Tag: Songs of Christ

1     In gods’ assembly God doth stand;
          he judgeth gods among.
2     How long, accepting persons vile,
          will ye give judgment wrong?

3     Defend the poor and fatherless;
          to poor oppress’d do right.
4     The poor and needy ones set free;
          rid them from ill men’s might.

5     They know not, nor will understand;
          in darkness they walk on:
     All the foundations of the earth
          out of their course are gone.

6     I said that ye are gods, and are
          sons of the Highest all:
7     But ye shall die like men, and as
          one of the princes fall.

8     O God, do thou raise up thyself,
          the earth to judgment call:
     For thou, as thine inheritance,
          shalt take the nations all.

1    Hear, Isr’el’s Shepherd! like a flock

          thou that dost Joseph guide;

     Shine forth, O thou that dost between

          the cherubims abide.

2    In Ephraim’s, and Benjamin’s

          and in Manasseh’s sight,

     O come for our salvation;

          stir up thy strength and might.

3    Turn us again, O Lord our God,

          and upon us vouchsafe

     To make thy countenance to shine,

          and so we shall be safe.

4    O Lord of hosts, almighty God,

          how long shall kindled be

     Thy wrath against the prayer made

          by thine own folk to thee?

5    Thou tears of sorrow giv’st to them

          instead of bread to eat;

     Yea, tears instead of drink thou giv’st

          to them in measure great.

6    Thou makest us a strife unto

          our neighbours round about;

     Our enemies among themselves

          at us do laugh and flout.

7    Turn us again, O God of hosts,

          and upon us vouchsafe

     To make thy countenance to shine,

          and so we shall be safe.

8    A vine from Egypt brought thou hast,

          by thine outstretched hand;

     And thou the heathen out didst cast,

          to plant it in their land.

9    Before it thou a room didst make,

          where it might grow and stand;

     Thou causedst it deep root to take,

          and it did fill the land.

10   The mountains vail’d were with its shade,

          as with a covering;

     Like goodly cedars were the boughs

          which out from it did spring.

11   Upon the one hand to the sea

          her boughs she did out send;

     On th’ other side unto the flood

          her branches did extend.

12   Why hast thou then thus broken down,

          and ta’en her hedge away?

     So that all passengers do pluck,

          and make of her a prey.

13   The boar who from the forest comes

          doth waste it at his pleasure;

     The wild beast of the field also

          devours it out of measure.

14   O God of hosts, we thee beseech,

          return now unto thine;

     Look down from heav’n in love, behold,

          and visit this thy vine:

15   This vineyard, which thine own right hand

          hath planted us among;

     And that same branch, which for thyself

          thou hast made to be strong.

16   Burnt up it is with flaming fire,

          it also is cut down:

     They utterly are perished,

          when as thy face doth frown.

17   O let thy hand be still upon

          the Man of thy right hand,

     The Son of man, whom for thyself

          thou madest strong to stand.

18   So henceforth we will not go back,

          nor turn from thee at all:

     O do thou quicken us, and we

          upon thy name will call.

19   Turn us again, Lord God of hosts,

          and upon us vouchsafe

     To make thy countenance to shine,

          and so we shall be safe.

1    O God, the heathen enter’d have

          thine heritage; by them

     Defiled is thy house: on heaps

          they laid Jerusalem.

2    The bodies of thy servants they

          have cast forth to be meat

     To rav’nous fowls; thy dear saints’ flesh

          they gave to beasts to eat.

3    Their blood about Jerusalem

          like water they have shed;

     And there was none to bury them

          when they were slain and dead.

4    Unto our neighbours a reproach

          most base become are we;

     A scorn and laughingstock to them

          that round about us be.

5    How long, Lord, shall thine anger last?

          wilt thou still keep the same?

     And shall thy fervent jealousy

          burn like unto a flame?

6    On heathen pour thy fury forth,

          that have thee never known,

     And on those kingdoms which thy name

          have never call’d upon.

7    For these are they who Jacob have

          devoured cruelly;

     And they his habitation

          have caused waste to lie.

8    Against us mind not former sins;

          thy tender mercies show;

     Let them prevent us speedily,

          for we’re brought very low.

9    For thy name’s glory help us, Lord,

          who hast our Saviour been:

     Deliver us; for thy name’s sake,

          O purge away our sin.

10   Why say the heathen, Where’s their God?

          let him to them be known;

     When those who shed thy servants’ blood

          are in our sight o’erthrown.

11   O let the pris’ner’s sighs ascend

          before thy sight on high;

     Preserve those in thy mighty pow’r

          that are design’d to die.

12   And to our neighbours’ bosom cause

          it sev’n-fold render’d be,

     Ev’n the reproach wherewith they have,

          O Lord, reproached thee.

13   So we thy folk, and pasture-sheep,

          shall give thee thanks always;

     And unto generations all

          we will shew forth thy praise.

1    Unto the Lord I with my voice,

          I unto God did cry;

     Ev’n with my voice, and unto me

          his ear he did apply.

2    I in my trouble sought the Lord,

          my sore by night did run,

     And ceased not; my grieved soul

          did consolation shun.

3    I to remembrance God did call,

          yet trouble did remain;

     And overwhelm’d my spirit was,

          whilst I did sore complain.

4    Mine eyes, debarr’d from rest and sleep,

          thou makest still to wake;

     My trouble is so great that I

          unable am to speak.

5    The days of old to mind I call’d,

          and oft did think upon

     The times and ages that are past

          full many years agone.

6    By night my song I call to mind,

          and commune with my heart;

     My sp’rit did carefully enquire

          how I might ease my smart.

7    For ever will the Lord cast off,

          and gracious be no more?

8    For ever is his mercy gone?

          fails his word evermore?

9    Is’t true that to be gracious

          the Lord forgotten hath?

     And that his tender mercies he

          hath shut up in his wrath?

10   Then did I say, That surely this

          is mine infirmity:

     I’ll mind the years of the right hand

          of him that is most High.

11   Yea, I remember will the works

          performed by the Lord:

     The wonders done of old by thee

          I surely will record.

12   I also will of all thy works

          my meditation make;

     And of thy doings to discourse

          great pleasure I will take.

13   O God, thy way most holy is

          within thy sanctuary;

     And what god is so great in pow’r

          as is our God most high?

14   Thou art the God that wonders do’st

          by thy right hand most strong:

     Thy mighty pow’r thou hast declar’d

          the nations among.

15   To thine own people with thine arm

          thou didst redemption bring;

     To Jacob’s sons, and to the tribes

          of Joseph that do spring.

16   The waters, Lord, perceived thee,

          the waters saw thee well;

     And they for fear aside did flee;

          the depths on trembling fell.

17   The clouds in water forth were pour’d,

          sound loudly did the sky;

     And swiftly through the world abroad

          thine arrows fierce did fly.

18   Thy thunder’s voice alongst the heav’n

          a mighty noise did make;

     By lightnings lighten’d was the world,

          th’ earth tremble did and shake.

19   Thy way is in the sea, and in

          the waters great thy path;

     Yet are thy footsteps hid, O Lord;

          none knowledge thereof hath.

20   Thy people thou didst safely lead,

          like to a flock of sheep;

     By Moses’ hand and Aaron’s thou

          didst them conduct and keep.

1    Lord, thee my God, I’ll early seek:

          my soul doth thirst for thee;

     My flesh longs in a dry parch’d land,

          wherein no waters be:

2    That I thy power may behold,

          and brightness of thy face,

     As I have seen thee heretofore

          within thy holy place.

3    Since better is thy love than life,

          my lips thee praise shall give.

4    I in thy name will lift my hands,

          and bless thee while I live.

5    Ev’n as with marrow and with fat

          my soul shall filled be;

     Then shall my mouth with joyful lips

          sing praises unto thee:

6    When I do thee upon my bed

          remember with delight,

     And when on thee I meditate

          in watches of the night.

7    In shadow of thy wings I’ll joy;

          for thou mine help hast been.

8    My soul thee follows hard; and me

          thy right hand doth sustain.

9    Who seek my soul to spill shall sink

          down to earth’s lowest room.

10   They by the sword shall be cut off,

          and foxes’ prey become.

11   Yet shall the king in God rejoice,

          and each one glory shall

     That swear by him: but stopp’d shall be

          the mouth of liars all.

1    O God, we with our ears have heard,

          our fathers have us told,

     What works thou in their days hadst done,

          ev’n in the days of old.

2    Thy hand did drive the heathen out,

          and plant them in their place;

     Thou didst afflict the nations,

          but them thou didst increase.

3    For neither got their sword the land,

          nor did their arm them save;

     But thy right hand, arm, countenance;

          for thou them favour gave.

4    Thou art my King: for Jacob, Lord,

          deliv’rances command.

5    Through thee we shall push down our foes,

          that do against us stand:

     We, through thy name, shall tread down those

          that ris’n against us have.

6    For in my bow I shall not trust,

          nor shall my sword me save.

7    But from our foes thou hast us sav’d,

          our haters put to shame.

8    In God we all the day do boast,

          and ever praise thy name.

9    But now we are cast off by thee,

          and us thou putt’st to shame;

     And when our armies do go forth,

          thou go’st not with the same.

10   Thou mak’st us from the enemy,

          faint-hearted, to turn back;

     And they who hate us for themselves

          our spoils away do take.

11   Like sheep for meat thou gavest us;

          ‘mong heathen cast we be.

12   Thou didst for nought thy people sell;

          their price enrich’d not thee.

13   Thou mak’st us a reproach to be

          unto our neighbours near;

     Derision and a scorn to them

          that round about us are.

14   A by-word also thou dost us

          among the heathen make;

     The people, in contempt and spite,

          at us their heads do shake.

15   Before me my confusion

          continually abides;

     And of my bashful countenance

          the shame me ever hides:

16   For voice of him that doth reproach,

          and speaketh blasphemy;

     By reason of th’ avenging foe,

          and cruel enemy.

17   All this is come on us, yet we

          have not forgotten thee;

     Nor falsely in thy covenant

          behav’d ourselves have we.

18   Back from thy way our heart not turn’d;

          our steps no straying made;

19   Though us thou brak’st in dragons’ place,

          and cover’dst with death’s shade.

20   If we God’s name forgot, or stretch’d

          to a strange god our hands,

21   Shall not God search this out? for he

          heart’s secrets understands.

22   Yea, for thy sake we’re kill’d all day,

          counted as slaughter-sheep.

23   Rise, Lord, cast us not ever off;

          awake, why dost thou sleep?

24    O wherefore hidest thou thy face?

          forgett’st our cause distress’d,

25    And our oppression? For our soul

          is to the dust down press’d:

     Our belly also on the earth

          fast cleaving, hold doth take.

26    Rise for our help, and us redeem,

          ev’n for thy mercies’ sake.

1    Be merciful to me, O God;

          thy mercy unto me

     Do thou extend; because my soul

          doth put her trust in thee:

     Yea, in the shadow of thy wings

          my refuge I will place,

     Until these sad calamities

          do wholly overpass.

2    My cry I will cause to ascend

          unto the Lord most high;

     To God, who doth all things for me

          perform most perfectly.

3    From heav’n he shall send down, and me

          from his reproach defend

     That would devour me: God his truth

          and mercy forth shall send.

4    My soul among fierce lions is,

          I firebrands live among,

     Men’s sons, whose teeth are spears and darts,

          a sharp sword is their tongue.

5    Be thou exalted very high

          above the heav’ns, O God;

     Let thou thy glory be advanc’d

          o’er all the earth abroad.

6    My soul’s bow’d down; for they a net

          have laid, my steps to snare:

     Into the pit which they have digg’d

          for me, they fallen are.

7    My heart is fix’d, my heart is fix’d,

          O God; I’ll sing and praise.

8    My glory wake; wake psalt’ry, harp;

          myself I’ll early raise.

9    I’ll praise thee ‘mong the people, Lord;

          ‘mong nations sing will I:

10   For great to heav’n thy mercy is,

          thy truth is to the sky.

11   O Lord, exalted be thy name

          above the heav’ns to stand:

     Do thou thy glory far advance

          above both sea and land.

1    Judge me, O God, and plead my cause

          against th’ ungodly nation;

     From the unjust and crafty man,

          O be thou my salvation.

2    For thou the God art of my strength;

          why thrusts thou me thee fro’?

     For th’ enemy’s oppression

          why do I mourning go?

3    O send thy light forth and thy truth;

          let them be guides to me,

     And bring me to thine holy hill,

          ev’n where thy dwellings be.

4    Then will I to God’s altar go,

          to God my chiefest joy:

     Yea, God, my God, thy name to praise

          my harp I will employ.

5    Why art thou then cast down, my soul?

          what should discourage thee?

     And why with vexing thoughts art thou

          disquieted in me?

     Still trust in God; for him to praise

          good cause I yet shall have:

     He of my count’nance is the health,

          my God that doth me save.

1    Save me, O God, by thy great name,

          and judge me by thy strength:

2    My prayer hear, O God; give ear

           unto my words at length.

3    For they that strangers are to me

          do up against me rise;

     Oppressors seek my soul, and God

          set not before their eyes.

4    The Lord my God my helper is,

          lo, therefore I am bold:

     He taketh part with ev’ry one

          that doth my soul uphold.

5    Unto mine enemies he shall

          mischief and ill repay:

     O for thy truth’s sake cut them off,

          and sweep them clean away.

6    I will a sacrifice to thee

          give with free willingness;

     Thy name, O Lord, because ’tis good,

          with praise I will confess.

7    For he hath me delivered

          from all adversities;

     And his desire mine eye hath seen

          upon mine enemies.

1    After thy loving-kindness, Lord,
          have mercy upon me:
     For thy compassions great, blot out
          all mine iniquity.

2    Me cleanse from sin, and throughly wash
          from mine iniquity:
3    For my transgressions I confess;
          my sin I ever see.

4   ‘Gainst thee, thee only, have I sinn’d,
          in thy sight done this ill;
     That when thou speak’st thou may’st be just,
          and clear in judging still.

5    Behold, I in iniquity
          was form’d the womb within;
     My mother also me conceiv’d
          in guiltiness and sin.

6    Behold, thou in the inward parts
          with truth delighted art;
     And wisdom thou shalt make me know
          within the hidden part.

7    Do thou with hyssop sprinkle me,
          I shall be cleansed so;
     Yea, wash thou me, and then I shall
          be whiter than the snow.

8    Of gladness and of joyfulness
          make me to hear the voice;
     That so these very bones which thou
          hast broken may rejoice.

9    All mine iniquities blot out,
          thy face hide from my sin.
10   Create a clean heart, Lord, renew
          a right sp’rit me within.

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11   Cast me not from thy sight, nor take

          thy Holy Sp’rit away.

12   Restore me thy salvation’s joy;

          with thy free Sp’rit me stay.

13   Then will I teach thy ways unto

          those that transgressors be;

     And those that sinners are shall then

          be turned unto thee.

14   O God, of my salvation God,

          me from blood-guiltiness

     Set free; then shall my tongue aloud

          sing of thy righteousness.

15   My closed lips, O Lord, by thee

          let them be opened;

     Then shall thy praises by my mouth

          abroad be published.

16   For thou desir’st not sacrifice,

          else would I give it thee;

     Nor wilt thou with burnt-offering

          at all delighted be.

17   A broken spirit is to God

          a pleasing sacrifice:

     A broken and a contrite heart,

          Lord, thou wilt not despise.

18   Shew kindness, and do good, O Lord,

          to Sion, thine own hill:

     The walls of thy Jerusalem

          build up of thy good will.

19   Then righteous off ‘rings shall thee please,

          and off ‘rings burnt, which they

     With whole burnt-off ‘rings, and with calves,

          shall on thine altar lay.