The Psalms of David in English Meter, Psalms · Psalm 18 – Psalm 21

The Psalms of David in English Meter · Psalms · Psalm 18 – Psalm 21

p. 24PSAL. XVIII.

OGod, which art my rock & strength, thee dearly love will I:

Thou art my castle and defence in my necessity.

verse 2 My God, my rock, in whom I trust, the worker of my wealth;

My refuge, buckler, and my shield, the horne of all my health.

verse 3 I on the Lord of hosts will call, who doth all praise deserve;

p. 53So from my cruell enemies all, he will me safe preserve.

verse 4 Sorrowes of death did compasse me, with them I was dismaid:

The violent flouds of wicked men did make me much affraid.

verse 5 The slie and subtle snares of hell were round about me set;

And for my death there was prepar'd a deadly trapping net.

verse 6 In this distresse I call'd on God, and to my God did crie;

He from his Temple heard my voice, which came to him on hie.

verse 7 The earth then trembled, & did quake, then mov'd and shaken were

The strong foundations of the hills: for they his wrath did feare.

verse 8 His mighty wrath, in which a smoak up from his nostrils came:

His mouth breath'd wasting fire, & coals were kindled by the same.

verse 9 The Lord descended from above, and bow'd the heavens hie;

And underneath his feet he cast the darknesse of the skie.

verse 10 Upon a Cherub did he ride in royall majestie;

And he did flie, yea on the wings of winds did swiftly flie.

The second part.

verse 11 Darknesse he made his secret' place, is with a tent on hie:

p. 26He compast is with waters dark, and thick clouds of the skie.

verse 12 But when before him brightness was then his thick clouds did passe;

And then of haile, and coales of fire a fearfull storme there was.

verse 13 And God did thunder in tho skie, his voice the Highest sent;

Therewith abroad hot coales of fire, and battering hail-stones went.

verse 14 He shot his arrowes, and my foes did feather and affright:

He shot his fearfull lightnings out, and them did put to flight.

verse 15 At thy rebuke, the channels, Lord, of rivers were made d…;

And at thy blasting breath the worlds foundations open lye.

verse 16 And from above the Lord sent do… to fetch me from below;

And pluck me out of waters great, that would me overflow.

verse 17 And from my mighty enemie he then did set me free;

From those that hated me, for they were much too strong for mee.

verse 18 They did prevent me cruelly, even in the wofull day

Of my calamitie and griefe; yet was the Lord my stay.

The third part.

verse 19 He also brought me forth, that I in a large place might be:

p. 27He did deliver me, because he did delight in me.

verse 20 According to my righteousnesse, so did he me regard;

After the cleannesse of my hands he gave me my reward.

verse 21 For that I walked in his waies, and in his pathes have trod;

And have not with a wicked heart departed from my God.

verse 22 For all his judgements constantly I did before me lay:

From me his statutes out of mind I did not put away.

verse 23 But when before him I did walk, with him upright was I;

And watchfully I kept my selfe from mine iniquity.

verse 24 After my righteousnesse the Lord hath recompensed mee;

After the cleannesse of my hands, which his pure eies did see.

verse 25 For, Lord, unto the mercifull thou full of merciemercy art;

And thou wilt shew thy selfe upright to the upright in heart.

verse 26 Thou wilt be pure unto the pure, and those that sin eschew:

But thou to those that froward are thy selfe wilt froward shew.

verse 27 For thou wilt the afflicted save, in griefe that low do lie;

p. 28And wilt bring down the countenance of them, whose lookes are hie.

verse 28 The Lord will light my candle so, that it shall shine full bright:

The Lord my God will also make my darknesse to be light.

The fourth part.

verse 29 By thee through troups of men I break, and do escape them all;

And by my God, assisting me, I over-leap a wall.

verse 30 Unspotted are the waies of God, his word is purely tri'd:

He is a sure defence to such as in his faith abide.

verse 31 For who is God, except the Lord? besides him there is none;

And to his Church, who is a rocke, except our Lord alone?

verse 32 It is the mighty Lord of hosts with strength that girdeth me;

And he it is that makes my way perfect, and right to be.

verse 33 Like to the seet of nimble Hind… my feet he maketh swift;

And then upon my places high he me aloft doth lift.

verse 34 He doth instruct my hands to war, he gives them strength to fight;

So that to break a bow of steele mine armes from him have might.

verse 35 The shield of thy salvation receiv'd I have from thee:

p. 29Thy right hand holds me up, thy love greatly exalteth me:

verse 36 And when I walk, my steps thou hast inlarged under me.

That I go safely, and my feet are kept from sliding free.

The fifth part.

verse 37 Mine enemies I pursu'd have, and did them overtake:

Nor did I turne againe, till I an end of them did make.

verse 38 I have them wounded, so that they could never rise againe:

Under my feet my foes are cast, and there downe fall they slaine.

verse 39 For to the battell with great strength me girded so hast thou,

That under me mine enemies thou hast enforc't to bow.

verse 40 And thou hast given me the necks of those that with me fight;

That such as hate me causlesly slay and destroy I might.

verse 41 They cried out, but none there was that would, and could them save:

Yea, they did crie unto the Lord, but he no answer gave.

verse 42 Then did I beat them small as dust before the wind that flies;

And I did cast them out as dirt upon the street that lies.

p. 30The sixth part.

verse 43 Thou safely from the peoples strife hast me delivered;

And to the heathen me hast made a ruler, and a head.

verse 44 A people that I have not known to me shall servants be:

As soon as they of me do heare, they shall submit to me.

verse 45 The strangers shall submit to me, and they shall fade away;

And from those places be affraid, wherein they closely lay.

verse 46 But blessed be the living Lord, most worthy of all praise;

That is my rocke and saving health, praised be he alwaies.

verse 47 For it is God that on my foes doth vengeance take for me;

The people under me that bow, by him subdued b….

verse 48 He saves me from mine enemies all, yea thou hast lifted me

Above my foes; and from the man of violence set me free.

verse 49 Therefore among the nations, Lord, I will give praise to thee:

By me before them in a song thy Name shall praised be.

verse 50 He greatly his anointed King, and often doth deliver:

To David he doth mercy shew, and to his seed for ever.

p. 31PSAL. ….

THe glory of Almighty God the heav'ns do speak and shew;

The firmament his handy-worke presenteth to our view.

verse 2 Day unto day doth speak and tell his wisdome, and his might;

And a true knowledge of the same night sheweth unto night.

verse 3 Each tongue and language heares the voice which they abroad do send;

Their speech through all the earth, their words go to the wide worlds end.

verse 4 A Tabernacle for the Sun in them prepar'd hath he,

Whom, as a bridegroom coming forth, we from his chamber see.

verse 5 In glorious brightness forth he comes from his appointed place;

As a strong man he doth rejoyce, swiftly to run his race.

verse 6 And all the skie from end to end he compasseth about:

Nothing can hide it from his heat, but he will find it out.

verse 7 Gods Law is perfect, and converts the soule in sin that lies;

His Testimony is most sure, and makes the simple wise.

verse 8 Just are the Lords Commandements, and glad both heart and mind;

Pure are his Precepts, and give light to eies that be full blind.

p. 32verse 9 The feare of God is excellent, and doth endure for ever;

The judgements of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.

verse 10 And more then gold, then much fine gold to be desir'd alway:

The hony, and the hony-combe are not so sweet as they.

verse 11 By them thy servant is fore-warn'd to have God in regard;

And in performance of the same there shall be great reward.

verse 12 But who the errors of his life can understand and see?

Then, Lord, from all my secret faults cleanse, and deliver mee.

verse 13 And keep me, that presumptuous sins prevaile not over me:

So I upright and innocent from the great sin shall be.

verse 14 The words which from my mouth proceed, the thoughts sent from my heart,

Accept, O Lord, for thou my strength, and my redeemer art.

PSAL. XX.

IN trouble and adversitie the Lord God heare thee still;

The majestie of Jacobs God defend thee from all ill.

verse 2 And let him from his Sanctuary thy mighty helpe… …e;

And let him out of Sion hill support and strengthen thee.

p. 33verse 3 Let all thine offerings graciously by him remembred be;

With favour thy burnt sacrifice let him receive from thee.

verse 4 According to thy hearts desire the Lord grant unto thee;

And all thy counsell and intents full well performe may he.

verse 5 In thy salvation we will joy, and in thy name we will

Display our banners; and the Lord thy praiers all fulfill.

verse 6 Now know I, God his King doth save, and from his holy seat

Will answer him, by sending down salvation strong and great.

verse 7 In charets some put confidence, and some in horses trust:

But we remember God our Lord, that keepeth promise just.

verse 8 They stoop and fall, but we arise, yea stand upright do we.

verse 9 Save us, O Lord, heare us, O King, when we do call on thee.

PSAL. XXI.

O Lord, how joyfull is the King in thy strength and thy power!

How vehemently doth he rejoyce in thee his Saviour!

verse 2 For thou hast given unto him even his owne hearts desire;

p. 34To him thou nothing hast deni'd of that he did require.

verse 3 Thou didst prevent him with thy gifts and blessings manifold;

And thou hast set upon his head a crowne of perfect gold.

verse 4 And when he asked life of thee, thereof thou mad'st him sure;

To have long life, yea such a life as ever should endure.

verse 5 Great is his glory by thine help, thy benefit and aid;

Bright honour and great majestie thou hast upon him laid.

verse 6 For thou hast given him blessednesse, that never shall decay;

And with thy cheerfull countenance wilt comfort him alway.

verse 7 For in the Lord the King doth trust, he is his rocke and stay;

His mercy will not suffer him to be remov'd away.

verse 8 But let thine enemies feele thy force, and those that thee withstand:

Find out thy foes, and let them feele the power of thy right hand.

verse 9 Like fiery ovens shall they be in thy wraths burning heat:

God shall them swallow in his wrath, his fire them up shall eat.

verse 10 And thou shalt root out of the ear…h their fruit that should increase;

p. 35And from among the sons of men their seed shall end and cease.

verse 11 Because they evill did intend against thy holy Name;

Yet did they faile, and had no power for to performe the same.

verse 12 For as a mark thou shalt them set in a most open place;

And charge thy bow-strings readily against thine enemies face.

verse 13 But in thine own almighty strength thou, Lord, exalted be;

So will we greatly praise thy power, and gladly sing to thee.