Muskogee

1    Wherefore is it that thou, O Lord,

          dost stand from us afar?

     And wherefore hidest thou thyself,

          when times so troublous are?

2    The wicked in his loftiness

          doth persecute the poor:

     In these devices they have fram’d

          let them be taken sure.

3    The wicked of his heart’s desire

          doth talk with boasting great;

     He blesseth him that’s covetous,

          whom yet the Lord doth hate.

4    The wicked, through his pride of face,

          on God he doth not call;

     And in the counsels of his heart

          the Lord is not at all.

5    His ways they always grievous are;

          thy judgments from his sight

     Removed are: at all his foes

          he puffeth with despight.

6    Within his heart he thus hath said,

          I shall not moved be;

     And no adversity at all

          shall ever come to me.

7    His mouth with cursing, fraud, deceit,

          is fill’d abundantly;

     And underneath his tongue there is

          mischief and vanity.

8    He closely sits in villages;

          he slays the innocent:

     Against the poor that pass him by

          his cruel eyes are bent.

9    He, lion-like, lurks in his den;

          he waits the poor to take;

     And when he draws him in his net,

          his prey he doth him make.

10   Himself he humbleth very low,

          he croucheth down withal,

     That so a multitude of poor

          may by his strong ones fall.

11   He thus hath said within his heart,

          The Lord hath quite forgot;

     He hides his countenance, and he

          for ever sees it not.

12   O Lord, do thou arise; O God,

          lift up thine hand on high:

     Put not the meek afflicted ones

          out of thy memory.

13   Why is it that the wicked man

          thus doth the Lord despise?

     Because that God will it require

          he in his heart denies.

14   Thou hast it seen; for their mischief

          and spite thou wilt repay:

     The poor commits himself to thee;

          thou art the orphan’s stay.

15   The arm break of the wicked man,

          and of the evil one;

     Do thou seek out his wickedness,

          until thou findest none.

16   The Lord is King through ages all,

          ev’n to eternity;

     The heathen people from his land

          are perish’d utterly.

17   O Lord, of those that humble are

          thou the desire didst hear;

     Thou wilt prepare their heart, and thou

          to hear wilt bend thine ear;

18   To judge the fatherless, and those

          that are oppressed sore;

     That man, that is but sprung of earth,

          may them oppress no more.

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    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    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 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.

First Version (S.M.)

1    Lord, bless and pity us,

          shine on us with thy face:

2    That th’ earth thy way, and nations all

          may know thy saving grace.

3    Let people praise thee, Lord;

          let people all thee praise.

4    O let the nations be glad,

          in songs their voices raise:

     Thou’lt justly people judge,

          on earth rule nations all.

5    Let people praise thee, Lord; let them

          praise thee, both great and small.

6    The earth her fruit shall yield,

          our God shall blessing send.

7    God shall us bless; men shall him fear

          unto earth’s utmost end.

Second Version (C.M.)

1    Lord, unto us be merciful,

          do thou us also bless;

     And graciously cause shine on us

          the brightness of thy face:

2    That so thy way upon the earth

          to all men may be known;

     Also among the nations all

          thy saving health be shown.

3    O let the people praise thee, Lord;

          let people all thee praise.

4    O let the nations be glad,

          and sing for joy always:

     For rightly thou shalt people judge,

          and nations rule on earth.

5    Let people praise thee, Lord; let all

          the folk praise thee with mirth.

6    Then shall the earth yield her increase;

          God, our God, bless us shall.

7    God shall us bless; and of the earth

          the ends shall fear him all.

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    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    Yet God is good to Israel,

          to each pure-hearted one.

2    But as for me, my steps near slipp’d,

          my feet were almost gone.

3    For I envious was, and grudg’d

          the foolish folk to see,

     When I perceiv’d the wicked sort

          enjoy prosperity.

4    For still their strength continueth firm;

          their death of bands is free.

5    They are not toil’d like other men,

          nor plagu’d, as others be.

6    Therefore their pride, like to a chain,

          them compasseth about;

     And, as a garment, violence

          doth cover them throughout.

7    Their eyes stand out with fat; they have

          more than their hearts could wish.

8    They are corrupt; their talk of wrong

          both lewd and lofty is.

9    They set their mouth against the heav’ns

          in their blasphemous talk;

     And their reproaching tongue throughout

          the earth at large doth walk.

10   His people oftentimes for this

          look back, and turn about;

     Sith waters of so full a cup

          to these are poured out.

11   And thus they say, How can it be

          that God these things doth know?

     Or, Can there in the Highest be

          knowledge of things below?

12   Behold, these are the wicked ones,

          yet prosper at their will

     In worldly things; they do increase

          in wealth and riches still.

13   I verily have done in vain

          my heart to purify;

     To no effect in innocence

          washed my hands have I.

14   For daily, and all day throughout,

          great plagues I suffer’d have;

     Yea, ev’ry morning I of new

          did chastisement receive.

15   If in this manner foolishly

          to speak I would intend,

     Thy children’s generation,

          behold, I should offend.

16   When I this thought to know, it was

          too hard a thing for me;

17   Till to God’s sanctuary I went,

          then I their end did see.

18   Assuredly thou didst them set

          a slipp’ry place upon;

     Them suddenly thou castedst down

          into destruction.

19   How in a moment suddenly

          to ruin brought are they!

     With fearful terrors utterly

          they are consum’d away.

20   Ev’n like unto a dream, when one

          from sleeping doth arise;

     So thou, O Lord, when thou awak’st,

          their image shalt despise.

21   Thus grieved was my heart in me,

          and me my reins opprest:

22   So rude was I, and ignorant,

          and in thy sight a beast.

23   Nevertheless continually,

          O Lord, I am with thee:

     Thou dost me hold by my right hand,

          and still upholdest me.

24   Thou, with thy counsel, while I live,

          wilt me conduct and guide;

     And to thy glory afterward

          receive me to abide.

25   Whom have I in the heavens high

          but thee, O Lord, alone?

     And in the earth whom I desire

          besides thee there is none.

26   My flesh and heart doth faint and fail,

          but God doth fail me never:

     For of my heart God is the strength

          and portion for ever.

27   For, lo, they that are far from thee

          for ever perish shall;

     Them that a whoring from thee go

          thou hast destroyed all.

28   But surely it is good for me

          that I draw near to God:

     In God I trust, that all thy works

          I may declare abroad.

1    All lands to God in joyful sounds,

          aloft your voices raise.

2    Sing forth the honour of his name,

          and glorious make his praise.

3    Say unto God, How terrible

          in all thy works art thou!

     Through thy great pow’r thy foes to thee

          shall be constrain’d to bow.

4    All on the earth shall worship thee,

          they shall thy praise proclaim

     In songs: they shall sing cheerfully

          unto thy holy name.

5    Come, and the works that God hath wrought

          with admiration see:

     In’s working to the sons of men

          most terrible is he.

6    Into dry land the sea he turn’d,

          and they a passage had;

     Ev’n marching through the flood on foot,

          there we in him were glad.

7    He ruleth ever by his pow’r;

          his eyes the nations see:

     O let not the rebellious ones

          lift up themselves on high.

8    Ye people, bless our God; aloud

          the voice speak of his praise:

9    Our soul in life who safe preserves,

          our foot from sliding stays.

10   For thou didst prove and try us, Lord,

          as men do silver try;

11   Brought’st us into the net, and mad’st

          bands on our loins to lie.

12   Thou hast caus’d men ride o’er our heads;

          and though that we did pass

     Through fire and water, yet thou brought’st

          us to a wealthy place.

13   I’ll bring burnt off ‘rings to thy house;

          to thee my vows I’ll pay,

14   Which my lips utter’d, my mouth spake,

          when trouble on me lay.

15   Burnt-sacrifices of fat rams

          with incense I will bring;

     Of bullocks and of goats I will

          present an offering.

16   All that fear God, come, hear, I’ll tell

          what he did for my soul.

17   I with my mouth unto him cry’d,

          my tongue did him extol.

18   If in my heart I sin regard,

          the Lord me will not hear:

19   But surely God me heard, and to

          my prayer’s voice gave ear.

20   O let the Lord, our gracious God,

          for ever blessed be,

     Who turned not my pray’r from him,

          nor yet his grace from me.