Ekklesia Muskogee

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.

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 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    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.

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.

Verses 1-11. TUNE: Auld Lang Syne

1    O Lord, thy judgments give the king,
          his son thy righteousness.
2    With right he shall thy people judge,
          thy poor with uprightness.

3    The lofty mountains shall bring forth
          unto the people peace;
     Likewise the little hills the same
          shall do by righteousness.

4    The people’s poor ones he shall judge,
          the needy’s children save;
     And those shall he in pieces break
          who them oppressed have.

5    They shall thee fear, while sun and moon
          do last, through ages all.
6    Like rain on mown grass he shall drop,
          or show’rs on earth that fall.

7    The just shall flourish in his days,
          and prosper in his reign:
     He shall, while doth the moon endure,
          abundant peace maintain.

8    His large and great dominion shall
          from sea to sea extend:
     It from the river shall reach forth
          unto earth’s utmost end.

9    They in the wilderness that dwell
          bow down before him must;
     And they that are his enemies
          shall lick the very dust.

10   The kings of Tarshish, and the isles,
          to him shall presents bring;
     And unto him shall offer gifts
          Sheba’s and Seba’s king.

11   Yea, all the mighty kings on earth
          before him down shall fall;
     And all the nations of the world
          do service to him shall.

Verses 12-19. TUNE: Auld Lang Syne

12   For he the needy shall preserve,
          when he to him doth call;
     The poor also, and him that hath
          no help of man at all.

13   The poor man and the indigent
          in mercy he shall spare;
     He shall preserve alive the souls 
        of those that needy are.

14   Both from deceit and violence
          their soul he shall set free;
     And in his sight right precious
          and dear their blood shall be.

15   Yea, he shall live, and giv’n to him         
shall be of Sheba’s gold: 
    For him still shall they pray, and he
          shall daily be extoll’d.

16   Of corn an handful in the earth
          on tops of mountains high,
     With prosp’rous fruit shall shake, like trees
          on Lebanon that be.

     The city shall be flourishing,
          her citizens abound
     In number shall, like to the grass
          that grows upon the ground.

17   His name for ever shall endure;
          last like the sun it shall:
     Men shall be bless’d in him, and bless’d
          all nations shall him call.

18   Now blessed be the Lord our God,
          the God of Israel,
     For he alone doth wondrous works,
          in glory that excel.

19   And blessed be his glorious name
          to all eternity:
     The whole earth let his glory fill.
          Amen, so let it be.

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    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.

1    Let God arise, and scattered

          let all his en’mies be;

     And let all those that do him hate

          before his presence flee.

2    As smoke is driv’n, so drive thou them;

          as fire melts wax away,

     Before God’s face let wicked men

          so perish and decay.

3    But let the righteous be glad:

          let them before God’s sight

     Be very joyful; yea, let them

          rejoice with all their might.

4    To God sing, to his name sing praise;

          extol him with your voice,

     That rides on heav’n, by his name Jah,

          before his face rejoice.

5    Because the Lord a father is

          unto the fatherless;

     God is the widow’s judge, within

          his place of holiness.

6    God doth the solitary set

          in fam’lies: and from bands

     The chain’d doth free; but rebels do

          inhabit parched lands.

7    O God, what time thou didst go forth

          before thy people’s face;

     And when through the great wilderness

          thy glorious marching was;

8    Then at God’s presence shook the earth,

          then drops from heaven fell;

     This Sinai shook before the Lord,

          the God of Israel.

9    O God, thou to thine heritage

          didst send a plenteous rain,

     Whereby thou, when it weary was,

          didst it refresh again.

10   Thy congregation then did make

          their habitation there:

     Of thine own goodness for the poor,

          O God, thou didst prepare.

11   The Lord himself did give the word,

          the word abroad did spread;

     Great was the company of them

          the same who published.

12   Kings of great armies foiled were,

          and forc’d to flee away;

     And women, who remain’d at home,

          did distribute the prey.

13   Though ye have lien among the pots,

          like doves ye shall appear,

     Whose wings with silver, and with gold

          whose feathers cover’d are.

14   When there th’ Almighty scatter’d kings,

          like Salmon’s snow ’twas white.

15   God’s hill is like to Bashan hill,

          like Bashan hill for height.

16   Why do ye leap, ye mountains high?

          this is the hill where God

     Desires to dwell; yea, God in it

          for aye will make abode.

17   God’s chariots twenty thousand are,

          thousands of angels strong;

     In’s holy place God is, as in

          mount Sinai, them among.

18   Thou hast, O Lord, most glorious,

          ascended up on high;

     And in triumph victorious led

          captive captivity:

     Thou hast received gifts for men,

          for such as did rebel;

     Yea, ev’n for them, that God the Lord

          in midst of them might dwell.

19   Bless’d be the Lord, who is to us

          of our salvation God;

     Who daily with his benefits

          us plenteously doth load.

20   He of salvation is the God,

          who is our God most strong;

     And unto God the Lord from death

          the issues do belong.

21   But surely God shall wound the head

          of those that are his foes;

     The hairy scalp of him that still

          on in his trespass goes.

22   God said, My people I will bring

          again from Bashan hill;

     Yea, from the sea’s devouring depths

          them bring again I will;

23   That in the blood of enemies

          thy foot imbru’d may be,

     And of thy dogs dipp’d in the same

          the tongues thou mayest see.

24   Thy goings they have seen, O God;

          the steps of majesty

     Of my God, and my mighty King,

          within the sanctuary.

25   Before went singers, players next

          on instruments took way;

     And them among the damsels were

          that did on timbrels play.

26   Within the congregations

          bless God with one accord:

     From Isr’el’s fountain do ye bless

          and praise the mighty Lord.

27   With their prince, little Benjamin,

          princes and council there

     Of Judah were, there Zabulon’s

          and Napht’li’s princes were.

28   Thy God commands thy strength; make strong

          what thou wrought’st for us, Lord.

29   For thy house at Jerusalem

          kings shall thee gifts afford.

30   The spearmen’s host, the multitude

          of bulls, which fiercely look,

     Those calves which people have forth sent,

          O Lord our God, rebuke,

     Till ev’ry one submit himself,

          and silver pieces bring:

     The people that delight in war

          disperse, O God and King.

31   Those that be princes great shall then

          come out of Egypt lands;

     And Ethiopia to God

          shall soon stretch out her hands.

32   O all ye kingdoms of the earth,

          sing praises to this King;

     For he is Lord that ruleth all,

          unto him praises sing.

33   To him that rides on heav’ns of heav’ns,

          which he of old did found;

     Lo, he sends out his voice, a voice

          in might that doth abound.

34   Strength unto God do ye ascribe;

          for his excellency

     Is over Israel, his strength

          is in the clouds most high.

35   Thou’rt from thy temple dreadful, Lord;

          Isr’el’s own God is he,

     Who gives his people strength and pow’r:

          O let God blessed be.