Tag: Songs of Christ

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.

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    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    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.

1    To thee, O God, do we give thanks,

          we do give thanks to thee;

     Because thy wondrous works declare

          thy great name near to be.

2    I purpose, when I shall receive

          the congregation,

     That I shall judgment uprightly

          render to ev’ry one.

3    Dissolved is the land, with all

          that in the same do dwell;

     But I the pillars thereof do

          bear up, and stablish well.

4    I to the foolish people said,

          Do not deal foolishly;

     And unto those that wicked are,

          Lift not your horn on high.

5    Lift not your horn on high, nor speak

6          with stubborn neck. But know,

     That not from east, nor west, nor south,

          promotion doth flow.

7    But God is judge; he puts down one,

          and sets another up.

8    For in the hand of God most high

          of red wine is a cup:

    ‘Tis full of mixture, he pours forth,

          and makes the wicked all

     Wring out the bitter dregs thereof;

          yea, and they drink them shall.

9    But I for ever will declare,

          I Jacob’s God will praise.

10   All horns of lewd men I’ll cut off;

          but just men’s horns will raise.

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    In thy great indignation,

          O Lord, rebuke me not;

     Nor on me lay thy chast’ning hand,

          in thy displeasure hot.

2    For in me fast thine arrows stick,

          thine hand doth press me sore:

3    And in my flesh there is no health,

          nor soundness any more.

     This grief I have, because thy wrath

          is forth against me gone;

     And in my bones there is no rest,

          for sin that I have done.

4    Because gone up above mine head

          my great transgressions be;

     And, as a weighty burden, they

          too heavy are for me.

5    My wounds do stink, and are corrupt;

          my folly makes it so.

6    I troubled am, and much bow’d down;

          all day I mourning go.

7    For a disease that loathsome is

          so fills my loins with pain,

     That in my weak and weary flesh

          no soundness doth remain.

8    So feeble and infirm am I,

          and broken am so sore,

     That, through disquiet of my heart,

          I have been made to roar.

9    O Lord, all that I do desire

          is still before thine eye;

     And of my heart the secret groans

          not hidden are from thee.

10   My heart doth pant incessantly,

          my strength doth quite decay;

     As for mine eyes, their wonted light

          is from me gone away.

11   My lovers and my friends do stand

          at distance from my sore;

     And those do stand aloof that were

          kinsmen and kind before.

12   Yea, they that seek my life lay snares:

          who seek to do me wrong

     Speak things mischievous, and deceits

          imagine all day long.

13   But, as one deaf, that heareth not,

          I suffer’d all to pass;

     I as a dumb man did become,

          whose mouth not open’d was:

14   As one that hears not, in whose mouth

          are no reproofs at all.

15   For, Lord, I hope in thee; my God,

          thou’lt hear me when I call.

16   For I said, Hear me, lest they should

          rejoice o’er me with pride;

     And o’er me magnify themselves,

          when as my foot doth slide.

17   For I am near to halt, my grief

          is still before mine eye:

18   For I’ll declare my sin, and grieve

          for mine iniquity.

19   But yet mine en’mies lively are,

          and strong are they beside;

     And they that hate me wrongfully

          are greatly multiply’d.

20   And they for good that render ill,

          as en’mies me withstood;

     Yea, ev’n for this, because that I

          do follow what is good.

21   Forsake me not, O Lord; my God,

          far from me never be.

22   O Lord, thou my salvation art,

          haste to give help to me.

1    For evil-doers fret thou not

          thyself unquietly;

     Nor do thou envy bear to those

          that work iniquity.

2    For, even like unto the grass,

          soon be cut down shall they;

     And, like the green and tender herb,

          they wither shall away.

3    Set thou thy trust upon the Lord,

          and be thou doing good;

     And so thou in the land shalt dwell,

          and verily have food.

4    Delight thyself in God; he’ll give

          thine heart’s desire to thee.

5    Thy way to God commit, him trust,

          it bring to pass shall he.

6    And, like unto the light, he shall

          thy righteousness display;

     And he thy judgment shall bring forth

          like noon-tide of the day.

7    Rest in the Lord, and patiently

          wait for him: do not fret

     For him who, prosp’ring in his way,

          success in sin doth get.

8    Do thou from anger cease, and wrath

          see thou forsake also:

     Fret not thyself in any wise,

          that evil thou should’st do.

9    For those that evil doers are

          shall be cut off and fall:

     But those that wait upon the Lord

          the earth inherit shall.

10   For yet a little while, and then

          the wicked shall not be;

     His place thou shalt consider well,

          but it thou shalt not see.

11   But by inheritance the earth

          the meek ones shall possess:

     They also shall delight themselves

          in an abundant peace.

12   The wicked plots against the just,

          and at him whets his teeth:

13   The Lord shall laugh at him, because

          his day he coming seeth.

14   The wicked have drawn out the sword,

          and bent their bow, to slay

     The poor and needy, and to kill

          men of an upright way.

15   But their own sword, which they have drawn,

          shall enter their own heart:

     Their bows which they have bent shall break,

          and into pieces part.

16   A little that a just man hath

          is more and better far

     Than is the wealth of many such

          as lewd and wicked are.

17   For sinners’ arms shall broken be;

          but God the just sustains.

18   God knows the just man’s days, and still

          their heritage remains.

19   They shall not be asham’d when they

          the evil time do see;

     And when the days of famine are,

          they satisfy’d shall be.

20   But wicked men, and foes of God,

          as fat of lambs, decay;

     They shall consume, yea, into smoke

          they shall consume away.

21   The wicked borrows, but the same

          again he doth not pay;

     Whereas the righteous mercy shews,

          and gives his own away.

22   For such as blessed be of him

          the earth inherit shall;

     And they that cursed are of him

          shall be destroyed all.

23   A good man’s footsteps by the Lord

          are ordered aright;

     And in the way wherein he walks

          he greatly doth delight.

24   Although he fall, yet shall he not

          be cast down utterly;

     Because the Lord with his own hand

          upholds him mightily.

25   I have been young, and now am old,

          yet have I never seen

     The just man left, nor that his seed

          for bread have beggars been.

26   He’s ever merciful, and lends:

          his seed is bless’d therefore.

27   Depart from evil, and do good,

          and dwell for evermore.

28   For God loves judgment, and his saints

          leaves not in any case;

     They are kept ever: but cut off

          shall be the sinner’s race.

29   The just inherit shall the land,

          and ever in it dwell:

30   The just man’s mouth doth wisdom speak;

          his tongue doth judgment tell.

31   In’s heart the law is of his God,

          his steps slide not away.

32   The wicked man doth watch the just,

          and seeketh him to slay.

33   Yet him the Lord will not forsake,

          nor leave him in his hands:

     The righteous will he not condemn,

          when he in judgment stands.

34   Wait on the Lord, and keep his way,

          and thee exalt shall he

     Th’ earth to inherit; when cut off

          the wicked thou shalt see.

35   I saw the wicked great in pow’r,

          spread like a green bay-tree:

36   He pass’d, yea, was not; him I sought,

          but found he could not be.

37   Mark thou the perfect, and behold

          the man of uprightness;

     Because that surely of this man

          the latter end is peace.

38   But those men that transgressors are

          shall be destroy’d together;

     The latter end of wicked men

          shall be cut off for ever.

39   But the salvation of the just

          is from the Lord above;

     He in the time of their distress

          their stay and strength doth prove.

40   The Lord shall help, and them deliver:

          he shall them free and save

     From wicked men; because in him

          their confidence they have.