Page images
PDF
EPUB

3 But thou, O Lord, art my protector; my glory, and the lift4 er up of my head. With my voice I cried to the Lord, and from his holy mount he heard me.

5

I laid me down to rest and slept-I awoke. Because the 6 Lord will protect me, I will not be afraid of myriads of people-of them who are besetting me round about.

7 Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God! Because thou hast smitten all them, who foolishly were mine enemies-hast 8 broken the teeth of sinners: this deliverance is the Lord's : let thy blessing be upon thy people also.

1

IV.

For the conclusion with psalms. An Ode by David.

WHEN I made my supplication; my righteous God heard me thou hast enlarged me in distress: be gracious to me and hear my prayer.

2 Sons of men! how long will you be stubborn! why love 3 ye vanity and seek falsehood? Know that the Lord hath made

his holy one wonderful. The Lord will hearken to me when I cry 4 to him. Are you provoked to wrath? Do not therefore commit sin. 5 What you say in your hearts be sorry for, on your beds. Offer 6 a sacrifice of righteousness and trust in the Lord. Many say,

Who will shew us good things? On us, Lord, is marked the 7 light of thy countenance: thou hast put gladness in my heart. 8 Because of the increase of their corn and wine and oil they are filled; while I will lay me down in peace and sleep because thou, O Lord, hast only caused me to dwell in hope.

1

V.

For the conclusion, concerning her who obtaineth the inheri tance. A Psalm by David.

O LORD, hear my words-attend to my cry. Listen to 2 the sound of my prayer, my king and my God! For to thee, O Lord, I will pray.

3

In the morning thou shalt hear my voice: in the morning I will wait on thee and look up.

4 Because thou art not a God pleased with iniquity; there5 fore he who is wicked cannot dwell near thee: nor shall transgressors continue in thy presence.

6.

Thou O Lord, hatest all the workers of iniquity: thou wilt destroy all them who speak lies-a bloody and deceitful 7 man the Lord abhorreth. As for me, I through thine abundant mercy, will go to thy house: I will worship before thy holy temple, in thy fear.

8

Lead me, O Lord, in thy saving goodness: direct my way before thee, because of mine enemies-because there is 9 no truth in their mouth. Their heart is false; their throat, an open sepulchre with their tongue they practised deceit.

10

Judge them, O God; let them fall for their devices: according to the multitude of their crimes cast them out; because they have provoked thee, O Lord.

11

But let all, whose hope is in thee, rejoice. They shall exult forever, and thou wilt dwell among them: and all who love thy name will glory in thee; because thou wilt bless the righteous. Thou, O Lord, hast covered us as with armour of fa

vour.

VI.

1

2

3

For the conclusion, among Hymns for the eighth day. A
Psalm by David.

O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath; nor chasten me in thine anger.

Pity me, O Lord, for I am weak. Heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled.

My soul is troubled exceedingly but O Lord, for how long?

4 Return, O Lord; deliver my soul: save me for thy mercy's sake.

5

6.

For in death none can make mention of thee. In the mansion of the dead, who can give thee thanks?

I am weary my bed and water my couch with my tears?

with my groaning. Am I every night to bedew

-7

8

Mine eye is troubled with indignation: I am grown old among all mine enemies.

Away from me, all ye workers of iniquity. For the Lord 9 hath heard the voice of my weeping-the Lord hath heard my supplication: the Lord hath received my petition.

10

Let all mine enemies be shamed and greatly troubled. Let them be turned back and instantly put to shame.

VII.

1

A Psalm by David which he sung to the Lord respecting
the words of Chousi the Jeminite.

O LORD, my God, in thee I have put my trust: save me 2 from all my persecutors and deliver me: perhaps he like a lion may tear my soul; if there be none to redeem-none to deliver.

3

O Lord, my God, if I have done this--if there be iniquity 4 in my hands: if I have requited them evil who did me wrong; let me fall by mine enemies as a worthless man : let mine enemy pursue my soul and take it-let him tread down my life to the earth and lay my honour in the dust.

6

Arise, O Lord, in thine indignation: exalt thyself in the borders of mine enemies. Awake, O Lord my God, in the 7 judgment thou hast enjoined. And when the congregation of the tribes encompass thee; ascend thou on high above them: 8 The Lord is the judge of the tribes: judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness: and according to mine innocence 9 be for me. Let the wickedness of sinners be brought to an end. Thou wilt indeed direct the righteous: thou art the God 10 who searcheth hearts and reins. Rightful is my help from that God who saveth the upright in heart.

11

God, who is a judge just and powerful; (though he is long 12 suffering and doth not execute vengeance every day) will, un

less you turn back, sharpen his sword. He hath bent his bow 13 and made it ready and hath fitted to it the instruments of death-those flaming bolts of his which he hath forged.

14 Behold this man hath travailed with injustice. He conceived 15 mischief and brought forth iniquity: he hath digged a pit and covered it: into the pit which he made he will fall: his mis

1

chief will return on his own head-on his own head his injustice will come down. I shall praise the Lord for his loving kindness. I shall sing to the name of the Lord Most High.

VIII.

For the conclusion. For the wine presses. A Psalm by David.

O LORD, our Lord, how thy name ought to be admired in all the earth, since thine excellence is exalted above the hea2 vens! From the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise, on account of thine enemies-[on account] of destroying an enemy and a revenger.

3

When I behold the heavens, the work of thy fingers-the 4 moon and stars which thou hast established, what is man that thou shouldst be mindful of him, or a son of man that thou 5 shouldst visit him! Thou madest him a little lower than angels, : 6 with glory and honour thou hast crowned him, and set him over

the works of thy hands. Thou hast put all things under his 7 feet-flocks and herds of all sorts-also the beasts of the field8 the birds of the air, and fishes of the sea-whatever travel the 9 paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, how thy name ought to be admired in all the earth!

IX.

For the conclusion. On the mysteries of the Son. A Psalm by

1

David.

I WILL praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart, I will 2 relate all thy wondrous works. Let me be gladdened and rejoice in thee; to thy name I will sing, O thou Most High. 3 When this enemy of mine is turned back, at thy presence they 4 shall faint and perish; because thou hast maintained my right and my cause.

5 Thou the righteous judge hast sat on the throne; thou hast rebuked nations, and the wicked one is destroyed. Thou hast 6 blotted out their Name forever and ever. The enemy's swords have utterly failed, and thou hast completely destroyed cities, the memorial of them with their din is gone..

7

But the Lord will endure forever: he hath prepared his 8 throne for judgment; he will judge the world with righteous9 ness-with rectitude he will judge tribes. The Lord was a 10 refuge for the distressed, a seasonable helper in adversity. Let them who know thy name confide in thee; For thou, O Lord, hast not forsaken them who seek thee.

11 Sing to the Lord who dwelleth in Sion; among the nations 12 proclaim his designs, for in making inquisition for blood, he had them in remembrance-he forgot not the prayer of the distressed.

13

Have mercy upon me, O Lord! Behold my affliction, because of mine enemies, O thou who raisest me up from the gates 14 of death, that I may proclaim all thy praises in the gates of the daughter of Sion. Let me exult with joy for thy salvation. The nations were completely entrapped by the destruction which they contrived; in the gin which they hid, their foot is 16 caught. The Lord is known by executing judgments: by the works of his own hands the sinner is taken.

15

17

18

19

20

2

A responsive Ode.

LET the sinners be turned back to the mansion of the dead-all the nations who forget God.

For the poor shall not be quite forgotten-the expectation of the needy shall never perish.

Arise, O Lord, let not man prevail-let nations be judged in thy presence.

Appoint, O Lord, a legislator over them-let nations know that they are men.

X.

WHY, O Lord, hast thou stood at a distance-dost thou overlook at proper occasions-in adversity?

When the wicked exulteth with pride, the poor is set on fire-they are caught by the counsels which they devise.

3 Because the sinner is praised for the desires of his soul; -therefore he who committeth injustice is blessed.

4

The sinner hath greatly provoked the Lord-according to his great anger will he not make inquisition?

[blocks in formation]
« PreviousContinue »