Tag: Songs of Christ Extended

1    I joy’d when to the house of God,

          Go up, they said to me.

2    Jerusalem, within thy gates

          our feet shall standing be.

3    Jerus’lem, as a city, is

          compactly built together:

4    Unto that place the tribes go up,

          the tribes of God go thither:

     To Isr’el’s testimony, there

          to God’s name thanks to pay.

5    For thrones of judgment, ev’n the thrones

          of David’s house, there stay.

6    Pray that Jerusalem may have

          peace and felicity:

     Let them that love thee and thy peace

          have still prosperity.

7    Therefore I wish that peace may still

          within thy walls remain,

     And ever may thy palaces

          prosperity retain.

8    Now, for my friends’ and brethren’s sakes,

          Peace be in thee, I’ll say.

9    And for the house of God our Lord,

          I’ll seek thy good alway.

1    They in the Lord that firmly trust

          shall be like Sion hill,

     Which at no time can be remov’d,

          but standeth ever still.

2    As round about Jerusalem

          the mountains stand alway,

     The Lord his folk doth compass so,

          from henceforth and for aye.

3    For ill men’s rod upon the lot

          of just men shall not lie;

     Lest righteous men stretch forth their hands

          unto iniquity.

4    Do thou to all those that be good

          thy goodness, Lord, impart;

     And do thou good to those that are

          upright within their heart.

5    But as for such as turn aside

          after their crooked way,

     God shall lead forth with wicked men:

          on Isr’el peace shall stay.

TUNE = O For A Thousand Tongues to Sing

1    When Sion’s bondage God turn’d back,
          as men that dream’d were we.
2    Then fill’d with laughter was our mouth,
          our tongue with melody:

     They ‘mong the heathen said, The Lord
          great things for them hath wrought.
3    The Lord hath done great things for us,
          whence joy to us is brought.

4    As streams of water in the south,
          our bondage, Lord, recall.
5    Who sow in tears, a reaping time
          of joy enjoy they shall.

6    That man who, bearing precious seed,
          in going forth doth mourn,
     He doubtless, bringing back his sheaves,
          rejoicing shall return.

1    Except the Lord do build the house,

          the builders lose their pain:

     Except the Lord the city keep,

          the watchmen watch in vain.

2   ‘Tis vain for you to rise betimes,

          or late from rest to keep,

     To feed on sorrows’ bread; so gives

          he his beloved sleep.

3    Lo, children are God’s heritage,

          the womb’s fruit his reward.

4    The sons of youth as arrows are,

          for strong men’s hands prepar’d.

5    O happy is the man that hath

          his quiver fill’d with those;

     They unashamed in the gate

          shall speak unto their foes.

1    Bless’d is each one that fears the Lord,

          and walketh in his ways;

2    For of thy labour thou shalt eat,

          and happy be always.

3    Thy wife shall as a fruitful vine

          by thy house’ sides be found:

     Thy children like to olive-plants

          about thy table round.

4    Behold, the man that fears the Lord,

          thus blessed shall he be.

5    The Lord shall out of Sion give

          his blessing unto thee:

     Thou shalt Jerus’lem’s good behold

          whilst thou on earth dost dwell.

6    Thou shalt thy children’s children see,

          and peace on Israel.

1    Oft did they vex me from my youth,

          may Isr’el now declare;

2    Oft did they vex me from my youth,

          yet not victorious were.

3    The plowers plow’d upon my back;

          they long their furrows drew.

4    The righteous Lord did cut the cords

          of the ungodly crew.

5    Let Sion’s haters all be turn’d

          back with confusion.

6    As grass on houses’ tops be they,

          which fades ere it be grown:

7    Whereof enough to fill his hand

          the mower cannot find;

     Nor can the man his bosom fill,

          whose work is sheaves to bind.

8    Neither say they who do go by,

          God’s blessing on you rest:

     We in the name of God the Lord

          do wish you to be blest.

TUNE = Amazing Grace

1    I to the hills will lift mine eyes,
          from whence doth come mine aid.
2    My safety cometh from the Lord,
          who heav’n and earth hath made.

3    Thy foot he’ll not let slide, nor will
          he slumber that thee keeps.
4    Behold, he that keeps Israel
          he slumbers not, nor sleeps.

5    The Lord thee keeps, the Lord thy shade
          on thy right hand doth stay:
6    The moon by night thee shall not smite,
          nor yet the sun by day.

7    The Lord shall keep thy soul; he shall
          preserve thee from all ill.
8    Henceforth thy going out and in
          God keep for ever will.

1    O thou that dwellest in the heav’ns,

          I lift mine eyes to thee.

2    Behold, as servants’ eyes do look

          their masters’ hand to see,

     As handmaid’s eyes her mistress’ hand;

          so do our eyes attend

     Upon the Lord our God, until

          to us he mercy send.

3    O Lord, be gracious to us,

          unto us gracious be;

     Because replenish’d with contempt

          exceedingly are we.

4    Our soul is fill’d with scorn of those

          that at their ease abide,

     And with the insolent contempt

          of those that swell in pride.

First Version (C.M.)

1    Had not the Lord been on our side,
          may Israel now say;
2    Had not the Lord been on our side,
          when men rose us to slay;

3    They had us swallow’d quick, when as
          their wrath ‘gainst us did flame:
4    Waters had cover’d us, our soul
          had sunk beneath the stream.

5    Then had the waters, swelling high,
          over our soul made way.
6    Bless’d be the Lord, who to their teeth
          us gave not for a prey.

7    Our soul’s escaped, as a bird
          out of the fowler’s snare;
     The snare asunder broken is,
          and we escaped are.

8    Our sure and all-sufficient help
          is in Jehovah’s name;
     His name who did the heav’n create,
          and who the earth did frame.

Second Version (10.10.10.10.10.)

1    Now Israel

          may say, and that truly,

     If that the Lord

          had not our cause maintain’d;

2    If that the Lord

          had not our right sustain’d,

     When cruel men

          against us furiously

     Rose up in wrath,

          to make of us their prey;

3    Then certainly

          they had devour’d us all,

     And swallow’d quick,

          for ought that we could deem;

     Such was their rage,

          as we might well esteem.

4    And as fierce floods

          before them all things drown,

     So had they brought

          our soul to death quite down.

5    The raging streams,

          with their proud swelling waves,

     Had then our soul

          o’erwhelmed in the deep.

6    But bless’d be God,

          who doth us safely keep,

     And hath not giv’n

          us for a living prey

     Unto their teeth,

          and bloody cruelty.

7    Ev’n as a bird

          out of the fowler’s snare

     Escapes away,

          so is our soul set free:

     Broke are their nets,

          and thus escaped we.

8    Therefore our help

          is in the Lord’s great name,

     Who heav’n and earth

          by his great pow’r did frame.

1    O Lord, thou hast me search’d and known.

2         Thou know’st my sitting down,

     And rising up; yea, all my thoughts

          afar to thee are known.

3    My footsteps, and my lying down,

          thou compassest always;

     Thou also most entirely art

          acquaint with all my ways.

4    For in my tongue, before I speak,

          not any word can be,

     But altogether, lo, O Lord,

          it is well known to thee.

5    Behind, before, thou hast beset,

          and laid on me thine hand.

6    Such knowledge is too strange for me,

          too high to understand.

7    From thy Sp’rit whither shall I go?

          or from thy presence fly?

8    Ascend I heav’n, lo, thou art there;

          there, if in hell I lie.

9    Take I the morning wings, and dwell

          in utmost parts of sea;

10   Ev’n there, Lord, shall thy hand me lead,

          thy right hand hold shall me.

11   If I do say that darkness shall

          me cover from thy sight,

     Then surely shall the very night

          about me be as light.

12   Yea, darkness hideth not from thee,

          but night doth shine as day:

     To thee the darkness and the light

          are both alike alway.

13   For thou possessed hast my reins,

          and thou hast cover’d me,

     When I within my mother’s womb

          inclosed was by thee.

14   Thee will I praise; for fearfully

          and strangely made I am;

     Thy works are marv’llous, and right well

          my soul doth know the same.

15   My substance was not hid from thee,

          when as in secret I

     Was made; and in earth’s lowest parts

          was wrought most curiously.

16   Thine eyes my substance did behold,

          yet being unperfect;

     And in the volume of thy book

          my members all were writ;

     Which after in continuance

          were fashion’d ev’ry one,

     When as they yet all shapeless were,

          and of them there was none.

17   How precious also are thy thoughts,

          O gracious God, to me!

     And in their sum how passing great

          and numberless they be!

18   If I should count them, than the sand

          they more in number be:

     What time soever I awake,

          I ever am with thee.

19   Thou, Lord, wilt sure the wicked slay:

          hence from me bloody men.

20   Thy foes against thee loudly speak,

          and take thy name in vain.

21   Do not I hate all those, O Lord,

          that hatred bear to thee?

     With those that up against thee rise

          can I but grieved be?

22   With perfect hatred them I hate,

          my foes I them do hold.

23   Search me, O God, and know my heart,

          try me, my thoughts unfold:

24   And see if any wicked way

          there be at all in me;

     And in thine everlasting way

          to me a leader be.