Tag: Songs of Christ

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 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    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.

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.

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.

TUNE: Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed

V 1    Why rage the heathen? and vain things 
        why do the people mind?
2    Kings of the earth do set themselves,
          and princes are combin’d,

V     To plot against the Lord, and his
          Anointed, saying thus,
3    Let us asunder break their bands,
          and cast their cords from us.

C 4    He that in heaven sits shall laugh;
          the Lord shall scorn them all.
5    Then shall he speak to them in wrath,
          in rage he vex them shall.

V 6    Yet, notwithstanding, I have him
          to be my King appointed;
     And over Sion, my holy hill,
          I have him King anointed.

V 7    The sure decree I will declare:
          The Lord hath said to me,
     Thou art mine only Son; this day
          I have begotten thee.

C 8    Ask of me, and for heritage
          the heathen I’ll make thine;
     And, for possession, I to thee
          will give earth’s utmost line.

V 9    Thou shalt, as with a weighty rod
          of iron, break them all;
     And, as a potter’s sherd, thou shalt
          them dash in pieces small.

V 10   Now therefore, kings, be wise; be taught,
          ye judges of the earth:
11   Serve God in fear, and see that ye
          join trembling with your mirth.

C 12   Kiss ye the Son, lest in his ire
          ye perish from the way,
     If once his wrath begin to burn:
          bless’d all that on him stay.

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.

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.

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.

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.