The Psalms of David in English Meter, Psalms · Psalm 34 – Psalm 36

The Psalms of David in English Meter · Psalms · Psalm 34 – Psalm 36

p. 58PSAL. XXXIIII.

I Will at all times blesse the Lord, who still preserveth me;

His praises in my thankfull mouth p. 59continually shall be.

verse 2 My soul shall make her boast in God, of whom reliefe she had;

The humble men shall heare thereof, and hearing shall be glad.

verse 3 O magnifie the Lord with me, and spread abroad his fame:

Together with one heart and voice, let us exalt his Name.

verse 4 I in my praier sought the Lord, he did my praier heare;

And graciously delivered me from all that I did feare.

verse 5 His Saints look to him in distresse, and by him lightned be;

Their faces not ashamed are when they his light do see.

verse 6 This poore man to the Lord did cry, who to him hearing gave;

And him did in his mercy great from all his troubles save.

verse 7 Gods Angel doth encamp about▪ all those that do him feare;

And safely doth deliver them from dangers that are neere.

verse 8 O taste, and by your tasting see that God is good and kind:

Blest is the man, that trusts in him with all his heart and mind.

verse 9 O all ye Saints, feare ye the Lord, who of the world is King;

For those that feare him never shall p. 60want any needfull thing.

verse 10 The Lions young may hungry be, and sometimes lack their food;

But they that truly seek the Lord shall not want any good.

The second part.

verse 11 Come neere therefore my children deare, and to my words give eare;

I shall you teach the perfect way how ye the Lord should feare.

verse 12 Who is that man that would live long, and lead a blessed life:

verse 13 See thou refraine thy tongue and lips from all deceit and strife.

verse 14 Turn back thy face from doing ill, and do the godly deed:

Enquire for peace and quietnesse, and follow it with speed.

verse 15 Because upon the righteous men the Lord doth set his eies;

His eares he opens to receive their just complaints and cries.

verse 16 But he doth frown, & bend his brows upon the wicked traine;

And cuts away the memory that should of them remaine.

verse 17 But God doth hear the righteous men when they do cry and call;

And graciously delivers them out of their troubles all.

verse 18 The Lord is kind, & straight at hand to such as be contrite;

p. 61He saves also the sorrowfull, the poore, and meek in spirit.

verse 19 Full many be the miseries that righteous men do suffer;

But out of all adversities the Lord doth them deliver.

verse 20 And by his speciall providence keep all his bones doth he,

That by the most enraged foes not one shall broken be.

verse 21 But evill shall the sinner slay, for evill he hath wrought;

And those that hate the Saints, shall be to desolation brought.

verse 22 Whereas the Lord his servants soules redeemeth, and sets free;

And of all them that trust in him, none desolate shall be.

PSAL. XXXV.

LOrd, plead my cause against my foes, confound their force and might;

Fight on my part against all those that seek with me to fight.

verse 2 Lay hand upon the speare and shield, thy selfe in armour dresse;

Stand up for me, and fight the field, to help me from distresse.

verse 3 Gird on thy sword, and stop the way of those that follow me;

And to my soule in mercy say, Thy Saviour I will be.

verse 4 Confound them with rebuke & blame p. 62that seek my soule to spill:

Let them turn back, and flie with shame, that think to work me ill.

verse 5 As chaffe before the wind apace doth flie, and will not stay;

So these men let Gods anger chase, and make them flie away.

verse 6 Let their way dark and slippery be, that they may surely fall;

And let an Angel come from thee, and persecute them all.

verse 7 For without cause their net have they hid from me in a pit;

And without cause they in my way for my soule digged it.

verse 8 When they think least, and careless are, O Lord, destroy them all;

Let them be trapt in their own snare, and in their mischiefe fall.

verse 9 And then my soul, my heart, and voice in God shall joyfull be:

In him my soule shall much rejoyce, because he sayeth me.

verse 10 My body also greatly shall with joy possessed be;

My bones shall say, rejoycing all, Lord, who is like to thee▪

verse 11 For thou the poore from him dost save, that was for him too strong;

The poore and needy safety have by thee from spoile and wrong.

verse 12 My cruell foes against me rise p. 63to witnesse things untrue

And to accuse me they devise of that I never knew.

The second part.

verse 13 Though I to them did shew good will, they hate to me returne:

When thus they pay my good with ill, my spoiled soule doth mourne.

verse 14 But as …or me, when sick were they, in sackeloth sad I mourn'd:

My humble soule did fast and pray, which prai'r to me return'd.

verse 15 To him much kindnesse I have done, as to a friend or brother;

I sadly bowed downe, as one that mourneth for his mother.

verse 16 But they at my great sorrow glad, against me gathered were:

Abjects their secret meetings had, and ceast not me to teare.

verse 17 With sco…ing hypocrites in feasts these men combined be;

Who mock me with their bitter jests, and gnash their teeth on me.

verse 18 These things how long, Lord, wilt thou see? from their spoiles rescue mee;

And let my soule, my darling be from Lions kept by thee.

verse 19 Then in the congregation great I will give thankes to thee;

And where the mighty throngs are met, thou shalt be prais'd by mee.

verse 20 p. 64O do not glad mine enemy, which hates me wrongfully;

Nor let him winking with his eye enjoy my misery.

verse 21 For they of peace no word do say, but plots do take in hand;

That craftily destroy they may the quiet of the land,

verse 22 And now their mouths they open lay in scorne and spite at me;

So, so, our hearts desire, they say, on him our eie doth see.

verse 23 This thou, O Lord, dost plainly see, no longer silent stand;

O Lord, be thou not far from me, withholding still thine hand.

verse 24 Stirre up thy selfe, and now awake to give me judgement right:

Awake, my cause in hand to take, my God, my Lord of might.

The third part.

verse 25 According to thy righteousnesse, my Lord God, judge thou me;

And let them not for my distresse on me triumphing be.

verse 26 Let them not in their hearts thus say, So would we have it be;

Let them not boast, O Lord, that they have wholly swallowed me.

verse 27 Confounded be they all with shame, which at my hurt are glad;

Those that against me swell, their name p. 65in great contempt be had.

verse 28 But let thy Saints with shouts rejoyce, that love my righteous way;

And let them still with heart and voice thus praise the Lord, and say:

verse 29 For ever magnified be the Lord of grace and might;

His servants prosperousnesse to see, who greatly doth delight.

verse 30 And I will gladly with my tongue speak of thy righteousnesse;

My thankfull tongue all the day long thy praises shall expresse.

PSAL. XXXVI.

WHen I consider in mine heart the … wicked way,

Gods feare is not before his eies, it to mine heart doth say.

verse 2 But yet he flattereth himselfe in his owne blinded eies;

Untill the hatefulnesse be sound of his iniquities.

verse 3 His mouth speakes words of wickednesse, words framed to deceive;

And he refuseth to be wise, and to do good doth leave.

verse 4 And mischiefe, lying in his bed, he doth devise and plot;

He sets himselfe in waies not good, ill he abhorreth not.

verse 5 But, Lord, thy goodnesse doth ascend above the heavens hie;

p. 66So doth thy truth it selfe extend unto the cloudy skie.

verse 6 Thy righteousne… like mountains h… and thy wise judgements be

Like a great deep; Lord, man and beast preserved are by thee.

verse 7 How precious is thy kindnes, Lord! how excellent thy grace!

Therefore in shadow of thy wings mens sons their trust shall place.

verse 8 They with the fatnesse of thy house▪ well satisfi'd shall be;

And with thy river of delight they shall be fill'd by thee.

verse 9 Because of life the fountaine pure doth ever flow from thee,

And in thy light we are full sure eternall light to see.

verse 10 From such as thee desire to know, let not thy grace depart;

Thy righteousnes declare and shew to men upright in heart.

verse 11 Let not the lofty foot of pride against me conquering go;

Let not the hand of wicked men me shake, and overthrow.

verse 12 But now behold, there are they fall'n that work iniquities:

Downe are they cast, and never shall have power againe to rise.